By Liam Madigan-Fried
So I feel like I had to eat my words a little bit this week. Two weeks ago, I said that Matt Cassel looked like a solid franchise starter which would lead to Teddy Bridgewater seeing maybe two starts this season, and then last week I said that Blake Bortles wouldn’t see his first start until week six. Still, I can’t even say I care, because in my opinion, this season just got really interesting. We went from one rookie quarterback starting in week one to three lacing up for the first quarter in week four. So without further ado, let's get a closer look at how these guys are shaking things up in the league thus far.
Teddy Bridgewater: Well, the Matt Cassel story that might have been is over, and he’s likely seen his last stint as a starter in the NFL. The tenth-year veteran suffered a foot injury last Sunday versus the New Orleans Saints, which forced Teddy Bridgewater into making his first NFL game appearance. After the game, MRI’s revealed that Cassel had fractured a number of bones in his foot, and would not be returning for the remainder of the season. So however the timeline for coach Mike Zimmer regarding his new quarterback may have laid out, they’re going to have to speed things up a bit, because ready or not, Bridgewater’s his man for the remainder of the season. Despite not throwing for a single touchdown, Bridgewater gave the Vikings a little glimmer of hope showing some poise in the pocket and going 12 for 20 through the air for 150 yards. If Bridgewater can click in Norv Turner’s offense like he did in the preseason and he can some help in the running game from Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon, there’s no reason why Bridgewater shouldn’t be on his way to a good (or at least decent) rookie season.
Derek Carr: Derek Carr made a big statement on Sunday versus the Patriots when he targeted star cornerback Darrelle Revis’s side of the field a total of six times, completing five of those passes for 63 yards. Carr was obviously not intimidated about testing Revis on Sunday, but unfortunately that could not stop the massive pass rush created by Vince Wilfork and Chandler Jones from affecting him. That relentless pass rush ultimately led to Carr’s first game without a touchdown pass, as well as one interception coming from Wilfork himself. Carr would end the game throwing 21/34 for 174 yards, but it can definitely be argued that Carr got robbed for a score due to a pass interference call on the Patriots on a deep touchdown pass to Andre Holmes. Had Holmes been able to run unobstructed, the tide of the game may have turned in a very different direction for Tom Brady and co. Despite starting their season at 0-3, Carr still continues to improve in some areas-such as his poise in the pocket and defensive reads- yet remains weak in others, particularly when it comes to shoving passes into really, really tight windows, sometimes (and sometimes not) narrowly escaping an interception. Luckily for Carr, other than the whole two-fumbles-in-the-same-play fiasco, James Jones seems to be at least doing his part in contributing to this Oakland offense, leading the team in receptions with 189 yards and two touchdowns. Jones might not be putting up elite receiver numbers, but he has so far proven to be Carr’s best deep threat and red zone option. I still don’t see bright things on the horizon for the Raiders this season, but one thing they’ve got going for them so far is Carr.
Johnny Manziel: Despite their second loss of the season on Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens, the metaphorical scales representing the Browns quarterback debacle seem to be tipping in favor of veteran Brian Hoyer. The Money Manziel package that Browns head coach Mike Pettine has alluded to in numerous press conferences has yet to manifest itself on the field other than a quick three plays two weeks ago versus the Steelers. The Browns last two losses (as well as their one win) have been decided by three points or less, meaning their battling bald man under center has consistently kept them in the game until the very end. Hoyer has looked pretty good so far with a 97.5 passer rating, three touchdowns and no interceptions through the first three games. Like I say week after week, Manziel has talent and he might even belong in the NFL, but Cleveland isn’t looking like the place for him. The reason being, it just wouldn’t make sense to get rid of Hoyer as long as he continues to put up good numbers. If Hoyer can manage to lead the Browns to a winning season this year (unlikely), it’s very possible we could see Manziel offered up to the trading block for a top draft pick in 2015.
Blake Bortles: The Bortles era in Jacksonville is finally here! One of the few things I’m glad to have been proven wrong on is the subject of Blake Bortles redshirt status. Despite what teammates and coaches may have said prior to Sunday, Chad Henne got the boot in the second half on Sunday to make way for the first round pick out of Central Florida. Bortles ended the night going 14/24 for 223 total yards and two touchdown passes in his debut- an impressive showing in what many would call the "garbage pickup" portion of the game. Despite throwing for two interceptions, if you actually watch the game footage you’ll see many of those completions came under pressure and in some pretty tight windows as well (hence the two interceptions). The arm strength of Bortles was also let out of its cage on Sunday, with one particular rocket of a pass hitting Allen Robinson for a first down late in the fourth quarter. Now that Bortles is taking over the starting quarterback job, Henne may have seen his last start in a Jaguars uniform (or any uniform). He may have known it was coming, he probably was just hoping it would be later, rather than sooner. I’m going to make a very bold prediction right now: In two weeks win or lose, Bortles will be in contention for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
So I feel like I had to eat my words a little bit this week. Two weeks ago, I said that Matt Cassel looked like a solid franchise starter which would lead to Teddy Bridgewater seeing maybe two starts this season, and then last week I said that Blake Bortles wouldn’t see his first start until week six. Still, I can’t even say I care, because in my opinion, this season just got really interesting. We went from one rookie quarterback starting in week one to three lacing up for the first quarter in week four. So without further ado, let's get a closer look at how these guys are shaking things up in the league thus far.
Teddy Bridgewater: Well, the Matt Cassel story that might have been is over, and he’s likely seen his last stint as a starter in the NFL. The tenth-year veteran suffered a foot injury last Sunday versus the New Orleans Saints, which forced Teddy Bridgewater into making his first NFL game appearance. After the game, MRI’s revealed that Cassel had fractured a number of bones in his foot, and would not be returning for the remainder of the season. So however the timeline for coach Mike Zimmer regarding his new quarterback may have laid out, they’re going to have to speed things up a bit, because ready or not, Bridgewater’s his man for the remainder of the season. Despite not throwing for a single touchdown, Bridgewater gave the Vikings a little glimmer of hope showing some poise in the pocket and going 12 for 20 through the air for 150 yards. If Bridgewater can click in Norv Turner’s offense like he did in the preseason and he can some help in the running game from Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon, there’s no reason why Bridgewater shouldn’t be on his way to a good (or at least decent) rookie season.
Derek Carr: Derek Carr made a big statement on Sunday versus the Patriots when he targeted star cornerback Darrelle Revis’s side of the field a total of six times, completing five of those passes for 63 yards. Carr was obviously not intimidated about testing Revis on Sunday, but unfortunately that could not stop the massive pass rush created by Vince Wilfork and Chandler Jones from affecting him. That relentless pass rush ultimately led to Carr’s first game without a touchdown pass, as well as one interception coming from Wilfork himself. Carr would end the game throwing 21/34 for 174 yards, but it can definitely be argued that Carr got robbed for a score due to a pass interference call on the Patriots on a deep touchdown pass to Andre Holmes. Had Holmes been able to run unobstructed, the tide of the game may have turned in a very different direction for Tom Brady and co. Despite starting their season at 0-3, Carr still continues to improve in some areas-such as his poise in the pocket and defensive reads- yet remains weak in others, particularly when it comes to shoving passes into really, really tight windows, sometimes (and sometimes not) narrowly escaping an interception. Luckily for Carr, other than the whole two-fumbles-in-the-same-play fiasco, James Jones seems to be at least doing his part in contributing to this Oakland offense, leading the team in receptions with 189 yards and two touchdowns. Jones might not be putting up elite receiver numbers, but he has so far proven to be Carr’s best deep threat and red zone option. I still don’t see bright things on the horizon for the Raiders this season, but one thing they’ve got going for them so far is Carr.
Johnny Manziel: Despite their second loss of the season on Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens, the metaphorical scales representing the Browns quarterback debacle seem to be tipping in favor of veteran Brian Hoyer. The Money Manziel package that Browns head coach Mike Pettine has alluded to in numerous press conferences has yet to manifest itself on the field other than a quick three plays two weeks ago versus the Steelers. The Browns last two losses (as well as their one win) have been decided by three points or less, meaning their battling bald man under center has consistently kept them in the game until the very end. Hoyer has looked pretty good so far with a 97.5 passer rating, three touchdowns and no interceptions through the first three games. Like I say week after week, Manziel has talent and he might even belong in the NFL, but Cleveland isn’t looking like the place for him. The reason being, it just wouldn’t make sense to get rid of Hoyer as long as he continues to put up good numbers. If Hoyer can manage to lead the Browns to a winning season this year (unlikely), it’s very possible we could see Manziel offered up to the trading block for a top draft pick in 2015.
Blake Bortles: The Bortles era in Jacksonville is finally here! One of the few things I’m glad to have been proven wrong on is the subject of Blake Bortles redshirt status. Despite what teammates and coaches may have said prior to Sunday, Chad Henne got the boot in the second half on Sunday to make way for the first round pick out of Central Florida. Bortles ended the night going 14/24 for 223 total yards and two touchdown passes in his debut- an impressive showing in what many would call the "garbage pickup" portion of the game. Despite throwing for two interceptions, if you actually watch the game footage you’ll see many of those completions came under pressure and in some pretty tight windows as well (hence the two interceptions). The arm strength of Bortles was also let out of its cage on Sunday, with one particular rocket of a pass hitting Allen Robinson for a first down late in the fourth quarter. Now that Bortles is taking over the starting quarterback job, Henne may have seen his last start in a Jaguars uniform (or any uniform). He may have known it was coming, he probably was just hoping it would be later, rather than sooner. I’m going to make a very bold prediction right now: In two weeks win or lose, Bortles will be in contention for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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