Matt Rhule Not Concerned About Bridgewater’s Arm Strength

Not too long ago, I wrote a post about Teddy Bridgewater. Carolina had just signed Robby Anderson to go along with Curtis Samuel and DJ Moore. All 3 whom come with plus speed and can win down the field. Can Teddy Bridgewater get the ball down the field to his speedy targets? New head coach Matt Rhule is not worried.

“I don’t really listen, hear those things,” the first-year Carolina head coach said Thursday, per the Panthers’ official site. “Teddy, for us, is exactly what we want.”

“He certainly has the arm strength to do it,” Rhule added. “But I think he’s done what he’s been asked to do.”

“I think one of the great things that’s one of the strengths of our team is that Robby Anderson’s a deep-play threat. Curtis Samuel is a deep-play threat. DJ Moore is a deep-play threat,” Rhule said. “So we feel like we have the power to be able to take advantage of throwing the ball downfield, and we know Teddy can do that.”

It sounds like Bridgewater is going to do something this year that he really hasn’t done much of in the past. Last year, Teddy ranked last in average intended air yards (6.2) and third to last in average completed air yards (4.6) according to next gen stats. There are two ways to look at that. Was that part of the Saints system or is that just who Teddy is?

Tre Boston Likes Matt Rhule Already

The Panthers are so fascinating to me. Can they actually compete in year one with Matt Rhule? What’s the offense going to look like with Joe Brady? Can Carolina continue to rely on Christian McCaffrey with a limited passing attack? I can’t wait to see what this team looks like in year one without Cam Newton.