He can’t be a successful quarterback. There is no way that he can make it in the National Football League. These very bold statement were made about one, Teddy Bridgewater. They were made after his pro day, where he threw a football with no pads on..to receivers who had no one guarding him. While the pro day could have been the reason for a free-fall at the draft, it wasn’t. The Minnesota Vikings still believed in him, and for good reason, to trade back into the first round at pick 32, and select the Louisville product.
His first week against the Oakland Raiders was very solid for a rookie. He completed six of his thirteen passes, and led the Vikings to a field goal drive in the first quarter. After that drive however, he failed to score again. The very first play of Bridgewater’s pro career was a beauty, play action, rolling to his right, and fired a strike to his receiver for what would have been a 30-yard or so completion. But it was called back on a penalty. In fact, a couple of Teddy’s nice plays were called back because of injuries, or else his stat line would have been even better.
This week will tell us a lot about Bridgewater, as he takes on the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are a terrific defensive team, and should be right up there with the Seattle Seahawks in terms of passing defense. Antonio Cromartie joins a group that already has Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and a very great front four. However, it is looking more and more like Bridgewater is going to luck out, and not have to face their first team defense. In fact, he again won’t start, as veteran Matt Cassel will get the nod again.
What To Watch For-
Pocket Presence/On the Run: Teddy’s accuracy may be the best of the 2014 quarterback class. Whether he is in the pocket or on the move, he’s just precise. Watching him is really a treat, especially being with him being so young. As mentioned above, his very first play in the league, was a play action rollout to his right. While on the run he fired an absolute strike to his receiver. While it did get called back on a penalty, it was impressive. Watching his tape from Louisville, he is just as good in the pocket as he is on the run. How such an accurate quarterback with a good arm fell so late is beyond me. Teddy versus the pass rush of Arizona will be a true test, will he adapt to the more athletic defenders in the league?
Beating He Takes- While Teddy is 6’2” and 214 pounds, he has a small frame. A major flaw of his coming out of college, was if he could handle the beating the NFL can and will dish out. Bridgewater seems like a very intelligent quarterback, it doesn’t seem anyway, that he will take the types of hits that Robert Griffin III takes. Now, Bridgewater is no RGIII, but he does have the ability to use his feet if he needs to.
Now, as smart as he is, and as good as he will be, I don’t see him starting week one for the Vikings. Cassel has done nothing to lose the starting job, and considering he lead the team to three of their five wins, he should and will start. This could make Bridgewater ever better down the road, not having to throw him into the fire right away. And let’s be honest with one another, the Vikings aren’t doing anything this year anyways. So, might as well give him a year to learn.