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Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater Needs Stud Receiver

By Dan Salem

Jan 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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When Aaron Rodgers is in your division, you often get written off. But the Minnesota Vikings are one player away from reaching the top of the NFC and he may already be on the team.

We’re tackling each team in the league, traveling alphabetically to debate their biggest offseason issues. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

It seems lazy to exclaim this, but it is true. The Minnesota Vikings’ ceiling depends almost entirely on the production and evolution of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

The rest of the roster is in place and it’s pretty good. Obviously Adrian Peterson is roaming the backfield. Stefon Diggs had a fantastic rookie year last year at wide receiver. The offensive line is capable if not spectacular with the additions it has received this offseason. Minnesota added Alex Boone and Andre Smith who should slot in as a starter and first backup respectively. The other receivers outside of Diggs had disappointing 2015s (Charles Johnson, Kyle Rudolph, Cordarrelle Patterson, the latter of which being perennially disappointing), but perhaps that had more to do with Bridgewater.

Bridgewater averaged barely seven yards per pass attempt each of his first two seasons in the league. In 2015, his 7.2 mark ranked somewhere in the 20s of quarterbacks depending on how you qualify eligibility. Last season, he nearly finished below 200 yards per game as well, which would be unheard of in today’s league.

Related Story: 2016 NFL Mock Draft - Vikings Find Their Stud Receiver

So are those figures a case of system playing against him, receivers not being good enough or Teddy not being confident/capable? It remains to be seen. What we do know is head coach Mike Zimmer isn’t concerned with adding another wide receiver to the mix. He was happier with the offensive line additions.

On defense, Minnesota should be good again in 2016. Linval Joseph may take a step back, but younger players should take a step up, such as corner Trae Waynes.

I would love to see the Vikings add another important defensive piece in the first round of the draft and actually roll with this offense just to see what develops this coming season. I want to know, as most Vikings fans surely do too, what Bridgewater actually is and what he can become. If he’s the next game manager, then this team’s ceiling is limited and Zimmer is wrong; they do probably need another play-making wide receiver on offense.

Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (left) greets running back Adrian Peterson prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (left) greets running back Adrian Peterson prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

Its easy to forget that the Vikings finished ahead of the Green Bay Packers last season, winning the NFC North division with an impressive 11-5 record. You’re not wrong about Teddy Bridgewater controlling this team’s ceiling, or about the Vikings’ offense needing another wide receiver outside of Diggs to put up big numbers in 2016, but you are wrong with your assessment. Bridgewater is doing everything right and Minnesota shouldn’t care where the skills come from at receiver, as long as they come.

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Over his first two seasons in the NFL Bridgewater has improved in every statistical category. The most important stat is touchdowns to interception ratio, and in his rookie season (in 13 games) he notched 14 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Last year Teddy put up 14 touchdowns to only nine interceptions in a full season. His completion percentage went up as well, a solid 64.9 percent for his career so far. But the most impressive stat line is one easily overlooked in this age of 4,000-yard passing seasons for quarterbacks.

The old barometer was 3,000 yards for a quarterback. Cross that mark and you did very well under center. Combine that stat-line with a dominant running game and shutdown defense and you have the recipe for a Super Bowl. In 2014, Bridgewater passed for 2,919 yards in only 13 games. Last season, he threw for 3,231 yards in 16 contests. He did exactly what you would hope for at quarterback. What gets the Vikings over the top this season is Teddy continuing his consistent play, while having one more weapon to rely on in the passing game.

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One must assume the Vikings like their own guys better than any of the receivers previously available in free agency. If a better weapon was available, Minnesota would have made a run at them. Zimmer’s comments echo a team keeping its hand very close to the belt, not giving away any hint of their motives. Defense is the way to go in the draft in round one, but perhaps Minnesota wants to go receiver in the later rounds. One more playmaker is enough for this team.

The Packers aren’t going anywhere, but the North division is still the Vikings’ to lose.

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