Another Ponder thread? Yeah I know. Not trying to start a debate, because I'm pretty sure everyone here pretty much has their mind set on what they think should happen to Ponder. But it's the offseason. Other than MiniCamp it isnt much to talk about. I thought it was a good read.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Christian Ponder is still on the Minnesota Vikings' roster, working out at the team's voluntary minicamp this week in the same No. 7 jersey he has worn for the past three seasons. But in many ways, he is more on the periphery of the team's plans than he has been since the Vikings drafted him 12th overall in 2011.
The team gave Matt Cassel a new two-year deal in March, effectively slotting him above Ponder on the depth chart. The Vikings have spent the better part of the offseason evaluating the quarterbacks they might take in the draft next weekend. They have not, Ponder said, discussed the possibility of picking up his fifth-year option, which would be guaranteed for 2015 only in the case of injury but would pay him just over $9.6 million if he did get hurt.
"Honestly, I'm not thinking about it," Ponder said. "Plus, the option doesn't really mean much. They can cut me without anything after this year so it doesn't matter."
However marginalized Ponder appears to be at this point, he is coming to work with the hope he can pick up offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system and fare well enough to reclaim the starting job that seems slated for Cassel. He said he hoped the Vikings would come to the conclusion they have enough at quarterback not to take one in the first round, characterized the quarterback situation as a competition and thought learning from Turner would help him.
Asked what's gone wrong in his time with the Vikings so far, Ponder said, "Turnovers. Turnovers were the biggest thing, and that cost us quite a few games. Just some dumb decisions. That's been kind of the story of the past three years."
Ponder took second-team snaps during Wednesday's workout and seems like he'll be in that position barring an injury or major change to Minnesota's thinking. His $1.76 million base salary is guaranteed for 2014, so the only way he wouldn't be with the Vikings is if they were to trade him or decide to absorb $3.2 million in dead money (counting Ponder's signing bonus proration) by cutting the quarterback.
With a new coaching staff, Ponder said he has a "clean slate" and hopes he will be able to use it to rewrite a past that currently has him on the fringes in Minnesota.
"It was disappointing how the year went, but honestly, when I left, it was more motivation than anything," he said. "I think I really worked hard this offseason, more than I have in the past, and I didn't want it to happen again. I knew there was going to be a competition to play, and I tried to do my best to prepare."
Last edited by King James on Thu May 01, 2014 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
I wish I could believe him when he says he's worked really hard and has gotten better, but I can't. It's the same thing he always says after games when he has a bad performance "all my mistakes are correctable." but then the problems are never corrected. In all honesty I don't even want to dog on him anymore now that he's not the starter. He was put in a horrible spot by being drafted 12th overall. He was at best a 2nd round pick and we forced him to be a year 1 starer and franchise QB. I feel bad for him to an extent because he was set up to fail basically. I'm glad he's keeping his head up and working hard and no doubt he'll grow under Norv Turner, but to say he has a chance to beat out Cassel is absurd. Ponder has a weak arm and stuggles with accuracy on deep passes, an area Norv focuses heavily on in his offenses. Cassel on the other hand has an adequate arm and has a high completion percentage on deep passes. So i don't think its even a contest. Ponders real competion will be with whatever rookie we bring in, and I assume he loses that battle also and sits at 3rd string all year.
Funkytown wrote:I like that last little paragraph. Good for him!
I liked that too. He's not saying he's better, just saying he's working hard and doing his best to prepare. If the starting QB job is actually open and not just Cassel's by default, it will be very interesting to see if Ponder and/or a rookie will be able to make a serious push for it this summer.
The Star Tribune has a similar article about Ponder today:
I'm glad he's working harder good on him. However if he thinks turnovers were his biggest problem then I don't see much hope. His biggest problem in my eyes was his inability to sit in the pocket and go through his progressions. Many of his turnovers came from him locking onto and throwing to his 1st read. He needed to move in the pocket and find his #2 or #3 man downfield. IMHO that was his biggest problem.
The guy's lack of performance on the field is not debatable, but it hard to be against a guy who despite the obvious adversity is still in there fighting to compete and improve. The odds are firmly against his turning anything around, but if he is going to work hard to be competitive and improve then here is to hoping he finds success while still in a Purple uniform. Everyone wins if he succeeds and at this point his draft pick is already a sunk cost. So go Ponder go!
Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi
Delaqure wrote:I'm glad he's working harder good on him. However if he thinks turnovers were his biggest problem then I don't see much hope. His biggest problem in my eyes was his inability to sit in the pocket and go through his progressions. Many of his turnovers came from him locking onto and throwing to his 1st read. He needed to move in the pocket and find his #2 or #3 man downfield. IMHO that was his biggest problem.
I agree with this. His vision, progressions, and patience were probably his biggeset issues. I just think at this point the Vikings have already sunk the cost, ergo it can't get any worse for the franchise in terms of Ponder. Thus, any improvement is a net win, IMO.
Winning is not a sometime thing it is an all of the time thing - Vince Lombardi
80 PurplePride 84 wrote:
Doubt it. The rookie is gonna be in street clothes for at least the first half of the season unless he pulls a Russell Wilson in camp and beats out Cassel for the starting job.
Anyone who can't beat out Cassel probably isn't worth drafting. If we draft a qb in the 1st or 2nd round he should be the starter game 1.
I'm glad Ponder wants a clean slate. Both he and Cassel should have one.
The only QB that should start is the best one for the job, regardless his experience level. So if a rookie comes in and wins the job, then so be it. But only if he really can win more games than the other two guys.
I also blame Ponder dismal performance on our previous coaches for not allowing anyone else to compete for the starting job. After his rookie season he should have been competing for his starting spot, not automatically given that spot. Ponder was able to coast the past 2 years with mediocre play. I guess it wasn't a big deal for him then because his spot wasn't in jeopardy
I wonder till this day why did they let him start with facing competition? I remember in 2012 Sage Rosenfels outperformed every QB on our roster during the offseason/preseason. And the coaches cut him anyway. Cassel outperformed Ponder last year before the season started and the coaches still were sold on Ponder.
I just want to know what was the thought process of that whole situation. It ended up hurting them and Ponder in the long run, because he clearly isn't ready, atleast not ready to be a starter.
King James wrote:I also blame Ponder dismal performance on our previous coaches for not allowing anyone else to compete for the starting job. After his rookie season he should have been competing for his starting spot, not automatically given that spot. Ponder was able to coast the past 2 years with mediocre play. I guess it wasn't a big deal for him then because his spot wasn't in jeopardy
I wonder till this day why did they let him start with facing competition? I remember in 2012 Sage Rosenfels outperformed every QB on our roster during the offseason/preseason. And the coaches cut him anyway. Cassel outperformed Ponder last year before the season started and the coaches still were sold on Ponder.
I just want to know what was the thought process of that whole situation. It ended up hurting them and Ponder in the long run, because he clearly isn't ready, atleast not ready to be a starter.
Man I agree completely. And that's why I hope this new staff won't pull that kind of a bone headed move. I really have a feeling that none of the QBs in the current draft are day one ready. We need to be patient. I never did understand the Rosenfells move. He really seemed the most ready and he never got the chance. Right now I'm happy with Cassel and think he is our best transitional QB until we find our Guy. Hopefully Ponders work will provide him what he needs to be a great backup.
Cassel outperformed Ponder last year before the season started and the coaches still were sold on Ponder.