The Christian Ponder Thread

[PurpleMustReign]

Since they didn't win the Super Bowl, clearly he sucked all of last year.

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[Tark10]

There are some of us old battered diehard gray haired fans clinging to hope. We preach patience.....PATIENCE.. They may not win 10 this year but they should play better. This year should "Set the Table". With a little luck, maybe 10-11 wins and maybe a bit more. I stopped counting my scars years ago. It took many years for me to put the HAIL MARY behind me. No more nightmares..Maybe when they blew up that building in Mankato things may change.

[Funkytown]

Maybe when they blew up that building in Mankato things may change.

[Just Me]

Maybe he was referring to this?

[dead_poet]

Matt Cassel - QB - Vikings

ESPN's Adam Schefter says the Vikings "won't hesitate" to turn to Matt Cassel if Christian Ponder struggles this season.

Per Schefter, there are people around the league who believe Cassel is "underrated." Those people apparently didn't watch the tape of Cassel's eight starts for the Chiefs last season, when he posted a 64.5 quarterback rating, threw five touchdowns against 11 interceptions and lost six fumbles. We're expecting Ponder to take a step forward in his third NFL season and hold off Cassel with ease.
Source: ESPN.com
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/adam-schefter/

[King James]

Christian Ponder highlights from last season

[Mothman]

Matt Cassel - QB - Vikings

ESPN's Adam Schefter says the Vikings "won't hesitate" to turn to Matt Cassel if Christian Ponder struggles this season.

Per Schefter, there are people around the league who believe Cassel is "underrated." Those people apparently didn't watch the tape of Cassel's eight starts for the Chiefs last season, when he posted a 64.5 quarterback rating, threw five touchdowns against 11 interceptions and lost six fumbles. We're expecting Ponder to take a step forward in his third NFL season and hold off Cassel with ease.
Source: ESPN.com
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/adam-schefter/

I'm sure Leslie Frazier has Adam Schefter on speed dial just so he can relay this sort of information to Schefter about how he intends to handle the QB position. Schefter needs to put a sock in it and stop trying to create a controversy for the sake of headlines, ratings, site hits, twitter followers, etc. "People around the league" won't get to make this call. The Vikes want to see their investment in Ponder pay off. Expect them to continue being patient with him this year.

[mansquatch]

I like turtles

[Mothman]

I like turtles

I had to look that one up to understand it! So many memes, so little time...

[Mothman]

A good perspective on Ponder from Jim Souhan:

Souhan: Focus on what Vikings QB Ponder is, not what he isn't

The position is so pivotal, visible, difficult and mythic that most conversations about NFL quarterbacks, even some of the best, address what they haven’t done. They are rats in a maze searching for cheese being steadily pulled away from them.

The conversations revolving around Christian Ponder during training camp will cast him as a lower-tier starter, an impediment to the Vikings offense, a guy who might want to look over his shoulder when he’s not looking off the safety.

After two seasons in the NFL, and only one as a full-fledged starter, Ponder — we will hear from every NFL analyst in the country — has much to prove. That’s true, and incomplete. He already has established some important bona fides.

More at the link.

[Mothman]

I sure hope they don't wait that long if Ponder is that bad, especially since the Vikings finally have a capable starter behind him. I don't think the Vikings can afford to waste another season. Peterson won't be P-P-Peterson forever.

I'm not sure Cassel actually qualifies as a capable starter anymore...

Maybe people need to stop thinking about what will happen if Ponder sucks and start thinking more about what will happen if he plays really well. That possibility seems to receive a lot less consideration.

[dead_poet]

Interesting comments from Ponder: http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 8729cda4c3

He's asked about the sound byte that "It's all on you" at 4:05

"I think quarterback dictates what the success of the team is going to be. I'm not putting more pressure on myself, it's already a high-pressure job. This year is no different than any other year. My approach is the same. I want to get better and progress from year-to-year and week-to-week."

[Reignman]

Was this a designed scramble? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO6M58aT6nM

Ha, that's the first play I thought of when the scramble topic came up. Awesome run vs a good D by CP.

I hope all you "he has potential" nuts are right and CP gets his act together this year because the thought of Cassel being our starter makes me violently ill.

[HornedMessiah]

Watching that video, it's easy to see why people say Ponder has a weak arm. He only fires it hard when he absolutely has to, like on the throw to Aromashadu @ 1:50. Even some of the tight TD throws he made in the end zone, they didn't have much zip on them. That doesn't bug me that much. At this point, I'm fine with him developing as a "touch" passer. As he gets older and more confident as a starting NFL QB, he'll start to sling the ball around with more authority and you won't hear so much about his "lacking" arm strength.

And really, just look at the deep throw to Wright @ 1:23. Ponder threw that ball over fifty yards while moving quickly to his left. I think his arm is fine.

[King James]

Ha, that's the first play I thought of when the scramble topic came up. Awesome run vs a good D by CP.

I mean from what I seen, it looks like the pocket was collapsing and his best option was to tuck and run, but people forget that Ponder does have some speed on him and can get down the field with his feet. I don't think this was designed at all, but I think it was great awareness from Ponder to escape from the sack.