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The toughest and hardest working QB selected in the 2014 NFL Draft is former Louisville Cardinal, Teddy Bridgewater. The Minnesota Vikings traded back into the first round of this year’s Draft to grab Bridgewater. Many analysts speculated that the Louisville product could go as low as number one overall to the Houston Texans. However, after bad a Pro Day, Bridgewater’s draft stock took a dramatic turn for the worse; his throwing accuracy and durability were brought into question. But this young man is a cut above the other quarterbacks coming out of college. Bridgewater’s maturity, work ethic and mental toughness is second to none.
Mental toughness is critical in a quarterback. Bridgewater has a proven record of being cool under fire. He once played through a sprained right ankle and a broken wrist, in triple overtime. The tenacious Bridgewater returned the following week to defeat Rutgers and lead his team to a BCS bid.
When asked by ESPN analyst Jon Gruden to describe what sets him apart, Bridgewater exclaimed,
“My background has made me the person I am today. It’s made me a mentally and physically tough guy. Nothing bothers me. You can set my hair on fire, I’m still going to go. I’m just one of those guys.”
Along with that toughness is a dedication that will lift the rookie QB to great heights. Bridgewater (a cerebral player) is a student of the game and has been a mainstay at the Vikings’ training complex ever since he arrived in Winter Park, Minnesota. While other rookies such as Johnny Manziel have been seen in the flashy districts of Miami or Las Vegas, Bridgewater stays at the Vikings’ facility, only leaving long enough to comply with the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
When asked about Bridgewater, former NFL head coach and Super Bowl champion Jon Gruden stated, “He can recognize and communicate a lot of different styles of offense. It’s very impressive. His football IQ is high and is his strength. This is a tough kid that has made it the hard way.” Although Bridgewater must bulk up his slender frame and polish his mechanics, he is ready to play at the NFL level because of his extensive knowledge of the West-Coast-Offense, learned during his time at Louisville. These are the intangible qualities that are often found lacking in other college quarterbacks as they enter the Pros.
Teddy Bridgewater enters the league in a perfect scenario in Minnesota, a team in search of a long-term solution at the quarterback position. He will have the opportunity to develop under offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, one of the best offensive minds in the country. Bridgewater has the luxury of easing into the starting position behind veteran QB’s Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder. When Bridgewater does assume the role as team leader and starting QB, he will have the NFL’s best Running-Back, Adrian Peterson, to aide his transition to the big leagues. As poised and mature as Bridgewater is, something tells me he won’t need his hand held by veteran leadership very long.
Christopher DuVall is a writer for Couch Rider Report
