Who WILL be the starting QB for the Vikings next season?

[Demi]

If Ponder wasn't a piece of garbage bum maybe you wouldn't have to worry about it as much.

[majorm]

So tough. This season was supposed to be mainly about finding out what we had with Ponder. I still don't think we know for sure. I think we have a pretty good idea that he doesn't have a really strong or accurate arm and is often too quick to flee the pocket. Some better receivers would surely help, but if he won't stand in under pressure and can't hit a receiver when they are open, it may not matter.

I think he will definitely start next season as the #1 but they better pick up somebody that they can plug in quickly if there isn't MAJOR improvement. And I don't think there's anybody in the upcoming draft class that would fit the bill. They need to somehow bring in a vet that can bail them out if need be. Of course then we're right back to square 1 with no QB of the future in place. I fear we may be there already anyway.

The defense has gotten much better, the O-line has improved, Adrian is Adrian and we have a potential All Pro tight end.
If the Vikings had gotten just mediocre QB play this season, they would have a playoff spot already secured.

Sure, even a 8-8 season is a huge leap from 3-13, but with the way other pieces have fallen in to place, it frustrates the heck out of me that Ponder has been so horrific for most of the year. They can NOT let him flounder about like he has this season for long next year when they could potentially contend for the division with just some semblance of a passing attack.

[BGM]

The problem is, I don't even know if we have a serviceable journeyman QB in Ponder. At this point, I am fairly certain he is not our franchise guy.

My hopes are still that this season was some kind of horrible anomaly and he will return as a cyborg QB that can do no wrong. But that would be science fiction. Realistically, he's a place holder until the front office can find the real guy.

[jackal]

I am hoping Matt Moore personally , but it will most likely be Ponder

[PurpleHalo]

My dream scenario is Romo, thats unrealistic. If they dont have the guts, to do the right thing, getting up above AZ for Barkley, than I want Kyle Orton, the guy knows how to play, and win. No Vick, he sucks, no Alex Smith, he's not good, he almost took the 49ers to super bowl, with a lights out defense. He's not much of an upgrade over Ponder. Webb is the best qb on roster, but they will not give him enough game action to develop.

[Dark]

My dream scenario is Romo, thats unrealistic. If they dont have the guts, to do the right thing, getting up above AZ for Barkley, than I want Kyle Orton, the guy knows how to play, and win. No Vick, he sucks, no Alex Smith, he's not good, he almost took the 49ers to super bowl, with a lights out defense. He's not much of an upgrade over Ponder. Webb is the best qb on roster, but they will not give him enough game action to develop.

I agree somewhat about Kyle Orton, but Alex Smith would be better. From the 9 games he played this year he had a 104 rating, and in total from last year he had a 90 qb rating. Your statement saying he's not much of an upgrade over Ponder is completely false (ponder has a 76 rating this year). Kyle Orton's last year as a starter he had an 86 rating, but that was 4 years ago (including this year). He's a backup for a reason, and who knows how much he's changes since he was a starter. Smith may be a backup, but he is backup to an unbelievably great young QB. Orton hasn't been a starter for 4 years, so with Smith we would know what to expect, which is a great QB who still has some decent years in him.

[PurpleHalo]

I agree somewhat about Kyle Orton, but Alex Smith would be better. From the 9 games he played this year he had a 104 rating, and in total from last year he had a 90 qb rating. Your statement saying he's not much of an upgrade over Ponder is completely false (ponder has a 76 rating this year). Kyle Orton's last year as a starter he had an 86 rating, but that was 4 years ago (including this year). He's a backup for a reason, and who knows how much he's changes since he was a starter. Smith may be a backup, but he is backup to an unbelievably great young QB. Orton hasn't been a starter for 4 years, so with Smith we would know what to expect, which is a great QB who still has some decent years in him.

Alex Smith a great QB? He is far from great, if they had that draft to do again Rogers would be one 100 out of 100 times. Sure maybe he has improved some, but with these WRs he's no better than Ponder. Where are people getting, that Alex Smith is great? He was pushed aside for Kapernik, great QBs get pushed aside for nobody. Rogers, Brees, Brady, Manning = great QBs. Alex Smith = game manager.

[Demi]

He was pushed aside for Kapernik

I agree great is going a bit too far. But he was hardly "pushed" aside. Kapernik came in when he was injured and had a 133 qb rating and buried the Bears. It wasn't like they were waiting all year for a chance to force Smith into the backup role. Kapernik earned the starting job through his play, not Smith's lack of it.

But compared to Orton and Matt Moore...I think I'd give Smith the "great" label. Orton got pushed out by Tim friggin' Tebow, and Moore got pushed down the depth chart by David Gerrard. If we can't get Vick, Smith, streeetch Rivers etc then just bring back Sage.

[DanAS]

This is not who you think SHOULD be the QB, but who do you think WILL..

If SF releases Alex Smith, I wouldn't be surprised to see Spie,man/Frasier go after him. Otherwise, I think we are stuck with Ponder.

That sounds like a pretty decent analysis (unfortunately).

[Just Me]

Ponder is a disaster. Tarvaris jackson was better !!! Hope niners let alex smith go.
Vikings would have at least 10 wins with a decent qb.

You mean this guy is better than Ponder? Really?

PS-I don't think Ponder is playing well - I just don't think Tarvaris Jackson is the answer (or was playing better).

[mmvikes]

I agree somewhat about Kyle Orton, but Alex Smith would be better. From the 9 games he played this year he had a 104 rating, and in total from last year he had a 90 qb rating. Your statement saying he's not much of an upgrade over Ponder is completely false (ponder has a 76 rating this year). Kyle Orton's last year as a starter he had an 86 rating, but that was 4 years ago (including this year). He's a backup for a reason, and who knows how much he's changes since he was a starter. Smith may be a backup, but he is backup to an unbelievably great young QB. Orton hasn't been a starter for 4 years, so with Smith we would know what to expect, which is a great QB who still has some decent years in him.

Kyle Orton

2012 Dallas Cowboys 1 0 9 10 90.0 89 8.9 1 0 0 0 137.1 -- -- -- -- -- --
2011 Kansas City Chiefs 4 3 59 97 60.8 779 8.0 1 2 1 5 81.1 6 -4 -0.7 0 -- --
2011 Denver Broncos 5 5 91 155 58.7 979 6.3 8 7 9 49 75.7 5 17 3.4 0 2 2
2010 Denver Broncos 13 13 293 498 58.8 3,653 7.3 20 9 34 243 87.5 22 98 4.5 0 4 4

This is the first year Orton hasn't started. He does seem to get injured a lot.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Whoever it is, I hope we have better guards by then.

[VltrophyXLV]

I don't think Barkley will be all that great. Besides Ponder still has 2 yrs left on his contract,3 if the Vikings opt in for his full contract.

[VltrophyXLV]

You mean this guy is better than Ponder? Really?

PS-I don't think Ponder is playing well - I just don't think Tarvaris Jackson is the answer (or was playing better).

Flynn is a better QB than Travaris. I wouldn't give Travaris a first thought.

[hibbingviking]

ponder. i would like too see teams stop adrian peterson + michael vick for a couple years. wouldnt mind having michael vick. vick only has a few years left but ponder seems like a detriment for vikings. the eagles o-line was garbage.