When the Minnesota Vikings selected Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater in the first-round questions immediately poured in as to who would ultimately start in week one.
The Vikings have a completely new look and feel, under the environment new head coach Mike Zimmer has established on the team. Zimmer uses a no non-sense attitude with a, to put it mildly, energetically vocal approach, and the team has responded well thus far. The same can be said for new offensive coordinator Norv Turner and the different dimensions he’s already brining to the teams offensive game plan.
When it comes to the quarterback competition however, both coaches are being abnormally quiet, raising more questions than answers.
Heres what we know, the Vikings re-signed veteran journey man Matt Cassel to have an insurance policy and a capable backup, while the front office attempted another swing on a franchise quarterback. Last year, during what was supposed to be Christian Ponder’s break-out campaign, Cassel relived the struggling signal caller, playing in nine-games throughout the season. Cassel started six of those games, showing flashes of production while throwing for 11 touchdowns, and helped the team put up 48 points late in the season versus the playoff bound Eagles.
Cassel showed glimpses of the ability to lead his offense down the field, find the open target, protect the ball, and score points. Discouragingly, Cassel went just 3-3 in the games he started last season, and while much of the blame can be thrown on the leagues worst pass defense, in this league the quarterback always gets the spotlight, for good and bad.
So while the Vikings desperately wanted him back on the team, it was clear the future vision of the position for the Vikings didn’t have him in the big picture. Enter Teddy Bridgewater, the top quarterback on numerous scouting big boards throughout the draft process, Bridgewater’s stock fell dramatically after a poor pro day. He would fall no further than 32 though as the Vikings, who previously attempted to trade up for Johnny Manziel, finally found a partner and pulled the trigger on what they hope will be their golden ticket at quarterback.
Even with a bruised ego from a salty pro day, Bridgewater comes into the league with a belt full of tools, and has shown to have the mental capacity to learn football nuances quickly. Even so, history shows us that throwing a young quarterback into the fire too early rarely works out for both parties, as the player hasn’t had the proper time to adjust to the speed of the game while the team vastly can hinder the progression of their first-round pick and savior to the franchise.
I said rarely, but not never. Many agree, Bridgewater is in a unique position with the Vikings and the supreme talent that surrounds him every where he looks. Handing the ball off to best running back in the game should be all he needs, with Adrian Peterson soaking up eight men in the box, giving the passing game boat loads of freedom. Breaking the huddle watching one of the most young and explosive players in the league in Corderelle Patterson line up to his right, while the crafty veteran and Super Bowl winner Greg Jennings sets up on his left, is another feeling of a soft safety blanket freshly pulled from the direr being draped over Teddy. Throw on top Kyle Rudolph, an offensive line loaded with big names, and one of the most successful offensive coaches ever to embark on the game, and rookie or not, Bridgewater is primed for instant success.
While common sense tells us Cassel will begin OTAs, mini camps, and even training camps as the number-one quarterback (and rightfully so), that doesn’t mean coaches won’t sprinkle in opportunities for Bridgewater with the starting unit. Giving both quarterbacks the chance to learn, grow, and develop timing and chemistry is vital for the progression of the team, and sharing the reps is the best way to do that.
While history tells Vikings fans to hope Cassel wins the job, allowing Bridgewater to sit and learn form the sidelines, which has been the most common recipe for success when it comes to grooming rookie signs callers, it won’t be because he wins it by default. Coaches are going to give both players every opportunity to win the job, starting whichever one gives the team the best chance to win.
However, watching the tape combined with the talent surrounding him, don’t be surprised if Bridgewater wins the job outright, truly showcasing the skills that he is the best man for the job, and darting the old league assumptions that rookie quarterbacks can’t have instant success.
Having Matt Cassel start would be great for the development of Teddy Bridgewater, allotting a stock of confidence in the future, hoping that he will someday, with the proper guidance and coaching live up to his billing.
Of course all those questions could be silenced in one quick throwing-motion, if coaches anointed Teddy the job from week-one. So how do they get there? They can’t walk before they crawl, so giving both quarterbacks first-team reps is exactly where they need to start.