Vikings Message Board.Com

Reignman wrote:I guess we have very different definitions of the word "zip" and "excel" lol, but yes that was a nice pass too. He had several nice passes tonight. But in every single Ponder start this year the announcers have ripped Ponder for the exact same things. Late, soft, under thrown, behind, to high, didn't see someone wide open. In other words, he's not learning and progressing. Like the fail mary vs Dallas, that deep under thrown rainbow for a pick on the opening drive was an abomination.

I understand that not saying Ponder has the most super amazing lazer robot arm, or whatever bullcrap people use to describe strong arms, but he makes good throws just like Cassel who sometimes makes good throws. They both make good throws under different conditions is my overall point.

thatguy wrote: Uh, Ponder had a couple throws tonight that outdid Cassel's in my mind. That one where he scrambled through the blitz and hit Jarius Wright on the sideline comes to mind.

That was a nice throw. I wouldn't agree that it was "better" than Cassel's pass to Simpson, but it's probably like arguing that chocolate ice cream is "better" than strawberry ice cream. (It's a matter of taste).

2 throws out of an entire game.

The offseason can't come soon enough

ponder had his best game of the year tonight, and it couldn't have started much worse. total floater on that INT. but great recovery, especially after the defense was sleep walking for 2 quarters. so hard for the offense to find a rhythm when the opponent runs double the amount of plays. maybe the dive was ill-advised, but give the guy credit for throwing himself out there for the TD. he's got some toughness.

FailedtoOpen wrote:I understand that not saying Ponder has the most super amazing lazer robot arm, or whatever bullcrap people use to describe strong arms, but he makes good throws just like Cassel who sometimes makes good throws. They both make good throws under different conditions is my overall point.

And I'm by no means trying to defend Cassel. I realize he's a career backup at best, but I believe he's a better backup than Ponder who for some reason we're desperate to cast as a starter. If you can't make the throws required to be made in this league to succeed, then you have no business being a starter in this league. Someday the Vikings will figure that out. It's just too bad for us fans that it takes our franchise longer than most to figure these things out.

Ponder had his best game of the year...when he only had to play half of it.

What I really wanted to see was how Ponder would've handled the 4th qtr when the game is on the line.

I really DIDN'T want to see that...

Demi wrote: I really DIDN'T want to see that...

Because you thought he'd blow it, right? So you DID want to win a meaningless game that might screw up our draft spot? Ruh roh. Busted.

Why does Ponder seem to get injured after his best games?

The Redskins' pass defense is pretty atrocious. Just in case anyone was wondering. It was nice to see that the Vikings were capable of playing pitch and catch against them.

Ponder stared down every receiver once again tonight. The Vikings could have had a flashing red light on the helmet of the primary receiver on every pass play and it wouldn't have made a difference. The Redskins genuinely stink.

I think this was the first time I've ever seen John Carlson catch a pass of more than five yards. I doubt that the Vikings have ever called a pass play to him of longer than five yards before tonight. There's nothing wrong with Carlson. What's wrong is that it took a year and a half for the Vikings to use him.

MelanieMFunk wrote: Because you thought he'd blow it, right? So you DID want to win a meaningless game that might screw up our draft spot? Ruh roh. Busted.

Reignman wrote:But did you see that 25 yard strike to Simpson between 2 defenders on 3rd n 9 that Ponder couldn't make in a zillion years? Ponder had a decent game, again by his standards, but he still relies way too much on the TE.

Drew Brees has the same problem. He's always throwing to that Jimmy Graham guy.

Tom Brady was really bad about it a couple years ago. He threw almost 170 completions and 24 TDs to his tight ends!

Completions and TDs to TEs are just the worst.

Mothman wrote: Drew Brees has the same problem. He's always throwing to that Jimmy Graham guy.

Tom Brady was really bad about it a couple years ago. He threw almost 170 completions and 24 TDs to his tight ends!

Completions and TDs to TEs are just the worst.

Eh, I get the original point. "Too much TE" for a relatively weak-armed QB = 174 passing for the game. Your other examples have the arm to stretch the field pretty much at will, and routinely have 300 and some 400 yard games, even when they have 10 completions to TE's.

The fact that you brought up Brees and Brady to make a point about Ponder I will assume is due to the adrenaline and sugar-high from your Vikings cupcakes running through your system after a win.

psjordan wrote:Eh, I get the original point. "Too much TE" for a relatively weak-armed QB = 174 passing for the game.

Yes... over 3 quarters... with a defense that couldn't get off the field and didn't force a punt or turnover in the entire first half, thus limiting opportunities for the offense.

With Ponder at QB last night, the Vikings offense put together 4 TD drives in 6 possessions (I threw out the one play, "kneel down" possession with 4 seconds left in the first half). He threw a TD to a wide receiver (Patterson) and completed passes to Patterson, Simpson, Jennings and Wright so he wasn't exactly ignoring the guys on the outside.

The fact that you brought up Brees and Brady to make a point about Ponder I will assume is due to the adrenaline and sugar-high from your Vikings cupcakes running through your system after a win.

It was sarcasm but I did find the cupcake comment funny.

Demi wrote: I really DIDN'T want to see that...

No.

And STOP! You guys that are raving about Ponder now are comparing him to himself. Okay, so he was better last night than he's been most of this year. That is not nearly good enough. That weather balloon ball he threw for the pick was unbelievable! Comapred to a top-level QB, he's still ridiculously limited. You shouldn't have to dumb down the offense for your STARTING QB!