Vikings' Turner on Bridgewater: 'He can make all the throws he needs'

At the end of the college football season Teddy Bridgewater looked to be the future No. 1 overall pick. By the time the draft rolled around, some less than impressive workouts knocked Bridgewater to the final pick of the first round.

The knocks on Bridgewater seemed to be that he lacked ideal size, and that he could have problems with the deep ball. Having worked with Bridgewater throughout the offseason, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner has been impressed with the rookie and has no doubts about his arm strength.

"One of the things that has been the most impressive to me is, I knew he'd be very accurate, I knew he'd make great decisions, quick decisions, but he's been outstanding throwing the ball deep, which some people thought was going to be an issue," Turner said, via FOX Sports. 

"I think in the six or eight weeks we've had him on the field, I think he's been put in a position where he's had to make most of the throws he would have to make and I think he can make all the throws he needs to make."

Aiding Bridgewater in his development as a pro quarterback has been the guys he's ostensibly competing with for the starting role. Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder stand between Bridgewater and the starting job, but that's not made the relationships between the quarterbacks adversarial.

"It's all due to just continuing to come out every day and try to get better," Bridgewater said. "I'm able to learn from Matt and Christian, watch the little details in those guys' passing game and really their footwork when they're throwing the deep ball. I can always learn from those guys."

Despite a presence in the league for almost 30 years, Turner still enjoys when he can coach up a young player. In fact, Bridgewater's willingness to learn is one of the things that has Turner excited to work with the former Louisville standout.

"It's always fun with a younger player that it's all new to them, they've got the big eyes," Turner said. "Teddy is so great to be around that its easy. As coach [Mike] Zimmer has said, he knows how to work. He's very instinctive. He's a very natural player."