Diggs: 'Don't be surprised if Teddy starts in 2017'

I know this is meant to sound encouraging, but reading between the lines, I sorta take all these comments about Teddy "playing in 2017" as a sort of "putting on the brakes" to the idea that he'll be ready in a week or two. 

@"MaroonBells" said: I know this is meant to sound encouraging, but reading between the lines, I sorta take all these comments about Teddy "playing in 2017" as a sort of "putting on the brakes" to the idea that he'll be ready in a week or two. 

I get the same feeling and said as much after listening to Mike Zimmer's last press conference.  The reality is that he has two weeks of practice under his belt.  With the bye week, he won't begin his 3rd week of practice until next week prior to the Redskins game.  If he's looking sharp and has no setbacks...  MAYBE we will see him start the Rams game.  But then we have a short week against Detroit (on the road) on Thanksgiving 4 days later. 
Looking at the upcoming schedule and the timing of games...  I could see his potential season debut being the Detroit game.  It would also give the coaches and training staff a bit more time to evaluate how his knee responded to live action since we wouldn't play Atlanta until 10 days later. 

I think it is going to be real interesting to see if the coaches are willing to gamble the season on him starting. I am a firm believer if a guy is healthy to play he should play..... if he was playing before he was hurt. Teddy isn't that guy. He hasn't played in over a season and a half. Are we really going to be willing to introduce other variables into the equation this year? Timing and familiarity as well as relationship between OC and QB? It will be one thing if Case is struggling to win games. But I'd be real careful about switching QB's in the middle of a so far successful season. 

@"Wetlander" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: I know this is meant to sound encouraging, but reading between the lines, I sorta take all these comments about Teddy "playing in 2017" as a sort of "putting on the brakes" to the idea that he'll be ready in a week or two. 

I get the same feeling and said as much after listening to Mike Zimmer's last press conference.  The reality is that he has two weeks of practice under his belt.  With the bye week, he won't begin his 3rd week of practice until next week prior to the Redskins game.  If he's looking sharp and has no setbacks...  MAYBE we will see him start the Rams game.  But then we have a short week against Detroit (on the road) on Thanksgiving 4 days later. 
Looking at the upcoming schedule and the timing of games...  I could see his potential season debut being the Detroit game.  It would also give the coaches and training staff a bit more time to evaluate how his knee responded to live action since we wouldn't play Atlanta until 10 days later. 

You guys know I'm an optimist, so I don't see a conflict between "he'll be ready in a week or two" and "he'll be starting in 2017". I say this for one simple reason: We have no reason to bench Keenum at this point. Argue his effectiveness all you want, but the team is winning with Case at QB. Unless something happens to him, he tanks it, or Teddy looks better than All Pro in practice, it's Case's job to lose.

Honestly, I kind of expect it to be the third option. I really do believe Bridgewater will win the starting job back by proving it in practice over the next number of weeks. He's focused and determined. Keenum is good, but Bridgewater can be so much better. With that said, you don't just hand it to Teddy on day one. He has to earn it.

By comparison, I see him no better prepared than if he were at least 2 weeks prior to the first preseason game. I think he has a long way to go to keep up with those who have played 8 regular season games. 

Wetlander 
I'm not sure how much practice there was the week we played in London. 

Why do we need him right now?

The only answer really is higher expectations out of the team or our QB play, or really high expectations out of Teddy. 

We're winning games, but we'll slaughter them with Teddy? 

Gamble is a perfect word. There is certainly risk beyond injury to playing him too early. I think its easy to believe he'll play better than Keenum by default. Things have been going so well for us offensively lately, the bar is high. At 6-2, there is a ton of pressure. Can you go back to Keenum if things go south in the midst of an NFC North Championship and playoff run? If you COULD yank Bridgewater over theoretical bad play, does anyone want him around next year anyway?

It doesnt hurt to wait. If Keenum gives reason to be benched, it's simple stuff. I dont think game reps are any more valuable than practice reps this early in his return. I actually think practicing a few weeks would help him find a rhythm faster than not. 

No rush...

I gota  say  if he is  healtho to get play  he goes  to #2 with thus defense  and  case  not turning the ball over  and sounds like the team has faith in case  is to roll with case  till or if he shits the the  bed  but is it a whole  game a half a game  2 games in a row  that all  depends  on were the season is  if  case,is pulled and teddy goes in and  gets hurt or plays poorly and Sam's out there is no way  we're  going anywhere with case  because  I think his MOJO will be gone I think  play it safe go with case   then us  teddy if things go bad  if Sam's  heath you  can he lose his job because of injury   that makes things even syickier

watching film, case misses so many open WRs that wouldve been wide open TDs by staying locked on to his initial read it is rediculous. Yes he has helped us win, but he is about factor 3 or 4 on the list this season. give Teddy his shot and if he fails we can always go back to a AB who is trained to come in as needed. 

Teddy’s floor is right where case is playing now; therefore, give him a few games and he will be playing better than this. and that’ll be right as we are heading into the playoffs needed more from our qb, more than case can provide. needing a qb that can find that wide open wr running up the seem. 

@"BlackMagic7" said: Why do we need him right now?

The only answer really is higher expectations out of the team or our QB play, or really high expectations out of Teddy. 

We're winning games, but we'll slaughter them with Teddy? 

Gamble is a perfect word. There is certainly risk beyond injury to playing him too early. I think its easy to believe he'll play better than Keenum by default. Things have been going so well for us offensively lately, the bar is high. At 6-2, there is a ton of pressure. Can you go back to Keenum if things go south in the midst of an NFC North Championship and playoff run? If you COULD yank Bridgewater over theoretical bad play, does anyone want him around next year anyway?

It doesnt hurt to wait. If Keenum gives reason to be benched, it's simple stuff. I dont think game reps are any more valuable than practice reps this early in his return. I actually think practicing a few weeks would help him find a rhythm faster than not. 

No rush...

When you say gamble, it sounds like you are only looking at one side of the risk equation.  If Bridgewater is looking better than Keenum in practice, what are the risks of starting a backup caliber QB against decent teams on the road when you have a starting caliber QB sitting on the bench?  What if Keenum loses us a few games that we could have won and we end up having to play two of the playoff games on the road?

For me, it just seems simple enough.  You just play whichever QB is looking better in practice.

@"medaille" said:

@"BlackMagic7" said: Why do we need him right now?

The only answer really is higher expectations out of the team or our QB play, or really high expectations out of Teddy. 

We're winning games, but we'll slaughter them with Teddy? 

Gamble is a perfect word. There is certainly risk beyond injury to playing him too early. I think its easy to believe he'll play better than Keenum by default. Things have been going so well for us offensively lately, the bar is high. At 6-2, there is a ton of pressure. Can you go back to Keenum if things go south in the midst of an NFC North Championship and playoff run? If you COULD yank Bridgewater over theoretical bad play, does anyone want him around next year anyway?

It doesnt hurt to wait. If Keenum gives reason to be benched, it's simple stuff. I dont think game reps are any more valuable than practice reps this early in his return. I actually think practicing a few weeks would help him find a rhythm faster than not. 

No rush...

When you say gamble, it sounds like you are only looking at one side of the risk equation.  If Bridgewater is looking better than Keenum in practice, what are the risks of starting a backup caliber QB against decent teams on the road when you have a starting caliber QB sitting on the bench?  What if Keenum loses us a few games that we could have won and we end up having to play two of the playoff games on the road?

For me, it just seems simple enough.  You just play whichever QB is looking better in practice.

I still say events on the field will be Zimmer's guide...Or should be.

Let it come to you Zimm...

@"purplefaithful" said: I still say events on the field will be Zimmer's guide...Or should be.

Let it come to you Zimm...

@"StickyBun" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I still say events on the field will be Zimmer's guide...Or should be.

Let it come to you Zimm...

The only real way it will 'come to him' is in the form of a loss or two. Its not anyone's fault, the situation dictates as much. I think the team has to ride Keenum until the wheels start to come off....which historically is what happens to backup-level NFL QBs that are forced into action for too long a time. Its why they are backups. 

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I still say events on the field will be Zimmer's guide...Or should be.

Let it come to you Zimm...

The only real way it will 'come to him' is in the form of a loss or two. Its not anyone's fault, the situation dictates as much. I think the team has to ride Keenum until the wheels start to come off....which historically is what happens to backup-level NFL QBs that are forced into action for too long a time. Its why they are backups. 

I am hoping that the wheels coming off doesn't necessarily equal a loss.  We can all see the limitations of Keenum and most are expecting more offensive struggles,  but hopefully our D will keep the games close enough that our kicker can pull out the win like he did against the Ravens.