Does Tedford See Aaron Rodgers In Bridgewater?
March 21st, 2014
Everybody knows Jeff Tedford is an extraordinary college quarterbacks guru. The man pumped out a basket full of NFL first-round picks.
It’s not on Tedford that a lot of those guys were marginal at best as professionals when they weren’t under his tutelage. For Joe, that fact only enhances Tedford’s reputation.
Bucky Brooks, the former NFL player who is now one of NFL Network’s three supreme NFL Draft gurus, has penned a piece studying quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and has concluded Tedford is likely to see one of his old “Cal” students in the Louisville gunslinger. That would be Mr. Aaron Rodgers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 7)
The Bucs are unlikely to take a quarterback early in the draft based on their recent moves, but Bridgewater makes perfect sense with former Cal coach Jeff Tedford onboard as the team’s offensive coordinator. The wily coaching veteran has a knack for maximizing quarterback potential, dating back to his time in the college ranks. Additionally, the similarities between Bridgewater and Rodgers could make it easy for Tedford to build an offense that accentuates Bridgewater’s strengths as a player. Given the big-time quarterbacks who occupy the stage in the NFC South, I could see Bridgewater enticing Lovie Smith and his staff on draft day.
It’s hard to believe now that quarterback-obsessed, Bucs offensive wonder Jon Gruden, along with most of the NFL, passed on Rodgers coming out of college. That’s just accentuates the wackiness and unknown of the NFL Draft
Will we be saying the same about Bridgewater?
Yes, he’s got flaws, but there’s a lot there to think he could become better than half the QBs in the NFL. Joe loves Bridgewater’s leadership, consistency and grit, plus his experience in a pro offense. He’s got a nice combination of skills. The Bucs would be lucky to get him.
March 21st, 2014 at 2:48 pm
What…no Johnny Football?…..is this part of the old NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Equal Time provision?
Are we going to hear about how lucky we would be to get Bortles next?
March 21st, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Bridgewater would be a fine pick. He just won’t be there…..
March 21st, 2014 at 2:54 pm
70% completion percentage. Would take that all freaking day long. Really love this kid….hear his a real gym rat and film junkie too. The anti-Freeman.
Would love to see Bridgewater and then Kelvin Benjamin in rd 2
March 21st, 2014 at 2:54 pm
I really hope the Bucs Draft him. Accurate, athletic, mobile, smart. He has all the tools to succeed.
March 21st, 2014 at 2:59 pm
The Panthers signed Underwood. Guess that means we can’t bring him back after cutting him after preseason….for the THIRD TIME! Lol
March 21st, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Ugh… you had to mention the Rodgers-Gruden debacle…
March 21st, 2014 at 3:00 pm
I would buy his jersey the moment this pick was made
March 21st, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Love this pick
March 21st, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Pass!
March 21st, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Ehhhhhh that pro day workout soured me. But it doesn’t matter Licht said they thought there were Franchise QBs to be had in the draft, but not the ones we’re thinking of,. That to me spells “not in the first round baby”.
March 21st, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Also, some people on here need to get real about the talent in the second round. First round talent guys are not going to be there with the 6th pick in the second round unless there is something wrong w them (Brian Price, anyone?) the second round will have some talented players, but not the physical specimens. We aren’t the only ones participating in the draft. Kelvin Benjamin won’t make it far into the 20s (if that far) and certainly not into the second. Same goes for cooks, beckham, Nix, Hageman, tuitt.
March 21st, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Kalind if you believe a single word coming out of any GM’s mouth about the draft a month before it takes place then I have a $16M/yr cornerback to sell you
March 21st, 2014 at 3:16 pm
God I hope not….
March 21st, 2014 at 3:18 pm
Amen kalind. I think it’s Watkins or we trade down for someone else to take a qb. Qb in second sounds right. Site on the bench like rogers first year. Not comparing McCown to favre in the least btw.
March 21st, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Would be another smart decision in this regimes cap if we can make this happen.
March 21st, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Teddy will be there and we will pass. Don’t see why this kid is even in the discussion to be a franchise quarterback.
March 21st, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Tedford might have his eyes on a QB later in the draft. A QB he believes has untapped potential. As a QB guru, this would seem completely plausible. It would also give Lovie the opportunity to address another position with the 7th pick.
March 21st, 2014 at 3:46 pm
@Touchdown Gus, “I would buy his jersey the moment this pick was made”
are you sure? have you SEEN the new jerseys? ;). i’d wait for the bridgewater throwbacks, personally
March 21st, 2014 at 3:50 pm
i know you shouldn’t read much into pre-draft chatter, but licht did tease on 98.7 that he sees a couple franchise guys in this draft, but “i won’t tell you what round i see them in”. these guys really trust their evalutaions and don’t really buy into groupthink, it wouldn’t surprise me if they saw the consensus 5th or 6th best QB as the one with the most franchise QB potential
March 21st, 2014 at 3:50 pm
If he does then we’re Effed. Now does he see G.Smith in Bridgewater? Yes should be the answer. A.Rogers…hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahaha breath hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
March 21st, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Wouldnt touch him…. The guy can’t throw a ball without gloves in any weather….
March 21st, 2014 at 4:01 pm
PASS!
March 21st, 2014 at 4:12 pm
This guy was considered one of the top QBs coming out, and because of a lackluster pro day all of a sudden he’s a bust. Do scouts rely on college tape or planned pro days? Many QBs in the past had spectacular pro days who turned out to be busts.
March 21st, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Fancy gloves for a small handed QB.
“Most Pro-ready”, my ass. A true “pro ” would’ve thrown at the combine.
Edge pass rusher/OT/ #1 WR on the board. That will be the pick, much to the demise of Joe. ( shades of the 2011 draft , and passing on Mo Claibourne).
March 21st, 2014 at 4:33 pm
@Stevek
Dude seriously?
Luck and RGIII didn’t throw at the combine either… 90% of the top QB’s taken in the draft don’t throw at the combine… Are they not “PRO” enough for you?
Your love for Glennon is downright disgusting that you think he isn’t a pro because he wears gloves and didn’t throw at the combine… The WR class is deep this year and you can get a Cooks in the 2nd or Jordan Mathews or whomever they want later.. We have actual depth at DE for once as well.. We need O-Line help at G and a swing Tackle which neither position warrants a #7 overall pick. But the rest of the positions is mostly depth…
Take one of the 3 QB’s because clearly Glennon isn’t the answer to Lovie and Licht and McCown is a stop gap at BEST. Or if they aren’t there trade back and BPA
March 21st, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Or do you really want to stunt the growth Gholston had last year by drafting a 1st round edge rusher? Because he sure isn’t going to be lining up at RDE enough to warrant that 1st round pick… Seriously smh
March 21st, 2014 at 4:44 pm
I like Bridgewater and think he will gone before the 7th pick. Somebody will take him early.
March 21st, 2014 at 4:59 pm
I was a excited to see what Glennon could do in his second year with Tedford. We still might, but it doesn’t look like it now. I don’t think the top three draftee QB’s would do much better than Glennon in their rookie year if they had to play, just my opinion. A lot of it rests on how QB friendly Tedfords system is.
March 21st, 2014 at 5:16 pm
Phillip,
The last Buc with 10 sacks was Simeon Rice. Can we get a 10 sack guy?
Our prior GM (fourth Hanson Brother) didn’t believe in drafting O-Linemen.
Andrew Luck and RG3 had a whole lot less to prove as “pro prospects “. Luck was heralded as the “greatest prospect since Elway ” and RG-Me had won a Heisman.
“It all starts up front” has been mentioned by the new regime a few times. All I know is that we are going to draft the BPA
What has Teddy done? He should be eager to prove that the “most pro ready QB” in this draft in from Louisville.
I don’t think you understand how bad our team is/was. we are retooling everything.
I think Glennon can develop into a franchise QB, if awarded development time. McCown is a great guy to bring in.
It’s a damn shame we traded up for a piece of crap QB in Freeman. It adds more insult to injury knowing that the pick we gave up made it to the cover of Madden (Peyton Hillis).
Again, Phillip, I don’t know why you are so hell bent on a new QB. Especially a prospect that won’t be the “BPA”.
As a fan, I choose to stick up for Glennon bc Joe and the Big Darrell 620 choose to ignore him.
Freeman got 61 starts, and we are ready to trash Glennon after 13.
Newsflash Freemanites: You all are too fixated on QB, when you look at our lines: worst in football.
The ” 32 ranked offense ” is a farce too. Freeman averaged less than 12 ppg and Glennon 19ppg, as a rookie.
Too think Glennon can’t develop is foolish, and to me it is reassuring to know that most Freemanites doubt Glennon. You all were wrong about Freeman, so let’s make it two in a row.
March 21st, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Bridgewater will be a complete bust. PLEASE quote me on that when it turns out to be true.
I suspect they are aiming for Carr…which is why I’ve been focusing on him of later. His pro day was just cream on the crop.
March 21st, 2014 at 5:21 pm
The test for Tedford’s QB will not just be physical skills, it will also be teachability and ability to comprehend I his system, from previous qb’s they were saying that he has a pretty comprehensive playbook. I think Bridgewater, if there at 7, meets all those qualifications. They will put weight on him.
March 21st, 2014 at 5:22 pm
It has nothing to do with GMs really, it has to do with value. There isn’t value anymore in taking a “maybe” franchise QB in the First. Luck and Newton etc were near sure things. But Lovie/Licht aren’t about to pin their careers on the arm of Teddy, Manziel or Bortles. It’s not worth the risk. Being wrong and not selecting them won’t get them fired. Selecting one of them and they busy, just might. Why chance it? Take one a little later and groom them behind McCown.
That’s what I’d do, and I think that’s what they’ll do.
March 21st, 2014 at 5:38 pm
@Stevek
So because RGIII won the HEISMAN he doesn’t need to throw at the combine?? Umm Troy Smith Tim Tebow Johnny Manziel Sam Bradford Cam Newton Matt Leinart Jason White Carson Palmer Chris Weinke Eric Crouch.. All QB’s that won the Heisman… So you are telling me ALL of them didn’t need to throw at the combine because they won that award?? Seriously? Terrible logic but okay..
Did we not just sign Michael Johnson to a big @$$ deal or am I dreaming?? Because if I use common sense here… You don’t sign someone to that big of a contract and not think hes going to produce 10 sacks… I mean seriously
So you are telling me Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t done anything??? Okay…
Just shy of(2013 stats) 4k 31 TD 4 INT at a 71% completion isn’t doing anything? Okay.. how about (2012 stats) 3700 27 TD 8 INT at a 68.5% completion lets just add in how he destroyed the Gators in the bowl game that year and they were top 3 in Defense btw…
Johnny Manziel (2013) 4100 37 TD 13 INT 70% completion
(2012) 3700 26 TD 9 INT 68 % completion(Shredded SEC both years)
Blake Bortles (2013) 3600 25 TD 9 INT 67.8% completion
(2012) 3000 25 TD 7 INT 63% completion
I see QB’s against good to the best competition in CFB and improving(Aside from Blake 2012 MAC or whatever it was )
Here is Glennon’s college btw… (2011) 3054 31 TD 12 INT 62.5 completion
(2012) 4031 31 TD 17 INT 58.5 completion
He didn’t get better….
March 21st, 2014 at 6:21 pm
how long did it take Rogers to get to the Elite level. Look at 1st & 2nd year stats. It takes time, have not seen a QB coming out of college that walks on water.
I do not see the buc’s wasting a first round on a QB with other glaring needs. Move down and collect picks.
March 21st, 2014 at 8:04 pm
I’d rather reach and take Murray in the 2nd rd then take Bridgewater at 7 in the 1st. Seeing as we’d probably be letting them sit for a year or two, I don’t want to waste that high of a pick on a QB.
March 21st, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Bridgewater is a weak looking prospect, IMO (pre-pro day). There are at least 5 other QB’s I’d pick over him. Bortles, Carr, Manziel, McCarron, & even Connor Shaw all look like better prospects to me.
March 21st, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Joe,
Your fear of acknowledging the best QB in the draft has just become laughable…
March 21st, 2014 at 10:36 pm
It’s possible. Latest mock draft had Houston taking Bortles and then 2nd pick was Clowney, an OL and then Watkins, then another OL then a DL, then Bucs taking an OL. So QBs could be there. With Schaub going where he did people are thinking they won’t draft QB.