NFL Draft Prospect Profile: QB Teddy Bridgewater
Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater
Packers prospect profile: QB Teddy Bridgewater
Player Information: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville, 6-2, 214 pounds Hometown: Miami, FL
NFL Combine:
Vertical jump: 3o inches
3-cone drill: 7.17 seconds
Broad jump: 113 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.20 seconds
News and Notes:
Threw only four interceptions his final season. … Completed over 68 percent of his passes and threw just 24 interceptions in his career. … Dual threat QB out of high school, but developed as a passer in Louisville’s pro-style passing game. … Holds Lousivlle record of at least one touchdown pass in 22 straight games. … Third player in Lousiville history to throw for over 9,000 yards. … Rallied Lousiville to a win over Rutgers in 2012 despite wearing a cast on his wrist. … Graduated in just three years
What they’re saying about him:
- CBSSports.com: While Bridgewater’s arm is impressive, the poise, vision and touch he demonstrates could serve as a “how-to” video on effective quarterback play. Critics will continue to point out Bridgewater’s flaws. He is not as big or strong as Andrew Luck nor as nimble as a healthy Robert Griffin III. Among the quarterbacks potentially available in the 2014 draft, he’s the most polished and accurate.
- NFL.com: Terrific competitor. Extremely driven to succeed. Well-prepared and confident in his approach. Operated a progression-read offense where he is asked to scan the whole field and help steer 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.
- MMQB: Compared on film to other potential quarterbacks in his draft class, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t jump off the screen. But NFL teams still like what they see, and when they dig a little deeper, that like will turn to love.
Video:
Video Analysis:.
- Bridgewater can really move. But more importantly, it’s obvious that he understands the importance of squaring his shoulders and maintaining proper mechanics while on the move. Check out the throw 35 seconds into the clip.
- The knock on Bridgewater is that he’s skinny. But this isn’t the WWE. He’s going to be throwing passes, not body-slamming people and flexing his muscles. The kid can flat-out throw the ball and is mobile enough to avoid big hits on his smallish frame.
- Missed some downfiled throws on this clip. Based on the few games I watched Bridgewater play during the season, I noted downfield accuracy needed some work.
- Check out the play at 6:10 of the clip. Oh, man. If your team needs a QB, how do you not draft this kid?
If drafted by the Packers:
He won’t be drafted by the Packers. So, why am I profiling him? Because I think he will be drafted by the Vikings, and that worries me. Give this kid a year to learn under Norv Turner while Matt Cassel or whoever else starts and Bridgewater could develop into something dangerous.
I see all the characteristics necessary to be a good to great NFL quarterback in Bridgewater. He keeps his head up and looks downfield while moving around, and outside, the pocket. He’s accurate. He’s tough. He came into college as a running quarterback and worked hard to learn a pro-style offense that relied more on a traditional passing game. By all accounts, he lives, breathes and eats football. I think he’s one of the best players in the draft and I don’t get why there’s buzz about him falling down team’s draft boards. Shouldn’t NFL teams know by now that quarterbacks with Bridgewater’s skill set don’t come around very often?
I hope Bridgewater is gone by the time the Vikings pick at No. 8. Or I hope that the Vikings do what the Vikings typically do and make a mistake by not drafting him.
8 Comments On “NFL Draft Prospect Profile: QB Teddy Bridgewater”
Comments are closed.
Personally I think Houston should draft him! They have a team that’s able to contend now but lack a QB. Bridgewater isn’t Luck, but he’s got a good arm that could get better, his accuracy and fundamentals are very good and he has experience in a pro style progression read passing game. The kid would be a good starter almost immediately and could become great.
I don’t see the big deal about his weight, he can gain 5-10 lbs and be another Rodgers. If a team is ready to be a playoff team that is simply missing a QB this is the guy you want.
Manzel will be a colossal bust IMO. He can only make plays on an improvisational manner. He can’t stand in the pocket and make plays.
Bortels may have higher upside in 3 years, but Bridgewater is almost ready NOW.
Houston had the #7 overall Defense last year, and #8 in pts allowed. Clowney would make the D better, but Bridgewater can lead that team to the playoff this year!
Whether Manziel will be a bust or not, I think the point is that he will need to make a transition to a pro-style offense.
Bridgewater has already done that. Plus he has developed the accuracy (68%) and mental awareness (1.3% INT rate) needed in today’s pro game. The only real concern would be his arm strength on deep throws — but I wonder if that was in part pass selection (arching ‘touch’ type throws); seems like his ball has more than enough zip when he is driving it downfield (flatter passing arc). Good coaching should be able to mitigate that issue.
The point about his arch on deep balls is interesting. I can’t say I’ve watched enough of him to identify that, but its possible. On deep balls it is more desireable to have a higher arch, since it gets the ball over the DB better. But if it helps his accuracy its still worth changing.
As for Manzel, the only time he made plays in college was w/ his feet when he ran from the pocket, and he did that almost immediately. He has to wait for recievers to get open for him to hit them and he doesn’t throw WR open. All that spells BUST to me! In the NFL a QB needs to make plays in the pocket, even Newton has learned he can’t run immediately. He’s developed as a pocket QB. I don’t see any of that in Manzel.
I see a qb throwing to mostly open receivers. That doesn’t impress me. My main concern is the packer defense. I still see the same bunch on defense as last year and that is a bad feeling. The main emphasis for the draft should be DEFENSE, especially safety and middle linebacker. If they can’t find a defense that can stop the pass they will have to score on every position.
Its not Middle LB, its called an Inside LB in a 34 Defense.
Anyway this article is about a QB. Not the Packers D! That is well covered ground don’t you think?!
They had the #12 Defense in ’12 before injuries. With Peppers and a couple guys developing it’ll be top 10, no problem!
If I’m Houston I trade down and gamble I can Bridgewater in mid-R1. Clowney will be a clown. No sacks last year and now he refuses to work out for NFL teams. What’s next – he’ll insist on wearing a tu-tu? Even if he pans out, he will never sign a 2nd contract with the team that drafts him. Bridgewater could be their QB for the next 10-12 years. The extra picks will be valuable too.
If you trade down and Bridgewater is gone, along w/ Manzel and Bortels then you don’t get a difference maker or a QB! Then you’ve wasted more time and who’s to say when you get another chance at a QB.
None of the QB’s in this draft are great, but Bridgewater can help now and could become great IMO. Is a 2nd rd QB going to get you in the playoffs this year?
A trade down shouldn’t be any lower than #4.