EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Norv Turner arrived in Minnesota this year with a well-earned reputation as a downfield passing savant, a quarterback guru and, more recently, a media analyst.
As you might remember, Turner took note of a training camp report last summer -- when he was the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator -- that suggested receiver Josh Gordon was loafing during practice. When Gordon developed into a dominant force, Turner belatedly but triumphantly discredited the report.
Earlier this season, Turner joined Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer in disputing the grading methods of website Pro Football Focus, particularly as it related to left tackle Matt Kalil's play. And Thursday, Turner opened his weekly media availability with a 550-word statement about quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's play.
As we discussed Sunday, Bridgewater had three game-changing misfires but otherwise played well in a pass-first game plan against one of the NFL's top defenses in a 16-14 loss to the Detroit Lions. Turner used the opportunity to react obliquely to analysis presumably produced earlier this season on Bridgewater's rookie performance.
"We've started eight different offensive linemen," Turner said. "We've obviously started three different tight ends. We've started three different running backs, played five different running backs. Over the last five weeks, our leading wide receiver is a guy we signed in late September/early October off the Cleveland Browns practice squad and you throw a rookie quarterback into that. I've seen a bunch of guys really, really have a tough time with that and a bunch of guys that are good players.
"It's pretty incredible to me what he's done, how he's handled it, the things he's gotten done and what he's really done is made everyone around him better, and that's a quality that you're looking for."
The Vikings are asking Bridgewater to "carry this group," Turner said, in stark contrast to the paths taken by other successful young quarterbacks he has coached. In Dallas, Troy Aikman had Emmitt Smith. Frank Gore was Alex Smith's running back with San Francisco. Philip Rivers had LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego.
In Minnesota, Turner said, "We've kind of had an interesting group, and the people we've played on offense has been wide-ranging, and to do the things he's done, it just tells you something about the type of person he is, the type of player he is. ... He does it with people around him, he does it with people hitting him, he does it when he has to slide in the pocket. He knows how to play football, and that's the starting point of the quarterback position. He's got the intangibles you need and he's going to continue to get better and better."
I appreciate Turner's attempt to steer the conversation, but my feeling is that Bridgewater has already done that. It's no secret he has been the NFL's best rookie quarterback this season.