Young Theodore Bridgewater

[jackal]

We know Teddy can handle pressure in big moments and come up big to win games ...

If we can get him good protection and two or three guys that can run routes; I think he can be the first
real young QB we had since what the 70's ??

hopefully we either get Peterson back on script or find a decent alternative I think McKinnon and Tate could
be a good combo.

Our OL is mt biggest concern, right now .. with Wide outs a close second..

[Pondering Her Percy]

Just because you disagree with something someone says, that doesn't make it "trolling" or "inciteful".

To nitpick posts without really bringing something to the conversation? Ok

[Pondering Her Percy]

The only reason I quoted that was because you said you were not upset at all with Ponder comparisons. As I pointed out earlier, I just find it odd that you 'get crazy' (which to me means the same as being upset) when you see posts comparing Teddy to Ponder but then turn around and make comparisons to Luck. Not trolling at all - just making an observation.

So can we just not compare him to anybody then? I already compared Ponder to Teddy and I also compared him to a guy like Luck to prove my point. Outside of accuracy issues, I don't really see any other kind of comparison to Ponder whatsoever. I've talked about this many times already.

[PurpleKoolaid]

The thing is, comparing Teddy to #7 is the ultimate insult on this board, at least IMO. Some here stood up for him for years, saying we have to give more time, even though it was fairly obvious, at least to me, that we reached for #7 after Locker was picked. And Im not talking about Jim here, he's been honest and right (as usual) about a lot of the criticisms of this team.

For now PHP, just let the same people compare him to Ponder, it isn't going to do any good not too. Theres always Tjoke too. I guess its a get even time for them. A year from now if Teddy is making the same mistakes, then we should be worried, but there still wont be a comparision to Ponder. They are different types of QB's. Hopefully Teddy gets an AD in the backfield to take some of the load off like #7 had. It is a MUCH harder time now for Teddy then when #7 took over, but both would have benefitted from a year off.

[PurpleMustReign]

The thing is, comparing Teddy to #7 is the ultimate insult on this board, at least IMO. Some here stood up for him for years, saying we have to give more time, even though it was fairly obvious, at least to me, that we reached for #7 after Locker was picked. And Im not talking about Jim here, he's been honest and right (as usual) about a lot of the criticisms of this team.

For now PHP, just let the same people compare him to Ponder, it isn't going to do any good not too. Theres always Tjoke too. I guess its a get even time for them. A year from now if Teddy is making the same mistakes, then we should be worried, but there still wont be a comparision to Ponder. They are different types of QB's. Hopefully Teddy gets an AD in the backfield to take some of the load off like #7 had. It is a MUCH harder time now for Teddy then when #7 took over, but both would have benefitted from a year off.

I am curious though... what were Rodgers stats in his first year starting? Didn't the Packers have a down year then? I thought Rodgers looked very average then as well.

[Mothman]

The areas that Teddy's struggling in are accuracy and his deep ball. However I believe he has more arm strength than Ponder does. Ponder floated his ball badly.

At times... he also threw some deep strikes. With both QBs, I think their deep ball problems were/are clearly an issue of mechanics, not arm strength. If either lacked the arm strength to do it effectively, there would be zero examples of them making good deep throws because they'd be physcially incapable of such throws. Since that's not the case, they obviously possess the necessary arm strength.

Teddy is overthrowing more than anything which shows the strength but obviously not the accuracy. Ponder had neither accuracy nor arm strength. He couldn't step into a pocket if his life depended on it which is the complete opposite of Teddy. He crapped his pants in the face of pressure. Also the complete opposite of Teddy. If Ponder was playing terrible, there was no overcoming it, the opposite of Teddy. Ponder had a terrible habit of not going through his progressions. Something the announcers praised Teddy for last week.

... and have criticized him for this year as well. Emphasizing perceived differences doesn't address the similarities between the two QBs. It's only an effective argument against the two QBs being the same and nobody is making that claim.

I have no idea what a statement like "If Ponder was playing terrible, there was no overcoming it, the opposite of Teddy" is supposed to mean. Terrible is terrible. It's going to be as difficult to overcome when the terrible play comes from one QB as it is from another. Did the Vikings overcome a terrible performance by Bridgewater to beat Detroit or Chicago? No, of course not.

Those terrible performances don't happen in a bubble anyway. They usually have as much to do with how the team is playing as how the QB himself is playing.

[Mothman]

The thing is, comparing Teddy to #7 is the ultimate insult on this board, at least IMO. Some here stood up for him for years, saying we have to give more time, even though it was fairly obvious, at least to me, that we reached for #7 after Locker was picked. And Im not talking about Jim here, he's been honest and right (as usual) about a lot of the criticisms of this team.

For now PHP, just let the same people compare him to Ponder, it isn't going to do any good not too. Theres always Tjoke too. I guess its a get even time for them.

I suspect it's just that they're concerned history is repeating itself.

A year from now if Teddy is making the same mistakes, then we should be worried, but there still wont be a comparision to Ponder. They are different types of QB's.

That's true but it may also be where this discussion keeps getting stalled. As I said to PHP, nobody is claiming Bridgewater and Ponder are the same QB or even the same type of QB, just that that there are similarities between the struggles the former is having and the struggles the latter had, especially as a rookie: accuracy issues (even on some throws that should be routine), deep ball issues, a tendency to become over-reliant on check down throws, even a quiet demeanor when some would prefer to see a more fiery, emotional leader (that one doesn't bother me much). There have been some similar results too: the same YPA as rookies, a similar TD/INT ratio, week-to-week inconsistency. A lot of it is just what's to be expected from first year players...

Hopefully Teddy gets an AD in the backfield to take some of the load off like #7 had. It is a MUCH harder time now for Teddy then when #7 took over, but both would have benefitted from a year off.

It's harder for Teddy to not have AD in the backfield but Ponder faced a significant disadvantage as a rookie as well: one of the most porous pass defenses in Vikings history. That meant he was often in "must pass" situations, a disadvantage for a young QB, and it led to him taking risks because he was playing from behind. It also led to him getting the crap knocked out of him. I think he played injured in about 50% of his games that year and couldn't even finish some of them. That's the worst similarity of all: that as rookies, both QBs have had to play behind such poor blocking.

I expect Teddy to be better than Ponder and hopefully, he'll be much better.However, in my opinion, he's not there yet.

[maembe]

I am curious though... what were Rodgers stats in his first year starting? Didn't the Packers have a down year then? I thought Rodgers looked very average then as well.

Rodgers was great in his first year as a starter. However, he didn't appear to be very good his first few seasons on the bench. He struggled in the preseason and in the offseason before his first season as a starter the Packers drafted Brohm when he slid to the second round, so I don't think they had a lot of confidence in him at that point.

[Mothman]

I am curious though... what were Rodgers stats in his first year starting?

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... dgAa00.htm

His first year starting was his fourth year in the league.

Didn't the Packers have a down year then?

Yes, they were 6-10 that season.

[Pondering Her Percy]

.

I have no idea what a statement like "If Ponder was playing terrible, there was no overcoming it, the opposite of Teddy" is supposed to mean. Terrible is terrible. It's going to be as difficult to overcome when the terrible play comes from one QB as it is from another. Did the Vikings overcome a terrible performance by Bridgewater to beat Detroit or Chicago? No, of course not.

Those terrible performances don't happen in a bubble anyway. They usually have as much to do with how the team is playing as how the QB himself is playing.

What I meant by that was if he threw an INT early in the game, he usually went in the tank. As in got considerably worse as the game went on. Look at the GB game this year. Teddy hasn't been like that. Granted he had a bad game vs DET even though only 1 int was really his fault. But with other games where he threw an int or was struggling in the 1st half, he came out playing much better in the second half. What I'm saying is he doesn't go in the tank after making mistakes. Ponder was notorious for that

[Mothman]

What I meant by that was if he threw an INT early in the game, he usually went in the tank. As in got considerably worse as the game went on. Look at the GB game this year. Teddy hasn't been like that. Granted he had a bad game vs DET even though only 1 int was really his fault. But with other games where he threw an int or was struggling in the 1st half, he came out playing much better in the second half. What I'm saying is he doesn't go in the tank after making mistakes. Ponder was notorious for that

That's another case where I'm not sure perception and reality really match but that, of course, is my perception. Thanks for explaining your statement.

[Purple bruise]

Teddy "Bridge over troubled waters" or Bustwater
From the Norseman: http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/11/22 ... -bustwater

"I think the purple nation needs a little more reasonable perspective on Teddy. Some people think he can do no wrong. They'll blame the sun in his eyes, the gloves, the ball boy, whatever to say he's not responsible. Others claim 6 games is sufficient to say he's a bust. We historically have not had the most level-headed perspectives on QBs..........

[Pondering Her Percy]

Teddy "Bridge over troubled waters" or Bustwater
From the Norseman: http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/11/22 ... -bustwater

"I think the purple nation needs a little more reasonable perspective on Teddy. Some people think he can do no wrong. They'll blame the sun in his eyes, the gloves, the ball boy, whatever to say he's not responsible. Others claim 6 games is sufficient to say he's a bust. We historically have not had the most level-headed perspectives on QBs..........

Sorry but how is some negative fan on a website any kind of credibility? This quote doesn't really mean much to me at all nor his post on the Norseman. It's not like it's some kind of NFL analysts or scout, etc. It's simply a frustrated fan on a website.

[Mothman]

Teddy "Bridge over troubled waters" or Bustwater
From the Norseman: http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/11/22 ... -bustwater

"I think the purple nation needs a little more reasonable perspective on Teddy. Some people think he can do no wrong. They'll blame the sun in his eyes, the gloves, the ball boy, whatever to say he's not responsible. Others claim 6 games is sufficient to say he's a bust. We historically have not had the most level-headed perspectives on QBs..........

Thanks for the link. It's a fan perspective but that's what all of us provide here too so I read an article like that as if it were a long post on VMB and if that's what it was, it would be a good post. I enjoyed reading it, especially his description of reactions to past Vikings QBs. I don't agree with everything he wrote but his basic point of view on Bridgewater ("cautiously hopeful") is right where I land on the guy too.

[Mothman]

There's an article at the PP site that's making the dreaded comparison as well. It's inevitable when one rookie/developmental QB follows another and puts up some similar numbers over a similar number of games:

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_270 ... call-teddy

In his first seven NFL starts, Bridgewater has completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,539 yards and six touchdowns against seven interceptions. In his first seven starts, Ponder, who started the season as an inactive after being the 12th overall pick in 2011, completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,538 yards and 11 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.

The Vikings were 1-6 in Ponder's first seven starts, and they had Adrian Peterson for all of them -- something Bridgewater has never had. Ponder was installed as the starter in 2012 and led the Vikings to the playoffs, although he missed the postseason because of an injury, and he quickly lost his starting job in 2013 and never regained favor. He's unlikely to return after playing out his contract this season.

The numbers raise the question of what the Vikings see in Bridgewater that makes them optimistic he will be their franchise quarterback, something they haven't been close to since Daunte Culpepper (1999-2005).

The article is worth reading and contains perspectives from Zimmer, Tim Hasselbeck and Jon Gruden,