In today’s column why Teddy Bridgewater, who broke one Viking rookie quarterback record yesterday, is on track to break another—and why a Gopher star with remaining eligibility could be gone before next spring.
Bridgewater broke Christian Ponder’s rookie season record of 158 pass completions in yesterday’s 31-18 win over the Panthers. Bridgewater has 173 completions this season, besting Ponder’s total in 2011.
Bridgewater passed for 138 yards against the Panthers. In nine games and eight starts he has 1,827 total passing yards. In franchise history, Frank Tarkenton, with 1,897 yards, holds the club record for passing yards by a rookie quarterback.
Bridgewater, needing only 71 more yards, seems certain to break Tarkenton’s total next Sunday when the Vikings play the Jets at TCF Bank Stadium. Seven times this year Bridgewater has exceeded 150 yards passing, with a season-best 317 against the Falcons.
Ponder is second to Tarkenton among Vikings rookie quarterbacks for most touchdown passes. Tarkenton threw for 18 scores in 1961, while Ponder had 13 his rookie year. Bridgewater has eight touchdown passes and with four games remaining seems unlikely to break Tarkenton’s record.
Known for his slow game starts, and sometimes criticized for inaccuracy, Bridgewater threw two first half touchdown passes yesterday and completed 15 of 21 passes during the game. It was his most accurate performance of the season and his 120.7 rating was the first time he bettered 100.
After the game Bridgewater credited better execution by himself and teammates for the impressive day against the Panthers. He was specific when answering a question about where the improvement has come since his first start back in September.
“I think I’m better at just making quicker decisions,” he said. “…If I’m able to make quicker decisions I’m able to get the ball out faster.”
Has Maxx Williams played his last Big Ten game for the Gophers?
The team’s big play tight end is eligible for the 2015 NFL Draft. Matt Miller, the draft writer for Bleacherreport.com, posted this on November 13:
“The senior tight end class isn’t great for 2015, which is why one area scout I spoke to believes redshirt sophomore Maxx Williams (Minnesota) may come out early. Williams, if he were to declare, would be my top-ranked tight end.”
When asked a couple of times this fall about leaving school early, Williams wouldn’t address the subject other than to say his focus was on the next game. Now the only game remaining is a bowl assignment later this month or early January, with an announcement coming on December 7 or 8 as to where the Gophers are headed.
Williams is one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award, recognizing the nation’s best tight end. Matt Spaeth, a Minnesota native like Williams, won the award in 2006 and he raves about Williams. “He’s got all the tools and does all the right things,” said Spaeth who plays for the Steelers. “His playmaking ability sets him apart from other people. That’s something you either have or don’t have.”
This season Williams has made a couple of catches worthy of storage in the “vault” for best ever receptions by a Gophers tight end. He has shown glue-like hands, body control, speed, toughness, and consistency while establishing himself as the team’s best receiver statistically with 29 receptions for 471 yards and seven touchdowns. His athleticism has even allowed the coaches to use him as a wide receiver.
The word playmaker keeps coming back into the conversation about the 6-4, 250- pound Williams. “The NFL is comprised of playmakers and that’s what he is,” Spaeth said.
But tight ends must block—both on the college and pro levels. For the casual fan blocking is something that can be overlooked with Williams but it’s another of his many attributes. His ability and willingness to block is an important contributor to the Gophers running game, the primary component of the team’s offensive success.
Spaeth didn’t want to offer public advice on whether Williams should leave early for the NFL and the riches that could await. He said, though, another season of college football will “absolutely” help Williams. “The stronger he gets the better off he will be.”
The Mackey Award winner will be announced on December 10. If Williams wins the award, that will heighten his national profile and perhaps encourage him to leave the Gophers for the draft.
Worth Noting
A Gophers source said yesterday the most likely bowl destinations for Minnesota are the December 27 National University Holiday Bowl in San Diego, or two January 1 bowls, the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando and the Outback Bowl in Tampa. He acknowledged because the Gophers aggressively recruit the Southeast, the two Florida bowls could be preferred destinations. Minnesota hasn’t played in a Florida bowl game since 2000.
Among the many admirers of Gophers football coach Jerry Kill are members of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, the organization of high school coaches with a long list of activities promoting their sport. Ron Stolski, the MFCA executive director, praised Kill with these words in an e-mail:
“You demand only the BEST from yourself, your staff and the boys you love. Your example of resilience, spirit, toughness and resolve is infectious, and permeates all you do. You are too humble to ever acknowledge this truth, but I am not, and I sing your much deserved praises at every opportunity.”
The winner of the 2014 Mr. Football Award, sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and the Vikings, is Hutchinson High School running back and free safety Robbie Grimsley. He averaged 10.7 yards rushing last season and caused 12 turnovers on defense. He totaled five touchdowns on interception, kickoff and punt returns, and rushing and receiving.
Grimsley, who was announced as the Mr. Football winner at a banquet yesterday at the DoubleTree hotel in St. Louis Park, told Sports Headliners he will accept a scholarship to North Dakota State where he expects to play safety for the Bison.
Grimsley was one of 10 finalists for the award and some of those players, including Prior Lake linebacker and running back Alex Hart, may interest the Gophers as walk-ons. Hart’s brother, redshirt freshman tight end Nick Hart, is on the Minnesota roster now as a walk-on.
Kez Flomo, the running back from Totino-Grace and another finalist, has no Division I offers but his coach, Jeff Ferguson, hopes FCS and Division II offers will be coming. Totino-Grace lost to Eden Prairie in the Class 6A state title game and should be better next season. The Eagles had 16 underclassmen starting, including eight sophomores.
Taste of the NFL Founder Wayne Kostroski, the Minneapolis restaurateur and 2010 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year, was recently presented with the Pedestal Award honoring philanthropy. Taste of the NFL, now entering its 24th year, has distributed more than $22 million through its programs and events to help feed 37 million Americans who have turned to local food banks for assistance.