Ben Tate contract details revealed
March 18, 2014Will Alex Mack’s future come down to who blinks first?
March 18, 2014
He isn’t who we thought he was. As Theodore (“Teddy”) Bridgewater was spraying footballs all over the University of Louisville’s field house, the ball fluttering every which way as it traveled in the general direction of a wide receiver, it became evident that the top end of the impending 2014 NFL Draft would provide even more question marks than had originally been surmised. For a player who spurned the NFL Combine in preference of showcasing his own talents in a one-spotlight room to falter as bad as Bridgewater did is rare. For a player who has thrived much of his collegiate career by completing passes on the run to not just miss at doing so, but miss in a way that led to unanimous panning is another.
Pro Days are where the questionable go to shine. Favorable conditions and faster tracks are just two ingredients in the high-risk soup. They’re the places where guys like Colt McCoy draw comparisons to other similarly sized—but exponentially more successful—quarterbacks. They’re the days that ultimately serve to make teams use valuable picks on Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon after spending an afternoon watching them play catch in their team colors.
On Monday afternoon, as media members and various NFL executives gathered around, Bridgewater faced the thinnest of defenses. No, not Florida International whose Golden Panthers were promptly devoured by Bridgewater’s Cardinals1 to the tune of 72-0 on a sunny Saturday this past September. Bridgewater, instead, was simply facing himself—and gravity. He overthrew receivers to his left and then a few more to his right. He underthrew a five-yard out to his left and then missed badly on a deep seam route down the middle of the field. After 65 passes were thrown, 10 crashed to the turf. This was a guy who completed 71 percent of his passes for 31 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2013 en route to a 12-1 season and a crushing win over the Miami Hurricanes in what would be his final appearance in Cardinals uniform; a guy who was all but cemented as one of the top picks in the 2014 NFL Draft before he even took a snap in 2013. For him to falter in a quarterback’s chief responsibility…well, it could go a variety of ways.
For a team like the Cleveland Browns, one that is widely linked to selecting a quarterback with one of their two first-round picks this coming May, Bridgewater’s afternoon of confusion doesn’t necessarily help their case. Browns general manager Ray Farmer was in attendance for the debacle; head coach Mike Pettine, however, was not. Neither was offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan nor quarterbacks coach Dowell Logains. The Browns were one of 29 teams to be represented in Louisville, but they were one of the few who declined to interview Bridgewater at the NFL Combine earlier this winter. It was also reported that Farmer spent extensive time with Louisville inside linebacker Preston Brown. There were already growing concerns about Bridgewater’s slight frame and lack of velocity—the former needed to withstand the defensive units across the AFC North; latter being a must-have to hurl passes amidst the winter winds of Lake Erie2. If the Browns were fond of the 6-foot-2-inch Bridgewater, they are certainly playing hard to get.
Regardless of where the Browns sit on the Bridgewater Bandwagon, the Louisville quarterback was a top 10 selection in nearly every mock draft that has been published to this point. With several teams needing improvement at the quarterback position, Bridgewater has been targeted as being selected anywhere from No. 1 overall on down the line. His experience in a “pro” style offense was only aided by his ability to tear through progressions and deliver crisp, catchable balls with his eyes closed. These items alone would be enough for a desperate team to take a gamble on one of the more-discussed player of the last two collegiate seasons. After Monday, however, questions loom regarding how far the quarterback will fall. ESPN.com’s Todd McShay says that Bridgewater is no longer a lock for his early-round positioning, meaning that one of the teams who might have considered rolling the dice—looking at you, Jacksonville—will now look elsewhere, potentially in the same direction as a player who the Browns actually covet.
It’s easy to be skeptical of any quarterback in this year’s draft class—they all have their warts. This outing may seem like a blessing in disguise lest the Browns actually consider using the fourth-overall selection on a guy who was one-hopping passes that were not being defended against. This outing also serves, however, as a means to increase the asking price on any other quarterbacking option. Houston still owns the rights to Matt Schaub; they could easily up their demands with the increased knowledge surrounding this year’s class. The next tier of quarterbacks also takes a bump in value—Fresno State’s David Carr suddenly seems like a lot less of a risk; LSU’s Zach Mettenberger may be worth the wait. The top-level talents like South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Buffalo’s Khalil Mack, Clemson’s Sammy Watkins, or Texas A&M’s Mike Evans may now be too good to pass up, even for a team that is in dire need of a quarterback to call their future.
What a Pro Day actually means is perpetually up for debate. Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell and Geno Smith all wowed front office executives on their respective days. Jimmy Clausen was “nearly perfect,” completing 57-of-59 passses. Tim Tebow impressed many, so much so that the naval gazers in attendance reportedly booed a the wide receiver when a pass from the genuflecting lefty hit the turf. Tim Couch, conversely, had an eyebr0w-raising afternoon that forced the Browns front office to look at the Kentucky product one additional time before making him the No. 1 overall pick in 1999. Matt Ryan, the first quarterback taken in 2008, had passes that were categorized as “lumpy.” Both Blake Bortles, who Mel Kiper Jr. has the Browns selecting at No. 4, and Johnny Manziel (eighth-overall to Minnesota) have their respective Pro Days later this month. If each of them fail to capitalize on their spotlight the way Bridgewater did, things will get increasingly more interesting. Teddy Bridgwater already did his part. Let’s see how crazy this party can get before the names are officially called.
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Photo: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE
17 Comments
Maybe he’s just the anti-weeden? Can’t perform unless there is pressure in his face and the WR is framed up by tight little windows in the zone?
Dunno. Feel like I know what I saw in games….
Great job balancing here. My favorite part:
After 65 passes were thrown, 10 crashed to the turf. This was a guy who completed 71 percent of his passes for 31 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2013 en route to a 12-1 season and a crushing win over the Miami Hurricanes in what would be his final appearance in Cardinals uniform
I fully understand that it is a big red flag that a prospect that has been practicing specifically for this day and event would have the day that Bridgewater had. However, I also have a hard time justifying giving it more weight than the actual games in which he played.
In the end, the blessing might be that he slips to the Browns at #4. Or, it might be that we decide to not draft him (or someone above us drafts him anyway) and the performance caused us to spend more time on QB film and we find that diamond in the rough (Mr. Farmer, Connor Shaw is on line-1, Aaron Murray is still on hold on line-2). Or that we spend more time on Louisville film and another of their players ends up shining that we notice.
To much of this pre-draft stuff IMO so thankful the NFL made more time for all of it by pushing draft day back a few weeks.
Scott, You are all over the puns lately and I love it!
I take pride in my headlines. Glad *someone* appreciates them!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouf5SIH5qTs
The 2013 game is available on youtube too and demonstrates a ton of what I like about Shaw, but it’s the full game, not just passing cut-up like this one. I recommend it.
2012 v. Mizzou pass breakdown below (Tigers were playing umbrella defense, so alot of underneath patterns, but when he went deep, they were beautiful):
Bad throw/throwaway, but avoided sack and ball was into
ground (no INT opportunity).
Good screen throw
Good screen throw
Nice “flip” shovel pass J
8yd stop completion
8yd stop completion
6yd stop completion
Beautiful flip J
6yd stop completion
30yd far side of field go-route in stride strike
Good screen throw
Good screen throw
Good catch w/ slightly off-target screen throw
Good screen throw
22yd corner lofted pass perfectly in stride over the back shoulder for TD
Good screen throw
6yd “go” route? In stride, hit him going perfectly straight 6yds from LOS for big gain
4yd stop completion
Good screen throw
Rolling right, perfect strike after looking off target back to middle of the field for TD
Eh, 5yd out-route. Something wrong with this one. WR had to adjust a ton (either wrong shoulder or cut route off at wrong point).
Because it’s so crucial what a guy does in shorts and a t-shirt. He’s been working with a “QB guru” who messed with his footwork for God only knows what reason, it’ll get put back to how he played at Louisville by the first coach who talks to him in the NFL. Zero concern for me, his tape and statistics are both fantastic, one of the 4-7 best QB prospects since Peyton Manning.
I doubt this really effects his position much, since he’s still easily a top 3 candidate for QB.
I had my mock5 looking like this, and I believe it still stays the same.
HOU – Johnny Manziel
StL – Sammy Watkins
JAX – Teddy Bridgewater
CLE – Blake Bortles
OAK – Jadaveon Clowney
I’m not inclined to let a bad workout day overshadow what Bridgewater showed on the field in actual games. That said, there are legitimate questions about his frame and ability to brave the elements of the north shore.
Really hoping to see Watkins on the board at 4.
I had him at 8.
I’ve still only got the mach3-turbo. Didn’t even know the mach5 was out:
http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m8J7TrYaloA8zphYh-9xp5Q.jpg
the only way that I will be okay with not taking a QB at #4 is if we really feel none of them are going to be special and we prefer to take one of the truly elite guys on the board.
Watkins(WR), Robinson(OT), Mack (ILB), or Clowney (OLB)
I am really tempted to include Justin Gilbert (CB) on that list, but think we could get him after a trade down.
“A QB.” I know you’re high on Bridgewater, but do you really think that he and the other guys (Manziel and Bortles) are that much better than, say, Shaw, as to justify drafting one of them at 4? I really don’t see it. I’d much rather miss on one of those guys and get a bona fide starter at another position (and potentially a one-half-step-down QB later).
I like the Gilbert call, but I’d agree that a trade down would be the way to get there. As for QB at four, Teddy was my front runner there, and remains the only one I’d roll the dice on that early. But the more I look at the pros of Watkins, the more I think he’s my top guy there. And I have trouble believing that the Jags or Rams would go with him on their first selections, so I’d be surprised to say the least if he’s gone by the time we are on the clock. If they are all developmental QBs anyway, then grab one in round 2-3 and get the obvious big talents in the first.
I don’t want to miss at QB as it is by far the most important position. As to JFF or Bortles, I honestly don’t know. It depends on what time of the day you ask me.
Basically though, I won’t be upset if we get one of those 7 guys at the #4 slot. If it’s a QB, then our FO is telling us that guy is a franchise QB. If it’s not, then those guys I listed are elite at their position (in my head anyway).
Don’t get my excitement on Shaw to think I value him as highly. He has flaws (inconsistent, checks down too quickly, etc.). I just don’t get why his flaws make him a 7th round QB on many boards when I see him even with the guys being listed in rounds 2-4.
Fair enough.
In my perfect world, all three will be gone and our guys won’t be tempted to over-reach on the next Brady Weeden.
Is Carr the new Weeden or Big Bro Carr?