"The Next Step" for Christian Ponder

[BGM]

Simpson had a really great game - after the ball bounced off his hands for an INT. But seriously, he more than made up with that with the way he played the entire game. A very nice surprise.

Please know that in my little criticism earlier in the thread, I was not targeting new posters or anything like that, simply reminiscing about those who have left. There are a number of new posters who have really supplied a nice, energetic vibe to the board. I dig adding new, knowledgeable and enthusiastic folks to the fold!

[Mothman]

I think the 4 turnovers has as much to do with the loss as anything. But like DanAS said in another thread, there's blame to go around for everyone. Why is Peterson getting a free ride? Except for his one big run, what did he do to help?.

He scored 3 touchdowns. That seems helpful.

[Mothman]

He has AD and Line in front, he's obviously starring down Line, waiting for him to get open.

Actually, it doesn't look like that to me. It looks like Ponder is looking to the WR running down the left sideline. You can pretty much draw a line from the angle of his head straight to that receiver. His body even appears to be angled in that direction.
It's hard to say based on still shots but my guess would be that he threw to Line because it looks like the player Line was blocking disengaged to go after AD, leaving Line open. I seriously doubt this was a designed pass to Line all the way as you're suggesting.

Again, it's hard to tell from one still photo of Ponder looking at a receiver but if he literally stared the receiver down, that's obviously a mistake.

[PurpleMustReign]

Cmon you guys....it's not really about negative or positive regarding the team or any one player. It's the trolling and baiting in any and every thread regardelss of topic and the dismissive-rude tone given to those who express their lack of appreciation for that kind of crap.

Exactly, and I'm glad people are finally speaking out about this. Yes, this is a Vikings Message Board and there really hasn't been much to ba happy about lately. But damn it, we used to be able to have intelligent football conversations on here no matter what the Vikings were doing. There are a lot of newer members on here who are driving away the long-time members and quite frankly, that sucks. I don't come on here nearly as much as I used to because I am sick of every thread turning into a pissing match or a Ponder bash thread. I could start a thread about the spot on my yard that isn't growing and within five posts it would turn into how Ponder can't throw a deep ball.
It is really sad really. I am hoping now that people have started speaking out that the Mods will see that not everything is ok in VMB world and something needs to be done before these issues become too many and too big to correct.

[TheCoolerOne]

Exactly, and I'm glad people are finally speaking out about this. Yes, this is a Vikings Message Board and there really hasn't been much to ba happy about lately. But damn it, we used to be able to have intelligent football conversations on here no matter what the Vikings were doing. There are a lot of newer members on here who are driving away the long-time members and quite frankly, that sucks. I don't come on here nearly as much as I used to because I am sick of every thread turning into a pissing match or a Ponder bash thread. I could start a thread about the spot on my yard that isn't growing and within five posts it would turn into how Ponder can't throw a deep ball.
It is really sad really. I am hoping now that people have started speaking out that the Mods will see that not everything is ok in VMB world and something needs to be done before these issues become too many and too big to correct.

I don't post on here that often, but I cannot agree more. I was looking for a way to say exactly this without breaking the personal-attack rules. Not that it would have been that complicated, but I kinda wanted to break them, hah.

[mansquatch]

IMO, Line was the corrent target on that throw. Yes AP is in space, but draw a line from Ponder to AP. You see the two giant DL between the two? There is a very good change that ball gets tipped as there is no real throwing lane.

Not saying he isn't staring down Line on that play, but hard to believe that is the case. Line is likely the last read in the progression, most likely he is looking downfield at his deeper routes. Very hard to know without a cam in his helment. Just my $0.02.

The play on the curl route was a very bad stare down thought. No question on that.

[The Breeze]

I still think that there needs plays where Line or Peterson are the primary option but it doesn't look like it til it's too late.

I watched the Lions do it. Their receivers ran routes downfield and drew the DBs out while Stafford appeared to be looking downfield rolling left...then bang! he turns back to his right and throws it 6-7 yds to Bush. It was like Bush was really the guy they wanted to get it to all along. Then he caught the ball and ran very fast and far before anyone even touched him. It was like magic, wonder what they call that play

[Captain]

Just to counter all the negativity around Ponder lately. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C30CVhW-yuY

I'm far from a Ponder apologist, not am I against him at this point. In my book the jury is still out on him, although they seem to be heading towards an unfavorable verdict.

I will say this though, right now CP is the QB on MY TEAM and since I have zero power over personnel or even coaching scheme, I will continue to root for every player that dresses for my team and hope that they play every game like HOFers because as a fan once game time comes around those are the guys that the team has got and so until I'm made the GM they're also my guys.

[J. Kapp 11]

I think the 4 turnovers has as much to do with the loss as anything. But like DanAS said in another thread, there's blame to go around for everyone. Why is Peterson getting a free ride? Except for his one big run, what did he do to help?.

Except for his one big run?

That was a pretty important play, don't you think?

[Hunter Morrow]

What was AD supposed to do? Fairley, Suh and Ansah were in the backfield every play.

Yeah, Peterson. That bum. All he did was take it to the house and score the only 3 touchdowns the team scored.
What a bum!

[BGM]

Line was the right throw. The LB (55) has his back turned to Line, and the other LB (52) is in good position to move in at a good angle and take down AD (not that taking down AD is a given, mind you). Not to mention the DB shadowing Rudoplh just off screen. AD is amazing, but the way the defense was focused on taking him out of the game causes me to err on the side of a sure 5+ yard gain (Line) than with the hopes AD can juke the entire secondary out of its collective shorts.

The curl was a typical stare down that I find infuriating about Ponder.

Thanks for posting these and your analysis. This is what I find interesting!

[Crax]

Peterson didn't help Ponder at all. He faced 2nd and long all day.

Chance to win on the road with 3+ turnovers is 2%. Doesn't really matter what Peterson does when you turn the ball over that much. Remind me again who had most of those turnovers.

[J. Kapp 11]

How so? Lose by 17 or 10. A loss is a loss. Peterson didn't help Ponder at all. He faced 2nd and long all day.

Seriously dude? Peterson didn't help Ponder? That's how you look at it?

So I guess Adrian Peterson loses yardage because, what? He's too slow to hit the hole? Too dumb to see it? Are you freaking kidding me? The man was getting hit almost before he got the ball.

Man, I've seen Ponder apologists, but this takes the cake. If you want to blame the offensive line, I might listen. But Adrian Peterson? Ridiculous.

[Demi]

How so? Lose by 17 or 10. A loss is a loss. Peterson didn't help Ponder at all. He faced 2nd and long all day.

You don't think busting a 80 yard touchdown on the first play and having the defense key on him the rest of the game didn't help Ponder? Ponder can't be helped! He has no business being a starter in this league. Him, Gabbert, a couple other scrubs. He faced 2nd and long all day because he can't do #### and the defense pressured every play knowing PONDER wouldn't be able to do anything. And funny, he didn't. Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, and Jim Brown all in their prime would equal an average day for Ponder. You can polish a turd all you want, it's still a turd.

[BGM]

How so? Lose by 17 or 10. A loss is a loss. Peterson didn't help Ponder at all. He faced 2nd and long all day.

You are blaming AD for getting mobbed in the backfield all game? The guy is incredible, but nobody, not Barry Sanders, not Walter Payton, not Emmit Smith, had success when the defenses they faced were able to push into the backfield at will and stop the play before it even started. The Lions had a great gameplan to stop AD and they did for much of the game. The fact he broke off that 78 yarder when everyone knew he was going to be the one to get the ball shows just how superhuman the guy really is.

Plus... 3 TDs. Seriously.