Miami Passing Accademy

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is hosting a few of his pass catching teammates in Miami this week. Photos of the group popped up across social media yesterday. It's great to see this sort of thing from NFL players. Pretty soon they will be spending an awful lot of time with each other as part of their job. This is part of the year is their own time and they are choosing to spend it together. It's done simply to get better at what they do and the Vikings passing offense has to get better at what they do. In attendance at this Miami gathering:

Teddy Bridgewater
Kyle Rudolph
MyCole Pruitt
Jarius Wright
Charles Johnson
Cordarrelle Patterson
Adam Thielen

The one glaring absence is Stefon Diggs but it sounds like he's on his way there. Tight end Kyle Rudolph hosted several of his teammates for a similar training get-together in Los Angeles last offseason. It seems only right that the quarterback steps up and does it. The quarterback is supposed to be the team leader and Bridgewater has been assuming more of that role as he becomes more comfortable with it.

Cordarrelle Patterson's presence at this passing academy was the most anticipated. He probably needs this sort of extra work more than any other player. In past offsesaons he's worked out on his own to simply get in shape but he hasn't worked to learn the nuances of the receiver position. He hasn't attended these group workouts with his teammates. He hasn't worked with his quarterback. He has the natural talent to dominate on the football field but he's never really worked at becoming a dominant football player. He's gotten this far, which is pretty far, on his natural athletic ability. It looks like he's finally realized that he has to do more to be the football player that he has the talent to be. Working to get there with his teammates is definitely a step in that direction. Patterson even had his own name for this little meeting in Miami. Teddy Two Gloves Passing Academy.

It's a little disappointing that the Vikings other quarterbacks, Shaun Hill and especially Taylor Heinicke, and receivers Isaac Fruechte and Terrell Sinkfield aren't part of this little gathering. Maybe they are on the same flight as Diggs. Bridgewater needs these reps with his pass catchers but it would be nice to see all of the passers and catchers present.