Zimmer: Teddy Bridgewater needs to refine mechanics

[Demi]

CJ by default. Maybe a FA and/or rookie as well. God forbid Patterson get an opportunity.

Diggs by default. Maybe CJ next to him? Hopefully get another competent receiver in here. Whose biggest asset isn't a 40 time. But the ability to get open and catch the football.

[fiestavike]

To expand on the notion that Bridgewater's stats bear out the penchant for conservatism... FiestaVike wrote above that he thought Bridgewater "played great, especially in the 2nd half of the season". I've been thinking about that. Let's assume the second half of the season consisted of the last 8 games (beginning with the game @ Oakland) and the playoff game. Bridgewater had an undeniably great game against the Bears in Minnesota. He excelled in every aspect of his performance that day and even had a great day statistically, with 4 TD passes and a TD run. Unfortunately, over the course of the other 8 games in that stretch, he threw just 4 TD passes to go with 3 INTs. The Vikes went 5-4 in the second half of the season, just 1-4 against playoff teams. In those 5 games against playoff teams (2 against GB, 2 against SEA and 1 against Arizona) the offense scored a total of 55 points. They averaged 11 points in those games!

These stats are obviously not indicative of an offense with a QB playing great (ie: considerably above average) football. They're indicative of an offense with an overly conservative QB and a struggling passing game. It's not struggling because of Bridgewater alone (as we've discussed throughly this season) but he is a key factor in those struggles.

It strikes me as the biggest elephant in the room because it's an obvious truth but it's difficult to get a lot of people to even acknowledge it.

Stats shmats. I watch the game.

[fiestavike]

Stats shmats. I watch the game.

Sorry, I just think theres absolutely nothing informative in these boring statty conversations. Football is not baseball. There are lots of moving parts which anyone who knows anything about football can see. they are all interrelated. Given the totality of the situation, I think Teddy played great once the team settled into an identity. At times he was too conservative, at times he dropped his elbow, at times he made the wrong read. given. He wasn't much better against Chi than he was against GB, but his stat line convinces casual fans that he was great one week and terrible the next. The next time he has 4 touchdowns they'll be 'optimistic' again and start hedging their stupid bets. Then he'll throw for 125 and they'll be doubling down on the stupid bet they were just sidestepping away from one game earlier. Stats and outcomes are just silly measurements for individual players. Frankly, of all the posters on this board, I would expect you to be right with me on this point. You've always tended to take a more big picture view.

[mosscarter]

what are you saying fiesta that we don't need competent receivers, because we obviously have a below sub-par qb. several people mentioned johnson and i simply can't see how that is even realistic was he even active the last half of the season? and even if he was, he wasn't ever on the field anyway. how is he in the game plan for next year? if he couldn't play this year then why would he be able to play next year? same goes for patterson they are both done. the only thing teddy has consistently done is be wildly inconsistent.

[Mothman]

Sorry, I just think theres absolutely nothing informative in these boring statty conversations. Football is not baseball. There are lots of moving parts which anyone who knows anything about football can see. they are all interrelated. Given the totality of the situation, I think Teddy played great once the team settled into an identity. At times he was too conservative, at times he dropped his elbow, at times he made the wrong read. given. He wasn't much better against Chi than he was against GB, but his stat line convinces casual fans that he was great one week and terrible the next. The next time he has 4 touchdowns they'll be 'optimistic' again and start hedging their stupid bets. Then he'll throw for 125 and they'll be doubling down on the stupid bet they were just sidestepping away from one game earlier. Stats and outcomes are just silly measurements for individual players. Frankly, of all the posters on this board, I would expect you to be right with me on this point. You've always tended to take a more big picture view.

I'm still taking a big picture view. That's why we don't see eye to eye about this.

I can explain further later...

[mosscarter]

the truth is even in the 4 td game was one of those a result of a bomb? no, they were all short passes with great YAC as always with teddy. teddy can't throw a bomb he is incapable. i hate the fact that we didn't go for the td in the final drive against seattle, but then i sit here and say our qb isn't capable. he has as bad of mechanics as any qb i've ever seen in my life. zimmer will get this defense into top 5, but unless teddy can do anything what will it matter. he had 1 passing td in his last 3 games. ONE PASSING TD IN HIS FINAL 3 GAMES. if that isn't beyond pathetic i don't know what is. we have a horrible quarterback. 14 passing touchdowns is a joke and is close to the last, if not the last in the entire NFL among starters. its sickening.

[Purple bruise]

the truth is even in the 4 td game was one of those a result of a bomb? no, they were all short passes with great YAC as always with teddy. teddy can't throw a bomb he is incapable. i hate the fact that we didn't go for the td in the final drive against seattle, but then i sit here and say our qb isn't capable. he has as bad of mechanics as any qb i've ever seen in my life. zimmer will get this defense into top 5, but unless teddy can do anything what will it matter. he had 1 passing td in his last 3 games. ONE PASSING TD IN HIS FINAL 3 GAMES. if that isn't beyond pathetic i don't know what is. we have a horrible quarterback. 14 passing touchdowns is a joke and is close to the last, if not the last in the entire NFL among starters. its sickening.

Take your hate glasses off for a moment and read a professional's opinion on the matter: "Re-drafting the 2014 quarterback class
1. Teddy Bridgewater has an old man's game in the best way possible. He's crafty and composed. He's the pickup basketball player who doesn't wow you with his physical skills, but keeps running the point for the winning side.
In a league in which the best quarterbacks win before the snap, Bridgewater showed more sustainable traits than any of his rookie classmates. He was accurate, especially on in-breaking routes. He was very calm in the pocket despite poor pass protection. By December, he had cut down on his mental mistakes and started to throw more beauties. His season had an arc to it; you could see his weekly improvement. With the help of Norv Turner, the Vikings' offense looked professional. Bridgewater led the way despite a shaky receiver group." (read on)......

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... back-class

[HardcoreVikesFan]

the truth is even in the 4 td game was one of those a result of a bomb? no, they were all short passes with great YAC as always with teddy. teddy can't throw a bomb he is incapable. i hate the fact that we didn't go for the td in the final drive against seattle, but then i sit here and say our qb isn't capable. he has as bad of mechanics as any qb i've ever seen in my life. zimmer will get this defense into top 5, but unless teddy can do anything what will it matter. he had 1 passing td in his last 3 games. ONE PASSING TD IN HIS FINAL 3 GAMES. if that isn't beyond pathetic i don't know what is. we have a horrible quarterback. 14 passing touchdowns is a joke and is close to the last, if not the last in the entire NFL among starters. its sickening.

I am sick and tired of this clown. Can we ban him yet?

I have foed him, but I still see his posts when I am not logged in and in quotations.

He never contributes a thing to this board, other than spew his bias against Teddy. I am tired of seeing it.

[chicagopurple]

NOT only is this a HUGE issue, it is one that is unlikely to ever change. Who was the last QB you ever saw make major changes to his mechanics and succeed? Heck, Teddy cant even manage to take snaps from both under center and shotgun. Moreover, our QB "coach" in nothing more then Norv's little boy. He has no great resume and if not for Daddy getting a job, he would probably be at a junior college.
Step 1, Fire Norv Jr. and bring a a bonified QB Guru.
Step 2- Make it clear to Teddy that he has ONE year to start performing like a real NFL QB and show downfield accuracy.

[IrishViking]

the truth is even in the 4 td game was one of those a result of a bomb? no, they were all short passes with great YAC as always with teddy. teddy can't throw a bomb he is incapable. i hate the fact that we didn't go for the td in the final drive against seattle, but then i sit here and say our qb isn't capable. he has as bad of mechanics as any qb i've ever seen in my life. zimmer will get this defense into top 5, but unless teddy can do anything what will it matter. he had 1 passing td in his last 3 games. ONE PASSING TD IN HIS FINAL 3 GAMES. if that isn't beyond pathetic i don't know what is. we have a horrible quarterback. 14 passing touchdowns is a joke and is close to the last, if not the last in the entire NFL among starters. its sickening.

You seem to get sick easily, might be worth having it looked into.

most of this is pure vitriol; Assuming you have watched ONLY vikings games for your entire life, he doesn't even have the worst mechanics of any Viking STARTER of the last 15 years, let alone any QB ever.

1 passing touchdown in 3 games is pretty poor but it has a lot more to do with the pressure he was under than anything else.

You really hate Bridgewater, that much is clear, but he is not close to as bad as you cherry pick him to be.

[losperros]

Hopefully get another competent receiver in here. Whose biggest asset isn't a 40 time. But the ability to get open and catch the football.

The Vikings already have competent receivers that get open and can catch. Now what they need are passes that can be caught, especially on the deep routes. The quality of this group of receivers is the last thing I worry about when compared to the #### pass blocking and some of Teddy's shortcomings that need fixing.

[fiestavike]

NOT only is this a HUGE issue, it is one that is unlikely to ever change. Who was the last QB you ever saw make major changes to his mechanics and succeed? Heck, Teddy cant even manage to take snaps from both under center and shotgun. Moreover, our QB "coach" in nothing more then Norv's little boy. He has no great resume and if not for Daddy getting a job, he would probably be at a junior college.
Step 1, Fire Norv Jr. and bring a a bonified QB Guru.
Step 2- Make it clear to Teddy that he has ONE year to start performing like a real NFL QB and show downfield accuracy.

Nobody has said or intimated he needs to "make major changes" to his mechanics except Ben Goessling and several people on this board.

Its a false perception.

[chicagopurple]

Oh he DOES need to change things....that low angle sling wont work with NFL lineman....they are too easy to bat down. In addition, it clearly has limited his ability to throw downfield with accuracy. His vertical passing game was sub par to be kind. It is absurd to suggest that his passing game is at the level needed to "game manage" us to a Super Bowl......

[fiestavike]

Oh he DOES need to change things....that low angle sling wont work with NFL lineman....they are too easy to bat down. In addition, it clearly has limited his ability to throw downfield with accuracy. His vertical passing game was sub par to be kind. It is absurd to suggest that his passing game is at the level needed to "game manage" us to a Super Bowl......

Oh he DOES!?!? Oh OK!!

[Raptorman]

the truth is even in the 4 td game was one of those a result of a bomb? no, they were all short passes with great YAC as always with teddy. teddy can't throw a bomb he is incapable. i hate the fact that we didn't go for the td in the final drive against seattle, but then i sit here and say our qb isn't capable. he has as bad of mechanics as any qb i've ever seen in my life. zimmer will get this defense into top 5, but unless teddy can do anything what will it matter. he had 1 passing td in his last 3 games. ONE PASSING TD IN HIS FINAL 3 GAMES. if that isn't beyond pathetic i don't know what is. we have a horrible quarterback. 14 passing touchdowns is a joke and is close to the last, if not the last in the entire NFL among starters. its sickening.

So here's your chance. Who do they replace Teddy with? The Draft is coming up and you seem to be the person who knows all about QB's in the NFL. Which QB can the Vikings draft and replace Teddy so they have QB that fits your needs.