Himmelsbach | Bridgewater not on eggshells
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Teddy Bridgewater stood at his locker after the Minnesota Vikings' 19-3 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans and gathered his belongings. The former Louisville quarterback placed his shoulder pads in a large bag so an equipment manager wouldn't have to do it for him. And then he reached into his backpack, pulled out a large box of Bazooka chewing gum and smiled.
"See, they know me," he said with a smile. "They know about me down here."
He was referring to Louisville fans, many of whom had made the three-hour drive down I-65 South to see the man who helped revitalize the Cardinals' football program.
Teddy heard them chanting his name after he started Thursday's game. He heard them yelling for him to flash an 'L' sign. And one even brought him that box of bubble gum, knowing that he always puts two pieces in each sock before games.
For Bridgewater, this game was a mixture of something old and something new. It was a chance to reflect on his time at UofL, but also a chance to move forward, to signal the start of this next chapter.
"Each day, each opportunity," he said, "is a new step."
On this day, the new opportunity was starting an NFL game. The irony is that he started because he is not the Vikings' starter.
Earlier this week, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer announced that veteran Matt Cassel would start the season-opener against the St. Louis Rams. Cassel outplayed Bridgewater during the preseason and has much more experience. For now, the decision makes sense.
Starting quarterbacks rarely play in their team's final preseason game, so on Thursday Bridgewater got his chance. Then just before kickoff, the skies opened.
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It was raining sideways and thunder was clapping in the distance and fans were cheering on the mess. When Bridgewater came out for the opening series, he wasn't wearing gloves.
He almost always wore gloves at UofL. And you might remember his Pro Day last spring, when he didn't wear gloves and his accuracy abandoned him. That day might have contributed to his slide to the 32nd pick of the draft.
Bridgewater later pledged that he would wear gloves in the NFL. Gloves are meant to help your grip, but when they are wet, they can turn into tiny Slip 'N Slides. Still, Teddy showed on Thursday he can be effective without a glove. It was a new opportunity, a new step.
Early in his opening drive, when he looked like he would be sacked near midfield, he eluded the rusher and took off for a nice gain. And his 3-yard touchdown pass on a fade route was vintage.
No, his final stats were not spectacular—4-for-9 for 17 yards. But he did not look out of place during his two drives. After the game, he acknowledged that his comfort level is still evolving.
"There was a time during training camp I was thinking that everything had to be perfect, and I found myself struggling for like two or three days," Bridgewater said. "And coach Zimmer, coach Norv Turner, they just kept coming to me and telling me 'Hey, just play football. We brought you here to play football. You don't have to overthink things. Just go out there, trust what we're calling and make plays.' Hearing the coaches say that took a load off my shoulders. It just told me that I don't always have to be perfect."
It was an interesting statement, because for so much of last season, so many people had expected him to be perfect. They expected a perfect record and a perfect quarterback who might challenge for the Heisman Trophy. And then neither happened.
In the NFL, Bridgewater surmised, he would have to be even more perfect. A mistake would mean the Vikings had made a mistake. Now he understands that there is, in fact, room for error.
In this game, Bridgewater didn't really have an opportunity to carve up a defense, or even to make bad errors. The Vikings ran the ball 17 times to go with his nine passes. Maybe it was because of the weather. Maybe they're still easing him in.
Nevertheless, Teddy Bridgewater now feels like he is ready. He feels like he could be a starter. He feels like the confident, bubble-gum popping quarterback who grew up in front of Louisville's eyes.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at 502-582-4372 by email ahimmelsbach@courier-journal.com and on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach