Its just OK by NFL standards. It is definitely stronger than Brady, Brees, and Manning. But he's definately not in the same class of the greats, like JaMarcus Russell and Jeff George. (In other words, arm strength is a terrible predictor of NFL success. If you pass the threshold of being able to make a five yard out across the field without getting intercepted every time, you are good enough.)
Better than Manning and Brees? That's pretty impressive if you ask me. Here's what I found about both of them from the draft. Manning. Drew Brees Brees may lack the deep throw, but from his scouting report he's the ideal WC guy given his accuracy on short to medium routes. His arm strength probably would be rated much higher today given the way offenses have changed. As for Manning, watching him obliterate the Texans for the past decade, I have no idea how he doesn't possess above average arm strength. I mean, how much more arm strength do you need when you can consistently throw bombs down the field anyway? Also, don't Rodgers, Wilson, Luck, Rothesliberger all have big arms? No need to cherry pick players. There are plenty of great QBs with great arms.
6'2" 214 LBs. compared to Johnny Manziel 5'10" 207 LBs. If anyone has a slight frame AND small stature its Manziel. All that improvisation is gonna get him killed in the NFL. Bridgewater can move in the pocket and knows how/when to get out of bounds or slide when making a play with his legs. At the moment, Iwould hive him a solid 7 in terms of arm talent. He can make all the throws short to intermediate yet lacks accuracy on his deep ball, based on numbers, but thats something he can easily improve at the next level. His arm strength is on par with league average. Not Schaub like yet not Favre like. Which is again something that can improve as his body matures.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Teddy Bridgewater weighs in today at 208 pounds</p>— LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofLFootball/statuses/445541564677255168">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It's not about 6 pounds, the narrative was that he was going to come in closer to 220-225 and play around that weight....instead he managed to get up to 114 for the combine but he couldn't keep that weight on because it wasn't real.
I'm more interested in him throwing the ball. You do realize it's possible to gain 12-15 pounds of muscle in a month right?
First of all, no, it's not possible....like at all. That would be an increase of over 6% of his total body mass....can't happen in a month and be "good weight". But yes, I know that you can gain significant muscle weight if you have the frame to carry it....Teddy doesn't. He'll be around 205-210 for however long he lasts in the NFL because that's just the size he is.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Teddy Bridgewater runs an unofficial time of 4.78</p>— LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofLFootball/statuses/445559935297138688">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
About what I expected. Wonder how slow he must have been with his extra six pounds. Definitely why he didn't run at the combine.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Teddy Bridgewater's first 40 run. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NFL&src=hash">#NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a> <a href="https://t.co/T7sgdd2Aul">https://t.co/T7sgdd2Aul</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/statuses/445559840086437888">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Teddy Bridgewater pre-40 run. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NFL&src=hash">#NFL</a> <a href="http://t.co/ynhSA4M4fy">pic.twitter.com/ynhSA4M4fy</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/statuses/445559481875714050">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bridgewater in the 4.8s on his 40 just now.</p>— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/statuses/445559993148776448">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Teddy Bridgewater runs an unofficial time of 4.78</p>— LouisvilleFootball (@UofLFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofLFootball/statuses/445559935297138688">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Well that's what I expected his official time to be like at the combine....I expected him to be in the high 4.6 range at pro day since they are always more friendly times than the combine....plus he's dropped weight to closer to his playing weight. His official time will probably be 4.8 something. That's pretty disastrous for those who thought he walked on water
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>So it's an unofficial 4.78 for Bridgewater and that's it. Declines to run second. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NFL&src=hash">#NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/statuses/445563038175744000">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Per Mike Mayock, Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater weighed in at 208, 6 down from the combine. Scouts think he played in the 190 range in '13.</p>— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/statuses/445563032790646784">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Big question with Bridgewater is if he can keep weight on. Losing six pounds since Indy isn't the end of the world, but not a great sign.</p>— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/statuses/445563439797534720">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
4.8 is not bad at all. There seems to be a general perception that Bridgewater is supposed to be in the same athletic class as RGIII, Cam, or Luck, and he's really not. I think he's closer to Rodgers in that way, who ran a 4.72 himself, and Rodgers moves very well for a QB. It's all about the lateral movement anyway. I think best case scenario is trade down to 4 through 6 range and take Bridgewater or Mack. If we can accumulate more picks in this deep draft with seemingly no sure fire number one guy, I'll be ecstatic.
LOL, it also depends on how much weight your body frame can take and what you already weigh. Adding 15 pounds of muscle isn't as difficult if you are already 270 or whatever, but if you are 200 or less, it's a lot more difficult. The problem with that is that he had a poor 3 cone at the combine so he's not all that quick laterally either. In fact, Bortles is more mobile in the pocket than Bridgewater is. Having a frail frame and being slow footed isn't a good combo. He's just another good but flawed QB prospect in a class full of them.
