Vikings Final Four Wins analysis (Ponder)

[dead_poet]

A lot of the criticism really seems to boil down to the offensive style the Vikes are playing vs. the offensive style fans want to see. There's an understandable desire for the Vikes to find their Tom Brady or Peyton Manning and for the Vikes to field the kind of high-flying passing game those players have been involved in over the years. ponder doesn't appear to fit that mold and the Vikings aren't running that kind of offense so the question of effectiveness seems to get set aside in favor of a "grass is always greener" mentality.

That pretty much nails it.

[mondry]

I don't think it's fair to say Ponder doesn't appear to fit that mold as he's really not going to be asked to do so. I think there is insufficient data to come to that conclusion, not to mention up until this point, WR's haha.

If we traded AD for Megatron you think things would be the same? Highly doubt it!

[The Breeze]

My criticism with Ponder is his decision making. Last year he seemed to be a one read qb. Throw to #1. If #1 is covered, either force the pass, or panic and start scrambling. He rarely went thru his progressions. IMO, the game has yet to slow down for Ponder.

It's the same criticism I have and I feel it's completely correctable based on the line play, receivers and him all being on the same page. Also, they need to all get better at dealing with blitzes....all of them, runningbacks too~

[The Breeze]

Count me in as another Utah Viking on this board....

What town PJ?

[Mothman]

It's the same criticism I have and I feel it's completely correctable based on the line play, receivers and him all being on the same page. Also, they need to all get better at dealing with blitzes....all of them, runningbacks too~

You're right about that. They didn't handle the blitz well last year.

I didn't see him as a "one read" QB last season, although he did some of that. Based on what his QB coach has said, it may be that Ponder actually went through his progressions too fast at times, rather than not going through them at all. Either way, the net result was probably the same. I didn't see much that I would interpret as panic in his game but I did see impatience and again, maybe that's splitting hairs because the net result was leaving the pocket too early or forcing a pass.

I never know what to make of comments about progressions because I'm not sure everybody is talking about the same thing. I think it's sometimes difficult to tell whether a QB is going through his progressions or not because a lot of plays ask the QB to make a pre-snap read and a quick decision after the snap rather than standing in the pocket and looking 1-2-3-4 from left to right or vice versa. I get the impression fans expect a lot more of the latter.

Anyway, I agree that Ponder's flaws are correctable and I think the biggest are making good choices (don't force the ball into coverage!) and developing more consistent mechanics. He gets in trouble when he doesn't set his feet and follow though and although he throws well on the move on designed plays, when he scrambles and freelances, he sometime fails to align his body well and makes poor throws.

[The Breeze]

You're right about that. They didn't handle the blitz well last year.

I didn't see him as a "one read" QB last season, although he did some of that. Based on what his QB coach has said, it may be that Ponder actually went through his progressions too fast at times, rather than not going through them at all. Either way, the net result was probably the same. I didn't see much that I would interpret as panic in his game but I did see impatience and again, maybe that's splitting hairs because the net result was leaving the pocket too early or forcing a pass.

I never know what to make of comments about progressions because I'm not sure everybody is talking about the same thing. I think it's sometimes difficult to tell whether a QB is going through his progressions or not because a lot of plays ask the QB to make a pre-snap read and a quick decision after the snap rather than standing in the pocket and looking 1-2-3-4 from left to right or vice versa. I get the impression fans expect a lot more of the latter.

Anyway, I agree that Ponder's flaws are correctable and I think the biggest are making good choices (don't force the ball into coverage!) and developing more consistent mechanics. He gets in trouble when he doesn't set his feet and follow though and although he throws well on the move on designed plays, when he scrambles and freelances, he sometime fails to align his body well and makes poor throws.

Yeah, I agree on the splitting of hairs and the nuances of going through progressions.
I really feel he took some big hits that rookie year...especially in the Detroit game, which when coupled with the line and it's pass protection issues, have left him with some bad habits. For whatever reason, his tendency to lose pace of the game and force things is my beef with him. I don't think it's all a matter of decision making....it's more of a reaction thin with him. There is frantic aspect to him at times. And like 808 said the game hasn't slowed down for him,.... or he's playing too fast at times. Totally correctable IMO~

[Mothman]

Yeah, I agree on the splitting of hairs and the nuances of going through progressions.
I really feel he took some big hits that rookie year...especially in the Detroit game, which when coupled with the line and it's pass protection issues, have left him with some bad habits. For whatever reason, his tendency to lose pace of the game and force things is my beef with him. I don't think it's all a matter of decision making....it's more of a reaction thin with him. There is frantic aspect to him at times. And like 808 said the game hasn't slowed down for him,.... or he's playing too fast at times. Totally correctable IMO~

I agree and I know what you mean about Ponder's 2011 experience possibly leading to bad habits and a tendency to force things. The latter is the most frustrating aspect of his game, which isn't unusual for a young QB. A few of his worst picks last year were plays where I was watching and just thinking "there's nothing there, don't throw it!"... and then he'd throw it right to a defender.

808's statement sums it up as well as anything and that's one reason I'm eager to see what happens this season. It seems to me that the third year is often when the game does slow down for a young QB.

[mosscarter]

5/12 for 53 yards. a complete joke.

[allday1991]

5/12 for 53 yards. a complete joke.

He was running for his life 60% of the time he was in

[Funkytown]

He was running for his life 60% of the time he was in

Yeah. Really. Considering the circumstances, I'm surprised his numbers were even that...

[Eli]

Please, just let last season die already.

Whatever happened, good or bad, is absolutely meaningless at this point in time. It's a brand new season and Ponder and every other player and every coach need to do what they do, NOW. Because if they don't get it done, many of them won't be back next year.

[YikesVikes]

What's missed in the OPs post is the facct that he glances over what happened in all those FGs. He list the first drive or any drive that Ponder looked like an NFL backup QB (his best) and we he screwed the pooch.. he simply put down FG. Totally 1 side. He also neglects to mention that while Ponder is throwing for 54% of his throws... an actually QB could put up great numbers based on the easy coverages that defenses give our passing game. In closing Ponder sucks and is an up and down QB at best.

[mondry]

What's missed in the OPs post is the facct that he glances over what happened in all those FGs. He list the first drive or any drive that Ponder looked like an NFL backup QB (his best) and we he screwed the pooch.. he simply put down FG. Totally 1 side. He also neglects to mention that while Ponder is throwing for 54% of his throws... an actually QB could put up great numbers based on the easy coverages that defenses give our passing game. In closing Ponder sucks and is an up and down QB at best.

Unfortunately it's too hard to tell why a drive stalled out simply from looking at the play by play nor did I want to take the time to look at every field goal drive. Did Ponder make a good throw but the WR dropped it? What if he makes a good throw but the DB makes a better play on the ball to break up the pass? The play by play doesn't differentiate, it just says "incomplete." On top of that, when you're winning by say 2 touchdowns, it's a valid strategy to run as much clock as you can and kick the field goal, especially with Walsh. It's not a great strategy for the fans but it wins games, we're too classy to run up the score like New England.

As for cherry picking drives that made Ponder look good... well all I have to say to that is I "picked" EVERY touchdown drive scored by the offense in those 4 games. But I suppose you're right, he did look good in them, I guess that's why they were, you know, the touch down drives.

In closing Ponder sucks and is an up and down QB at best.

Good closing argument, I can totally see it now.

[PacificNorseWest]

I'm hearing mixed reviews, but it's mainly coming from haters or incurable optimists. Those that are level-headed about it tend to say it was a mix of no help from teammates and Ponder being "Ponder."

I won't be able to check the game out until it comes on replay on NFLN, but I'm no worried either way at this point.

[Mothman]

Good closing argument, I can totally see it now.