The Teddy Bridgewater Thread

[losperros]

Oh, and lets compare the Raiders Oline to ours. Hows a 22(maybe 23 by now) kid supposed to learn whatever the crap Norv is trying to teach him. Im going to be honest, I would be happy if Norv was no long our OC although hes an OC god....that keeps getting fired or moving to HC, where he gets fired.

I definitely would like to see more imagination incorporated into the Vikings offense. There is no doubt that Turner has to take some heat for the abysmal results from the passing game so far this season. I'm hoping he can turn things around, especially given the Vikings upcoming schedule.

[Mothman]

I definitely would like to see more imagination incorporated into the Vikings offense. There is no doubt that Turner has to take some heat for the abysmal results from the passing game so far this season. I'm hoping he can turn things around, especially given the Vikings upcoming schedule.

He's shown some signs of it with adaptations that have helped the offense in recent weeks. The passing game still has a long way to go but at least that's encouraging.

[808vikingsfan]

Didn't you guys get the memo? Norv is saving his KAO for the 2nd half of the season.

Seriously though, who wants their team peaking in October anyway?

[DK Sweets]

Didn't you guys get the memo? Norv is saving his KAO for the 2nd half of the season.

Seriously though, who wants their team peaking in October anyway?

Daunte Culpepper?

[Mothman]

Turner explains why the Vikings have shied away from the shotgun of late

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said that the team’s usage of the shotgun will vary from game to game based on the opponent and game flow.

“It’s been the games we’ve been in. Early in the year I think we were in some games where we were in the gun more and we threw it,” Turner said yesterday. “Against St. Louis, with their edge rushers, their defensive people, I don’t know that it was in our best interest being in shotgun.”

The team’s two highest games in terms of total shotgun snaps were the San Francisco and Denver games, which should come as no surprise. In both of those games, the Vikings were down by double digits and needed to pass.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I question whether or not this is the right offensive system for Teddy Bridgewater. To me, Teddy is more of a west-coast QB than a vertical one. This is not a knock on Teddy at all, but, one has to wonder how much better Teddy would be in a west-coast offense.

[Mothman]

I question whether or not this is the right offensive system for Teddy Bridgewater. To me, Teddy is more of a west-coast QB than a vertical one. This is not a knock on Teddy at all, but, one has to wonder how much better Teddy would be in a west-coast offense.

It would probably suit him better but he's not likely to end up in one unless he busts out with the Vikings or Zimmer gets fired. Hopefully, he can improve within Norv's offense.

I assume Turner thought Bridgewater fit his offense since he reportedly pushed for the Vikes to draft him.

[fiestavike]

It would probably suit him better but he's not likely to end up in one unless he busts out with the Vikings or Zimmer gets fired. Hopefully, he can improve within Norv's offense.

I assume Turner thought Bridgewater fit his offense since he reportedly pushed for the Vikes to draft him.

It seems to me that Teddy has been "aiming" his deep passes and making sure to put them where only his guy can get them (and usually, even his guy can't get them!). He needs to start throwing them down there with the same conviction he's been showing on his intermediate passes.

Personally I'm not worried. I think Teddy will improve in that department (being less cautious deep) and if that starts happening this offense could take off rapidly.

[losperros]

I question whether or not this is the right offensive system for Teddy Bridgewater. To me, Teddy is more of a west-coast QB than a vertical one. This is not a knock on Teddy at all, but, one has to wonder how much better Teddy would be in a west-coast offense.

Teddy's success at Louisville backs you up on this. I honestly thought Turner was going to go more this direction when he populated the WR corps with guys that can run after the catch. Aside from Wallace, the other WRs were more YAC guys in college. Perhaps Turner will combine more Teddy-friendly WCO passing with the currently troubled vertical attack.

[808vikingsfan]

It seems to me that Teddy has been "aiming" his deep passes and making sure to put them where only his guy can get them (and usually, even his guy can't get them!). He needs to start throwing them down there with the same conviction he's been showing on his intermediate passes.

Personally I'm not worried. I think Teddy will improve in that department (being less cautious deep) and if that starts happening this offense could take off rapidly.

That's my feeling as well and. Zimmer mentioned it too. Teddy is trying to be too perfect with the ball. Zimmer also said that he makes all the deep throws in practice so I have to believe he is just trying to be too careful. I watched the Rams game again and he really had a pretty good game. Made a lot of good decisions. The one pass that was really disappointing was the one he threw right at Wallaces' feet on the scramble.

I'm not worried at all about Teddy.

[The Breeze]

The way TB dials it in when late in the game or before the half really reminds me of Montana. I think their arm strength is similar too.
I expect that a few close losses to quality teams will convince him to dial it in from the get go as time goes on. He reminds me of a kid that waits until 9pm on sunday to do his homework. It'll wind up burning him somewhere...but until then I have a hard time seeing him fully buying into becoming 'religious' about his throwing mechanics and taking more risks downfield unless they are trailing on the scoreboard. They are 6-2...so, maybe he is a little too comfortable?

[Mothman]

The way TB dials it in when late in the game or before the half really reminds me of Montana. I think their arm strength is similar too.
I expect that a few close losses to quality teams will convince him to dial it in from the get go as time goes on. He reminds me of a kid that waits until 9pm on sunday to do his homework. It'll wind up burning him somewhere...but until then I have a hard time seeing him fully buying into becoming 'religious' about his throwing mechanics and taking more risks downfield unless they are trailing on the scoreboard. They are 6-2...so, maybe he is a little too comfortable?

If he's too comfortable, that's not a good sign.

[The Breeze]

@Jim
I wouldn't call it a good sign either...but given the way he focuses when things get dire, I could see it being the case. At some point they will lose an important game because of his inconsistant play...I think it would be cool if that was a playoff game or a game that kept them from reaching the playoffs.
Just like the butt whooping SF put on this defense, TB looks like he needs some kind of wakeup call, to me, so that he comes out from the getgo and plays like it's the 4th qtr.
I know the O-line is still a huge factor in all of it too, as far consistancy goes. They all have work to do in that respect, IMO.
And just maybe, the way this offense is coordinated is not all that great either

[Mothman]

@Jim
I wouldn't call it a good sign either...but given the way he focuses when things get dire, I could see it being the case. At some point they will lose an important game because of his inconsistant play...I think it would be cool if that was a playoff game or a game that kept them from reaching the playoffs.
Just like the butt whooping SF put on this defense, TB looks like he needs some kind of wakeup call, to me, so that he comes out from the getgo and plays like it's the 4th qtr.
I know the O-line is still a huge factor in all of it too, as far consistancy goes. They all have work to do in that respect, IMO.
And just maybe, the way this offense is coordinated is not all that great either

I think that last point may be part of it too, although I think the playcalling has improved lately.

Bridgewater definitely needs a wakeup call. Maybe an important loss would do the trick. Perhaps he needs a good young QB behind him on the depth chart, breathing down his neck. I thought his best game last year came when he went home, to Florida, and played very well against Miami so maybe going up against draft mate and friend Derek Carr today will bring out a similar side of him.

[frosted]

Sounds like a lot of speculation .... Like when it was en vogue to theorize that Ponder 'didn't care' . I think it's more likely that Teddy's struggles stem from his youth and physical shortcomings, than his being 'too comfortable' with his position on this team, etc.

YMMV.