The Christian Ponder Thread

[Mothman]

I think a lot of people have genuine confidence in Ponder. If nothing else they have some genuine hopeful thinking. So far, I think some of the fans struggle the most with believing in him. I've read and heard mostly good things about Ponder from professionals; read and heard a lot of yucky things from fans. Take a guess who I'm going to side with. I think I'm just going to stay positive and see how it plays out. I'd love love LOVE for Ponder to be our guy, but if he isn't...is anyone really going to be surprised? We aren't exactly awesome at getting ourselves franchise quarterbacks. But dang it, at least we are finally trying to do it the right way. That's inspiring in itself! Besides, as Vikings fans, don't we kind of have to get a little bit excited about the little things? lol

Good post, Melanie. We don't have to get excited about the little things but it certainly makes being a fan more fun.

[Eli]

It's pretty sad that our only franchise QB was Fran Tarkenton.

The Vikings have had good quarterbacks that might have become so-called "franchise" QBs had things worked out differently. Tommy Kramer was certainly one of them, but he was a drunk. Daunte Culpepper might have been one too, and he might still be the Vikings starter if it weren't for the injury and the inflated ego than combined to end his career. Looking around the NFL, I don't think the Vikings are unusual in that regard; the 15 year starting franchise QB is not all that common. Many teams have been chasing the same for years. Just look at Miami after Dan Marino, or Denver after John Elway. Name one other franchise QB in Broncos history besides Elway.

I think QB play has been this team weakness for years.

If there's a single position where the Vikings have been historically mediocre, it's linebacker. They've had a few good ones and a couple of great ones sprinkled here and there through their 50+ years, but overall, very weak.

[Funkytown]

Good post, Melanie. We don't have to get excited about the little things but it certainly makes being a fan more fun.

...or, ya know, simply more tolerable.

[King James]

Last time i checked Fran Tarkenton was the only QB who was able to take us to a super bowl. And that's my definition of getting it done getting to a super bowl, thats what I want Ponder to do. And he was settling for bubble screens. When Brent was playing for us in 2009 he did one thing I admire. He took those crap plays they gave him and did some audibles. If Favre did take the risk he did and change the play calls when he did, we probably would have been an 8-8 team at best. I think Ponder was more comfortable with screens because it was almost certain that a positive play would come from it.

Now imagine someone like Brady or Manning (either one) given a design screen or check down. I can guarantee unless it was a blitz that they saw coming, they would be not throwing these screens and would probably call an audible every time. I refuse to blame the coach when the QB has the power to change the play if it doesn't look good.

[headless_norseman]

Last time i checked Fran Tarkenton was the only QB who was able to take us to a super bowl. And that's my definition of getting it done getting to a super bowl,.

It's a team sport and the NFL has a long history of "average" QB's winning the SB. And the Vikes have had several good QB's since Tarkemton to never make it. Your definition wouldn't be a good recipe for success, or have a good track record with recorded SB history.

[headless_norseman]

If there's a single position where the Vikings have been historically mediocre, it's linebacker. They've had a few good ones and a couple of great ones sprinkled here and there through their 50+ years, but overall, very weak.

I met Matt Blair once as a kid - some traveling Viking basketball charity thing, I think. Anyway, after the game, I lined up to get my Viking penent signed by several players and Blair was the biggest jerk. If he can turn off a kid like that, then......

[Mothman]

Last time i checked Fran Tarkenton was the only QB who was able to take us to a super bowl. And that's my definition of getting it done getting to a super bowl, thats what I want Ponder to do.

So if he doesn't do that this season, you will lose all faith in him and go back to your anti-Ponder attitude until he is released from the team? That seems a tad extreme.

And he was settling for bubble screens.

A screen is a designed play and it really only works as a designed play. It's rarely called as some alternative to a deep shot or crossing route. The blocking is set up for the screen.

When Brent was playing for us in 2009 he did one thing I admire. He took those crap plays they gave him and did some audibles. If Favre did take the risk he did and change the play calls when he did, we probably would have been an 8-8 team at best. I think Ponder was more comfortable with screens because it was almost certain that a positive play would come from it.

I think he was doing what his offensive coordinator asked him to do and bubble screens aren't "crap plays". Harvin was killing defenses with them last year.

Now imagine someone like Brady or Manning (either one) given a design screen or check down.

I don't have to imagine it. I've seen both of them throw those plays dozens and dozens of times over the years.

I can guarantee unless it was a blitz that they saw coming, they would be not throwing these screens and would probably call an audible every time.

That's just absurd. I mean no disrespect but are you sure you understand exactly what a screen play is and how it works? I've seen QBs like Brady and Manning (and Favre) throw many, many screens over the years and not just against the blitz. A QB may have the power to change out of a screen play but why would he unless his pre-snap read gave him a compelling reason to do so? A screen can be a very effective play, sometimes even an explosive play!

[King James]

And what happens when Harvin was "killing" defenses? He ended up getting injured. It's no wonder that Peterson didnt get injured by the work they overloaded him with. When our best passing plays are check downs and screens it doesn't help your RB or QB. But luckily we are fortunate to have a player like Peterson for now. With any other RB we probably would have been looking at a 5-10 season last year

[Funkytown]

And what happens when Harvin was "killing" defenses? He ended up getting injured. It's no wonder that Peterson didnt get injured by the work they overloaded him with. When our best passing plays are check downs and screens it doesn't help your RB or QB. But luckily we are fortunate to have a player like Peterson for now. With any other RB we probably would have been looking at a 5-10 season last year

What happened to our other game?

[Mothman]

And what happens when Harvin was "killing" defenses? He ended up getting injured.

Which has nothing to do with Ponder or the viability of screen passes.

It's no wonder that Peterson didnt get injured by the work they overloaded him with. When our best passing plays are check downs and screens it doesn't help your RB or QB. But luckily we are fortunate to have a player like Peterson for now. With any other RB we probably would have been looking at a 5-10 season last year

Well, maybe 6-10.

The Vikes are definitely fortunate to have Peterson. Hopefully, the weapons they've added this offseason will take some pressure off his shoulders.

[Raptorman]

Last time i checked Fran Tarkenton was the only QB who was able to take us to a super bowl.

Bet Joe Kapp would argue that point. Maybe you should learn more of Viking history.

[King James]

It's a team sport and the NFL has a long history of "average" QB's winning the SB. And the Vikes have had several good QB's since Tarkemton to never make it. Your definition wouldn't be a good recipe for success, or have a good track record with recorded SB history.

I guess Brett Favre was a good choice for us too. Brad Johnson, Gus Ferotte, Rich Gannon, all of those were good choices too.

[King James]

Bet Joe Kapp would argue that point. Maybe you should learn more of Viking history.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? The NFL Championship is not a super bowl trophy. You could have just said that not all great QBs won super bowls. The year that they changed it the championship to the super bowl, he ended up landing on a different team. If he was so good, why didnt he stay the year after they won the NFL Championship, which they lost the trophy..lol

Any more QBs you guys have? It is true that some of the greatest QBs, like Dan Marino, have never won a super bowl. But outside of Fran, THE VIKINGS had no Dan Marino caliber QBs back in the day.

[Funkytown]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? The NFL Championship is not a super bowl trophy.

You're losing it.

Weren't y'all discussing quarterbacks who took the Vikings to the Super Bowl? Took not won, right? Kapp didn't?

James, you posted after 1 in the morning. I'll let that be your excuse. Time for a little nappy nap.

[Eli]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? The NFL Championship is not a super bowl trophy. You could have just said that not all great QBs won super bowls. The year that they changed it the championship to the super bowl, he ended up landing on a different team. If he was so good, why didnt he stay the year after they won the NFL Championship, which they lost the trophy..lol

Any more QBs you guys have? It is true that some of the greatest QBs, like Dan Marino, have never won a super bowl. But outside of Fran, THE VIKINGS had no Dan Marino caliber QBs back in the day.

I don't know about anyone else, but this **** it getting old.

Why do you people keep responding to this guy?