The Teddy Bridgewater Thread

[The Breeze]

I couldn't agree more. Turner has struck me as a guy so in love with his precious system that he doesn't take into account the various skill sets of his players. And I'm not just talking about Bridgewater either. I believe there is plenty Turner could still do to help TB and the entire offense.

I waffle on whether it's just his scheme or the way he calls it game by game. I'm leaning more towards the latter for now. In either case, what they have been asking of TB, o-line defficiencies aside, has highlighted some of his weaknesses. Specifically in his release mechcanics and throwing guys open. TB correcting those issues will be a huge benefit regardless of the system or OC...so, I see it all working for the better no mattter what.

[808vikingsfan]

Code: Select all

Teddy Bridgewater:
2014: 259/402 (64.4%), 2,919 yards, 7.26 YPA, 14 TDs, 12 INTs, 56.9 QBR, 85.2 passer rating.
2015: 267/403 (66.3%), 2,964 yards, 7.36 YPA, 13 TDs, 8 INTs, 66.4 QBR, 90.4 passer rating.

[808vikingsfan]

I changed the name of the thread since it's evolved beyond a discussion of the article from which it drew it's original title to become sort of a "catch all" thread for discussion of Bridgewater, links to articles about him, etc.

Much appreciated.

[UKno1VIKING]

i preferred Ponder.

Merry Xmas from the U.K!!

SKOL!

[DK Sweets]

i preferred Ponder.

Merry Xmas from the U.K!!

SKOL!

Is it Christmas there already?

If so, start a thread! Merry Christmas!

[HardcoreVikesFan]

http://www.startribune.com/teddy-bridge ... 363639341/

But in the 10-season span between 2005 (the year Culpepper blew out his knee) and 2014, just one Vikings quarterback made it to 3,000 yards: Brett Favre in 2009. Yes, as the NFL grew increasingly pass-happy (there were just 14 QBs who threw for 3,000 yards in 2005, while the number has been at least 20 every season this decade), the Vikings went in the opposite direction.

Kind of ridiculous it took so many years, but, at the same time, it gives me hope. I believe that we have our franchise QB. Even if others don't.

[Mothman]

Bob Sansevere: Teddy Bridgewater's renaissance comes just in time

If you're a fan, you've seen past versions of the Vikings squander plenty of opportunities over the years. And often it was due to lame play on the part of the quarterback.
Bridgewater has been anything but that lately, going from liability to asset.

"He made a couple of unbelievable throws and a couple of huge runs, getting first downs and extending drives," said tight end Kyle Rudolph, who caught a 28-yard TD pass from Bridgewater. "That's the Teddy Bridgewater we've had here for the last two years, and I think people lost sight of that a little bit throughout the course of the year."

Rudolph may have lost sight of just how bad Bridgewater played against Seattle, and in earlier games, too. Wide receiver Mike Wallace has another take, explaining he has noticed an uptick in Bridgewater's confidence, along with an improvement in how the offensive line does things.

"Confidence always has a lot to do with how you play," Wallace said. "And the offensive line is giving him more time."
It was the third game in a row he delivered a game that offered encouragement and optimism that the Vikings won't do a quick fade in the postseason.

The defense has been fairly stout in the wins over the Bears and Giants, but the Vikings are a much better team than they were in that loss to the Seahawks because Bridgewater has been better.
He has kept the offense humming, kept the chains moving, kept the defense on the sideline for longer stretches.

He's not holding the ball too long. His passes have more of a crispness to them, and they are far more accurate than they had been. Sometime between that Seattle debacle and his 335-yard game in Arizona, tumblers clicked in and something unlocked to allow him to ratchet up his game.

[The Breeze]

He got called out as a wuss and it lit a fire under his butt....my opinion.
He's played great since Seattle~

[losperros]

He got called out as a wuss and it lit a fire under his butt....my opinion.
He's played great since Seattle~

I've thought about that too. Maybe Bridgewater has developed a chip on his shoulder and is out to show everyone what he's got.

Teddy has been a different quarterback lately and I think it's charging up the entire offense.

[The Breeze]

I've thought about that too. Maybe Bridgewater has developed a chip on his shoulder and is out to show everyone what he's got.

Teddy has been a different quarterback lately and I think it's charging up the entire offense.

Seriously, when an opposing player says, in the national media, that you looked terrified during a game in which your team got absolutely crushed in front of it's fans...there are a few different ways to respond.
From my perspective, TB kept his mouth shut and let his play do the talking.
It's ongoing speculation on my part, but if there is any truth to it then I'm really grateful for the guy saying that. It's one thing when some talking head or writer criticizes like that...but when it's a peer it's taking it to a whole nuva level.
Teddy strikes me as a very prideful dude...quiet but very competitve.

[mansquatch]

TB has been better, but I think a lot of it has to do with the defenses they have been playing. The AZ defense lacked a dominant pass rusher, instead relying on the blitz. The Giants had a wounded JPP and not much more. Next week the Vikes OL will have to contend with an aging Julius Peppers and Clay Mathews.

I want to hope the protection has improved to a point where it cannot be completely dominated at the LOS (like we saw against SEA) but there is really no good reason to believe this is the case..

[The Breeze]

TB has been better, but I think a lot of it has to do with the defenses they have been playing. The AZ defense lacked a dominant pass rusher, instead relying on the blitz. The Giants had a wounded JPP and not much more. Next week the Vikes OL will have to contend with an aging Julius Peppers and Clay Mathews.

I want to hope the protection has improved to a point where it cannot be completely dominated at the LOS (like we saw against SEA) but there is really no good reason to believe this is the case..

Do you feel the way Norv is calling plays is contributing some? I believe I'm seeing a fair amount more of faster developing plays and less effort put into forcing it downfield. It looks to be helping the line out. But like you, I'm still a bit dubious when it comes to defenses that can get into the backfield quickly..SEA, CAR...and GB when they play us

[mansquatch]

I think that has helped, but the defenses they've faced the past two weeks haven't had a legitimate sack threat on the DL in the same way that a team like Seattle has Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. We did see TB and the OL play a decent game against Denver earlier in the season and that team has two threats in Miller and Ware so I guess it is possible. I felt that the SEA game was winnable, but defensively our tackling was horrendous. That was also a game where we saw Smith and Barr out with injuries and that really hurt us. Since then, our tackling had markedly improved.

My biggest worry for the upcoming game is the psyche out factor. GB was there for the taking when we played them last and we just laid a total egg. Defensive tackling was similarly terrible and in the end we became one dimensional. That can't happen on Sunday. To me winning this game is important as it is a huge moment / confidence boost going into the post season. That is big as both SEA and CAR are tripping up right now.

If the team that played in AZ and against NY shows up on Sunday we should win. If that team continues to show up in the playoffs then I feel like we have a shot home or away against any of the NFC playoff teams. SEA scares me the most because of their defensive front vs. our OL. Maybe with some luck the Cardinals or Panthers can dispose of them for us.

[The Breeze]

@Squatch
I agree the line may be looking better because of weaker pass rushes...and in spite of that there is still serious whiffage happening all too often for me.
Bennett and Arvil are big concerns for me too as is the Packers familiarity with how to defend the Vikes.
So yeah, count me in on next Sunday being big for this team on just about every level. The psyche out thing is a huge monkey on the back IMO.....
Thanks for the reply.

[mansquatch]

No problem, it is a good discussion.

This year, more than others, there seems to be no dominant team in the NFL. AZ is probably the best overall squad, but we played them to the wire. As a fan this is the first season I can recall since 2009 where I feel like we can have a shot to win any game we are in. There is a toughness and discipline to this team that I've never seen since I began watching regularly in the early 1990s. That doesn't mean we'll win it all, against a team like AZ or SEA or CAR we'll need to not just play at a high level, but also make a few extra plays to win, so we are an outside contender. What makes it fun though is the simple fact that as a fan I feel like it is actually possible and not just the purple kool-aid. That for me has been the best part of this season. Definitely my favorite Vikings team since 2009.

2009 was special year for me as I watched every game with my newborn son and the pass by Favre to Greg Lewis against SF remains to this day the greatest play I've ever seen. That play is also why I can never hate on Favre the way Jim does.