How Elite is Bradford?

its hard to say that things would have ended differently,  but I think we would have played that NFFCG at home if Sam had been healthy all year.  He is a full step above Case.   I think our offense would have put up more points with Sam and been more diverse with him under center,  but it really would have only added maybe 1 more win,  but its really hard to say.  I dont know if he can be as rah rah as Case,  but a real leader doesnt have to be emotional, some people just silently demand and receive respect.  as far as arm talent, yeah hes top 5 in the league IMO, but as far as the rest of the stuff,  really hard to say because of his shitty health history.  It wont be his skills that keep him from signing for top dollar thats for certain.

has Bradford ever won? ever put a team on his back and elevated them? yes he can throw a ball all over the field, but he is a statue and hasn't shown to be able to make "that play" to put his team over the top. So he has an arm, but is he a tier 1 QB that has all of the skills to elevate the team? I really don't think he has shown that, especially since he can't put a season together.

@"Neptizzle" said: has Bradford ever won? ever put a team on his back and elevated them? yes he can throw a ball all over the field, but he is a statue and hasn't shown to be able to make "that play" to put his team over the top. So he has an arm, but is he a tier 1 QB that has all of the skills to elevate the team? I really don't think he has shown that, especially since he can't put a season together.

One could argue that Bradford and Keenum are fairly equal. What Case lacks in arm talent compared to Bradford, he more than makes up for in his pocket presence, ability to escape pressure, and make plays on the run with his feet. Bradford can't touch Keenum in those areas. I don't think Bradford is elite and I don't think he has the ability to carry a team on his back. Bradford, Keenum, Teddy, and Cousins, all need a solid supporting cast to be effective. As much as our line improved, Keenum made plays and kept the chains moving that Bradford would have struggled with as our line deteriorated over the season and the pass rush by opposing teams increased.  

His bank account is ELITE!

IMO Bradford's biggest weakness is his movement in and out of the pocket.  IMO he doesn't have the 6th sense or 'feel' within the pocket to slide up or out of the way of rushers and while he is capable of rolling out and throwing his sense for when and how to do it outside of the designed play isn't there.  He could have great success if you put a very good OL in front of him in a quick tempo offense if he was healthy.  Anything else he is going to take unnecessary hits while in the pocket.  That's my take.

As for intangibles and being that kind of guy with the 'it' factor, I don't think he never displayed it but who knows if he just lacked the opportunity.

@"MarkSP18" said: His bank account is ELITE!

I think he is an adequate leader.  He inspires confidence just based on his arm talent.  

His 6th sense and pocket presence isnt like Case but he seemed to be very, very accurate when rolling out from what I recall.

He does make quick reads and finds the guy, makes a great throw and moves the chains.  Having Cook would obviously be a big plus for him if they kept him.

If it came to a camp competition Bradford would probably win, then Teddy and Case being third.  But in game time it might be the other way around.  The determining factor is handling the pass rush.

@"Neptizzle" said: has Bradford ever won? ever put a team on his back and elevated them? yes he can throw a ball all over the field, but he is a statue and hasn't shown to be able to make "that play" to put his team over the top. So he has an arm, but is he a tier 1 QB that has all of the skills to elevate the team? I really don't think he has shown that, especially since he can't put a season together.

He has the arm talent, but it is so hard to judge if he can actually win.

Not elite.

no. 

He has the talent to be but is snakebitten on the injury front.

Bradford has elite accuracy and arm strength. Does he have the mobility of Michael Vick? No, but every athlete in the NFL is a freak athlete. One could argue that Case had Bigg ballz and a horseshoe lodged in his butt with as many Houdini escapes and shoulda could a wouldaa interceptions that we're dropped by DBs, LBs, and even DLs. Case is a great kid, but don't kid yourself about when healthy who the better quarterback is.

Elite arm, but worrying health. Game 1 of last season he looked like a man among boys out there.

@"BattleLakeRaider" said: Case is a great kid, but don't kid yourself about when healthy who the better quarterback is.

With the shape of the vikings offensive line our fans should appreciate that maybe a guy who knows when its time to run and who had 22 TDs and only 7 interceptions while going 13-3, was actually a great match for this team.  

Each Qb wins or loses based on his abilities to move the ball forward and win the game.  Instead of meeting some peoples view of how it should be done, I will take the “W”

Definitely an elite arm.  I don't think he's ever been in a situation to allow us to accurately judge the rest.  Zimmer's the only NFL-caliber coach he's played for and we all know the adversity he faced in 2016.  Hard to judge a QB too harshly when he has no running game and that OL we had to field.

Elite talent is self evident.  It shines through the murkiness and elevates the play of all those around him.  Aaron Rodgers single handedly elevates the Packers from shitty to playoff contender.  Even Drew Brees who has had no running game and no defense for several years has been a shining beacon of eliteness.  If you have to ask if they're elite, they are not elite.  An elite QB tilts the field.

If Bradford was elite, he'd have a winning season by now, and he wouldn't need all the if's and but's.

@"Poiple" said:

@"BattleLakeRaider" said: Case is a great kid, but don't kid yourself about when healthy who the better quarterback is.

I would hardly call him a kid.  And like many here, you have your own definition of a what makes a quarterback.  It is an antiquated view of a statue in the pocket with an accurate arm.   Your view fails to aknowledge that abilities like sensing pressure, knowing when and which direction to move and then knowing when its time to break for it and run aren’t really skills at all. You dont place a premium in the ability to keep your eyes downfield or being able to throw accurately on the run.

With the shape of the vikings offensive line our fans should appreciate that maybe a guy who knows when its time to run and who had 22 TDs and only 7 interceptions while going 13-3, was actually a great match for this team.  

Each Qb wins or loses based on his abilities to move the ball forward and win the game.  Instead of meeting some peoples view of how it should be done, I will take the “W”

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"Poiple" said:

@"BattleLakeRaider" said: Case is a great kid, but don't kid yourself about when healthy who the better quarterback is.

I would hardly call him a kid.  And like many here, you have your own definition of a what makes a quarterback.  It is an antiquated view of a statue in the pocket with an accurate arm.   Your view fails to aknowledge that abilities like sensing pressure, knowing when and which direction to move and then knowing when its time to break for it and run aren’t really skills at all. You dont place a premium in the ability to keep your eyes downfield or being able to throw accurately on the run.

With the shape of the vikings offensive line our fans should appreciate that maybe a guy who knows when its time to run and who had 22 TDs and only 7 interceptions while going 13-3, was actually a great match for this team.  

Each Qb wins or loses based on his abilities to move the ball forward and win the game.  Instead of meeting some peoples view of how it should be done, I will take the “W”

statue in a pocket... i have read a lot made about Sams lack of mobility and yes it seemed as such... but doing a little research says thats hardly the case.

year      games        sack %     league rank (best being #1)
2010- 16 games     5.4%          #12
2011    10 games    9.2%          #30
2012   16 games     6%             #14
2013    7 games      5.4%          #9
2014   IR
2015    14 games    5%             #15
2016   15 games     6.3%           #20

and we know the only time he ever really had much of an OL was in 15 with Philly  overall career sack% is 6.2%

Case in 16 in 10 games was 6.7% with the Rams for 24th   and 4.4% this year for 6th.  5.3% for his career with the about 40% of his attempts coming this year.  If Case is the poster child for mobility in this picture Sam is really only taking about one more sack per 100 pass attempts or roughly 1 additional sack every 3 games.

sure this doesnt paint the complete picture, but considering how historically shitty the olines have been for Sam... I dont know that he is as much of a pocket liability as we are making him out to be. (although considering our last memory was that chicago game.. its kinda understandable to think that way.)

for the record... rogers has career sack % of 6.9%,  great arms will often negate mobility issues.  

I think Sam behind the line that Case had this year would have been surprisingly better than his career numbers...at least when he isnt stoned ( i am pretty sure he wasnt in his right mind for that bears game)

@"Poiple" said:

@"BattleLakeRaider" said: Case is a great kid, but don't kid yourself about when healthy who the better quarterback is.

I would hardly call him a kid.  And like many here, you have your own definition of a what makes a quarterback.  It is an antiquated view of a statue in the pocket with an accurate arm.   Your view fails to aknowledge that abilities like sensing pressure, knowing when and which direction to move and then knowing when its time to break for it and run aren’t really skills at all. You dont place a premium in the ability to keep your eyes downfield or being able to throw accurately on the run.

With the shape of the vikings offensive line our fans should appreciate that maybe a guy who knows when its time to run and who had 22 TDs and only 7 interceptions while going 13-3, was actually a great match for this team.  

Each Qb wins or loses based on his abilities to move the ball forward and win the game.  Instead of meeting some peoples view of how it should be done, I will take the “W”