What's up guys. As I've perused these boards recently I've (shockingly) found a whole lot of talk about Teddy Bridgewater. I am admittedly a Teddy fan, but I will do my best to write this as un-biased as possible. I've watched a few of his games, but never before did I decide to break down one of his games, at least to the depth that I did.

 

Now, I chose this game for a few reasons.(Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhoM77-jsi4) One, I'm a football fan and hadn't watched it before. Two, it was Teddy's most recent game. Three, and most importantly, it was probably Teddy's worst game this season and it was against good competition. I think breaking down where he is at his lowest can be very informative.

 

Rutgers Background: I came into this thinking that Rutgers would be a bunch of softies like most of the teams the Ville play. But I had a hunch and I went over to the nfl.com's 2013 Draft Tracker. Rutgers had 5 players drafted in the 2013 draft, mostly by the Patriots. For comparison, Florida had 5 defenders drafted, and Alabama only had 4. I think this goes to show that this was a strong defense.

 

Louisville Background: They've played a really weak schedule this season, and dominated everyone. Going into this game, however, their offense was missing their best (and in my opinion one of the most underrated in the country, very good red zone threat) Wide Receivers by the name of Devante Parker. Also, about halfway through the game, their #2, a young man named Kai De La Cruz, also went down with an injury. So I think this is also a good opportunity to see how Teddy copes with receivers who maybe he isn't as familiar with, and who probably aren't as good as he is accustomed to.

 

Enough dilly dallying. Let's dive into the numbers.

 

Firstly, I have to commend Louisville's Offensive Coordinator. Their offense is supremely balanced - as in, usually 50% running, 50% passing. This time, they had 36 rushes to 31 passes, for 57% running to 43 passing. By my count watching the game, Teddy made an audible at the Line of Scrimmage 25 times, or roughly 37% of the snaps. This means that he was directing the offense more than once out of every three plays. This is rare for a college quarterback, and is in my opinion one of the best parts of Teddy's game. He is able to mentally evaluate the defense and adjust his offense accordingly on a high level. Anyway, I digress.

 

Time for the passing numbers breakdown (I can't remember whether I rounded down or up for the yardage rankings, but trust me I didn't change anything.)

 

D = Drop, * = Miscommunication, @ = Interception, $ = Touchdown

Yardage Rank               Left               Center               Right               Total with Raw Percent (%Adjusted for drops and miscommunications in parentheses)

1-5                                 3-3                  0-0                   0-0                  3-3 100%

5-10                               1-1                  2-4 D               3-3, $              6-8 75% (85%), Touchdown     

10-20                             3-4                  1-2                   3-4                 7-10 70%

20+                                1-4,*,@           2-2                  2-4, $, *           5-10 50% (62.5%), Touchdown, Interception

 

Directional Totals         8-12,*,@          5-8, D             8-11, 2$, *

                                      66%(73%)      63%(71%)        73%(80%)

His full stats were 21-31 for 310 yards with 2 Touchdowns and an interception, which is a 67% rate. Adjusted for the miscommunications and the drop is 75%. His Yards per attempt was a 10.0, and per completion was a 14.8. He also was sacked twice (once for a fumble on a completely blind hit), and ran the ball five times.

 

Whew, lots of statistics. Let's each take a breath.

You good? I'm good. Let's move on.

 

So really what all those numbers scream at me is accuracy. One doesn't even need to crunch numbers to figure it out; when you watch him, he routinely makes pinpoint throws into tight windows. This game was his worst all season, and he still posted remarkable numbers. But let's go deeper. Another thing I noticed was his accuracy when throwing the ball while rolling out to the left. Most right-handed quarterbacks have a very hard time doing this. Teddy knows how to use his athleticism to roll out quickly, square his shoulders effectively, and make an accurate pass downfield. He threw for a 75% rate between 10-20 yards while rolling left. This applies to his right-side throwing to an even greater degree. Good stuff. This leads me to his mid-range effectiveness. Honestly, this is where Teddy can really shred a defense, because of his understanding of Touch and anticipation, as well as his skill at reading a defense. In this game he threw 13-18 between 5 to 20 yards, which gives a 72% rate. He makes his money throwing the ball in the middle of the defense, where his accuracy and zip on the ball can make him very difficult to stop. The ball leaps out of his hand, and while I don't think he throws a perfect spiral, he has a very good understanding of touch which allows his receivers to make catches easily.

 

Those were the positives. As I make a list of negatives, it's going to be shorter, simply because there isn't too much fundamentally wrong with his game.

His deep-ball accuracy wasn't phenomenal. Notice, I say "not phenomenal". Not "bad." A 50% deep rate, with a TD and INT isn't bad. It just isn't as dominant deep as he is in the middle ranges. I attribute this to the fact that he plays in a West Coast offense, and the absence of his main receiver. Sometimes, though, he can float one over the head of his man or lead him too far outside. For any other quarterback, this wouldn't be too noticeable, but the relative absence of flaw from the rest of his game makes nit-picking kind of a necessity. The kid is 20 years old, and with the combination of NFL coaches and long-term relationships with receivers, I believe this area, while not a weakness, can be polished to the level of his strengths.

 

Thanks for bearing with me guys I'm almost done, I just want to talk about his intangibles for a second. Then you all get a cookie for reading my essay.

 

This is a tough, tough kid. At 6-3, 218 pounds, one might wonder if he has the size to make it in the NFL. If you are concerned about this, go watch his Florida tape. He got wrecked on the first pass and proceeded to dominate the rest of the game. Anyway. He took some shots this game as well. No matter the pressure, though, he doesn't shy away from the hit. He stands in the pocket and makes the throw just about every time. He doesn't always get hit, though. His pocket presence is uncanny.  This is another one of his best traits, possibly my favorite. He's athletic, to be sure, but he doesn't run out of the pocket automatically if he gets rattled. He knows how to step up, back, or to either side while avoiding pressure. And the best part- he always keeps his eyes downfield. I was personally impressed with his awareness of his body in space and how he was able to maneuver it without really looking where he was going. He is a leader on and off the field, though you can't really see it in the Youtube cut-up I watched. It all just adds up to my summary of Teddy.

 

Teddy Bridgewater plays a deliberate, mental game. Gifted with athleticism and arm strength, Teddy's Football-IQ is what makes him a great quarterback. His ability to read defenses and check into the right play, to place the ball precisely where it needs to be for his receiver (especially in the mid-range passing game), and awareness of pressure are his greatest strengths. With few non-strengths, most noticeably in his deep-ball accuracy, he is supremely polished. This was not his best game, true. But taking into account the depletion of his supporting cast and the quality of his opponent's defense, I was not disappointed watching him. He is, in my opinion, the best QB in the 2014 class and definitely someone the Jags should consider drafting in May. 

 

(Thanks for reading guys. If you have any critiques, feel free to post them. If you all like this, I would be happy to analyze his game that he plays tomorrow.)

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"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:26

2015 NFL Draft - Analyzing Targets www.jungle.jaguars.com/index.php?/topic/7892-2015-nfl-draft-analyzing-targets/

SPLOOSH

 

Right with a defender immediately in his face

 

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TEST

Tl;dr but yes tank for Teddy!

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

I think a lot of non-scouts ignore the mental moves of players.  They look at his numbers, rather than what he does on the field.  Really hope he's something special if he comes here.  Would be very exciting if the Jags got that 'special' QB for once.  Rather than being the team that missed out once again.

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I was wrong about Trent Baalke. 

What's up guys. As I've perused these boards recently I've (shockingly) found a whole lot of talk about Teddy Bridgewater. I am admittedly a Teddy fan, but I will do my best to write this as un-biased as possible. I've watched a few of his games, but never before did I decide to break down one of his games, at least to the depth that I did.

 

Now, I chose this game for a few reasons.(Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhoM77-jsi4) One, I'm a football fan and hadn't watched it before. Two, it was Teddy's most recent game. Three, and most importantly, it was probably Teddy's worst game this season and it was against good competition. I think breaking down where he is at his lowest can be very informative.

 

Rutgers Background: I came into this thinking that Rutgers would be a bunch of softies like most of the teams the Ville play. But I had a hunch and I went over to the nfl.com's 2013 Draft Tracker. Rutgers had 5 players drafted in the 2013 draft, mostly by the Patriots. For comparison, Florida had 5 defenders drafted, and Alabama only had 4. I think this goes to show that this was a strong defense.

 

Louisville Background: They've played a really weak schedule this season, and dominated everyone. Going into this game, however, their offense was missing their best (and in my opinion one of the most underrated in the country, very good red zone threat) Wide Receivers by the name of Devante Parker. Also, about halfway through the game, their #2, a young man named Kai De La Cruz, also went down with an injury. So I think this is also a good opportunity to see how Teddy copes with receivers who maybe he isn't as familiar with, and who probably aren't as good as he is accustomed to.

 

Enough dilly dallying. Let's dive into the numbers.

 

Firstly, I have to commend Louisville's Offensive Coordinator. Their offense is supremely balanced - as in, usually 50% running, 50% passing. This time, they had 36 rushes to 31 passes, for 57% running to 43 passing. By my count watching the game, Teddy made an audible at the Line of Scrimmage 25 times, or roughly 37% of the snaps. This means that he was directing the offense more than once out of every three plays. This is rare for a college quarterback, and is in my opinion one of the best parts of Teddy's game. He is able to mentally evaluate the defense and adjust his offense accordingly on a high level. Anyway, I digress.

 

Time for the passing numbers breakdown (I can't remember whether I rounded down or up for the yardage rankings, but trust me I didn't change anything.)

 

D = Drop, * = Miscommunication, @ = Interception, $ = Touchdown

Yardage Rank               Left               Center               Right               Total with Raw Percent (%Adjusted for drops and miscommunications in parentheses)

1-5                                 3-3                  0-0                   0-0                  3-3 100%

5-10                               1-1                  2-4 D               3-3, $              6-8 75% (85%), Touchdown     

10-20                             3-4                  1-2                   3-4                 7-10 70%

20+                                1-4,*,@           2-2                  2-4, $, *           5-10 50% (62.5%), Touchdown, Interception

 

Directional Totals         8-12,*,@          5-8, D             8-11, 2$, *

                                      66%(73%)      63%(71%)        73%(80%)

His full stats were 21-31 for 310 yards with 2 Touchdowns and an interception, which is a 67% rate. Adjusted for the miscommunications and the drop is 75%. His Yards per attempt was a 10.0, and per completion was a 14.8. He also was sacked twice (once for a fumble on a completely blind hit), and ran the ball five times.

 

Whew, lots of statistics. Let's each take a breath.

You good? I'm good. Let's move on.

 

So really what all those numbers scream at me is accuracy. One doesn't even need to crunch numbers to figure it out; when you watch him, he routinely makes pinpoint throws into tight windows. This game was his worst all season, and he still posted remarkable numbers. But let's go deeper. Another thing I noticed was his accuracy when throwing the ball while rolling out to the left. Most right-handed quarterbacks have a very hard time doing this. Teddy knows how to use his athleticism to roll out quickly, square his shoulders effectively, and make an accurate pass downfield. He threw for a 75% rate between 10-20 yards while rolling left. This applies to his right-side throwing to an even greater degree. Good stuff. This leads me to his mid-range effectiveness. Honestly, this is where Teddy can really shred a defense, because of his understanding of Touch and anticipation, as well as his skill at reading a defense. In this game he threw 13-18 between 5 to 20 yards, which gives a 72% rate. He makes his money throwing the ball in the middle of the defense, where his accuracy and zip on the ball can make him very difficult to stop. The ball leaps out of his hand, and while I don't think he throws a perfect spiral, he has a very good understanding of touch which allows his receivers to make catches easily.

 

Those were the positives. As I make a list of negatives, it's going to be shorter, simply because there isn't too much fundamentally wrong with his game.

His deep-ball accuracy wasn't phenomenal. Notice, I say "not phenomenal". Not "bad." A 50% deep rate, with a TD and INT isn't bad. It just isn't as dominant deep as he is in the middle ranges. I attribute this to the fact that he plays in a West Coast offense, and the absence of his main receiver. Sometimes, though, he can float one over the head of his man or lead him too far outside. For any other quarterback, this wouldn't be too noticeable, but the relative absence of flaw from the rest of his game makes nit-picking kind of a necessity. The kid is 20 years old, and with the combination of NFL coaches and long-term relationships with receivers, I believe this area, while not a weakness, can be polished to the level of his strengths.

 

Thanks for bearing with me guys I'm almost done, I just want to talk about his intangibles for a second. Then you all get a cookie for reading my essay.

 

This is a tough, tough kid. At 6-3, 218 pounds, one might wonder if he has the size to make it in the NFL. If you are concerned about this, go watch his Florida tape. He got wrecked on the first pass and proceeded to dominate the rest of the game. Anyway. He took some shots this game as well. No matter the pressure, though, he doesn't shy away from the hit. He stands in the pocket and makes the throw just about every time. He doesn't always get hit, though. His pocket presence is uncanny.  This is another one of his best traits, possibly my favorite. He's athletic, to be sure, but he doesn't run out of the pocket automatically if he gets rattled. He knows how to step up, back, or to either side while avoiding pressure. And the best part- he always keeps his eyes downfield. I was personally impressed with his awareness of his body in space and how he was able to maneuver it without really looking where he was going. He is a leader on and off the field, though you can't really see it in the Youtube cut-up I watched. It all just adds up to my summary of Teddy.

 

Teddy Bridgewater plays a deliberate, mental game. Gifted with athleticism and arm strength, Teddy's Football-IQ is what makes him a great quarterback. His ability to read defenses and check into the right play, to place the ball precisely where it needs to be for his receiver (especially in the mid-range passing game), and awareness of pressure are his greatest strengths. With few non-strengths, most noticeably in his deep-ball accuracy, he is supremely polished. This was not his best game, true. But taking into account the depletion of his supporting cast and the quality of his opponent's defense, I was not disappointed watching him. He is, in my opinion, the best QB in the 2014 class and definitely someone the Jags should consider drafting in May. 

 

(Thanks for reading guys. If you have any critiques, feel free to post them. If you all like this, I would be happy to analyze his game that he plays tomorrow.)

A fantastic breakdown! 

 

I was really impressed with the audibles tally.

 

One question regarding your methodology:  How do you evaluate "miscommunications?"  How do you determine when one happens?  Given the ambiguity regarding fault on a possible miscommunication, you seem to almost use that as a mitigating factor in the analysis.  Am I mistaken on that point?

 

Overall I agree with your conclusions, but I love the way you arrived at them.

 

Will you do more of these on the other QB prospects?

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

A fantastic breakdown!


I was really impressed with the audibles tally.


One question regarding your methodology: How do you evaluate "miscommunications?" How do you determine when one happens? Given the ambiguity regarding fault on a possible miscommunication, you seem to almost use that as a mitigating factor in the analysis. Am I mistaken on that point?


Overall I agree with your conclusions, but I love the way you arrived at them.


Will you do more of these on the other QB prospects?

Thanks for the feedback. I list miscommunications as either the wide receiver pulling off or not finishing his route, and also on throws where Teddy or the reciever react like "oh I ran the wrong route. "


Like I said, I'll be breaking down his UCF tape later today. If you have any other QB you can message me or comment about them. And if you don't mind telling me the game I should watch, I'd appreciate it.

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"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:26

2015 NFL Draft - Analyzing Targets www.jungle.jaguars.com/index.php?/topic/7892-2015-nfl-draft-analyzing-targets/

Thanks for the feedback. I list miscommunications as either the wide receiver pulling off or not finishing his route, and also on throws where Teddy or the reciever react like "oh I ran the wrong route. "


Like I said, I'll be breaking down his UCF tape later today. If you have any other QB you can message me or comment about them. And if you don't mind telling me the game I should watch, I'd appreciate it.

Mariota vs Washington would be nice. Thanks in advance if so!

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Mariota vs Washington would be nice. Thanks in advance if so!

I will get right on that... I'm assuming their schedule includes multiple ranked opponents?

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"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:26

2015 NFL Draft - Analyzing Targets www.jungle.jaguars.com/index.php?/topic/7892-2015-nfl-draft-analyzing-targets/

I will get right on that... I'm assuming their schedule includes multiple ranked opponents?

Thus far Washington was supposed to be Mariota's stiffest test (whom he dominated), but starting with UCLA next week the rest of their schedule will be a relative gauntlet. 

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Mariota vs Washington would be nice. Thanks in advance if so!

 

I'll do it for you;

 

A bunch of swing/screen passes and deep balls to a wide open Addison with one good back shoulder throw.

 

And a lot of that gimmicky read option stuff the kids like.

 

Just glad he finally got his completion % above 60%. Was starting to look very Gabbert-esque.

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TEST

I'll do it for you;

 

A bunch of swing/screen passes and deep balls to a wide open Addison with one good back shoulder throw.

 

And a lot of that gimmicky read option stuff the kids like.

 

Just glad he finally got his completion % above 60%. Was starting to look very Gabbert-esque.

yeah we get it, you don't like him, AT ALL

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yeah we get it, you don't like read option QBs, AT ALL

 

Fixed.

 

People are comparing him to Kaepernick. Kaepernick was good for half a season and now defenses are shutting him down.

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TEST

Fixed.

 

People are comparing him to Kaepernick. Kaepernick was good for half a season and now defenses are shutting him down.

It's just a comparison of size, speed, and arm strength. Obviously nobody thought Kaepernick was a top 5 pick, he was much more of a project than MM.

 

And I wouldn't be burying him just yet. He hasn't been consistent this year, but still too early to consider him a flop, just how last year, many were too quick to declare him as an elite QB.

 

If any of us thought that MM was only a read option QB with no chance of developing into a pocket passer, then we wouldn't be advocating drafting him in the top 5. Pretty much the same with RG3, although he's learning the hard way because his injury was mismanaged.

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It's just a comparison of size, speed, and arm strength. Obviously nobody thought Kaepernick was a top 5 pick, he was much more of a project than MM.

 

And I wouldn't be burying him just yet. He hasn't been consistent this year, but still too early to consider him a flop, just how last year, many were too quick to declare him as an elite QB.

 

If any of us thought that MM was only a read option QB with no chance of developing into a pocket passer, then we wouldn't be advocating drafting him in the top 5. Pretty much the same with RG3, although he's learning the hard way because his injury was mismanaged.

They did the same with RG3 and if Kaep went to a bigger school he would have been a top 10 pick.

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Kodiak, that was awesome. That was a great read and an awesome analysis. Well done

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LOVE THEM JAGUARS!

ALL of these read option QBs are getting shut down. Not just Kaep. Wilson is a great pocket passer with pro style offense experience in college so he is right as rain.

 

Terelle Pryor is doing decent with it but like many others, he is taking a beating because of it.

 

Give me a true blue grade A pocket passer over any athletic read option QB.

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TEST

ALL of these read option QBs are getting shut down. Not just Kaep. Wilson is a great pocket passer with pro style offense experience in college so he is right as rain.

 

Terelle Pryor is doing decent with it but like many others, he is taking a beating because of it.

 

Give me a true blue grade A pocket passer over any athletic read option QB.

 

 

 

Agreed.

 

Who would be your top three Grade "A" pocket passers (not named Bridgewater) that you see coming out in 2014?

 

I know David Caldwell will make the right decision pending draft slot. I do like Mariota potential though. I also like Mettenburger potential as well.

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LOVE THEM JAGUARS!

Agreed.

 

Who would be your top three Grade "A" pocket passers (not named Bridgewater) that you see coming out in 2014?

 

I know David Caldwell will make the right decision pending draft slot. I do like Mariota potential though. I also like Mettenburger potential as well.

 

1) Mettenberger

2) Boyd (I think he can convert to being a pure pocket passer. Needs a lot of mechanical work though)

3) Carr (Not really sold on him due to the 5 wide offense they run a lot)

 

Mariota could make the list depending on what goes on at the combine and his pro day. I NEED to see him outside of Oregon's offense. And he has been struggling with accuracy in the pocket this season.

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TEST

They did the same with RG3 and if Kaep went to a bigger school he would have been a top 10 pick.

Was an efficient passer before the injury. He didn't protect himself by sliding enough, and seems that the team mismanaged his injury all together.

 

Terelle Pryor is doing decent with it but like many others, he is taking a beating because of it.

 

Give me a true blue grade A pocket passer over any athletic read option QB.

Pryor doesn't have the arm to be a good QB, who ever thought that he did?

 

We're in agreement on pro-style QB, but you do realize that there's 10 games to be played, right? Not to sound like a broken record, but the #1 pick is not ours yet.

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Rutgers Background: I came into this thinking that Rutgers would be a bunch of softies like most of the teams the Ville play. But I had a hunch and I went over to the nfl.com's 2013 Draft Tracker. Rutgers had 5 players drafted in the 2013 draft, mostly by the Patriots. For comparison, Florida had 5 defenders drafted, and Alabama only had 4. I think this goes to show that this was a strong defense.

 

 

 

Seriously dude?  Please expain Rutgers giving up 52 to Fresno State and giving up 52 to SMU

 

The Rutgers picks were Rounds 3-3-4-7-7

The Florida picks were Rounds 1-1-2-4-6

 

BIG DIFFERENCE !!!!

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