His efficiency no longer relies on big runs after the catch. This year he’s averaged 11 such throws each Sunday.
He’d thrown 43 in six games as the Saints primary quarterback in 2019 (7.2). Per SIS, Bridgewater threw 140 passes 10+ yards downfield last year in 15 games with Carolina (9.3 per game). He’s throwing the ball, on average, 41 percent further than he did as a Panther and 64 percent further than he did in two years backing up Brees. Here’s a chart of his average air yards - the distance his typical target lands beyond the line of scrimmage - over the past four seasons: While he won’t be confused with Mahomes or prime Aaron Rodgers, Bridgewater has risen up the ranks based on a newfound penchant for tough throws downfield. Let’s start with the big change that’s revived his passing game Denver Bronco Teddy Bridgewater wants his receivers to go long. Is there any chance it can last? It’s way too early to plant a flag, but there are encouraging numbers tucked inside his season-opening burst. This would be wild for almost any quarterback, let alone a 29-year-old whose career nearly ended due to a catastrophic knee injury in 2016 before slowly building momentum the last five years. If Bridgewater can keep even 75 percent of this pace over the next 15 games, he’d set new career highs in most passing statistics. His Broncos are 2-0 and likely very happy to have traded a sixth-round pick for his services. Through two games he ranks among the top 10 NFL quarterbacks in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating, completion rate, and yards per attempt.
Bridgewater’s hot start is a function of throwing more deep and intermediate-range ballsīridgewater has been outstanding to begin the 2021 season. He’s thrown the ball like a top 10 quarterback capable of taking advantage of the Broncos’ rising young receiving corps. He’s done much more than just manage games in Denver’s 2-0 start. He was, in lazy terminology, a game manager. He was the guy the Saints could rely on to execute Drew Brees’ soft-toss playbook to a T in 2019. While players like Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford were lobbing grenades, Bridgewater was mostly content to take a few soft pistol shots to open receivers near the line of scrimmage.Īfter all, Bridgewater came into 2021 with a career high of 15 passing touchdowns. The well-traveled passer has been more of a low-risk option than the field-stretching threats who’ve defined the rise of vertical offenses the past decade. Teddy Bridgewater has always been a good quarterback.
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