Your confidence in Christian Ponder

[dead_poet]

How about the option:

He is a puzzle, but by January we should be able to have a better grasp on whether he's the quarterback of the future

Or

I have no fuc*ing clue

[Mothman]

How about the option:

He is a puzzle, but by January we should be able to have a better grasp on whether he's the quarterback of the future

That's basically what I just chose. I picked "He is still a puzzle, and by Jan there will still be no consensus on Ponder as our franchise QB" because I can't imagine there will be a consensus but I prefer the way you phrased it. "He is still a puzzle" alone would have been ideal because that sums up my view of him very accurately!

[Crax]

If it was there, I'd choose "Most likely not the long term answer, Vikes need to focus on developing new QB talent"

Even if ponder sucks, I'm not high on an old re-tread like Cassell

[indianation65]

Too many choices to mix and match...at least he can run fast!

...wisdom

[RandallioCobb18]

yes it is that time again .... We exceeded all expectations and won 10 games, entered the playoffs, had an historic season with Adrian Peterson, and our team is the home of the reigning MVP and therefore best player in the NFL. We had some great breakout play from Harrison Smith, and others, we had an exciting offseason with some great rookie and veteran additions. And we enter the new season with a possibly deteriorating Packer squad, a hard to read Bears group, and a Lions team seemingly on a perennial treadmill. All under the roaming gaze of the two big lions of the NFC the 49ers and Seahawks.

And we enter this jungle with Christian Ponder as our QB. We've had an offseason of training camp, roster changes, deep reflection, and three weeks of preseason with CP as the starter. As we are about to enter the 2013-2014 season, how do you feel about Christian Ponder as the Vikings starting QB?

I'm curious what makes you think the Packers are deteriorating, they improved from 32nd to 12th in Defense all on the strength of one draft, if those young players keep developing there is no reason to think the D would take a step back. Don't get me started on what will happen if the Packers get a running game that teams actually have to respect.

Ponder definitely needs to improve if he wants to keep his job, he has Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph, CP, and that one fellow in the back field, no excuse for not producing

[cstelter]

I was equal parts

He is still a puzzle, but we'll finally know at some point this year

I worry he will be the sole reason we lose key games in 2013

I went with the first one, but the two thoughts are hardly incompatible.

[Mothman]

We're into year three and whenever anyone pointed out how Ponder seems to be lacking the overall ability to be a good QB, we've been bombarded with a whole host of excuses mainly being patience to give Ponder more time, or blaming the offensive line and/or receivers. Well we're getting to the end of the line for those excuses.

Why is it that when it comes to Ponder, poor performance by the offensive line or the receivers is never a reason, it's always an excuse?

Don't use the line as an excuse because they didn't blow coverage in every single play and Ponder showed nothing when his protection was solid.

Okay, I won't because I don't think it's true that he showed "nothing" when his protection was solid. He made some good throws in the preseason and some bad ones. He and most of his offensive teammates were very inconsistent.

If Ponder played solid all year long, I would disregard his preseason performance, but even Blaine Gabbert knew he couldn't wait until Week 1 to start reminding people why he was drafted #1. For a guy who has so much to prove, Ponder played like a guy who is no different from the guy who dragged down the Vikings last year, before Adrian pulled us back up. Does anyone honestly expect Ponder to suddenly transform into playing well once the regular season starts as if CP doesn't try unless the games count? Even old man Peyton Manning gave it 100% to prepare for the regular season last week.

I don't expect a sudden transformation from any player but (and I know you don't want to hear this) preseason games are pretty meaningless as an accurate indication of regular season performance. You're right that Ponder hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt an established player would get but that doesn't make his performance in meaningless games any more meaningful. It just makes fans more unforgiving. Preseason games are meaningless because of the nature of the preseason itself. The approach to the games is very different from the regular season. The preparation is different, the playcalling is different, the goals of the coaches and teams are different. It's just not like regular season football.

A poor pass isn't any less of a poor pass because it was thrown in the preseason. I get that and Ponder threw some poor passes so that's cause for some concern but if anybody thought his game would somehow be transformed over the course of the offseason, I think they were kidding themselves. If he's going to make the transformation from questionable starter to proven, reliable quarterback it's likely to happen gradually, over the course of the season. It was never likely to happen between January and August or over about 3 total quarters of playing time in preseason games. People wanted to see that because they're impatient, frustrated and looking for reassurance. It would have been nice to get it too but if we had, that would have been meaningless too. how many times have we seen QBs excel in the preseason and stink during the year? It's just not "real" football. They're playing glorified scrimmage games.

It doesn't matter how Ponder looks now. The games he's been playing in don't count and they don't matter. Let's see how he looks this season, not just in the first or second game but this season. There's no reason not to be patient because there's no quality alternative waiting in the wings if he falters. Cassel has stunk the last few years. It's not likely to mean good news for the Vikes if he ends up the starter. Give him to to gel with his new receivers, time to improve and progress and if that improvement and progress don't occur, or are insufficient, the Vikes will almost certainly address the problem.

[DanAS]

The problem with this question is that there are more than one decent responses for me, and I suspect for others too.

I went with the one that says I lack confidence in him but if the team wins I'm happy.
It's also true that this year, we should be able to tell once and for all. The problem is, I think what we'll be able to tell is he isn't a worthy QB for a team that truly wants to contend for a title. I just don't think he has those kinds of skills.

What I DON'T necessarily agree with is that he will make or break us. Right now, I'm concerned about numerous other positions as well. Tops among them are the offensive line positions. If that unit continues to play like you-know-what, even a fine QB wouldn't save us. Those guys need to wake up immediately. They have embarrassed themselves during the pre-season, as has that pseudo-CB, Toast Robinson. Let's see what that rookie CB can do as a starter.

[King James]

I have mixed feelings about Ponder. Part of me is saying that he will shock the NFL this year and another part of me is saying that he will continue to give us below average performance. If the second part of me is right, he needs to be benched or released next season. We don't need to being going through QB problems like the Jets and Mark Sanchez.

[Reignman]

I picked "He is still a puzzle, and by Jan there will still be no consensus on Ponder as our franchise QB" because I can't imagine there will be a consensus

Holy what the? Hey look at that, we picked the same answer. Yep he's going to play just craptacular enough where Spielman will want to bring him back for another look next season. I just hope he'll be auditioning for the backup role if that's the case.

[Eli]

Why isn't there a choice that simply says "None"?

Did you hear Spielman during the Titans game? (paraphrasing) "Ponder has made huge strides. He commands this team. You can really see that this is his team." Blah, blah, blah. Where I come from, they used to call this blowing smoke up someone's rear orifice.

I have no doubt that no matter how poorly Ponder does, there will be a litany of excuses cited for his stats and that he'll be back as the starter next year. Spielman isn't going to look so bright in a few years when Adrian Peterson is broken down and in his 30s and struggling to get 900 yards and the Vikings still haven't advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

[VikeMike]

I voted that Ponder is puzzle, but we'll know by January. I'm afraid that I suspect I know how this will turn out, and that I'm right about those suspicions. I don't think Ponder will develop into an effective, consistent NFL starter. I hope my suspicions are wrong, because it's back to square one yet again. I also don't care if it is Ponder or someone else who becomes a legitimate QB for the Vikings. I just want someone to do it. I would prefer Ponder only because it is the most expedient way.

[Mothman]

I voted that Ponder is puzzle, but we'll know by January. I'm afraid that I suspect I know how this will turn out, and that I'm right about those suspicions. I don't think Ponder will develop into an effective, consistent NFL starter. I hope my suspicions are wrong, because it's back to square one yet again. I also don't care if it is Ponder or someone else who becomes a legitimate QB for the Vikings. I just want someone to do it. I would prefer Ponder only because it is the most expedient way.

Well said. That's how I feel about it too. I want Ponder to work out because the Vikes need a legitimate QB and it would obviously be better if they didn't have to go back to square one and start the development process all over again with another player. I'm not confident Ponder will work out but I'm glad they're trying to develop a starter instead of just putting band-aids over the problem like they did during the majority of the Green and Childress eras. It's the right approach. Hopefully, Ponder's not the wrong player.

[The Breeze]

I find your question to be a bit personal....my feelings are my feelings, Buddy.

[Mothman]

I find your question to be a bit personal....my feelings are my feelings, Buddy.

LOL! Come on, man. It's okay to cry.