Powers: Bridgewater goes from Vikings' future to present

[Mothman]

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_265 ... ngs-future

No need for any more chants of "Teddy, Teddy ..." Teddy Bridgewater is now the man, rain or shine, come hell or high water. And Christian Ponder is a heartbeat away from the throne.

We all knew that at some point Bridgewater was going to be the alpha Viking. It's just that sometimes these things don't happen in orderly fashion. On Sunday, the cautious developmental process was short-circuited when Matt Cassel suffered multiple fractures to his left foot.

Just like that Bridgewater went from the quarterback of the future to the quarterback of the present. A pat on the fanny and a "go get 'em" and he was out there against the rough and tumble New Orleans Saints.

More at the link.

The Bridgewater era is officially underway. Excited?

I'm very eager to see what the kid can do. I hope they put together a good game plan for him next week.

[Just Me]

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_265 ... ngs-future
More at the link.

The Bridgewater era is officially underway. Excited?

I'm very eager to see what the kid can do. I hope they put together a good game plan for him next week.

I'm in the "mixed feelings" camp. I think on one hand, I'm excited because he is (hopefully, anyway) the future of the franchise. I would have liked our whole offense to 'gel' a little bit more before he was thrown into the "fire." Receivers dropping passes, marginal running back play, and suspect offensive line play isn't a recipe for success, and I'm hoping it won't "mess with his confidence" if things don't go well for a bit.

But, he looked pretty composed in one of the toughest venues to play in the NFL, and was thrust into that role with little/no warning. In any case, the point is moot. It's "sink or swim time".

TED-DY! TED-DY! TED-DY!

[Mothman]

in the "mixed feelings" camp. I think on one hand, I'm excited because he is (hopefully, anyway) the future of the franchise. I would have liked our whole offense to 'gel' a little bit more before he was thrown into the "fire." Receivers dropping passes, marginal running back play, and suspect offensive line play isn't a recipe for success, and I'm hoping it won't "mess with his confidence" if things don't go well for a bit.

But, he looked pretty composed in one of the toughest venues to play in the NFL, and was thrust into that role with little/no warning. In any case, the point is moot. It's "sink or swim time".

TED-DY! TED-DY! TED-DY!

I think the concerns you've raised are definitely legitimate. Bridgewater is getting his shot under far less than ideal circumstances. Hopefully, the healthy players on the offense around him will step up and help Teddy out. His composure yesterday was encouraging!

[Cliff]

My biggest concern at this point is the offensive line getting him beat up and his confidence (or anything else) getting shattered. Then again, maybe his mobility will help him avoid that.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I want to see Teddy play, but I am a little nervous to see him play. I can take solace in the fact that he looked as good as he could coming off the bench yesterday for us. All I know is something offensively has to change. 16 points in 8 quarters of football is pathetic. Our offensively line is inconsistent and border-line bad (shocking I suppose). If Kyle is out for a long period of time, that is going to hurt.

The team really isn't conducive for Teddy to start with right now. But, if anyone can have success with the shape of our team, it is Teddy.

[frosted]

Thanks for the link - I am certainly feeling more hopeful than a fan of a 1-2 team generally would be, but that's just my nature I suppose. I saw some very encouraging things from Ted yesterday and I am excited to see what a full week of practice and a gameplan tailored to him will yield for our offense. It can't get much worse than the last two games, from an offensive standpoint.

[Leafman]

I just hope everyone here and throughout Vikings Land can temper their enthusiasm a bit and be patient ... Teddy is an amazing talent, and there will certainly be flashes of brilliance as a starter, but there will also be brutal, frustrating growing pains and bonehead mistakes that come with being a young QB in the lightning-quick NFL.

As good as he looked yesterday, he also had 3 terrible misses of pretty easy touch passes to his RBs. True, they were checkdowns, so by definition he was entering panic mode as his other receivers were covered. But those were all easy throws that were off the mark, likely a function of his adrenalin levels and the corresponding compulsion to rush his throw which adversely affected his mechanics.

At some point, throws like that will likely be turnovers that will decide the outcome of a game or two. Or three.

LEAFMAN THE PURPLE FAN

[BGM]

I am not worried about Bridgewater's confidence. He seems pretty unflappable, which seems to be an important ingredient in a successful QB. I actually like him more the more I see him play. I don't think his confidence will ever be an issue.

He already has good medium/short accuracy, and from what we have seen in limited action, he is not a turnover machine, but let's see what he can do when he airs it out a few times.

[The Breeze]

Here is a comment I posted on draft day:

I was hoping for Manziel and have some vague misgivings around Teddy for some reason. I really hope he can stabalize the position for a decade. Love the pickup of Barr.

On a side note: I'm on a little B.C. tour and had no intention of looking at the draft until later this month....wasn't really thinking about it. Anyway, a portion of my dream last night (a bit embarrassing) was the Vikings first game this year. Cassel and the rookie (didn't know yet it was TB) both got knocked out in the 1st qtr....Ponder had to come in.


Thought I should just post that here to jinx it so it doesn't come true.

Enjoy the rest of the draft~

Maybe the first qtr meant 1st qtr of the season? Hope not...but my dreams usually come true. Recently I dreamed that Jim got a tattoo of Brent Farve that covered his whole chest.

Seriously though and to echo the sentiments of many here...the O-line is not that good. I don't want to say they are bad but they definitely seem talked up way too much. I'm sure a lot of what I see (haven't watched a snap this year) has to include RBs and TEs and communication.
Of all the talk about how RBs are being marginalized in the league, why is it that our marginal backs can't gain ground on suspect defenses? (NE and NO) I say it's because AD and Felton have made this line look far better than it actually is.

They are now one missed block from Ponder being under center, I'm actually thankful he is on the roster and has a history here of being able to move the offense...like him or not.

But as far as mismanaging the QB position goes: the biggest issue to me is keeping the guy upright regardless of who that is, and I think the Vikings have really struggled with finding a sustainable identity for the o-line. The loss of Peterson seems to be exacerbating it, although the new scheme and injury to Fusco are factors. Now, all of a sudden, Bridgewater is facing exactly the same scenario that Ponder faced in his rookie season...without AD! Lets hope he doesn't have a game like the Ponder suffered against the Lions that season.
I think RGIII is a remarkable talent and gifted QB with all kinds of tools....but the beating he has taken seems to have broken something essential in him. Methinks it can happen to most any QB under the correct circumstances.

I think Teddy is a tough and steady dude...but that doesn't mean he will survive out there behind Johnson and the ghost of Kalil.

Never a dull moment.

[Pseudo Everything]

I am not worried about Bridgewater's confidence. He seems pretty unflappable, which seems to be an important ingredient in a successful QB. I actually like him more the more I see him play. I don't think his confidence will ever be an issue.

He already has good medium/short accuracy, and from what we have seen in limited action, he is not a turnover machine, but let's see what he can do when he airs it out a few times.

Agreed. I was impressed with the way he handled the Saints pressure, like this play: http://twitpic.com/ebyeds

Man, the OL on that play was just miserable. Loadholt looked like his goal was to be a turnstile but he failed to even reach turnstile status. Kalil completely whiffed on his attempt. Ducasse was lost. Sullivan and Johnson were adequate. Ellison was a beast.

Teddy didn't look like a rookie QB on that play. Very calm, made his read despite the Saints jailbreak, and most importantly he put the rock right where it needed to be.

I think the benefits Teddy will achieve from playing far outweigh any perceived risks about having his confidence shatter due to a leaky OL and nonexistent running game. As for injuries; two things: 1) his mobility and pocket presence seem very good and that will help him avoid the bit hits, and 2) the Zebras are doing a great job of (over)protecting the QB and there just aren't that many hits anymore that knock a QB out of the game (I'm speaking since the rules were expanded in 2011).

[Mothman]

Maybe the first qtr meant 1st qtr of the season? Hope not...but my dreams usually come true. Recently I dreamed that Jim got a tattoo of Brent Farve that covered his whole chest.

It's true!

Seriously though and to echo the sentiments of many here...the O-line is not that good. I don't want to say they are bad but they definitely seem talked up way too much. I'm sure a lot of what I see (haven't watched a snap this year) has to include RBs and TEs and communication.
Of all the talk about how RBs are being marginalized in the league, why is it that our marginal backs can't gain ground on suspect defenses? (NE and NO) I say it's because AD and Felton have made this line look far better than it actually is.

That's been my theory for quite a while now and I think there's something to it.

They are now one missed block from Ponder being under center, I'm actually thankful he is on the roster and has a history here of being able to move the offense...like him or not.

But as far as mismanaging the QB position goes: the biggest issue to me is keeping the guy upright regardless of who that is, and I think the Vikings have really struggled with finding a sustainable identity for the o-line. The loss of Peterson seems to be exacerbating it, although the new scheme and injury to Fusco are factors. Now, all of a sudden, Bridgewater is facing exactly the same scenario that Ponder faced in his rookie season...without AD! Lets hope he doesn't have a game like the Ponder suffered against the Lions that season.
I think RGIII is a remarkable talent and gifted QB with all kinds of tools....but the beating he has taken seems to have broken something essential in him. Methinks it can happen to most any QB under the correct circumstances.

I think Teddy is a tough and steady dude...but that doesn't mean he will survive out there behind Johnson and the ghost of Kalil.

Never a dull moment.

You can say that again.

The best advice for Teddy might be "make quick decisions and get the ball out of your hands".

[mosscarter]

i would rather have ponder in there than have teddy's career ruined because he was thrown into such a mess. face the facts, not only are we bad, but now we are injured. basically the current state of our team is about as bad of a situation you want a rookie qb to start in. if you ask me, in a way he is being set up to fail because of the lack of a running game and no o-line.

[The Breeze]

You can say that again.

The best advice for Teddy might be "make quick decisions and get the ball out of your hands".

Yeah...Even if it means throwing the ball outta bounds...regularly.

Ponder is a mobile QB who got smashed well out of the pocket his rookie season....although Teddy has a much more advanced "pocket mobility".
Ponder's mobility is of the F.E.A.R. variety: F--- Everything And Run...Teddy steps up and sidesteps....as we have all seen.

Most all of Turner's offenses that were successful had great running games with quality backs carrying the ball...HOFers in fact. Run to set up the pass. They may have to resort to an attack along the lines of what he did in Cleveland last season.... only now Rudolph is down too

Norv has his work cut out for him.

[The Breeze]

i would rather have ponder in there than have teddy's career ruined because he was thrown into such a mess. face the facts, not only are we bad, but now we are injured. basically the current state of our team is about as bad of a situation you want a rookie qb to start in. if you ask me, in a way he is being set up to fail because of the lack of a running game and no o-line.

It's a legit concern IMO...but I can't imagine the fan environment would be suitable for Ponder starting over TB. Weren't they booing Ponder in the preseason?
What a mess....

[Cliff]

Of all the talk about how RBs are being marginalized in the league, why is it that our marginal backs can't gain ground on suspect defenses? (NE and NO) I say it's because AD and Felton have made this line look far better than it actually is.

I think the loss of Peterson changes the way other teams play us too. It was potentially dangerous to blitz because that was one less guy available to take down Peterson if he made it to the second level of the defense. Without that fear I would imagine we're seeing more blitzes.