MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesotas success will ride heavily on the right arm of Teddy Bridgewater, with several improvements sought by the third-year quarterback to steer the Vikings toward a deep run through the playoffs.Being more assertive is on top of Bridgewaters list.The biggest thing that you want to see is maybe him letting it loose a little more, general manager Rick Spielman said near the beginning of the offseason, an uncharacteristically specific directive from the boss that helped shape a narrative thats sure to stretch into the fall.The organizations desire for Bridgewater, 17-11 in his career as a starter but ranked in the bottom third of the NFL last year in most of the major passing categories, has a dual meaning.First, he must be more of an advocate to the coaching staff for the plays hed like to run. Coach Mike Zimmer has almost made it sound as though hed like Bridgewater to argue with him or offensive coordinator Norv Turner once in a while. The consummate team-first player when hes at a podium for interviews, rarely willing to dissect his own performance, Bridgewater acknowledged this week his need to apply more assertiveness to his interaction with the team. The baby-faced, big-smiling Bridgewater has a tendency to be too much of a people pleaser.I want to be an image of coach Zim, Bridgewater said of his blunt-talking coach, and Im going to make sure that I try to do that.The Vikings also need Bridgewater to, literally, let the ball loose down the field. He had 41 completions of 20-plus yards last season, ranking 23rd in the league.Im not going to go out there and just throw the ball all around the park and throw it to the other team. I want to have an aggressive mentality, but a relaxed presence, Bridgewater said. Thats going to be my focus this year, and Im going to make sure Im studying film more and just seeing when we can take shots and what guys we can get after.First-round draft pick Laquon Treadwell was acquired to help with that, after an experiment with Mike Wallace as the top outside wide receiver ended after one year. Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson will also be counted on, as will Adam Thielen and Jarius Wright in the slot.There might not be a player with more potential to help elevate Bridgewaters performance, though, than tight end Kyle Rudolph.Even Zimmer urged Bridgewater at one point in the second half of last season to simply trust Rudolph more. Rudolph was unavailable for most of Bridgewaters rookie year because of injury. For much of 2015, Rudolph was asked to pass block more than ever to aid an ailing offensive line. His production as a receiver picked up significantly down the stretch.Now, with some important additions to the front five, the Vikings are targeting Rudolph as, well, a more active target.Its important to me that I make sure Im always there for Teddy, especially when the head coach has the confidence in me to go to the quarterback and tell him to trust me more, Rudolph said. Being a bigger guy, there may not look like theres much separation there, but if you throw the ball in the right place, Im going to be the only one to get it. Ill always make sure that, worst-case scenario, nobody catches it.Bridgewater wears a gray wristband with the acronym G-U-M-P, standing for great under major pressure. The Vikings have rarely been concerned about his ability in this area, even if his deep-passing statistics have been lacking.Ive been dealing with pressure since Ive been playing sports. Thats why I play the position, said Bridgewater, who will turn 23 on Nov. 10. Its the most pressure-packed position, and I love it.Zimmer has often been asked about Bridgewaters development, their careers inexorably intertwined having taken their respective jobs with the Vikings in 2014. Theres hardly a player the head coach has raved more about, despite the caution Bridgewater has played with and the lack of accuracy hes shown down the field.Im glad hes my guy, Zimmer said, adding: He does the things were asking him to do to continue to win, and I do believe that youre going to continue to see another jump for him. We have to play a certain way in order to win games, and Im not going to apologize for doing that. Teddy is going to be an extremely good player. Hes got too many other things going for him.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Pistons Jerseys . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Cheap Pistons Jerseys China . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. http://www.cheappistonsjerseys.com/ . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Cheap Detroit Pistons Jerseys . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Cheap Pistons Jerseys Authentic . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me.PHILADELPHIA -- Lamarr Kimble scored a career-high 19 points and dished out eight rebounds and Shavar Newkirk added 17 points as Saint Josephs defeated Columbia 85-65 on Monday night.Freshman Charlie Brown scored 15 points as he, Kimble, and Newkirk shot a combined 19 for 38 from the floor. Saint Josephs shot 55 percent (32 of 58).The Hawks were without starting forward James Demery who suffered a stress fracture in his foot in the season opener against Toledo, and will be without him for a few weeks.Saint Josephs (2-0) never trailed. Nick Robinsons 3 with 13:06 to play in the first half gave the Hawks a 17-6 lead.dddddddddddd Brendan Casper hit a 3 at the buzzer and the Hawks led 50-27 at halftime.The Hawks maintained a 20-point lead for most of the second half.Jake Killingsworth led Columbia (1-1) with 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor and Nate Hickman scored 14 points. Columbia committed 15 turnovers and was 22-for-54 shooting (41 percent) for the game. ' ' '
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