Ponder vs. Cassell

[Tark10]

NFL Network has discussed the possibility of a quarterback controversy between these two. Has anyone attended any of the OTA's or does anyone have any feedback regarding the progress of the Q.B.'s as yet. I believe their mini camp starts tda..

[dead_poet]

There's no controversy.




(Yet)

[jackal]

I don't think there will be even a chance of this unless Ponder tanks more than three games this year and
even then I am not sure

[mansquatch]

If he has a mid-season swoon like he did last year we can ressurect this thread. Right now I think this topic is at best (worst) 4 months pre-mature.

The Ponder Haterade is really something to behold. Basically the crticism seems to be founded on low yardage totals and a stretch of games where he made some really dumb picks. All true mind you. However, in spite of the dumb picks the guy still had an impressive 2nd year INT total for a 2nd year QB.

IMO, the bigger things to freak out about right now are the Sullivan Injury, the Greenway Surgery, and the gaping hole at Mike. Those 3 things have far greater potential to derail our 2013 campaign than a QB controversy at this point. The state of our CB is also a big concern. Lots of prove it out there. On the positive side, it sounds like John Carlson is healthy. There is potential for the Vikings to have a very diverse set of skill players in the passing game and for the most part it is slipping under the rader because they traded a guy named Percy Harvin and Ponder is everyone's favorite pin cushion.

[The Breeze]

I remembering reading recently that when the team struggled last year that Fraizer would've preferred to sit Ponder at times, but because of the backup situation he couldn't. Don't know if it was a legit comment or not.

I think Cassel could play without it being a controversy. Ponder may struggle here and there and Cassel could come in for the second half of a game. That's what a vet backup is all about. Hopefully that is the vibe...that Cassel is there to have Ponder's back when needed. That works to settle the kid down and not press while, hopefully, having some more confidence going down field.

If Cassel winds up starting for any reason other than injury it'll be bad news IMO, and they'll be drafting another QB. I don't see him as the answer to anything other than being the backup.

[King James]

There is no Ponder vs Cassel. The media just want something to talk about. Unless the Vikings go 0-5 or something, Ponder will be our starting QB. I just think Cassel was mainly brought in as an insurance policy incase Ponder has some freak injury again and Cassel will be ready to come in. Ponder getting benched will set the team back. Because Cassel is not the answer and that means if Ponder isn't the guy we will most likely have to find a new QB. But back to original answer, I dont see Cassel starting unless Ponder does down during the season.

Just know if Cassel starts, the team will not be much better. Cassel is a career back-up at best, not starter material.

[mansquatch]

Yes, I think folks have quickly forgotten that Cassel’s performance for KC was the impetus for what was essentially a fan mutiny against the team. Ponder can be frustrating but even without a Dwayne Bowe he wasn’t that horrifyingly bad. It will take something substantial IMO (aside from injury) for Cassel to start over Ponder. The good news is that Cassel will probably relish the opportunity as it will be a means to resurrect his career if he can perform.

[VikingLord]

Yes, I think folks have quickly forgotten that Cassel’s performance for KC was the impetus for what was essentially a fan mutiny against the team. Ponder can be frustrating but even without a Dwayne Bowe he wasn’t that horrifyingly bad. It will take something substantial IMO (aside from injury) for Cassel to start over Ponder. The good news is that Cassel will probably relish the opportunity as it will be a means to resurrect his career if he can perform.

Ponder was pretty bad there for a stretch. If Cassell was objectively worse, it couldn't have been by much.

[Eli]

I've read remarkably few opinions in the football media that express much hope of Ponder turning the corner this season. You can debate that as much as you like (and it's been done to death and back again here), but that alone explains how someone can come up with a "Ponder vs. Cassel" angle. It's about as surprising as reading another "Mark Sanchez should be benched" opinion.

[dead_poet]

*tosses gas on the fire*

Christian Ponder - QB - Vikings

ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested on NFL Live that Christian Ponder will be in danger of losing his job this season if the Vikings begin to struggle.

"There are enough people around the league that believe Matt Cassel is good enough to challenge Ponder," stated Schefter, adding that Cassel "could unseat Ponder at some point this season." Although Schefter confirmed Ponder won't lose his job before Week 1, he called it a "situation that bears watching." Ponder endured a brutal nine-game stretch last season (Weeks 7-16) where he completed 140-of-245 passes (57.1 percent) for just 1,267 yards (5.17 YPA), and a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio with two lost fumbles. Ponder was serviceable to solid (67.2 percent, 7.01 YPA, 11:4) in his other seven starts.

[Just Me]

*tosses gas on the fire*

Christian Ponder - QB - Vikings

ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested on NFL Live that Christian Ponder will be in danger of losing his job this season if the Vikings begin to struggle.

"There are enough people around the league that believe Matt Cassel is good enough to challenge Ponder," stated Schefter, adding that Cassel "could unseat Ponder at some point this season." Although Schefter confirmed Ponder won't lose his job before Week 1, he called it a "situation that bears watching." Ponder endured a brutal nine-game stretch last season (Weeks 7-16) where he completed 140-of-245 passes (57.1 percent) for just 1,267 yards (5.17 YPA), and a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio with two lost fumbles. Ponder was serviceable to solid (67.2 percent, 7.01 YPA, 11:4) in his other seven starts.

Eliminate the words: "begin to," and I think that is the biggest "no brainer" there is. I think the Vikings will have to be convinced Ponder is not improving (which has has every year so far), but I would say that this leadership has not been "shy" about making needed personnel changes. That said, I think Ponder is going to improve again this year. If my suspicions are correct and Ponder does improve, this story just gives sports writers something to write about during the off-season....

[Mothman]

*tosses gas on the fire*

Christian Ponder - QB - Vikings
ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested on NFL Live that Christian Ponder will be in danger of losing his job this season if the Vikings begin to struggle.

"There are enough people around the league that believe Matt Cassel is good enough to challenge Ponder," stated Schefter, adding that Cassel "could unseat Ponder at some point this season."

It won't matter what people around the league think, just what Leslie Frazier and his staff think. The only threat to Ponder's job is Ponder himself. It's his starting position to lose and if he stays healthy, the only way he is going to lose it is by performing poorly.

Although Schefter confirmed Ponder won't lose his job before Week 1, he called it a "situation that bears watching." Ponder endured a brutal nine-game stretch last season (Weeks 7-16) where he completed 140-of-245 passes (57.1 percent) for just 1,267 yards (5.17 YPA), and a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio with two lost fumbles.

That stretch keeps growing as the media push this angle. Ponder did not have "a brutal nine-game stretch last season". There was a bad stretch of games but they're really stretching the truth with that statement.

[Demi]

Averaging 140 passing yards a game isn't just bad. It's brutal...along with sub 60% for an offense that was predicated on bubble screens and 3 yard slants?

But then his "good stretch" in those last four games he averaged 157. So I guess in Ponder terms it was "bad" and not "brutal".

It's Tjoke in his prove-it season. If he stays healthy he'll keep the job until the Vikings are mathematically eliminated, so probably week 12 at the earliest.

[mosscarter]

i agree demi, they won't pull the plug on ponder until later in the season. i hope he improves, but i doubt he will. statistically, his second season was simply a continuation of his first. personally, i didn't see any improvement at all.

[losperros]

It won't matter what people around the league think, just what Leslie Frazier and his staff think. The only threat to Ponder's job is Ponder himself. It's his starting position to lose and if he stays healthy, the only way he is going to lose it is by performing poorly.

Exactly. Frazier and his staff have made it abundantly clear that Ponder is the starter this season. As for Ponder retaining the job, he has to stay healthy and play well. If he can't do one or both, then he'll lose his job as the starter this year. It's really not all that complicated.

As for Cassel, if Ponder really sucks or gets injured, then that's the only way we'll see Cassel in there. I seriously doubt that he'll be the starting QB on the team next year for any reason.