I still believe in Ponder as a starting QB

[King James]

Yeah I know im going to get drilled for this but I just want to give my honest assessment on why Ponder can still succeed in this league.

Now I'm not saying that Ponder is an elite QB my any chance. He is also not and probably never will be a good pocket passer. He will never have a rocket arm but he can STILL make NFL throws. Now I think the problem is the offensive system not Ponder. Check this out, Ponder is not RGIII, Russell Wilson, or Michael Vick. He can still make plays with his feet though. I think the problem is that the coaches are trying to make Ponder fit the system, rather than fixing the system to his strength. It's not with just Ponder, its also with a lot of players on this team. Just like our 2 outside press corners (Rhodes and Cook) who are being force to run a cover 2 zone rather than letting them play more man coverage.

This is a about Ponder. Im not saying this is the answer to fixing our offense, but I think that Ponder would succeed more running the ball. It's a win-win really. He can either run the ball and make plays, or run the ball can get injured. Not that I wish injury but if Ponder got injured, the nay-sayers will get their wish of Ponder not starting anymore.

Ponder can be a read option guy. He barely stays in the pocket as it is and has more speed than people think. People expect Peterson to run the ball but not Ponder to tuck and run. I think the Ponder running the ball more will keep defenses from pressuring him as much. I don't see why the coaches cant exploit this with Ponder. He will never be a pocket passer like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Nor will he have their arm strength. But what he does have over them is ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet.

If Ponder does this more I think we can have more success on offense. This is just my opinion though. It worked with Colin Kaepernick last year.

[VikingHoard]

Stop trolling.

[King James]

Stop trolling.

So anytime someone says anything positive about Ponder, it's trolling? Oh yes, real smart logic there son.

[Funkytown]

I get your points, but do you see him as being a long-term answer? I think that's the true issue here. It's a lot easier to justify starting him this year than it is beyond that. Don't you think? I'm torn between Ponder/Freeman at this point. If we hadn't signed Freeman, it would make sense to throw Ponder out there to see what happens, especially once our playoff hopes were gone. Certainly couldn't hurt. After all, this season was supposed to be about Ponder anyway. Signing Freeman makes it a bit tricky for me, though. I'd like to see more of him (as painful as that first time was) some time this year. As far as Ponder, I like the guy, but I just don't see him being here long-term, unless he's our backup. I think he's a solid backup--and more importantly, it would shut people up come next year always asking for the next man up. Everyone wouldn't "love the backup."

[Mothman]

I get your points, but do you see him as being a long-term answer? I think that's the true issue here. It's a lot easier to justify starting him this year than it is beyond that. Don't you think? I'm torn between Ponder/Freeman at this point. If we hadn't signed Freeman, it would make sense to throw Ponder out there to see what happens, especially once our playoff hopes were gone. Certainly couldn't hurt. After all, this season was supposed to be about Ponder anyway. Signing Freeman makes it a bit tricky for me, though. I'd like to see more of him (as painful as that first time was) some time this year. As far as Ponder, I like the guy, but I just don't see him being here long-term, unless he's our backup. I think he's a solid backup--and more importantly, it would shut people up come next year always asking for the next man up. Everyone wouldn't "love the backup."

[PurpleMustReign]

So you are either Christian Ponder or his mother. Great to have you aboard!

[mosscarter]

see a psychologist

[VikingHoard]

So anytime someone says anything positive about Ponder, it's trolling? Oh yes, real smart logic there son.

It appears as though my humor is too dry for your taste. As an apology, I offer the following information which may save you from future embarassments. When criticizing another's argument, it's the validity of their logic you should dispute, not whether the logic is smart.

[Reignman]

Yeah I know im going to get drilled for this but I just want to give my honest assessment on why Ponder can still succeed in this league.

I missed the part of your assessment where it says something good about Ponder playing QB. I think you meant to say you believe Ponder could be a good starting RB.

Now I'm not saying that Ponder is an elite QB my any chance. He is also not and probably never will be a good pocket passer. He will never have a rocket arm but he can STILL make NFL throws. Now I think the problem is the offensive system not Ponder.

It's the system, but Ponder is not very good at throwing? Contradiction? Do you understand the job of a QB?

Check this out, Ponder is not RGIII, Russell Wilson, or Michael Vick. He can still make plays with his feet though. I think the problem is that the coaches are trying to make Ponder fit the system, rather than fixing the system to his strength.

The difference is those 3 guys CAN throw the ball. You can't just be a runner and play QB. That's not going to work vs NFL defenses, just ask Tim Tebow.

This is a about Ponder. Im not saying this is the answer to fixing our offense, but I think that Ponder would succeed more running the ball. It's a win-win really. He can either run the ball and make plays, or run the ball can get injured. Not that I wish injury but if Ponder got injured, the nay-sayers will get their wish of Ponder not starting anymore.

I'm a naysayer, but that's not how I want to get rid of Ponder. I don't want anyone to get injured, I just want this franchise to wake up and realize what everyone else has realized long ago, Ponder is a bust.

Ponder can be a read option guy.

No he can't and the problem is with the read part in read option. Ponder can't read a defense to save his life. And you still gotta pass in the read option, again something Ponder can't do.

People expect Peterson to run the ball but not Ponder to tuck and run. I think the Ponder running the ball more will keep defenses from pressuring him as much.

It's Petersons job to run the ball, it's Ponders job to pass the ball. You need a balance in this league to be successful, you can't be 1 dimensional. If we run on every down with AD or Ponder, there will be 11 defenders at the line of scrimmage and you're only going to average 2 YPC.

But what he does have over them is ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his feet.

Joe Webb is twice the runner as Ponder and he's not playing QB because he can't throw the ball. If we just need someone to run the ball then why not just direct snap to AD every play? We don't even need a QB.

If Ponder does this more I think we can have more success on offense. This is just my opinion though. It worked with Colin Kaepernick last year.

Like the previous 3 guys you mentioned, the difference is, Kaep can throw the ball. If a run only QB is all you needed, guys like Webb and Tebow would be winning the Superbowl and MVP awards every year.

[Reignman]

I think he's a solid backup--and more importantly, it would shut people up come next year always asking for the next man up. Everyone wouldn't "love the backup."

Yep you got me there haha. But I'd much rather hate the backup than the starter. We'd probably all be better off if more people hated the backup than the starter. It might mean we're winning.

[Laserman]

You are absolutely Wrong on every single point you try to make. Ponder Sucks, just about the worst QB in the NFL. A Blind man can see that

[King James]

It appears as though my humor is too dry for your taste. As an apology, I offer the following information which may save you from future embarassments. When criticizing another's argument, it's the validity of their logic you should dispute, not whether the logic is smart.

The only things embarrassing are your humor and failure to actually reply to topic in hand.

So you are either Christian Ponder or his mother. Great to have you aboard!

So original. You are either one of Ponder's ex girlfriends who is jealous and loves to see him struggle now that he's in the pros. Or a fan who couldn't get him to sign is autograph.

see a psychologist

I will. I'll direct them to you. You may actually need it.

You are absolutely Wrong on every single point you try to make. Ponder Sucks, just about the worst QB in the NFL. A Blind man can see that

Can you actually explain how each of my points are wrong? With actual facts rather than just coming with "Oh you're wrong, Ponder sucks."

[Delaqure]

Interesting assessment. I don't think it is accurate though. Ponder can run but the problem remains That he can't find open receivers and this year he has shown he is not very good at throwing on the move. This was Ponders year to prove himself and I wanted him to have This year to do so. I still do. However he hasn't really shown anything different than last year. He doesn't read defenses very well so Tue read option is out. He has to quickly find the open man with the read option and he struggles with that. He also has to be able to throw on the run accurately and he really has struggled with that particularly running to his left. He may be better off dropping back to pass and being coached to take off automatically if the middle opens up and not try to hang in the pocket to find someone. That at least would force people to stay home and maybe help AD be able to get outside.

I just don't see the improvement I expected to this year. I dunno maybe he's just a slow learner?

[VikingHoard]

The only things embarrassing are your humor and failure to actually reply to topic in hand.

It appears we have reached an impass in our fundamental understandings about the nature of embarassment. I feel that embarassment is appropriate for things like attempting to insult another's logic while demonstrating that one hasn't actually studied the subject; and you do not. You feel that embarassment is appropriate for things like telling jokes that went over your head or failing to do something which I wasn't actually trying to do; and I do not. I don't see a way to resolve this so I will hop off this thread here. However I look forward to reading your reply, as I'm sure you will be eager to get the last words in. Try to make them clever this time.

[King James]

It appears we have reached an impass in our fundamental understandings about the nature of embarassment. I feel that embarassment is appropriate for things like attempting to insult another's logic while demonstrating that one hasn't actually studied the subject; and you do not. You feel that embarassment is appropriate for things like telling jokes that went over your head or failing to do something which I wasn't actually trying to do; and I do not. I don't see a way to resolve this so I will hop off this thread here. However I look forward to reading your reply, as I'm sure you will be eager to get the last words in. Try to make them clever this time.

Whatever. When you actually like to offer your point on view on the thread topic, rather than accusing me of trolling and arguing about logic, then im all ears.

Interesting assessment. I don't think it is accurate though. Ponder can run but the problem remains That he can't find open receivers and this year he has shown he is not very good at throwing on the move. This was Ponders year to prove himself and I wanted him to have This year to do so. I still do. However he hasn't really shown anything different than last year. He doesn't read defenses very well so Tue read option is out. He has to quickly find the open man with the read option and he struggles with that. He also has to be able to throw on the run accurately and he really has struggled with that particularly running to his left. He may be better off dropping back to pass and being coached to take off automatically if the middle opens up and not try to hang in the pocket to find someone. That at least would force people to stay home and maybe help AD be able to get outside.<BR abp="708"><BR abp="709">I just don't see the improvement I expected to this year. I dunno maybe he's just a slow learner?

I could be wrong but he looks much more comfortable throwing outside of the pocket than in. I know the problem of running outside of the pocket eliminates throwing to the WR on the opposite side. Im sure something can be done though. I don't think Ponder can mentally function in the pocket. He seems more accurate when running.

Looking back at his college tape, it seems like his best plays were running with the football or throwing the ball while on the move.

I don't know how reliable sport science is but this video also suggest that Ponder was more accurate on the run than any QB in that class he was drafted with.