Teddy Bridgewater showing confidence through experience

When the Minnesota Vikings drafted quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #32 overall in the 2014 NFL draft, the team had intended on having him sit for a season behind Matt Cassel in order to help get him up to speed to compete at the professional level. Sadly, that plan didn’t work out, as a foot injury to Cassel forced Bridgewater into the team’s starting lineup.

May 27, 2015; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) speaks with the media after practice at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Teddy Bridgewater made some rookie mistakes, but Bridgewater took those mistakes and turned them into learning experiences. In fact, he puts a lot of weight into getting as many reps on the football field as possible, which is why last year’s struggles translated into success at the end of the season.

Now, Bridgewater is preparing for the 2015 to be the team’s starting quarterback. He’s getting a lot of work in practices seems to already have a better grasp on handling short yardage and red-zone situations during training camp. Recently, Bridgewater spoke about the importance of those practices and executing in certain types of situations in an article on the 1500 ESPN website.

"“It’s all about being great in situations of football. Some of the top 10 offenses in this league, it’s not all about the yardage and everything. It’s about being precise on third downs, executing in the red zone and keeping drives alive. To be able to come out today and practice those situations, it’s going to be huge for us going forward.”"

Picking up first downs and executing in the red zone are the fundamentals to winning on the offensive side of the ball. And while some fans may think this type of approach is boring, Teddy Bridgewater is one of those quarterbacks that doesn’t seem to care much about being flashy. Instead, he enjoys stability and familiarity.

"“Making decisions before the ball is even snapped. Knowing where to go with the ball before it’s even snapped. I sit back and watch Shaun and how he operates, talking about a guy who has been in this league 13, 14 years. He’s showing me how to get it done. I’m glad to have him here.”"

Having a player with the experience and knowledge of Shaun Hill is a great thing for Teddy Bridgewater. It’s even better that Bridgewater is so open to these educational experiences and is willing to put in the hard work necessary to succeed in the NFL. And while it is only the preseason, I’m personally excited to see the difference in Bridgewater from last season to the 2015 season.

Next: Minnesota Vikings 2015 Game By Game Previews

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