Vikings Message Board.Com

J. Kapp 11 wrote:Virtually every analyst who saw him throw would disagree with you. I know you like this guy, DP, but you can't just discount what actually took place. I've watched reports on three different networks now -- the criticism is consistent, and my (admittedly amateur) eyes tell me it's legitimate. Maybe Bridgewater just had a bad day, but the things he struggled with are the things scouts have questioned all along.

I'm not as enamored by Bridgewater as some are. I think he's probably the most consistent and the "safest." I'd also probably call him the smartest at the line in his ability to read defenses. I just see Pro Days as not nearly as valuable of an evaluation as game tape. The guy had a 71.0 completion during live action this season. Watch Tiger Woods on the driving range, not every 5-iron is going to be within 10-feet. He's probably not going to hit 50 drivers without hooking or slicing a couple.

Norv Turner called the workout "pretty good." NFL.com's Gil Brandt came away from Monday's Louisville Pro Day believing Teddy Bridgewater had a "good, solid workout."

Per Brandt, Bridgewater completed 57-of-65 passes in "the longest quarterback workout I've ever seen." Two of his incompletions were dropped by receivers. Brandt wonders why Bridgewater did not sport gloves, which he's done since high school.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2014/03/17/teddy-b ... s-pro-day/

And the question scouts are asking is this: If he can't perform in a staged event, indoors, with his own hand-picked receivers, after practicing his routine for 2 months, what is he going to do when he's under actual NFL pressure?

Perform? Like he has over the course of his career? Here's one report that should help answer the question.

Poised in the face of the blitz and often anticipates it coming. Is very mentally and physically tough -- played through a broken left wrist with a sprained ankle in what was essentially the 2012 Big East championship game, coming off the bench to captain the Cardinals to a come-from-behind victory.

This one sentence says that he can handle the blitz (which many analysts have praised him for) while also rising to the occasion during times of pressure (coming off the bench and lead the team to a come-from-behind victory in what was essentially the 2012 Big East championship game).

As the analysts said, typically quarterbacks SHINE on pro days. Bridgewater most certainly did not.

YMMV. He completed, what, 57 of 63 passes (discounting the two that were dropped). That's still a 90% completion rate. Andrew Luck had a 92% completion at his Pro Day. Cam Newton was 42/53. Russel Wilson went 59/63. Mark Sanchez and Brandon Weeden each had a "great days." Gabbart completed 89% of his passes. I'm not saying it doesn't matter, but I also am not blowing it out of proportion. It's a piece of the process and, in my mind, a relatively small piece.

but it's certainly not the situation you'd like if you're Bridgewater's agent.

I'll agree with that.

saint33 wrote:Good hopefully this helps him fall to us

Amen brother.

dead_poet wrote: I'm not as enamored by Bridgewater as some are. I think he's probably the most consistent and the "safest." I'd also probably call him the smartest at the line in his ability to read defenses. I just see Pro Days as not nearly as valuable of an evaluation as game tape. The guy had a 71.0 completion during live action this season. Watch Tiger Woods on the driving range, not every 5-iron is going to be within 10-feet. He's probably not going to hit 50 drivers without hooking or slicing a couple.

Norv Turner called the workout "pretty good." NFL.com's Gil Brandt came away from Monday's Louisville Pro Day believing Teddy Bridgewater had a "good, solid workout."

Per Brandt, Bridgewater completed 57-of-65 passes in "the longest quarterback workout I've ever seen." Two of his incompletions were dropped by receivers. Brandt wonders why Bridgewater did not sport gloves, which he's done since high school.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2014/03/17/teddy-b ... s-pro-day/
Perform? Like he has over the course of his career? Here's one report that should help answer the question.
This one sentence says that he can handle the blitz (which many analysts have praised him for) while also rising to the occasion during times of pressure (coming off the bench and lead the team to a come-from-behind victory in what was essentially the 2012 Big East championship game).
YMMV. He completed, what, 57 of 63 passes (discounting the two that were dropped). That's still a 90% completion rate. Andrew Luck had a 92% completion at his Pro Day. Cam Newton was 42/53. Russel Wilson went 59/63. Mark Sanchez and Brandon Weeden each had a "great days." Gabbart completed 89% of his passes. I'm not saying it doesn't matter, but I also am not blowing it out of proportion. It's a piece of the process and, in my mind, a relatively small piece.
I'll agree with that.

great post!

The thing with Bridgewater is he's probably the safest pick. His floor is probably a middle of the pack solid starter and his ceiling is a Top 5-10 QB.

I like Bridgewater, but I'm starting to think maybe his ceiling is a healthy Bradford. Is that enough?

I think the best comparison for Teddy is Matt Ryan, only with a bit more athleticism.

dead_poet wrote:

I have to agree. His career has been a good one. I've seen Bridgewater play entire games, including his Bowl win over my Gators last year, and he's been a play-making QB. The guy can throw, he's smart, and he reads defenses probably better than any of the other QBs in the draft. At least that's how he looked playing college ball.

Honestly, I don't know if any of the top rated QBs in the draft can translate their game to the NFL. I see them as all being risks. But Bridgewater's Pro Day doesn't bother me at all. He's been impressive where it's counted the most, which is on the field.

Ripple effect of the Penn deal
Donald Penn was in Oakland a few days ago and left for Washington to shop his deal and drive his market up. He returned to Oakland and now the Raiders have gone for the short-term answer at left tackle and probably will not draft a talented young left tackle like Greg Robinson or Jake Matthews.

Instead, the Raiders are probably in play for a quarterback like Johnny Manziel. Isn't it interesting how a 31-year-old offensive tackle cut by the Bucs can have a possible e-ffect on a rookie QB?

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat ... come-along

The Bortles Conundrum

With the right coaching, Blake Bortles is a year away from being the best quarterback in the 2014 NFL draft. And that’s the problem. Which team will take the chance? Here’s an in-depth look at Central Florida’s fabulous and flawed QB

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/03/19/blake-bor ... nfl-draft/

If Bortles played in the NFL right now, he would be a turnover machine and would probably flame out because his mechanics, mostly in the lower body, are extremely flawed.

Ouch. Though the article discusses his positives as well. Worth the read.

dead_poet wrote:The Bortles Conundrum

With the right coaching, Blake Bortles is a year away from being the best quarterback in the 2014 NFL draft. And that’s the problem. Which team will take the chance? Here’s an in-depth look at Central Florida’s fabulous and flawed QB

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/03/19/blake-bor ... nfl-draft/
Ouch. Though the article discusses his positives as well. Worth the read.

II agree. It was interesting.

It remains clear that Bortles is in the position he's in because of his size as much as his performance.

Mothman wrote:It remains clear that Bortles is in the position he's in because of his size as much as his performance.

It's funny, the same could be said about Manziel on the other side.

dead_poet wrote: It's funny, the same could be said about Manziel on the other side.

Absolutely,

It's interesting to see which variables are given the most weight. Size seems to be a significant one in the eyes of scouts. Level of competition obviously gets consideration too, although it doesn't always seem to get weighted the same. For example, is Blake Bortles really a significantly better prospect than Derek Carr? Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like his 3" height advantage and 18 lb. weight advantage are the main reasons he's ranked so much higher.

Mothman wrote:It's interesting to see which variables are given the most weight. Size seems to be a significant one in the eyes of scouts. Level of competition obviously gets consideration too, although it doesn't always seem to get weighted the same. For example, is Blake Bortles really a significantly better prospect than Derek Carr? Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like his 3" height advantage and 18 lb. weight advantage are the main reasons he's ranked so much higher.

That is interesting, but you're right. I think Carr has the arm strength advantage, while Bortles gets the nod in size (and likely a nod in playing in a more "pro-style" offense). But they seem to have similar flaws. I have to admit, Carr's game vs. USC leaves a pretty sour taste in my mouth. For whatever reason, scouts seem to think Bortles might have a higher ceiling.

Bucky Brooks on Carr: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... rending-up
Bucky Brooks on Bortles: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... t-elite-qb

CBS Sports scouts on Carr: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/play ... derek-carr
CBS Sports scouts on Bortles: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/play ... ke-bortles

dead_poet wrote: That is interesting, but you're right. I think Carr has the arm strength advantage, while Bortles gets the nod in size (and likely a nod in playing in a more "pro-style" offense). But they seem to have similar flaws. I have to admit, Carr's game vs. USC leaves a pretty sour taste in my mouth. For whatever reason, scouts seem to think Bortles might have a higher ceiling.

Bucky Brooks on Carr: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... rending-up
Bucky Brooks on Bortles: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... t-elite-qb

CBS Sports scouts on Carr: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/play ... derek-carr
CBS Sports scouts on Bortles: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/play ... ke-bortles

Thanks for the links. It's an interesting comparison.

One of the reasons Carr's performance against USC doesn't trouble me too much is because I think to some extent, it was to be expected. Fresno State was overmatched in that game and because Carr and the rest of the team were unaccustomed to playing against that level of competition, I don't find it surprising that they had trouble when faced with it.

Of course, in the NFL, the level of competition only gets higher but at least at the pro level Carr will be surrounded by a pro level team. I don't think he's the kind of QB a team can draft and play immediately without experiencing some real growing pains but I like his upside a lot.

I also look at that USC game this way: I have yet to see a QB who doesn't struggle or sometimes lose his composure under defensive pressure. After all, that's the whole point of applying such pressure and it works even against the best.

dead_poet wrote: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat ... come-along

I am not sure why Oakland went ahead and signed Donald Penn to a big deal. Oakland could have easily landed Jake Matthews (even Greg Robinson possibly). To me, this move indicates Oakland must really want a QB. Or they hope Sammy Watkins/Khalil Mack falls to them.

HardcoreVikesFan wrote: I am not sure why Oakland went ahead and signed Donald Penn to a big deal. Oakland could have easily landed Jake Matthews (even Greg Robinson possibly). To me, this move indicates Oakland must really want a QB. Or they hope Sammy Watkins/Khalil Mack falls to them.

It's because Oakland needs to spend their cap space. They still had over 30 million in cap room as of yesterday