Teddy Bridgewater met Norv Turner for the first time earlier this year, but it hasn’t taken long for the Vikings’ rookie quarterback to gain the ultimate appreciation for his offensive coordinator.

“He’s one of the best coaches in the game right now, an offensive mastermind,” Bridgewater said.

Bridgewater said he met Turner “multiple times” when the first-year Vikings coordinator was looking at quarterbacks they might pick in last month’s NFL draft. Perhaps the most significant time was April 12 in Bridgewater’s native South Florida.

Turner joined Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner, Norv’s son, in watching Bridgewater work out individually. That workout started a chain of events that led the Vikings to trade for a second first-round pick to draft Bridgewater at No. 32.

Bridgewater now has had more than a month to work with Turner, and he described their relationship as “pretty unique.”

“It started back in the pre-draft process,” Bridgewater said. “He would come multiple times. He’s a great coach. It’s somebody who wants the best out of every quarterback on the roster. The relationship we have right now is just a great relationship.”

Bridgewater’s sessions with Turner have included a three-day rookie minicamp in May and eight days of organized team activities in May and June. Bridgewater missed two OTA sessions to attend a rookie seminar in Los Angeles.

He will start three days of voluntary minicamp Tuesday at Winter Park. Bridgewater believes he already has made much headway thanks to working with Turner, as well as fellow quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder.

“I think I’ve made a lot of progress,” Bridgewater said. “I’ve been able to just learn from Matt and Christian, and those guys have just allowed me to work that much harder. Those guys have pushed me harder.”

Count Cassel, most likely the Vikings’ starter to begin the 2014 season, as being impressed with what he’s seen so far from Bridgewater.

“I think Teddy has done a tremendous job,” Cassel said. “Obviously, a lot is being thrown at him. There’s a huge learning curve, but obviously he’s been coached well. He’s picking up the system really well. You’re going to make mistakes out there, but he does a good job of making corrections. He’s done a good job up to this point.”

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.