The Teddy Bridgewater Thread

[Pondering Her Percy]

His only target on deep balls is Wallace. Thats pretty sad. Wallace is BB II. He looks like he did in Miami, he doesnt really care. And no, im not putting all the blame on Wallace. It just might be hard for Teddy to hit him mid stride if Wallace isnt running at full speed.

Teddy has OVERthrown balls too many times for the 'arm stregth' to be a main concern. Its the touch on the deep balls, just like the touch on a lot of his passes. He almost overthrew Diggs too. No, he doesnt have a huge arm. But I have seen a lot of his throws for 10-20 yards with some serious zip on them. Even yesterday. Its just the consistency isnt always there.

A little better line play, and I bet his 'touch' comes back, at least some what. Might take a few more years. Its not like we have some rising QB star waiting to take over. Most people i talked were happy as heck Teddy is coming back, and Hill wont throw another pass (hopefully). Maybe in a few years, if Teddy doesnt meet expectation, Heinicke will impress enough to start. Cant remember the last time the Vikings devolved a good QB (hopefully Teddy does of course).

Comparing his heart and toughness to Ponder is just foolishness.

I don't think he looks anything like he did in Miami. He was an idiot and wasnt the greatest teammate. Knowing this about him when we traded for him, I've kept an eye on him and he's gone crazy any time another play scores. Especially Diggs. If he didnt care and wasnt happy with his role, it would show on and off the field but it isn't at all. He said he is making it a point to be a better teammate this year and I think he has.

I agree that Teddy's issue is touch right now. Most of his balls are overthrows. His touch just isn't there right now. Like you said, he nearly overthrew Diggs vs Detroit too. I'm also noticing that he just isn't getting the ball out quick enough. He's starting to hold onto the ball too long and I'm not really sure why.

I definitely think Ponder was a tough guy. I mean I believe Teddy is easily better than Ponder was from a QB standpoint and has a much higher ceiling but I won't deny Ponders toughness.

[Lars]

Sorry, man, but the article is really poorly reported. Every example given highlights the things he does well ... short throws, pocket awareness, etc. Nobody is saying he can't do those things. But even those film highlights show his weaknesses. The very first example is a seriously underthrown downfield pass, made without setting his feet, to a wide-open receiver. Even the "quick release" examples are all throws that are barely past the line of scrimmage.

Where the article falls short is that it doesn't give film analysis of any of the traits that have been considered weaknesses for TB since before the draft. In fact, it doesn't mention those weaknesses at all. That's slanted reporting in the first degree. Truthful analysis would acknowledge the weaknesses many experts say he has, then show film to either dispute those weaknesses or prove that he can overcome them.

TB's mechanics are USUALLY sound, but they sometimes fall apart, especially on deep balls. His elbow drops, causing him to get underneath the ball and make it sail. He also sometimes fails to plant his feet, so he's not stepping into the throw. He's not alone in this habit. "Throwing off the back foot" is something that Stafford and Cutler do all the time -- they (supposedly) can get away with it because they have elite arm strength. Teddy can't get away with it, at least not on throws beyond 10 yards. That's why Greg Cosell's analysis is much better. He talks about both strengths and weaknesses, and even shows where Teddy CAN make plays on throws where he's historically been weak. That's honest reporting that actually paints TB in a better light.

Plenty of quarterbacks have overcome weaknesses, including an average NFL arm, to become winners. I believe Teddy can do it, too. He has great instincts, great intangibles, and an unquestioned work ethic. But if he doesn't acknowledge and work on his mechanical weaknesses, he'll fail.

The author of this article believe that Bridgewater's mechanics aren't as tight this year as they were last year...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2585 ... ridgewater

"Great arm strength has never been a selling point for Bridgewater. He has relied on disciplined mechanics, touch and accuracy to consistently moved the ball to different areas of the field. That discipline and control of the ball has helped him be consistent whether he's throwing against pressure or from a clean pocket.

His accuracy has been less consistent this season because of his looser mechanics. Many quarterbacks who are hit regularly early in their careers develop looser mechanics because they rush to get rid of the ball. As a rookie, Bridgewater showed clean mechanics against pressure over and over again.

In 2014, Bridgewater was pressured on 39.9 percent of his dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. So far this season, he is one of only two quarterbacks in the league to be pressured on at least 45 percent of his dropbacks. The third-highest pressure rate is more than 3 percent lower, while only four quarterbacks have been pressured on more than 40 percent of their dropbacks.

Asking a quarterback to be effective under constant duress without quality receiving options isn't an ideal situation, but it's the one the Vikings find themselves in."

[J. Kapp 11]

The author of this article believe that Bridgewater's mechanics aren't as tight this year as they were last year...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2585 ... ridgewater

But this is a different article than the one you referenced earlier regarding Teddy's mechanics.

The first article you referenced is horrible. It's a fanboy analysis of Teddy Bridgewater. For example, the author claims Teddy has one of the quickest releases around, then shows him throwing a bubble screen. Anybody can get rid of a ball quickly when it's a one-step drop and a 20-foot throw. And besides, that's not even what "quick release" means. Teddy's release isn't slow, but it's not exactly Dan Marino, either. The author tries unsuccessfully to turn Teddy into a god.

Frankly, it's typical of Bleacher Report. They're now beginning to hire a few professionals, but 95% of their articles are written by unpaid fanboys, not professional journalists, coaches, or analysts.

[Lars]

But this is a different article than the one you referenced earlier regarding Teddy's mechanics.

The first article you referenced is horrible. It's a fanboy analysis of Teddy Bridgewater. For example, the author claims Teddy has one of the quickest releases around, then shows him throwing a bubble screen. Anybody can get rid of a ball quickly when it's a one-step drop and a 20-foot throw. And besides, that's not even what "quick release" means. Teddy's release isn't slow, but it's not exactly Dan Marino, either. The author tries unsuccessfully to turn Teddy into a god.

Frankly, it's typical of Bleacher Report. They're now beginning to hire a few professionals, but 95% of their articles are written by unpaid fanboys, not professional journalists, coaches, or analysts.

I understand. I'm looking more closely because of your comments.

Do you think there is any merit to the notion that Bridgewater's mechanics are "looser" this year than they were last year?

[J. Kapp 11]

I understand. I'm looking more closely because of your comments.

Do you think there is any merit to the notion that Bridgewater's mechanics are "looser" this year than they were last year?

Depends on where you look last year, but in general, I'd say that's correct.

In 2014, I think his mechanics tightened up as the year went on. When I look at throwing mechanics (I'm an old baseball coach), the first thing I look at is the ability to "drive" the ball. Not necessarily talking about the bomb. I'm talking about the ability to fire the ball with zip 30-40 yards, basically on a line or a relatively low arc. I compare it to a third baseman making the long throw across the diamond. He's got to throw it about 150 feet on a line, and he can't wind up to do it. That's the deep out for an NFL QB. Gotta drive that ball.

Early last year, Teddy was flipping everything, short-arming his follow-throughs, and not driving the ball. Honestly, I thought he came into the NFL with suspect mechanics, and they showed up early in the season. But as the year went on, I saw definite signs of improvement. You could tell he had been coached up and was working on his mechanics. There's a great example ... against the Jets in December, TB hit a nice 56-yard TD throw to Charles Johnson where he planted, fired the ball, and hit Johnson perfectly in stride.

Here's the video. Check it out. Teddy looks really strong on this throw. When I saw him make that throw, I thought, "I think we've got something here."

But this year, I'm seeing Teddy revert to those flippy throws where his elbow is low and his follow-through is short. When he does this, his ball loses velocity, hangs in the air, and sails. I see a quarterback who is more comfortable with the position, better at moving in the pocket, and much better at going through his progressions. In other words, he's really growing in the mental aspects of the game. But I'm also seeing him with poor mechanics at times. The Greg Cosell piece really shows excellent examples of both the good and the bad.

[Lars]

In 2014, I think his mechanics tightened up as the year went on. When I look at throwing mechanics (I'm an old baseball coach), the first thing I look at is the ability to "drive" the ball. Not necessarily talking about the bomb. I'm talking about the ability to fire the ball with zip 30-40 yards, basically on a line or a relatively low arc. I compare it to a third baseman making the long throw across the diamond. He's got to throw it about 150 feet on a line, and he can't wind up to do it. That's the deep out for an NFL QB. Gotta drive that ball.

Early last year, Teddy was flipping everything, short-arming his follow-throughs, and not driving the ball. Honestly, I thought he came into the NFL with suspect mechanics, and they showed up early in the season. But as the year went on, I saw definite signs of improvement. You could tell he had been coached up and was working on his mechanics. There's a great example ... against the Jets in December, TB hit a nice 56-yard TD throw to Charles Johnson where he planted, fired the ball, and hit Johnson perfectly in stride.

Here's the video. Check it out. Teddy looks really strong on this throw. When I saw him make that throw, I thought, "I think we've got something here."

But this year, I'm seeing Teddy revert to those flippy throws where his elbow is low and his follow-through is short. When he does this, his ball loses velocity, hangs in the air, and sails. I see a quarterback who is more comfortable with the position, better at moving in the pocket, and much better at going through his progressions. In other words, he's really growing in the mental aspects of the game. But I'm also seeing him with poor mechanics at times. The Greg Cosell piece really shows excellent examples of both the good and the bad.

Do you think it is because he is hurrying his throws? You think he might be getting gun shy? Taken too many hits in the pocket and is protecting himself too much?

Do you think the wind had any effect on his throwing last Sunday?

[J. Kapp 11]

Do you think it is because he is hurrying his throws? You think he might be getting gun shy? Taken too many hits in the pocket and is protecting himself too much?

Do you think the wind had any effect on his throwing last Sunday?

Here's where it gets really speculative for me.

On the throws with shaky mechanics, I think it has to do with decision-making. Sometimes he throws with excellent anticipation, and on those throws he seems to have better mechanics. But when he takes longer to decide where to go with the ball, it looks like he's rushing -- doesn't get his feet set, mainly. Teddy doesn't have the arm strength to throw it with pace very far without stepping into the throw.

Gun shy from the hits? Maybe, but I seriously doubt it. In fact, this seems to be an area of strength for Teddy. I think he has a ton of courage. He's got a fairly slender build, and guys like that often aren't willing to hang in the pocket and deliver the ball while taking a hit. I would never accuse Teddy of that. He really stands in there. My hope for the future is that he puts on some bulk as he gets older. I think he came to camp bigger this year, even though he's still slender.

I'd say the wind had an effect on EVERYTHING Sunday. Some quarterbacks have the ability to really put a lot of velocity and a really tight spiral on the ball into the wind and keep it on target. I'd say those quarterbacks are few and far between. Neither Foles nor Teddy qualify. Foles got super lucky on their first TD drive. The long pass he completed really hung up in the wind, and his receiver made a nice play. Otherwise, he didn't do anything against the wind, either.

I think Teddy will be fine. As Cosell said, he's a guy who really needs to be decisive. Because he doesn't have a Cutler arm, the ball takes just a fraction longer to get where it's going, so he's got to anticipate a little sooner. But he's not so rag-armed as, say, Chad Pennington was. Vikings coaches talk about how the ball never seems to be on the ground during practice, that he's super accurate. From the practice video I've seen, that's because he's not under pressure and knows exactly where he's going with the ball. When he's got that situation in games, he throws darts. But when it breaks down or his primary is covered, now he has to make a quick decision. As most young QBs do, he sometimes waits just a hair too long, and he doesn't have the pure arm strength to pull off a flat-footed throw.

As Teddy continues to grow in his decision making and command of the game, I think you'll see a lot more of the good throws. I really do. Believe me, I'm a Teddy fan. It's just that now we're in the thick of the NFC North race, and expectations are suddenly higher. But TB just completed his 20th start. That's not very much, but it's also where you hope to see a QB start to really grow. I believe we'll see that with Teddy. I really do.

There have been plenty of great quarterbacks who didn't have a cannon -- Joe Montana being the first to come to mind. If Teddy can be half as successful as Joe, we'll really have something.

[dead_poet]

Some perspective (this helps me...though I don't know about others):

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Bridgewater's 4,589 passing yards are the fourth-most in league history by a quarterback before his 23rd birthday. But for Lamarcus Joyner's elbow to Bridgewater's head on Sunday, the Vikings quarterback probably would be third on the list; his long-ago Vikings predecessor, Fran Tarkenton, occupies the third spot with 4,592 yards.

If anything, Bridgewater's presence on the list should serve as a reminder of how much of his NFL development has come at a very tender age. He's been inconsistent this season, and his ups and downs have inspired some hand-wringing from Vikings fans who hoped Bridgewater would take a clear step forward in Year 2. When he's been on the field as much as he has, it's easy to forget just how young he is. But eight of the top 10 quarterbacks on ESPN's QB Rating leaderboard are over the age of 30, while one more (Andy Dalton) is a 28-year-old who'd posted four years of middling stats before this season.

Bridgewater's numbers currently lag behind Derek Carr, the second-year Raiders quarterback who was drafted four picks after him last year and will be on the field against the Vikings on Sunday. But Carr is more than 18 months older than Bridgewater, and he's playing behind a line that has allowed the least quarterback pressure in the league. The trajectory of both quarterbacks could look different in five years, but at this point, even though Bridgewater has already logged 20 NFL starts, his 23rd birthday remains an occasion to take the long view.

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... fl-history

[DK Sweets]

Thanks for the share, DP.

And also, thanks for the analysis, Kapp.

[losperros]

Great article. Thanks for the link, DP.

And thanks to Kapp for the breakdown on Bridgewater's performance and future possibilities.

It all gives me better perspective on Bridgewater's growth.

The NFL game ain't easy, folks.

[J. Kapp 11]

This has been a great conversation.

Teddy is NOT one of those so-called "can't miss" quarterbacks. He doesn't have Cutler's arm, or Cam's legs, or Brady's intangibles (yet). But there seems to be SOMETHING special there.

I really think the context of this season is playing a major role in how we view his development. If the Vikes were 3-5 and just hoping to get to .500 by the end of the season, our perception might be different. Maybe we'd be more patient. But at 6-2 and tied for the division lead, all of a sudden we need our quarterback to grow up NOW. I don't know about you guys, but when he missed a play last year, I was cool with it. But when he short-arms a ball now, I really squirm in my seat. Everything MEANS something now.

One huge positive ... after Teddy's first 20 starts, the team's record is 12-8. I LOVE winners!

[soflavike]

ESPN's QBR ratings... Teddy is smack in the middle of the pack, ranked #16.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/qbr

[Lars]

Here's where it gets really speculative for me.

On the throws with shaky mechanics, I think it has to do with decision-making. Sometimes he throws with excellent anticipation, and on those throws he seems to have better mechanics. But when he takes longer to decide where to go with the ball, it looks like he's rushing -- doesn't get his feet set, mainly. Teddy doesn't have the arm strength to throw it with pace very far without stepping into the throw.

Gun shy from the hits? Maybe, but I seriously doubt it. In fact, this seems to be an area of strength for Teddy. I think he has a ton of courage. He's got a fairly slender build, and guys like that often aren't willing to hang in the pocket and deliver the ball while taking a hit. I would never accuse Teddy of that. He really stands in there. My hope for the future is that he puts on some bulk as he gets older. I think he came to camp bigger this year, even though he's still slender.

I'd say the wind had an effect on EVERYTHING Sunday. Some quarterbacks have the ability to really put a lot of velocity and a really tight spiral on the ball into the wind and keep it on target. I'd say those quarterbacks are few and far between. Neither Foles nor Teddy qualify. Foles got super lucky on their first TD drive. The long pass he completed really hung up in the wind, and his receiver made a nice play. Otherwise, he didn't do anything against the wind, either.

I think Teddy will be fine. As Cosell said, he's a guy who really needs to be decisive. Because he doesn't have a Cutler arm, the ball takes just a fraction longer to get where it's going, so he's got to anticipate a little sooner. But he's not so rag-armed as, say, Chad Pennington was. Vikings coaches talk about how the ball never seems to be on the ground during practice, that he's super accurate. From the practice video I've seen, that's because he's not under pressure and knows exactly where he's going with the ball. When he's got that situation in games, he throws darts. But when it breaks down or his primary is covered, now he has to make a quick decision. As most young QBs do, he sometimes waits just a hair too long, and he doesn't have the pure arm strength to pull off a flat-footed throw.

As Teddy continues to grow in his decision making and command of the game, I think you'll see a lot more of the good throws. I really do. Believe me, I'm a Teddy fan. It's just that now we're in the thick of the NFC North race, and expectations are suddenly higher. But TB just completed his 20th start. That's not very much, but it's also where you hope to see a QB start to really grow. I believe we'll see that with Teddy. I really do.

There have been plenty of great quarterbacks who didn't have a cannon -- Joe Montana being the first to come to mind. If Teddy can be half as successful as Joe, we'll really have something.

Thanks. That was an awesome explaination. (And, by the way, I was a huge Joe Kapp fan when I was 9 years old. Talk about a floppy ball... but he was successful. I was crushed when he signed with the Patriots).

[Lars]

This has been a great conversation.

Teddy is NOT one of those so-called "can't miss" quarterbacks. He doesn't have Cutler's arm, or Cam's legs, or Brady's intangibles (yet). But there seems to be SOMETHING special there.

I really think the context of this season is playing a major role in how we view his development. If the Vikes were 3-5 and just hoping to get to .500 by the end of the season, our perception might be different. Maybe we'd be more patient. But at 6-2 and tied for the division lead, all of a sudden we need our quarterback to grow up NOW. I don't know about you guys, but when he missed a play last year, I was cool with it. But when he short-arms a ball now, I really squirm in my seat. Everything MEANS something now.

One huge positive ... after Teddy's first 20 starts, the team's record is 12-8. I LOVE winners!

Teddy does seem to have that quality...

[mosscarter]

how can any of you blame mike wallace? our deep passing game is pathetic on every level. in fact, in all reality our deep passing game doesn't even exist. wallace was missed at least THREE times wide open the past 2 weeks. last week, he was standing in the middle of the field and teddy threw it into the dirt. that pass looked worse than ponder. if teddy doesn't get it together soon this team will implode. last week's defensive performance was the best i've seen out of a vikings team as far as i remember, but to beat these teams in the second half of the season we need some semblance of an offense. our line has actually been playing better (at least better than they were) so what will be next week's excuse if he throws for another 175 yds, 1 td, and 1 int? that isn't going to cut it against winning caliber teams, of which we haven't played in a very long time.