Can Vikings Rookie QB Bridgewater Handle The Pressure?
By Adam Carlson
Minnesota Vikings fans seem to be a little nervous about the future of first round draft pick Teddy Bridgewater after seeing him start just three games. Following being thrust into action much sooner than the team had hoped, Bridgewater has thrown only one touchdown compared to his 5 interceptions. While some chalk this up to rookie growing pains or shoddy offensive line play, there seems to be some fear that Teddy Bridgewater just can’t handle the pressure of becoming an NFL caliber quarterback.
Adjusting to the NFL is never easy for a young quarterback. There seem to be more busts than booms coming out of the draft lately. The speed of the game, level of competition and the difference in rules just seem like too much for some passers to overcome. A portion of that pressure is mental and some of it is physical, in the form of opposing defenses. Bridgewater has been sacked 15 times in his four games played, a mark that is pretty bad for an NFL team.
Here is what Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner had to say about Teddy Bridgewater handling the pressure according to ESPN’s Ben Goessling:
"Jun 17, 2014; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner speaks to his team at practice at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports“He’s got good sense in the pocket. He’s getting better at getting the ball out. He threw the ball away a couple times Sunday when there was nowhere to throw it, where against Detroit, those plays he took sacks. We’re working on getting him a lot quicker, we’re working on design to help get the ball out quick, we’re working on protection so we don’t have to have the conversation about how he handles it.”"
As of right now, there isn’t a major reason to be concerned about Bridgewater’s development. He’s earned the nickname GUMP for many reasons during his time at Louisville and seeing this kind of struggle early on in his career might actually benefit him in the long run.
So what do you think? Is the pressure of the NFL stage too much for Teddy Bridgewater or will he overcome the adversity and succeed? Let me know what you think in the comments!