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after the raiders get watkins trade up to late 1st round and pick up teddy
Teddy Bridgewater is underrated
- Thread starter godkiller
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Easily the best BR article I've seen.NFL Draft 2014: Remembering Why Teddy Bridgewater Is a Top QB Prospect | Bleacher Report
Best article ive ever seen on Bleacherreport
It's not hard to find a strong opinion on the 21-year-old and his potential fit in the NFL. Whether it's worrying about his small hands (even though his hands are larger than Ryan Tannehill's and Colin Kaepernick's), picking apart his pro day or celebrating his status atop your quarterback rankings, everyone has an opinion.
This time of the season can be tough to understand.
The focus shifts from evaluating prospects to talking about storylines that will come up during the draft itself. While that is happening, agents and franchises attempt to feed lies and smokescreens to the media that blur what is true and what is false.
With that in mind, it's a good time to remind ourselves of why Bridgewater was considered a top prospect before the draft process began.
Footwork/Mechanics/Pocket Presence
Bridgewater is a pocket passer. He has very consistent, refined mechanics and footwork that complement his ability to maneuver and manipulate the pocket.
This is often an area in which young quarterbacks struggle early in their careers. Some, such as Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, are more advanced when they enter the league. Bridgewater should be considered alongside those quarterbacks, if not above.
Even though footwork, mechanics and pocket presence are rarely featured on highlight reels, they are integral aspects of what makes a quarterback successful in the NFL.
Throwing the ball begins with balance and balance is determined by the precision of your footwork. Throughout his final season in college, it was very difficult to find points when Bridgewater was off balance releasing the ball or not in a good position to begin his throwing motion.
That is because of how quick and precise his footwork is.
Draftbreakdown.com
On this play, Bridgewater throws the ball down the right sideline to a receiver that is wide open. The receiver is open because the defensive back assigned to him in man coverage fell down earlier in the route.
While he didn't need to make a precise throw to a well-covered receiver, this was still not a simple throw because of the play as a whole.
Bridgewater must hold on to the ball to give the route combinations time to stretch the defense. This became clear on the All-22 replay. However, he can't simply stand in one spot and step into his throw because his offensive line is giving up the integrity of his pocket.
While keeping his eyes downfield, Bridgewater feels the pressure and bounces on the balls of his feet. Importantly, even as he adjusts backward before letting the ball go, the quarterback's feet maintain his balance and allow him to put his weight into the pass.
This prevents the ball from floating away from the open receiver, something that happens regularly when quarterbacks don't show this kind of discipline with their feet.
Adjusting to interior pressure is very tough for even the better quarterbacks currently playing in the NFL. Bridgewater does that well, but it's also important to be able to step up into the pocket when the pressure comes off the edges.
Draftbreakdown.com
This play shows off the young quarterback's willingness to keep his eyes down the field while he feels the pressure coming from outside. After carrying out a deep drop that included a play fake to the running back, the offensive line has settled to the left side but is struggling on his right.
Bridgewater steps up in the pocket to help his right-side blockers, but the defensive end makes a good move to come back toward him.
Sensing the free defender approaching him, Bridgewater adjusts his path before bringing his eyes to his open receiver to the right. As he is about to start his throwing motion, Bridgewater keeps moving forward an extra step while squaring his shoulders and feet to his receiver.
This clean base allows him a simple throw.
Throwing the ball accurately while moving forward in the pocket is a trait that Andrew Luck has highlighted the value of in recent times. However, Bridgewater's clean mechanics also translate to plays when he is asked to move laterally, outside of the pocket.
Draftbreakdown.com
Bridgewater is a decent athlete, not a spectacular one who will break off huge plays with his scrambling ability at the next level. He has the strength to shed tackles at times, and he will quickly eat up any space that is afforded him.
His mobility is really a strength when throwing the ball on rollouts or extending plays behind the line of scrimmage before throwing the ball downfield.
His comfort throwing on the move is born out of his good footwork and good mechanics. He doesn't force passes from uncomfortable angles because he doesn't put himself in uncomfortable positions. He regularly squares his shoulders to the line of scrimmage and is able to maintain his velocity and accuracy while on the move.
Individually, each of these traits is impressive, but when they are brought together, Bridgewater makes difficult plays look very straightforward and even so simple that it's easy to understand why some consider him incapable of being an exciting playmaker.
This is not an easy play. Too often, in this situation NFL quarterbacks will drop their eyes and look to scramble as soon as his right tackle is beaten. Other times, those quarterbacks won't even recognize that their tackle is beaten fast enough to avoid a sack.
Draftbreakdown.com
Another thread by yours truly on QBs.
give it up man
give it up man
yseJ
Empire strikes back
looking at some all-22 stills from the 49ers-vikes...teddy had a godawful game. our D was good but there were times there was a wide open man and teddy just didnt see/pull the trigger
very uncharacteristic of teddy
very uncharacteristic of teddy
godkiller
"We are the Fury"
He had a bad game. What of it?
feelosofer
#ninergang
Teddy has legit talent but in that 49ers game being under that type of fire shook him up mentally. He took 5 sacks I believe and unless you're Romo, Eli, Big Ben or someone like that. It messes up your mental. Honestly the Vikes did not do enough to get this kid O-Linemen (of which there was lots of talent in the 4-7th rounds), they should have kept Greg Jennings, in addition to getting Mike Wallace. I think he is definitely better than he showed Monday.
yseJ
Empire strikes back
at least two sacks were on him for holding the ball too long. and "he held the ball for an average of 3.17 seconds -- the longest time before pass in the league last week "
I still think he'll be just fine and good but that was a piss poor game.
feelosofer
#ninergang
That is imo his biggest weakness (holding on the ball too long) but I think once he adjusts to the speed of the game he'll be better. This game is going to be a good learning experience for him I think.
feelosofer
#ninergang
Poetical Poltergeist
Precise and cold hearted
With that qb he ain't doing nothing anytime soon .Mike Wallace still riding my bench on fantasy tho
DonKnock
KPJ Gonna Save Us
Th3G3ntleman
Superstar
I dunno about this nicca Teddy. Dudes got a Alex Smith dink and dunk feel about him. I hate that p*ssy shyt.
looking at some all-22 stills from the 49ers-vikes...teddy had a godawful game. our D was good but there were times there was a wide open man and teddy just didnt see/pull the trigger
very uncharacteristic of teddy
maybe if he had some bigger hands he would have let that thing rip
