WTF were you thinking

[Mothman]

Reusse has some choice words to say about the issue. Worth the read.

I read that this morning and I agree. He has a point...

[thatguy]

We've been through this song and dance countless times over the years. How many of us were calling for Artis Hicks to get benched well before it finally happened. How about Tahi? How about Berrian?

Psh, nonsense. Bernard Berrian didn't deserve to be benched!

[dead_poet]

Jennings defended Ponder on the pick-six

He also defended quarterback Christian Ponder on the interception Ponder threw for a touchdown on Sunday, saying, "I can't put the interception on him."

"It wasn't just him. It was a play that wasn't really executed well, across the board," Jennings said. "We addressed it."

Coach Leslie Frazier said the Vikings had a go route for Jerome Simpson called on the play, and Ponder didn't get the ball where he wanted it. Simpson wasn't able to get back for the ball, and Tim Jennings stepped in front of him, taking the interception 44 yards for a touchdown.

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... autographs

[S197]

Psh, nonsense. Bernard Berrian didn't deserve to be benched!

Welcome back!

[Delaqure]

Couldn't have said it any better. Before the Vikings make any MAJOR moves towards being a team to be reckoned with Both the offensive and Defensive Philosophies HAVE TO CHANGE. We Play Wimp football, play not to lose girly football. Nothing will change around here until THIS changes

Man, I think you guys are right. Take a look at the Vikings of the 70s. They were an aggressive football club from the purple people eaters to Fran the man. How many blow outs did they have? They consistently had a large takeaway advantage and were huge on points scored and points allowed. They played not to just win, but to beat you hard. I too am tired of having a team that just can't be dominant nor seem to have a desire to be dominant. I blame the coaching staff for this. The defense needs to learn to ATTACK and the offense has got to get AGGRESSIVE. If we can't pick this up this year, we need a new coaching staff. This is the year for me to buy into the system or disband it. I give them the year, but if nothing changes then it's time to go for something and someone else.

[dead_poet]

Zulgad's take on the third-and-goal:

By giving Ponder no real option other than to hand the ball to Peterson, Musgrave showed zero faith in his quarterback and ends up looking no different than when Brad Childress was making sure everything was done his way. If the Vikings aren't going to utilize Ponder's brain power why are they playing him?

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Zulg ... lity091813

[VikingLord]

Zulgad's take on the third-and-goal:
http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Zulg ... lity091813

I said this in another post - what makes anyone believe Ponder can do this when he consistently struggles with post-snap reads? Musgrave won't let Ponder start making pre-snap calls until he proves he can handle post-snap reads. That hasn't happened yet IMHO.

To criticize him for accepting reality is pretty harsh. Childress controlled even guys who had proven they could play QB like Brad Johnson. He deserved that criticism. But Musgrave, from where I sit, is just doing what any one of us in his position would be doing if Ponder were our QB.

I can just see where this is going to go if Ponder reverts in the Browns game. Holy smokes, it's going to get ugly. There will be significant temptation on the team to start pointing fingers. Chris Cook barely stayed away from doing that after the final play against the Bears, and if Ponder struggles again, especially if he has time to throw and open receivers, look out.

[mosscarter]

we will beat the browns by 28 and that will only give ponder more job security.

[Mothman]

I said this in another post - what makes anyone believe Ponder can do this when he consistently struggles with post-snap reads? Musgrave won't let Ponder start making pre-snap calls until he proves he can handle post-snap reads. That hasn't happened yet IMHO.

As I said in that thread, Ponder has already been allowed to call audibles. Drawing the conclusion that Ponder isn't allowed to make pre-snap calls based on the absence of a check-to-pass option on one play seems like a hasty generalization.

[J. Kapp 11]

As I said in that thread, Ponder has already been allowed to call audibles. Drawing the conclusion that Ponder isn't allowed to make pre-snap calls based on the absence of a check-to-pass option on one play seems like a hasty generalization.

Maybe it only seems like he isn't allowed to audible because he rarely does. Or at least it appears to be that way.

[Mothman]

Maybe it only seems like he isn't allowed to audible because he rarely does. Or at least it appears to be that way.

I think that's it and to speak to VikingLord's point (which I should have done in the previous post) you can understand why they might limit him in that area.

[PurpleKoolaid]

As I said in that thread, Ponder has already been allowed to call audibles. Drawing the conclusion that Ponder isn't allowed to make pre-snap calls based on the absence of a check-to-pass option on one play seems like a hasty generalization.

I have watched and re-watched many games looking just for ponder to make audibles. I have seen 2, one was last week. How many have you seen? It cant be many. I personally don't think Ponder can even read the D, let alone know who is going to be in single coverage like most QBs.

[Mothman]

I have watched and re-watched many games looking just for ponder to make audibles. I have seen 2, one was last week. How many have you seen? It cant be many.

I don't know. It's not many but they aren't always obvious either and I'm not focused on looking for them. I don't think he audibles much. The point was that it's not something they've completely held back from letting him do.

Your views on Ponder are pretty well documented at this point.

[Reignman]

Well whether he's not allowed to call audibles or just chooses not to ... neither are a good sign. Pre snap reads should be a mandatory skill at the NFL level.

[dead_poet]

The key third-and-goal where Christian Ponder didn't have a pass check. 10 in box, $45M receiver singled up. pic.twitter.com/NQuq1YWs4m