So what could it look like to throw Bradford to the wolves eight days later in Tennessee? Head Coach Mike Zimmer, now in his third season, already was rewarded with a contract extension.
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The Minnesota Vikings found their quarterback after losing Teddy Bridgewater for the 2016 season due to a severe left knee injury, acquiring Sam Bradford in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
The Vikings expressed confidence in Hill after Bridgewater went down in practice with a dislocated knee, torn ACL and other significant damage.
“I thought we’d run the single wing this week”, Zimmer deadpanned, alluding to a long outdated offensive scheme that relies exclusively on running the ball.
Mike Zimmer has finally made a decision about the quarterback situation in Minnesota, and it appears that his decision is to not make a decision, yet.
Talking to the press after Monday’s practice, Bradford admitted that he must adjust to his new environment, and fast.
“When I decide, so you can get your moles out”, Zimmer said.
Bridgewater, the 32nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, guided Minnesota to an 11-5 record and NFC North title last season.
Either Zimmer’s playing mind games with the Titans, or he truly doesn’t know who’s going to start yet. Can Bradford pick up enough of the concepts on a Vikings offense centered on Adrian Peterson that he can pull off a functional gameplan with only six days to prepare? Johnson, though, indicated that might not fully have been the case Wednesday. He’s still learning the playbook and everything. “He’s getting his work in, as well”.
“The number of starts (Bradford has had), he’s a very intelligent quarterback, he’s faced this defense before”, Mularkey said.
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Mularkey also said that he’s expecting Bradford to get the start, in part because “I think they wouldn’t give up a 1 and a 4 [draft picks] to have a guy sit [on the bench] very long”, Mularkey said. The Vikings tight ends coach, though, is Pat Shurmur, who was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and Bradford’s offensive coordinator in his rookie season with the Rams. Hill, 36, started the second preseason game at Seattle, and generally was solid. Hill, though, said his reaction was one of surprise more than disappointment. “That’s just the way I’ve had to approach this league my whole career and in life. You’ve got to be ready”. Hill initially was listed before the team announced he and Bradford would address the media separately in the locker room. “So unless it scrolls across the bottom on Disney Junior, I don’t see it”, Hill said, via ESPN.com. He also noted the second year of Bradford’s contract, which is important, because it shows they’re anxious about Teddy Bridgewater’s future health. But you still have to come in and you still have to put in the time to learn the new offense. “That’s why they hired me”. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had to learn one this fast or in this much of a hurry”.
