MINNEAPOLIS -- At different times this season, Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner talked with Teddy Bridgewater about the importance of maintaining solid throwing mechanics, so passes wouldn't sail on him when he dropped his elbow and threw from a lower release point. In his season-ending news conference on Tuesday, Zimmer singled out Bridgewater's mechanics as the biggest thing he needs to improve before his third season.

"[It's] really just coming over the top a little bit more," Zimmer said. "I don’t think that had anything to do with the ones [he had] batted down, but sometimes when you’re throwing the ball over the middle, it’s a shorter-trajectory throws, but you still have to find windows to throw it in."

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner have stressed to Teddy Bridgewater the importance of maintaining solid throwing mechanics, so passes won't sail on him when he throws from a lower release point. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Bridgewater dealt with more pressure up the middle this season than he did in 2014, and it would be interesting to see what he can do with a cleaner pocket on a consistent basis, but his numbers over the middle definitely dropped on some key throws in 2015. On over-the-middle throws between 10 and 20 yards downfield -- an important element of Turner's offense -- Bridgewater hit a pedestrian 57.7 percent of his throws. That put him 21st in the league on such throws, and followed a season in which he hit 67.5 percent of them. What's more, Bridgewater attempted only 26 intermediate throws over the middle, and his receivers averaged just 2.6 yards after the catch on the ones he did attempt.

The 15- to 20-yard post play is a staple throw in Turner's playbook, and though it would help Bridgewater to have receivers who are more successful at separating from defensive backs -- there were too many times when receivers still had their backs turned when Bridgewater was at the top of his drop -- the quarterback needs to get more comfortable driving the ball over the middle.

Bridgewater plans to get together with his receivers again this offseason, and wideout Stefon Diggs said he'll likely spend a good chunk of time with Bridgewater in South Florida before next season. If the 23-year-old quarterback can refine his mechanics and unlock an important part of the Vikings' passing game, the team can hope for better balance on offense in 2016.

"There’s not one thing I don’t love about this kid," Zimmer said. "He’s got the right demeanor, the right heart, the right competitiveness and he’s a worker. He makes quick decisions, and so we need to continue to move forward with him and keep going."