Minnesota Vikings: Teddy Bridgewater must step up in 2016
By Luke Sims
The Minnesota Vikings will be relying on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to deliver wins in 2016 as the team continues its transition to being the quarterback’s team more than running back Adrian Peterson‘s team.
Looking around the Minnesota Vikings stories on the internet lately, it’s clear that the Vikes need to make some changes on offense. Most importantly, the Vikings need to add some pieces to the passing game.
Dan and Todd Salem argue that Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs a stud receiver to be successful going forward, with Dan saying “[Bridgewater] 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.”
In Gil Alcaraz’s ranking of the Vikings’ draft needs post free agency, the number one need is a play making wide receiver. As Alcaraz wrote, “Because, as we saw last year, the lack of a true No. 1 playmaker stunted Bridgewater’s growth at times. He didn’t have a reliable top target to throw to, and defenses were able to key in on the young, inexperienced Diggs once he caught fire midway through the season.”
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Other similar stories can be found in places elsewhere. There is a consensus that what the Minnesota Vikings need is a wide receiver to help out Bridgewater in the passing game. And that need is a reflection of the overall shift from the Vikings being a team relying on running back Adrian Peterson to a team relying on their quarterback.
The most recent receiver who was supposed to fill that gap was Mike Wallace, now with the Baltimore Ravens. Wallace had his least productive season ever in his 2015 Vikings campaign, finishing with his lowest total in yards (473), touchdowns (2), and yards per reception (12.1).
He took a parting shot at Bridgewater in moving to Baltimore, saying, “When the process began, I knew that I wasn’t going back to Minnesota. I was like, ‘I need a good quarterback.’ I need a quarterback who I know is proven, who can get things done…” While he later backed away from the comment (via Tom Pelissero of USA Today), that kind of statement from a veteran wide receiver is an indictment.
What is interesting from the Wallace statement is the aftermath. Following Wallace’s comment, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press quickly ran a story calling Wallace’s criticism “laughable” in light of his poor production. Yet head coach Mike Zimmer, whose opinion matters far more than others, has not piled on. In fact, he has spoken favorably of Wallace, calling him a “great kid” and saying “”I think John Harbaugh and the guys over there are really going to like him as a person, as a competitor.” (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com).
Zimmer is a demanding head coach and he expects performance from his players. Wallace was cut not because the Vikings didn’t like him, but because his value at over $11 million was too much for the overall production. It was a business decision.
That business decision centered around quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. If Wallace had returned at a reduced rate, the Minnesota Vikings would still be in the hunt for a new wide receiver, but they would be adding that receiver to a core that featured Wallace as well as young stud Stefon Diggs, rather than trying to stock a relatively barren cupboard.
Looking forward, the Vikings know that the future centers on Bridgewater. They know that what he has accomplished to this point is admirable, but they need more. Part of that is getting him more weapons, but another part is being demanding of the young quarterback and seeing him grow regardless of who is catching the passes.
Zimmer called his 11-win playoff team out, saying “I don’t think we’re very good, to be honest with you” in late March, citing third downs and red zone touchdowns as areas that need improvement (courtesy of Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports). This is in line with his previous comments through the offseason and, bringing them all together, is a call to action for Bridgewater. General manager Rick Spielman agrees, saying that Bridgewater must let it loose going forward (via Conor Orr of NFL.com).
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The demands being placed on Bridgewater as he enters year three after exceeding all expectations as a rookie and second-year player are to be expected. This is the modern NFL and no position has more responsibility placed upon it than the quarterback. There is a need for the Minnesota Vikings to find a stud wide receiver to help out, but at the end of the day it will be Bridgewater’s responsibility to move the team down the field, convert third downs and red zone trips into touchdowns, and bring wins to the franchise.
Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman are wise to consistently demand better from their football team and their quarterback. They have taken it one year at a time through their tenure with the team and there has been growth in that strategy. Now, the expectations will be higher.
Growing up watching the Minnesota Vikings on Sundays, it always felt like the expectations were too low. Like getting to the playoffs was all that mattered and being knocked out was okay because the season as a whole was a success – the talented roster in the 1990s being the biggest offenders. Zimmer is not going to be content with making the playoffs. He is not going to be content winning 11 games or his division.
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The Vikings are well built and in a position to compete for Super Bowls, not just getting into the post season. They have the right coach to lead the team there, now the pressure turns up on the quarterback. Bridgewater needs to deliver no matter who is catching the ball and the Vikings are wise to expect more from him.