QB Teddy Bridgewater, DET (1 Viewer)

[jonboltz]

Bridgewater didn’t always look like an elite passer on tape.

Ok, fine, so what? Luck would get drafted 100 times out of 100 over Aaron Rodgers, who didn't look like an elite passer in college either.

All that dude from Cal did was throw a bunch of short and intermediate passes. Dunno how his game will translate to the next level.

 

[Faust]

Teddy Bridgewater staying positive on journey to 2014 NFL Draft

Teddy Bridgewater could have longest wait in 2014 NFL Draft

 

[Faust]

Gruden's QB camp: Teddy Bridgewater

 

[Faust]

Ex-Bucs GM: Teddy Bridgewater's stock declined before pro day

 

[Neofight]

Bridgewater didnt always look like an elite passer on tape.

Ok, fine, so what? Luck would get drafted 100 times out of 100 over Aaron Rodgers,

I don't recall many scouts and NFL suits questioning Rodgers arm talent coming out, nor his frame or hand size. More importantly, in today's NFL you don't have as much leeway with the development of young QB's. If Bridgewater goes in the first it will likely be to a team that expects him to start from day one. That obviously wasn't the case in Green Bay with Rodgers; he had the luxury of sitting behind an all time great and no pressure to produce his first few years in the league. Bridgewater will be under a microscope unless a team like New England capitalizes on a fall and scoops him up.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

I'd really liek someone to set us up a pol asking to predict Bridgewater's draft placement. I'd do it but no one would click on it.

 

[cstu]

Bridgewater didnt always look like an elite passer on tape.

Ok, fine, so what? Luck would get drafted 100 times out of 100 over Aaron Rodgers,

Please don't say that.

Bridgewater sold me in the Florida bowl game in 2012. First play he gets jacked up and his first instinct it to look to see if the ball was completed (it should have been). Then he's not fazed at at all and plays a great game against the #4 team in the country.

Then in last year's bowl game against Miami he plays a nearly perfect game.

Bridgewater certainly has limitations - I wish he was bigger, with bigger hands and a stronger arm - but he has 'it' as a QB.

As far as the draft goes, there are good reasons to pass on him with as much talent as there is in this draft. However, he should not make it past the Vikings.

 

[gchip]

Bridgewater certainly has limitations - I wish he was bigger, with bigger hands and a stronger arm - but he has 'it' as a QB.

As far as the draft goes, there are good reasons to pass on him with as much talent as there is in this draft. However, he should not make it past the Vikings.

I'm in total agreement on the first part here. I wonder if some teams are over-thinking things.

For the second, I'd put it at Tennessee. I could see the Vikings taking someone in the 2nd and letting him develop behind Cassell for a year.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater dropped to the Texans at the top of the second round (No. 33 overall) in Mel Kiper's mock draft published on Thursday.
"Let me be clear: This is the top-rated quarterback on my Big Board, a player I have rated higher than Bortles, Manziel or Carr," Kiper wrote. "But my reading of the tea leaves in speaking with many evaluators around the league is that Bridgewater could drop if he slides past a couple of points early on. If I could project trades, I'd have someone taking him later in Round 1 having moved up. Obviously, he's a steal at this point." The saga of Teddy B has been fascinating to watch as the process drags into its final stretch. The Cardinals' star could absolutely be a top 10 pick in May, just as everyone thought during the season. But he could also just as easily drop into the very end of Round 1, or even into the second stanza. No elite prospect has a range of draft outcomes as wide as that of Bridgewater.

Source: ESPN Insider

Apr 17 - 11:08 PM

 

[Neofight]

Bridgewater didnt always look like an elite passer on tape.

Ok, fine, so what? Luck would get drafted 100 times out of 100 over Aaron Rodgers,

Don't say what? I'm just stating the obvious. I agree that he has it as a QB; in the college game. How well that translates will depend on where he goes, what kind of coaching he gets and how much is expected of him immediately. Aaron Rodgers might not have been Aaron Rodgers if he didn't ride the pine for three years and mature. I remember spot duty he had the first few years where the announcers were pretty much laughing at the guy.

I think Bridgewater can be a great QB in the NFL, but I don't think it will be very easy for him if he goes to a team that has a poor offense with a bad O-line. He would have a much tougher time than an RGIII, WIlson or Luck in that situation, in my estimation.

 

[cstu]

Don't say what? I'm just stating the obvious.

I was joking and don't want the Patriots to get him.

 

[RUSF18]

I've watched more of Bridgewater than any other premium prospect in the draft, and I have complete faith in his ability to win at the NFL level. While it would never happen, and this is easy for me to say since I won't have to face the music if it didn't work out, as a Niners fan I'd have no problem at all in trading Kaepernick for assets, saving the $18 million a year, and grabbing Teddy. Would definitely pull the trigger in a Madden league.

 

[Borden]

Matt Ryan: 6'4" 220 BMI 26.8

Teddy Bridgewater: 6'3" 210 BMI 26.2

Matt Ryan per NFL.com combine profile.

STRENGTHS

Positives: Has a tall frame with good muscle tone and, while a bit lean, he has the frame to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness...More of a short-to-intermediate passer, but he does a good job of going through progressions and is limber enough to make those throws while on the move...Very accurate passer when flushed out of the pocket, but has the strength to step up and absorb punishment...Shows the balance and body control to throw the ball across his body from the outside hashes, demonstrating good lateral slide (4.29 20-yard shuttle) for his position...Has a quick drive back from center to his throwing point, setting his feet properly before delivering the throw...Good team leader who puts in the extra hours in the film room and training room...Good lifter who plays with a fiery attitude and won't back away from a confrontation...Has very good game-management skills, making quick decisions while generally showing proper judgment...Cool under pressure and knows how to step up and avoid the bull rush...Seems to have ice water running through his veins and is never rattled, despite facing a fierce pass rush...Has complete command of the huddle and the training staff calls him one of the toughest players to ever wear a BC uniform, citing his dedication and long hours rehabilitating from offseason foot surgery...Drives away from center with a fluid stride and has the body control to quickly get into position to make the throw, whether in the pocket or on the move (can pass from the sprint or from dropback action)...Has an over-the-shoulder delivery and release, carrying the ball chest-high, and has a quick wrist flick and ability to adjust his release depending on the throwing situation, but he makes most of his mistakes on the deep ball. In that situation, he threw nine of his 10 interceptions in 2006 and 10 of 14 in '07...It is rare to see him force the ball, showing patience going through progressions and also has the intelligence to get innovative...Has the strength to stand tall in the pocket and will not be forced into rushing his throws (will take a sack rather than fire into traffic)...Not easy to knock down once he gets on the move and is a slippery runner who lacks valid foot speed, but has good side-step agility...Inspires the confidence of the entire team on the field and he is a mature leader who won't point fingers, rather accepting blame for a broken play...Excels throwing in the short area, as he puts good zip and touch on his throws, especially on underneath and crossing routes...Can vary his speed and take something off when working in this area...Very good game manager who has the pinpoint accuracy to put the ball into tight areas and keeps the receivers in their routes, doing a nice job of hitting them out of the breaks...Can vary the speed on his short throws, but can drill it to his targets while on the move without having his man have to adjust...Has a nice feel for pocket pressure, demonstrating the vision to locate the backside action and does a good job of stepping up and out to avoid, but will not hesitate to tuck the ball and run with it, if he locates a good crease...Has the ideal height you look for in a quarterback to scan the field over the defensive linemen and is quick to check down and locate his secondary receivers, keeping defenses honest when rolling out, as he does not need to set his feet to fire the ball on the move...In 2007, he showed improved footwork in his setup, driving back from center much smoother than in the past...Surveys the field and goes through progressions well, but needs to look off his primary target more often...Worked hard to improve throwing the deep pass with better placement...Not really an escape artist, but he shows good awareness to pressure and has enough mobility to elude heat in the pocket...Knows how to vary the speed of his tosses when working underneath.

Negatives: Lacks the arm strength to challenge the deep secondary, as his long throws tend to flutter or hang up long enough for defenders to attack the ball in flight (see 2006 Brigham Young and Wake Forest contests and 2007 Massachusetts and Virginia Tech games)...Needs to do a better job of planting his feet to get more zip behind his long throws...Has inconsistent and adequate velocity when firing the ball deep...Weakest area of his game is exposed when he attempts to fire the deep ball, as the pass tends to lack accuracy...Runs too hot and cold when trying to air the ball out, as his long throws lack trajectory...Needs to improve timing on his deep throws, as he is very inconsistent hitting those targets coming out of cuts...Holds for PATs and field goals, but needs to be quicker fielding and placing the ball...Strong runner with the ball, but runs a bit erect, resulting in fumble issues, as he does not always protect the ball when breaking past the line of scrimmage...Does not have the foot quickness to keep defenses honest as a runner and while he shows good vision as a passer, he will run into a crowd when carrying the pigskin (needs to be more alert to cutback lanes)...When he generates a high push in his delivery or throws off his back foot, his passes lose some zip, resulting in a high amount of tosses getting deflected (see 2007 North Carolina State, Massachusetts, Virginia Tech and Florida State games)...When he holds on to the ball too long waiting for his receivers to break, he will leave his passes behind too often (see 2007 Wake Forest, Virginia Tech SEC Game, Florida State and Maryland contests)...Needs to make quicker decisions when he is flushed out of the pocket and must stop trying to force his throws into tight areas...Needs to protect the ball better; had fumble issues in 2007, especially after getting sacked (see 2007 Georgia Tech, Miami and Michigan State games).

Compares To: MATT SCHAUB-Houston...Before 2007, Ryan looked a lot like the Jets' Chad Pennington, only much more effective utilizing a short-to-intermediate area passing attack. He has good mobility to throw when flushed out of the pocket and is an efficient game manager. He shows good strength stepping up in the pocket and the lateral agility to side-step the bull rush, but is not a threat to get big real estate with his feet. He lacks accuracy and arm strength when unleashing the long ball, as most of his interceptions were the result of him trying to attack the deep secondary. He is a cool field general with a great work ethic and shows some similarity to Rich Gannon (ex-Raiders, Chiefs) in his ability to be innovative on the field. He is not a good fit for a vertical passing attack, but for a team comfortable moving the chains with a mistake-free engineer at the helm, they could find a nice fit in Ryan during the draft's first day.

Teddy Bridgewater per NFL.com combine profile.

STRENGTHS Extremely competitive and driven to succeed. Well-prepared and confident in his approach. Operated a pro-style, progression-read offense where he is asked to scan the whole field and set protections. Footwork is very clean and in rhythm -- throws on balance with sound mechanics, a fluid delivery and smooth stroke. Very good timing, touch and anticipation -- throws receivers open. Is patient working through his reads and will step up in the pocket. Sells play-action hard and takes what the defense gives him. 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. Is a student of the game with a very good understanding of football concepts. Plays like a coach on the field, knows the responsibilities of everyone on the field and can get teammates lined up correctly. Makes few mental errors. Consistently moves the chains and converts in critical situations. Is given a lot of autonomy to make pre-snap reads and adjustments at the line of scrimmage and understands how to exploit defenses. Meticulous in his preparation. Has a passion for the game and really works at it. Smart, determined and focused. Is only 21 years old -- incredibly mature for his age and can see the big picture. Really works at his craft and showed gradual improvement every season. Football is extremely important to him. Highly respected, unselfish team leader.

WEAKNESSES Has a very lean, narrow frame with limited bulk and small hands. Does not drive the ball with velocity down the field and can be affected by cold and windy conditions (see Cincinnati). Can improve placement and touch on the deep ball. Adequate athlete. Is not an overly elusive scrambler -- struggles escaping the rush and buying a second chance with his feet vs. pressure. Passing stats are padded from operating a passing game that relies heavily on short, lateral tosses. Long-term durability could become a concern without continued strength and weight gains.

BOTTOM LINE

A calculated, football-smart, precision-matchup rhythm passer, Bridgewater would be best suited entering a warm-weather or dome environment such as those most common in the South divisions. Would stand to benefit heavily from operating a short, dink-and-dunk rhythm passing game. Compensates for a lack of elite arm talent and prototype measureables with the intangibles and football intelligence that could elevate the other 52 players around him. Instinctive passer with the laser-beam determination to become a Pro Bowl-caliber passer in the right system.

 

[cstu]

Matt Ryan: 6'4" 220 BMI 26.8

Teddy Bridgewater: 6'3" 210 BMI 26.2

Ryan is 6-4 6/8

Bridgewater is 6-2 1/8

A difference of over 2.5".

 

[Borden]

Hands:
Johnny Manziel 9 7/8
Blake Bortles 9 3/8
Teddy Bridgewater 9 1/4
Geno Smith last year: 9.28.

Matt Barkley’s hands measured at 10.08.

EJ Manuel had the largest in 2013, at 10.38.

Russell Wilson measured 10 1/4 in 2012. Ryan

Tannehill came in at just 9.

Colin Kaepernick in 2011: 9 1/8.

Andrew Luck - 10"
RGIII - 9 1/2"
Blaine Gabbert - 10"
Cam Newton - 9 7/8"
Jake Locker 9 7/8"
Christian Ponder 10 1/4"
Andy Dalton 9 5/8"
Sam Bradford 9 1/2"
Jimmy Claussen 9"
Mark Sanchez 10 1/2"
Matt Stafford 10"
Matt Ryan 9 1/2"

 

[Borden]

Matt Ryan: 6'4" 220 BMI 26.8

Teddy Bridgewater: 6'3" 210 BMI 26.2

Ryan is 6-4 6/8

Bridgewater is 6-2 1/8

A difference of over 2.5".

I was getting different numbers at different sites. If you use NFL.com Combine Profiles it's:

Ryan 6'5" 224 BMI 26.6

Bridewater 6'2" 214 BMI 27.5

 

[Rockchild]

Matt Ryan: 6'4" 220 BMI 26.8

Teddy Bridgewater: 6'3" 210 BMI 26.2

Ryan is 6-4 6/8

Bridgewater is 6-2 1/8

A difference of over 2.5".

I was getting different numbers at different sites. If you use NFL.com Combine Profiles it's:

Ryan 6'5" 224 BMI 26.6

Bridewater 6'2" 214 BMI 27.5

Hands:
Johnny Manziel 9 7/8
Blake Bortles 9 3/8
Teddy Bridgewater 9 1/4
Geno Smith last year: 9.28.

Matt Barkley’s hands measured at 10.08.

EJ Manuel had the largest in 2013, at 10.38.

Russell Wilson measured 10 1/4 in 2012. Ryan

Tannehill came in at just 9.

Colin Kaepernick in 2011: 9 1/8.

Andrew Luck - 10"

RGIII - 9 1/2"

Blaine Gabbert - 10"

Cam Newton - 9 7/8"

Jake Locker 9 7/8"

Christian Ponder 10 1/4"

Andy Dalton 9 5/8"

Sam Bradford 9 1/2"

Jimmy Claussen 9"

Mark Sanchez 10 1/2"

Matt Stafford 10"

Matt Ryan 9 1/2"

I'm more interested in Hand-Short Shuttle/Hand-BMI

 

[LawFitz]

Aaron Rodgers 9 3/8" hands. Only 1/8'' more than TB.

TB's hands are big enough to get the job done. More importantly, his between the ears tissue is the best developed of any QB in this draft. By far.

 

[Faust]

Mayock: Teddy Bridgewater not a first-round quarterbackBy Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

Teddy Bridgewater was once the quarterback who could do no wrong as the top quarterback prospect in the 2014 NFL Draft. It seems that ever since his pro day, however, he seemingly can't do anything right.

Bridgewater has seen his stock drop significantly over the past two months, sliding behind fellow quarterbacks Blake Bortles, Derek Carr and Johnny Manziel on several draft boards. While Bridgewater still has a chance of going in the first round when the draft rolls around in May, it's become clear that a number of teams are souring on him quite a bit.

NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock was in Louisville to watch Bridgewater's pro day and came away saying that the workout drew a few red flags for him and that he would need to go back to the film room to re-evaluate the signal-caller.

Appearing on "The Petros and Money Show" on Friday, Mayock seemed to join the chorus of folks who now think that Bridgewater doesn't make the grade as a first-rounder anymore.

"I would say in general, tape is worth about 85 percent of an overall grade, and the rest of the process is set up for red flags, and to go back and watch more tape to try to confirm what you saw or didn't see," Mayock said. "I saw about four of his tapes prior to the combine, and I really liked him. I thought he had a chance to be a franchise quarterback from what I saw on the tape. ... Except you've got to see the quarterbacks throw the ball live. I've never seen a top-level quarterback in the last 10 years have a bad pro day, until Teddy Bridgewater. He had no accuracy, the ball came out funny, the arm strength wasn't there, and it made me question everything I saw on tape because this was live.

"I went back and watched a bunch more tape and compared him to the rest of the guys in the draft," he said. "And like it or not, I've come to a conclusion -- if I was a GM in the NFL, I would not take him in the first round of the draft."

In his latest position-by-position rankings, Mayock slots Bridgewater behind Manziel and Bortles as the third-best quarterback in the draft. Considering the analyst had him atop his list coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine, that's a rather signficant drop in just a few weeks. Only fellow NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has remained firm and kept Bridgewater as his top quarterback.

Recent NFL.com mock drafts are also split on Bridgewater. Some have him going as high as eighth overall to the Minnesota Vikings while a number of others have him out of the first round. The good news for Bridgewater is that he needs only one team to fall in love with him during the draft.

Bridgewater threw for 3,970 yards last year with 31 touchdowns and four interceptions. While he is not the most mobile quarterback in this year's draft, he is praised for his ability to move in the pocket, his accuracy downfield and intangibles.

Despite seeing his stock take a severe drop over the past few weeks, the good news for Bridgewater is he continues to keep his head up and is thinking positively heading into May.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.

 

[Faust]

Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater raising concern over basic skills

 

[MAC_32]

Mayock, you used to know what you are talking about. The suits got to you.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Mayock, you used to know what you are talking about. The suits got to you.

 

[MAC_32]

Mayock, you used to know what you are talking about. The suits got to you.

why does he blow?Ramblin wreck - but seriously I dont know

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater's 71 percent completion percentage was the highest amongst qualified BCS-AQ quarterbacks last year.
Not only that, but Bridgewater's average pass sailed 9.5 yards past the LOS, a yard and a half longer than average. He completed 77.2 percent on passes thrown between 5 and 15 yards downfield, accuracy that allowed Cardinals' WRs to lead the American Athletic Conference in yards after the catch on intermediate passes. Only four of FBS QBs finished with a lower interception percentage than Bridgewater's (four interceptions in 427 passing attempts). Bridgewater also completed 53.5 percent of his passes under duress, compared to the average of 35 percent. "No QB in this draft shows on tape a better understanding of his offense and how to read defenses and blitzes than Bridgewater," ESPN's Todd McShay said. Bridgewater has become a victim of the process, with his measurables and poor pro day driving the narrative, but don't forget to check out his game tapes. They don't lie.

Source: ESPN.com

 

[Faust]

Conway: Teddy Bridgewater will be best bargain in draftBy Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

The fall of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on draft boards is easily one of the top storylines heading into the 2014 NFL Draft. He began the year as the near consensus top quarterback but suffered another blow Monday, when NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock pushed him further down his position rankings -- he is now in a tie for fifth with LSU's Zach Mettenberger.

How did someone rated so highly fall so fast? Most people point to his subpar pro day performance and increased talk in league circles about his frame not being quite as ideal for a signal-caller at the next level. Though Bridgewater was invited to attend the draft in New York City, he's far from a first-round lock at this point. If he does slip to the second round though, NFL Media analyst Curtis Conway believes he would wind up as the best value selection of the entire draft.

"If Teddy Bridgewater ends up in the second round, you're talking about a bargain," Conway said on "Path to the Draft." "He will definitely be the best bargain in this draft."

Recent NFL.com mock drafts have Bridgewater going as high as eighth overall to the Minnesota Vikings. Recent trends, however, point to him falling to the Cleveland Browns and their second first-round pick (26th overall) or out of the first round entirely. It seems as though, in just a few short months, Bridgewater has gone from boom to bust without taking a snap.

Conway and fellow analyst Daniel Jeremiah aren't buying all that's being said about Bridgewater after re-watching some of his tape. In his latest draft rankings, Jeremiah keeps the Louisville quarterback as the top player at his position and the 11th-best overall player in the draft. Both believe that the team that ultimately selects Bridgewater will not only be getting a bargain but a quarterback who can help them win games early in his career as a rookie.

"We're talking about the number one quarterback in this draft before his pro day -- all of a sudden, after his pro day he's starting to decline gradually," Conway added. "When I turn that film on, this is the most pro-ready guy of all these quarterbacks."

Where Bridgewater will be taken in the draft is anybody's guess at this point given all the rumors surrounding him. It only takes one team to fall in love with him despite all that and it seems quite clear based on what a few analysts are saying that someone will end up pretty happy they selected Bridgewater on draft day.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.

 

[Faust]

Report: Teddy Bridgewater can collect if he falls out of top 10By Mike Huguenin

College Football 24/7 writer

Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater purchased insurance that would pay him $5 million if he falls out of the top 10 and the fall can be proved to have been caused by injury or illness.

Bridgewater purchased a $5 million loss-of-value insurance policy after the 2013 season, ESPN.com reported. That came on top of his $10 million total disability injury policy. Disability insurance has become common among top prospects, but ESPN.com reported that, "It is believed that no player who has bought loss-of-value insurance for the NFL draft has actually collected."

Bridgewater seems increasingly likely to go outside the top 10, but there have been no injury or illness concerns that have been made public. Instead, Bridgewater critics point to his relatively mediocre pro-day workout as a reason he is dropping on draft boards.

NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock recently explained his reasoning for dropping Bridgewater: "I saw about four of his tapes prior to the combine, and I really liked him. I thought he had a chance to be a franchise quarterback from what I saw on the tape. ... Except you've got to see the quarterbacks throw the ball live. I've never seen a top-level quarterback in the last 10 years have a bad pro day, until Teddy Bridgewater. He had no accuracy, the ball came out funny, the arm strength wasn't there, and it made me question everything I saw on tape because this was live. I went back and watched a bunch more tape and compared him to the rest of the guys in the draft. And like it or not, I've come to a conclusion -- if I was a GM in the NFL, I would not take him in the first round of the draft."

But it's not just his bad pro-day workout. In mid-January -- more than three months ago and about three weeks after Louisville's season ended -- NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah tweeted that "I know several teams that don't view him as a 1st-round player."

In his most recent mock draft, Jeremiah has Bridgewater going 26th to the Cleveland Browns. Fellow analysts Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis, in their most recent mocks, also have Bridgewater going 26th, while NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger doesn't have Bridgewater going in the first round.

It's to the point now that NFL Network analyst Curtis Conway says that if Bridgewater falls into the second round, "He will definitely be the best bargain in this draft."

It was reported that the loss-of-value policy cost less than $20,000. Again, though, the only way for Bridgewater to collect is to prove illness or injury caused the loss of value.

Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.

 

[Faust]

The SI 64, No. 1: QB Teddy Bridgewater

Doug Farrar

Excerpt:

No. 1: Louisville QB Teddy BridgewaterBio: There are times in life when one simply has to turn off all the noise and focus on what you can control. And in the 2014 pre-draft process, no player has had to learn and re-learn this more than Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. When he finished his 2013 season with 303 completions in 473 attempts (a 71 completion percentage) for 3,970 yards, 31 touchdowns and just four interceptions, he was thought to be a universal top-five prospect. Since then, and especially after Bridgewater’s sub-par pro day, his stock has been dropping precipitously in the cottage industries of mock draft and overall draft speculation, to the point where some well-respected draftniks have said that they wouldn’t even take him in the first round.

“I would say in general, tape is worth about 85 percent of an overall grade, and the rest of the process is set up for red flags, and to go back and watch more tape to try to confirm what you saw or didn’t see,” Mike Mayock of the NFL Network said a few days ago. “I saw about four of his tapes prior to the combine, and I really liked him. I thought he had a chance to be a franchise quarterback from what I saw on the tape. … Except you’ve got to see the quarterbacks throw the ball live. I’ve never seen a top-level quarterback in the last 10 years have a bad pro day, until Teddy Bridgewater. He had no accuracy, the ball came out funny, the arm strength wasn’t there, and it made me question everything I saw on tape because this was live.

“I went back and watched a bunch more tape and compared him to the rest of the guys in the draft,” he said. “And like it or not, I’ve come to a conclusion — if I was a GM in the NFL, I would not take him in the first round of the draft.”

Bridgewater said that the decision to forego his throwing glove affected his pro day accuracy, but the larger point is this — if a pro day can so negatively affect one’s perception of a player, is that player’s tape as incandescent as it needs to be?

Let’s throw the paralysis by analysis out the window and go back to the tape.

Strengths: Of all the quarterbacks in this class, Bridgewater has the best and most comprehensive command of the little things that help signal-callers at the next level. He is a true multi-read quarterback who doesn’t have to rely on his first option. He takes the ball cleanly from center, and his footwork on the drop is clean and variable — that is to say, he can drop straight back or seamlessly head into motion throws. And on the move, Bridgewater runs to throw. He keeps his shoulders squared and his eyes active, allowing him to make some difficult deep and intermediate throws on boot-action left, when he’s throwing across his body on the run. And when under pressure in and out of the pocket, he still looks to get the ball out — he’ll elude and throw his way out of trouble (again, for the most part). In a general sense, Bridgewater is a very resourceful player — he looks to make the most of what he’s got. Sees the field peripherally — Bridgewater has a good sense of converging coverage, and he understands the timing of the throw. And though his deep ball is nothing to write home about, he does have a nice arc in his deeper timing throws when he needs to.

Mechanically, there’s nothing that really beguiles Bridgewater on a consistent basis — he’s generally decisive, he has a very quick overhand release (used to have a problem with sidearm, but he’s clearly working on it) and he uses his lower body to gain velocity. Even when he’s throwing off-angle from weird spots, he’s trained himself to keep proper mechanics, which is something you can’t yet say about Johnny Manziel.

Weaknesses: Bridgewater’s desire to make plays on the move occasionally results in needless sacks, as he will at times hold onto the ball too long. Occasional mental and mechanical lapses will lead to erratic throws, and though too much has been generally made of this in the media, it’s an issue that his NFL coach will have to clean up. This is especially true on his deep passes, which will sail wildly at times. And though he’s functionally mobile, he’s not a true runner — he’s going to make a difference as a quarterback, not a slash player.

Conclusion: The more I go back and re-watch Bridgewater tape, the less willing I am to drop into the seemingly common perception that he’s got some abnormally low ceiling, and that he’ll top off pretty quickly in the NFL. Most of his deep ball issues can be fixed by the kinds of coaching and strength training that all kinds of quarterbacks (Drew Brees and Tom Brady come immediately to mind) have benefited from in obvious ways. And yes, he played at about 190 pounds through the final bit of his 2013 season, but showing up weighing 214 pounds at the combine was a definite statement. And yes, he really blew it at his pro day … but let’s be real here: Any NFL executive who will throw multiple scouted games out the window based on a shirt-and-shorts session, whether positive or negative, is probably on his way out the door.

Is Bridgewater the perfect collegiate quarterback? No. There are clearly things he needs to work on, which is true of just about every quarterback prospect. But when it comes to combining innate skills and developmental potential in an NFL view, it’s hard for me to put anyone above Bridgewater. He’s already got a lot on the ball, and with time and patience, he could be the kind of quarterback that defines a franchise.

NFL player comparison: A slightly taller and less mobile Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (3rd round, 2012, Wisconsin)

 

[Faust]

Mayock: Bridgewater's ability to be face of franchise in question

By Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

One day, depending on how his career goes, there very well could be a movie made on how Teddy Bridgewater fell so far in the 2014 NFL Draft. After emerging from his final season at Louisville as the top quarterback in the country, Bridgewater has taken hit after hit after hit, to the point where some say he might not go in the first round.

NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock is one of many who have moved Bridgewater down in his positional rankings, dropping him from No. 1 before the NFL Scouting Combine to No. 5 two weeks before the draft. While a lot of the fall can be attributed to Bridgewater's subpar pro day, Mayock has talked with NFL personnel and continues to hear that other issues are popping up for teams.

"First and foremost, you want to say the tape is most important," Mayock said on "Path to the Draft." "We talk about that all the time, but at the quarterback position, you have to see the guy throw live. We all know that that pro day was below average for a top-level quarterback. I talked to a lot of teams, and I'm hearing a heck of a lot more second-round grades than first-round grades.

"What I'm hearing is two things. Number one, when we saw him throw live we didn't see arm strength and didn't see accuracy. Number two, when you draft a quarterback in the first round you expect him to be the face of your franchise, you expect him to embrace the moment. I think people had some concerns about whether or not this young man is ready to step up and be the face of a franchise."

Bridgewater has been one of the most debated prospects in the draft, but most of the talk has centered around his ability to throw the football. While debate has intensified regarding his ability to be an NFL quarterback, this is one of the first time we've heard teams question him being the face of a franchise.

For anybody who followed his career in college, that would probably be a point of contention with NFL teams who think that. Though Bridgewater comes off a bit reserved in interviews, his calm demeanor shouldn't overshadow his ability to lead a program. He was one of the most prominent high school quarterbacks in the country, thanks to a three-year stint as a starter at Miami's famed Northwestern High School. He was selected to the Army All-American Bowl as a senior and was one of the most heavily recruited players in the state of Florida before eventually committing to Charlie Strong and Louisville late in the process.

Bridgewater then burst onto the scene as a freshman and helped lead Louisville's resurgence onto the national scene that was highlighted by a BCS bowl win over SEC power Florida during his sophomore season. Though he fell off the radar some in his final year, he was still one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the country and considered a near lock to be a first-round pick.

Recent NFL.com mock drafts do have Bridgewater falling to the Cleveland Browns with the 26th overall selection, but talk has heated up before the draft that he will most likely land in the second round. Despite the adversity, Bridgewater is staying positive throughout the process and will be one of 30 prospects in New York City for the draft.

"I want to bang the table for the kid's tape," Mayock said. "However, you have to see him throw live."

With the exception of Johnny Manziel, there has not been a more interesting prospect to follow during the draft this year than Bridgewater and his up-and-down journey.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.

 

[gchip]

This year is really confirming for me that unless a prospect is brain-dead obvious (Luck), teams seem to revert to a checklist something like this:

• Big? - check
• Can throw? - check
• Big? - check

Optional items (not need if 2 of 3 above items are met):

• Can throw accurately?
• Good tape / real game play?
• Steady improvement year to year?
• Played in pro-style offense?

Welcome to the 1st round of the draft Mr. Garroppolo!

 

[Faust]

Bridgewater: My Pro Day was bad, but my game tape speaks volumesPosted by Michael David Smith on May 1, 2014, 6:08 PM EDT

Former Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has heard all the stories about how his draft stock is dropping, and he has a straightforward request: Watch him play football.

Asked by Trey Wingo on ESPN what is causing his stock to drop, Bridgewater answered, “It’s simple: The Pro Day.”

But while Bridgewater knows his Pro Day left a lot to be desired, he believes coaches, scouts and general managers who watch his game tape will see that he throws the ball a lot better on the field than he did during that workout.

“Put on the game tape. The game tape speaks volumes because I’m in live action, I’m out there making reads, going through progressions, redirection protection, signaling hot routes, getting the offense in and out of the right play. Looking at those things, I think those things outweigh the Pro Day,” Bridgewater said.

If Bridgewater doesn’t hear his name called one week from tonight, he’ll learn the hard way that the tape doesn’t always outweigh the Pro Day.

 

[Faust]

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer

Heard Teddy Bridgewater had a pretty strong workout for one club, and got better during the workout -- Which translates to coachability.

 

[Faust]

Some scouts are concerned Bridgewater will never become a starterPosted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2014, 6:13 AM EDT

With the bizarre disconnect between the media’s pre-Combine love of Teddy Bridgewater to the pre-draft belief by some of the most plugged in draft experts that Bridgewater will slide out of round one entirely, we’ve decided to try to figure out what teams think of the guy.

And while the reality is that every team could have a vastly different view of a player, with some loving the player and others hating him (or 31 hating him and one loving him enough to make him a first-round pick), some scouts are concerned that Bridgewater may never become a starting quarterback in the NFL.

(I generally avoid sharing opinions from anonymous scouts before the draft because of the potential for bias and agenda affecting the scout’s opinion. The rule of thumb remains that scouts who love a guy will be inclined to knock him in the hopes of having the player fall to their team, and that scouts who hate a guy will be inclined to say good things about him, so that another team will waste a pick on the player. I’m making an exception in this case because: (1) the conflicting views on Bridgewater have become frustrating to the point of maddening; (2) I’m convinced that the scout who shared this information isn’t trying to grease the skids for Bridgewater to slide to his team; (3) the scout is sufficiently experienced and knowledgeable and proven in his work to make his views reliable; and (4) the biggest problem I have with the use of opinions from anonymous scouts is that reporters who share the information typically don’t provide this kind of background or disclaimer, making it impossible for the audience to even begin to assess the reliability of the information.)

With all that said (and if you’re still reading this, you get a free one-year subscription to PFT), the thinking is that Bridgewater has the will to become a great quarterback. He’ll work hard, and he’ll do everything that is asked of him. He’ll never create a single problem for the franchise, being a good teammate and a model citizen.

Physically, however, the thinking by some is that Bridgewater simply lacks the attributes necessary to make him one of the rare men who can be starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Bridgewater isn’t particularly big, he’s not particularly fast, his hands aren’t particularly large, and he doesn’t have a particularly strong arm in comparison to other starting quarterbacks.

He’s also viewed by some as a player who won’t take control of an offense. The young quarterbacks who have thrived right away have that trait; they take over immediately, and it’s undeniable that they deserve the job.

While there’s a perception that young quarterbacks who become starters immediately are in some way anointed by their teams, the blessing often comes not from the coaching staff or the front office but from the players, who won’t follow or respond to a quarterback in whom they don’t believe. With Bridgewater, there’s a concern that Bridgewater won’t take over in the way that he needs to take over.

So why did the teams and the draft experts have such a different view of Bridgewater? One reason could be that teams spend more time scouting seniors than underclassmen during the season, since it’s typically not known which of the underclassmen will be available in the draft. Every player has a ceiling at some point between college football and the Pro Football Hall of Fame; it seems that the draft experts’ assessment of Bridgewater’s ceiling has been much more favorable than the assessment that has occurred by the folks whose jobs depend on their ability to divine the potential of future NFL players.

Obviously, Bridgewater’s one and only open workout specifically for NFL scouts didn’t do much to convince teams that he’s ready to rise to the occasion and bust through the ceiling that would allow him to be an effective NFL starter. With so many future NFL quarterbacks — franchise players, busts, and all in between — consistently having stellar Pro Day workouts, Bridgewater’s was glaring, and it reinforced the opinions that some already had.

With two extra weeks to go until the draft and some owners showing a willingness to take advantage of that extra time to display more interest in the process, current questions like, “Explain to me why you’re interested in this guy again?” eventually could become, “Explain to my why you draft this guy again?”

Which eventually could become a decision by the owner to have someone else do the drafting. Which has resulted in the most plugged-in draft experts coming to the conclusion that Bridgewater has become destined to slide out of round one.

 

[jonboltz]

The more anti-Teddy stuff that comes out, the more I believe that he is the #1 QB on most teams boards.

 

[MAC_32]

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer

Heard Teddy Bridgewater had a pretty strong workout for one club, and got better during the workout -- Which translates to coachability.

so, similar to what was said about him throughout college and not the last two months.

 

[jurb26]

Saw a mock this morning where he was going to HOU at 3.01... Unreal. Public smear campaign really worked here.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Saw a mock this morning where he was going to HOU at 3.01... Unreal. Public smear campaign really worked here.

Dude the NFL guys don't listen to the public. If they live him they will draft him high. You guys mix internet dorks with reality too much sometimes

 

[jurb26]

Saw a mock this morning where he was going to HOU at 3.01... Unreal. Public smear campaign really worked here.

Dude the NFL guys don't listen to the public. If they live him they will draft him high. You guys mix internet dorks with reality too much sometimes

Where did I say NFL teams listened to this nonsense? I've been pretty clear and consistent that this is all media fodder.

 

[Faust]

Do the Bengals have eyes for Teddy Bridgewater?

 

[MAC_32]

Saw a mock this morning where he was going to HOU at 3.01... Unreal. Public smear campaign really worked here.

nfl personnel guy to Bob McGinn, the best drafts were when they were done right after the Sr Bowl. Decisions were made based on wht happened in October and November, you know, when games matter. Now they are made based on what they see in March and April.

 

[MAC_32]

Saw a mock this morning where he was going to HOU at 3.01... Unreal. Public smear campaign really worked here.

Dude the NFL guys don't listen to the public. If they live him they will draft him high. You guys mix internet dorks with reality too much sometimes

Where did I say NFL teams listened to this nonsense? I've been pretty clear and consistent that this is all media fodder.

I don't agree. Some franchises are smart enough, but there are plenty of dumb ones that fall victim to this stuff. Probably ones looking for a quarterback because they're traditionally poorly run franchises,

 

[Xue]

"Just doesn't stand out". Bridgewater is like the Bishop Sankey of QBs.

 

[Faust]

Casserly: Teddy Bridgewater didn't make many 'special throws'By Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer

Just a few days from now we will be on the other side of the 2014 NFL Draft and won't be bombarded by terms like "knee bend," "slender frame," and, of course, "high motor" until the calendar turns to 2015. Until then, we still have a little bit more time to break down draft prospects ahead of Thursday night.

NFL Media analyst Charley Casserly jumped on "Path to the Draft" on Monday when the topic of Teddy Bridgewater came up. In his latest mock draft, Casserly was the latest in a long line of folks who kept Bridgewater out of the first round, partly because of what he's been hearing but also because of what he's seen on tape.

"When I watch him play, I see a lot of positives, mainly field-vision and knowing where to go with the football," Casserly said. "I don't see a lot of special throws with him. That's what you want to see an NFL quarterback separate himself from. With [Blake] Bortles, you see some of those throws out of him. Even [Johnny] Manziel you see some throws.

"I think the guy is probably going to go in the second round unless somebody wants to trade up at the end of the first."

Bridgewater's journey to New York City has been well chronicled as he's gone from a possible No. 1 overall pick to someone who might go as low as the second round. While a number of folks trace the downfall to his uninspiring -- some would even say bad -- pro day, most agree he has one of the more impressive tapes among the top-tier quarterbacks.

That's why it's a little interesting to hear Casserly bring up a lack of special throws. Bridgewater is certainly no Manziel when it comes to jaw-dropping plays, nor does he look like the prototypical drop-back passer, as Bortles does. But if you ask any Louisville fan out there you'll quickly learn he certainly made a few special throws over the past few seasons.

Case in point: this borderline crazy sidearm throw he made for a touchdown against Cincinnati in December. He also had this beautiful toss in the bowl game against Miami.

And let's not forget what he did to Florida in the Sugar Bowl:

Teddy Bridgewater vs. Florida Who knows where Bridgewater ends up going in the draft or what kind of NFL career career he has. One thing we do know is that judging football talent is in the eye of the beholder, and all it takes is one team to fall in love with somebody like Bridgewater to draft him.

Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.

 

[Leroy's Aces]

Another player I am rooting for.

Teddy Bridgewater gives his mom the car he promised in third grade.

 

[Faust]

NFL Draft Under the Microscope: Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater

Eric Edholm

Leading up to the NFL draft on May 8-10, Shutdown Corner will examine some of the most interesting prospects in the class, breaking down their strengths and weaknesses.

Teddy Bridgewater

Quarterback

Louisville

6-foot-2, 214 pounds

2013 stats: 303-of-427 (71.0 percent), 3,970 yards, 31 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 78 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

40-yard dash: 4.78 seconds at pro day (did not run at combine)

The good: Following Bridgewater's strong game in the Cardinals' upset over Florida in the Sugar Bowl to cap the 2012 season, he was touted as a possible top-three pick in the 2014 NFL draft if he declared early. And with a mostly terrific 2013 season, that status appeared to be in good shape, even if the "wow" factor wore off a bit for some who watched him. Still, it was hard not to be enthusiastic about the incredible numbers Bridgewater put up in a 12-1 season with the one loss coming by three points to Blake Bortles and the Fiesta Bowl-winning UCF Knights. And that loss might have been one of his best games of the season.

Bridgewater is a quick-rhythm passer who is extremely accurate and able to throw on the move. He manipluates safeties well with his eyes and has shown the ability to move through his progressions to his second and third receivers when his first one is covered. He generally takes what he is given, has a smooth delivery, throws a very catchable ball and does not put his team in bad positions with mistakes. Expect Bridgewater to come to the team's he's drafted by, absorb the playbook and instantly earn respect — as he did at Louisville — with his work ethic, his football intelligence and his meticulous desire to improve as a pro.

The bad: Bridgewater lacks textbook size, playing around 200 pounds before bulking up prior to the combine, and he's a good but hardly a special athletic specimen who seldom chooses to run. The trouble for Bridgewater really began with a pro day performance that was, frankly, pretty poor. Facing an air defense and running a predetermined script of rehearsed throws, Bridgewater had trouble connecting on even some basic throws, which he and others have chalked up to his forgoing wearing gloves.

He typically wore them for games in college but occasionally took them off (such as the first series of the Cincinnati game in 2013), and some evaluators wonder if he will struggle with gripping NFL footballs in cold weather with relatively smallish hands. Bridgewater struggled throughout stretches of night games in cold and windy conditions against Cincinnati and a winless Connecticut team. Although he stands tall against pressure, Bridgewater also seems to have some trouble feeling and escaping the rush at times.

The verdict: The talk of Bridgewater not being face-of-the franchise material appears to be fabricated and, frankly, invalid. The coaches at Louisville raved about his ability to inspire his teammates and coax out their best performance, and they raved about Bridgewater's commitment, his character and his determination. NFL teams should have zero concerns on that front, and we wonder if that information leaked to NFL Network's Mike Mayock wasn't an attempt by a team to take advantage of Bridgewater's slowly sinking draft stock.

Although we have a hard time seeing Bridgewater falling out of the first round entirely, there is a chance it could happen depending on how and where the other quarterbacks fall. With quarterbacks, it's tricky — there has to be a need, and the fit has to be right. We'd love to see him go to a place with a rhythm/short-to-intermediate/precision/West Coast system — the Jacksonville Jaguars immediately come to mind — where Bridgewater's accuracy in tight windows and exceptional timing can be best utilized. In the right system, he could be special, and there doesn't appear to be a huge risk in taking him with his fundamental skill set and intangibles.

 

[Faust]

Teddy Bridgewater unworried about potential green room wait

 

[Concept Coop]

Saw a mock this morning where he was going to HOU at 3.01... Unreal. Public smear campaign really worked here.

Dude the NFL guys don't listen to the public. If they live him they will draft him high. You guys mix internet dorks with reality too much sometimes

I think we assume that the internet dorks are changing their tunes due to what they gather from the pros (reality).

 

[Concept Coop]

"Just doesn't stand out". Bridgewater is like the Bishop Sankey of QBs.

He stood out to me. He didn't stand out as an athlete. But what he did with the football certainly did. He's smart, accurate, mobile, calm in the pocket--and that is a nice recipe, IMO.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Sources tell the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Browns GM Ray Farmer is "enamored" with Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater.
Farmer has reportedly had a fascination with Bridgewater since last fall and would like to land him with the Browns' second first-round pick, No. 26 overall. The Plain Dealer also says Farmer has looked into trading up to get his guy. Of course, this could very well be a smokescreen leak with the draft finally commencing tomorrow. If the Browns were really coveting Bridgewater, they'd be wise to sit quietly and wait for him to fall into their lap.

Related: Browns

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Citing a source, ESPN's Britt McHenry reported Wednesday that the Jaguars "aren't as high on Teddy Bridgewater as some other teams are."
Bridgewater isn't in play for the Jaguars at No. 3, and it's probably a legitimate question whether they'd snap him up at No. 39. The Jags used analytics as they determined Luke Joeckel would be their top-rated player in the 2013 draft. Analytics suggest Bridgewater's small hands will be an impediment to his future, though his completion rate would help him in a metrics-based approach.

Related: Jaguars

 

[MAC_32]

Bridgewater 9 1/4 hands. Smaller than I thought, many thought. He played w 2 gloves at Louisville. #NFLCombine

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 21, 2014

Jimmy Garopollo's hands: 9 1/4. Over the threshold. He'll be fine. #NFLCombine

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 21, 2014

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

 

[LawFitz]

Bridgewater 9 1/4 hands. Smaller than I thought, many thought. He played w 2 gloves at Louisville. #NFLCombine

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 21, 2014

Jimmy Garopollo's hands: 9 1/4. Over the threshold. He'll be fine. #NFLCombine

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 21, 2014

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Have you listened to Brandt lately on Sirius NFL radio? The guy sounds borderline senile. These two quotes are very much in line with how he sounds on air. Poor guy is clearly losing it.