The Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars saw significant leaps made by quarterbacks Derek Carr and Blake Bortles, respectively, from Year 1 to Year 2. Whether it was Carr's ability to adapt to the blitz or Bortles' improved playmaking, both QBs showed enough flashes to convince their respective teams that they can be franchise quarterbacks one day. Can we say the same about Teddy Bridgewater and the Minnesota Vikings?
Bridgewater can hardly be called a disappointment with a 65.3 percent completion rate and single digit interceptions in 2015, but he didn't make the same type of strides that his fellow 2014 draft class of QBs (Johnny Manziel excluded) did. This prompted Vikings general manager Rick Spielman to tell Mark Craig of the Star Tribune that he would like to see Bridgewater "letting it loose a little more," in 2016.
Spielman recognizes the conservative game plan head coach Mike Zimmer implements on offense and he praises Bridgewater for operating well within that system and avoiding costly turnovers. While cautious, the young QB has played well enough to see the Vikings improve from 7-9 his rookie year to 11-5 this past season. However, Minnesota needs more from Bridgewater in Year 3.
The passer's aversion and inability to throw deep will continue to hurt the team if he cannot improve. His average yards per attempt of 7.23 ranked just 17th in the NFL, behind the likes of Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Mariota and Alex Smith. Running back Adrian Peterson will be 31 next season and coming off his sixth year with at least 300 rushing attempts. Relying on him to repeat 2015's numbers is foolish and unrealistic.
Craig notes that Bridgewater will receive more autonomy over the offense as he gains more experience. With more ownership and control, he may start to spread his wings a little and show improvements in key areas. But he needs to take more shots down the field in order to shed his "game manager" reputation. Wide receiver Mike Wallace was brought in to help in this area, but he and Bridgewater never really got on the same page and the WR could become a cap casualty this offseason. Replacing him with a young deep threat could aid Bridgewater's development.
For right now, Minnesota only needs Bridgewater to play smart football that doesn't hurt the team. But when the time comes, will he be capable of stepping up and winning a game by himself? That remains to be seen.
