EL SEGUNDO — Ladd McConkey stood to the side, watching and listening as the officials discussed what had just happened in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ “Monday Night Football” game against the Baltimore Ravens at SoFi Stadium. He tucked the ball in his arm and waited for their decision.
Yes, he had caught a pass from quarterback Justin Herbert along the sideline.
Yes, he had been interfered with by a Ravens defensive back.
No, it wasn’t a legal catch because McConkey had only one foot inbounds.
Yes, the Chargers were going to accept the penalty.
Through it all, McConkey maintained his poise and his posture. The Chargers would pick up 15 yards on the penalty, gaining a first down at the Baltimore 40-yard line. Their drive would stall and they would be forced to punt, squandering an opportunity to rally from a 14-point deficit in what became a 30-23 loss.
McConkey would catch six passes on six targets from Herbert, amassing 83 yards for an average of 13.8 yards per reception. But it was the catch and what happened next that stood out by the end of the game. McConkey looked like a 10-year veteran on the play and what followed.
It was difficult to remember that he was, and continues to be, a rookie wide receiver.
“One of the most important things about Ladd is how friendly he is to the quarterback,” Herbert said in the days leading up to the game against the Ravens, a loss that would end the Chargers’ four-game winning streak. “I talk about this all the time. He runs such great routes and comes back at such a friendly angle. He’s never running into danger. He’s never running directly into a guy who’s going to cover him. He’s just got a great feel for zone (defenses) and has enough shiftiness to be able to beat man coverage.
“To have a combination like that, a guy who really understands defenses and how people want to play him, he just finds a way to get open.”
McConkey leads the Chargers with 49 catches and 698 yards. He’s fourth among rookies in franchise history in each category, trailing such standouts as Keenan Allen, who had 71 catches and 1,046 yards during his rookie season in 2013. McConkey still has six regular-season games to play.
Herbert praised McConkey’s ability to run pass routes and find openings in the defense right from the start, from the early days of spring practices. The Chargers traded up with the New England Patriots, from 37th to 34th, to draft McConkey in the second round from the University of Georgia.
“I’m sure he was probably really good at playing recess football, just going out there and making things happen,” Herbert said of McConkey. “That’s kind of where it comes from, just going out there and getting open. Play breaks down, he’s going to find a way to beat a guy. That’s something I really appreciate.”
Knowing where a receiver or a tight end or a running back might be as a play unfolds is among the most important ways for a quarterback and his teammates to form a connection. McConkey, while nowhere near as experienced or accomplished as Allen, has earned that trust from Herbert.
Allen and fellow Chargers veteran wide receiver Mike Williams were jettisoned during the offseason, about a month before McConkey was drafted in April, because of cost-cutting reasons. The Chargers simply couldn’t keep them both as well as outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and meet salary cap restrictions.
So far, McConkey has met and exceeded Herbert’s expectations.
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“Just understanding defenses and what coverage they’re in and the route he’s running,” Herbert explained. “How do I get open on this route? It’s not running into a guy that’s waiting there for him. If he understands there’s a guy buzzing underneath him, just be real friendly to the quarterback.”
Herbert then referenced one of two outstanding routes and catches McConkey delivered on the game-winning drive one week earlier against the Cincinnati Bengals, part of an 84-year drive that began with 45 seconds remaining. McConkey broke free on a corner route for a 28-yard gain on first down.
“He’s got to be in a certain position, and he was exactly where he needed to be,” Herbert recalled. “So, it’s a trust throw. I’m dropping back. I’m not even looking at him, initially. You kind of see him flash. You put the ball up and you know he’s going to go run underneath it. I think that’s something that goes back to OTAs.”