So what's wrong with Bridgewater?

[Mr. Scot]

I know some will say that Bridgewater has been bad all season. That's not really true. He had his fair share of good games early on, but he's fallen off...a lot.

Around mid-season, it started to become noticeable that Bridgewater often played better at the beginning of games than he did in the latter part of them (that pattern wasn't true today but it has been for several other games). In much the same vein, it's starting to look like he's playing worse in the latter part of the season then he did at the beginning.

Why?

In my opinion, it's physical. Specifically, fatigue.

I've seen plenty of quarterbacks who fit this profile. Commonly, it's a conditioning issue. They can look great when the game's just starting; but as it wears on and they tire, dropbacks go slower, passes are off, reads don't come as quickly, etc etc.

Sound familiar?

Bridgewater was never exactly a physical specimen. One of the knocks on him pre-draft was that while he had great ability, some weren't sure that he could handle the physical beating that the typical NFL quarterback took. And make no mistake, a full NFL season is a beating. In fact it's sixteen of them once every seven days or so.

His suffering a major injury isn't necessarily a factor in this, but it certainly doesn't help.

Honestly, this is why some guys are backups. You have certain players who can look good for a short period, but don't hold up over an extended run. What I've seen of Bridgewater makes me think he fits this category. It also helps explain why he's not a clutch quarterback when it comes to the fourth quarter.

And it's a big reason why I'd rather have him as a backup in the seasons to come.

I think most would agree he'd be a good backup / mentor to a QB of the future. Heck, his knowledge of our current system would make him damn near ideal for that role. Unfortunately, you can't have him as a backup at his current salary so something would have to happen there.

Will it?

Don't know, but I'd love to see it.

Bottom Line: You've heard it said that the NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. Even more than that, it's a marathon where people are beating up on you throughout the entire course. That's why you'll always hear me say "talk to me in Week 10 or so" when we're discussing somebody doing good early on.

In this case, we're talking about it in Week 12 but the principle is the same.

I don't believe Bridgewater can take the pounding of a full NFL season, but he does still have value.

It's just a matter of putting him in right role.

[Carl Spackler]

Opposing coaches figured him out once and for all and since then, he’s a poor man’s Spergon Wynn. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Nothing is wrong with Bridgewater. He's been what we should've expected. He's pretty much been what he always has been. If we were expecting more then that's on us and our evaluation of him. I said when we signed him that the more film opposing teams got on him the worse he'd look.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I know some will say that Bridgewater has been bad all season. That's not really true. He had his fair share of good games early on, but he's fallen off...a lot.

Around mid-season, it started to become noticeable that Bridgewater often played better at the beginning of games than he did in the latter part of them (that pattern wasn't true today but it has been for several other games). In much the same vein, it's starting to look like he's playing worse in the latter part of the season then he did at the beginning.

Why?

In my opinion, it's physical. Specifically, fatigue.

I've seen plenty of quarterbacks who fit this profile. Commonly, it's a conditioning issue. They can look great when the game's just starting; but as it wears on and they tire, dropbacks go slower, passes are off, reads don't come as quickly, etc etc.

Sound familiar?

Bridgewater was never exactly a physical specimen. One of the knocks on him pre-draft was that while he had great ability, some weren't sure that he could handle the physical beating that the typical NFL quarterback took. And make no mistake, a full NFL season is a beating. In fact it's sixteen of them once every seven days or so.

His suffering a major injury isn't necessarily a factor in this, but it certainly doesn't help.

Honestly, this is why some guys are backups. You have certain players who can look good for a short period, but don't hold up over an extended run. What I've seen of Bridgewater makes me think he fits this category. It also helps explain why he's not a clutch quarterback when it comes to the fourth quarter.

And it's a big reason why I'd rather have him as a backup in the seasons to come.

I think most would agree he'd be a good backup / mentor to a QB of the future. Heck, his knowledge of our current system would make him damn near ideal for that role. Unfortunately, you can't have him as a backup at his current salary so something would have to happen there.

Will it?

Don't know, but I'd love to see it.

Bottom Line: You've heard it said that the NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. Even more than that, it's a marathon where people are beating up on you throughout the entire course. That's why you'll always hear me say "talk to me in Week 10 or so" when we're discussing somebody doing good early on.

In this case, we're talking about it in Week 12 but the principle is the same.

I don't believe Bridgewater can take the pounding of a full NFL season, but he does still have value.

It's just a matter of putting him in right role.

He plays timid...  

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

Nothing is wrong with Bridgewater. He's been what we should've expected. He's pretty much been what he always has been. If we were expecting more then that's on us and our evaluation of him.

The contract tells me we were expecting more.

[onmyown]

I’d agree but he is one tough SOB considering all he went through, rehabbed and isn’t afraid to sit in the pocket and get hit and run which I give him props for. I think he is playing hurt, and his injuries do have more to do with it than people think

I do think he’s getting fatigued mentally and physically and that conflicts with his nature.

All that said, can’t move forward with him IMO. Another years while a lower pick QB sits, understandable...but doubt he ever sees year 3 of his contract nor would I want him to.

[Carl Spackler]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

Nothing is wrong with Bridgewater. He's been what we should've expected. He's pretty much been what he always has been. If we were expecting more then that's on us and our evaluation of him.

He’s a hell of a lot less than I expected. In terms of:

Arm strength - worse than expected 
Accuracy - worse than expected 
Scrambling - better than expected
Leadership - worse than expected

Having given the guy 11 games, he is an abject failure in almost every conceivable way. 

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

Jeremy stopped shitposting "Teddy is the franchise" threads and his powers drained.

[electro's horse]

he sucks, op

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, Carl Spackler said:

He’s a hell of a lot less than I expected. In terms of:

Arm strength - worse than expected 
Accuracy - worse than expected 
Scrambling - better than expected
Leadership - worse than expected

Having given the guy 11 games, he is an abject failure in almost every conceivable way. 

Accuracy, scrambling and arm strength were all better early in the year.

[onmyown]

There is certainly something wrong with him and the difference came after his injury this year and 4 straight games the oline had a meltdown after halftime leaving him to get destroyed. 
 

It was extremely obvious watching the games when this happened. He is more timid in the pocket and as a QB that didn’t take chances in the first placed he has regressed.

[07579394]

His throwing formation looks ugly,that's it

[LinvilleGorge]

4 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

The contract tells me we were expecting more.

I think we were too. We were wrong. 

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, Carl Spackler said:

He’s a hell of a lot less than I expected. In terms of:

Arm strength - worse than expected 
Accuracy - worse than expected 
Scrambling - better than expected
Leadership - worse than expected

Having given the guy 11 games, he is an abject failure in almost every conceivable way. 

Well... I mean, he is on his 4th NFL roster in 6 seasons. Might shoulda seen it coming is all I'm saying.