3 reasons why Teddy Bridgewater should not start in 2021
By Dean Jones
Red zone inefficiency
It’s all well and good getting to the red zone. But it’s another making trips inside the 20-yard line count.
Teddy Bridgewater has failed in this regard and it is another damning indictment of his time with the Carolina Panthers so far. His contract dictates that he’ll still be around in 2021, which is more a slight on the front office who committed so much to the player. But the organization needs to find a contingency plan at the earliest possible opportunity to avoid ruining the good work Matt Rhule has done during his first season as head coach.
Everywhere else on the field – besides the offensive line – has progressed encouragingly this season.
All expect the quarterback.
Want further proof? Take a look at Bridgewater’s red-zone stats over the last five games, per Alaina Getzenberg of the Charlotte Observer.
- 35.3 percent completion (6/17)
- 32 passing yards
- 1 touchdown
- 3 interceptions
- 2 rushing touchdowns
Things were supposed to get better as the season went on, not worse. Bridgewater may not have had the benefit of a normal offseason program or preseason games, but he was more than familiar with Joe Brady’s scheme and made a promising start before things tailed off.
There are some extenuating circumstances, most notably less than productive protection and the absence of star running back Christian McCaffrey for all but three games. However, Bridgewater needed to put the team on his back – at least for the most part – and he just hasn’t been able to do this efficiently.