Vikings Message Board.Com

I live in the KC area and have seen good and bad Matt Cassell. In 2010 with Charlie Weiss as his OC, he was solid to pretty darn good. Of course last season, he was just horrible. He did a lot of the same bad things Ponder has been prone to. Mainly, poor decision making under pressure and a real penchant for giving the ball to the other team.

He is a more accuarate passer. I have no doubt about that but...if he gets the constant pressure that Ponder has gotten, it may not matter. When the rush gets close, he - like Ponder - tends to worry more about where the next hit is coming from than where receivers are downfield. At the very least, he HAS had SOME success in the NFL in the past.

We will never know how the majority of the team truly feels about Ponder. But maybe, just maybe, if it seems the rest of the guys pick up their game a little - like maybe the OL actually blocking - it could be a hint that maybe they were ready for a change too.

I honestly don't think Cassel will make much of a difference. Though, he may prove me wrong.

JEC334 wrote:I honestly don't think Ponder will make much of a difference. Though, he may prove me wrong.

Pondering about Ponder?

MelanieMFunk wrote: Pondering about Ponder?

I miss Ponder already!! LOL

JEC334 wrote:I honestly don't think Cassel will make much of a difference. Though, he may prove me wrong.

Unless the O-line steps it up, I don't think it will matter.

majorm wrote:I live in the KC area and have seen good and bad Matt Cassell. In 2010 with Charlie Weiss as his OC, he was solid to pretty darn good. Of course last season, he was just horrible. He did a lot of the same bad things Ponder has been prone to. Mainly, poor decision making under pressure and a real penchant for giving the ball to the other team.

He is a more accuarate passer. I have no doubt about that but...if he gets the constant pressure that Ponder has gotten, it may not matter. When the rush gets close, he - like Ponder - tends to worry more about where the next hit is coming from than where receivers are downfield. At the very least, he HAS had SOME success in the NFL in the past.

We will never know how the majority of the team truly feels about Ponder. But maybe, just maybe, if it seems the rest of the guys pick up their game a little - like maybe the OL actually blocking - it could be a hint that maybe they were ready for a change too.

I would be happy if Mr. Magoo started at QB. Honestly, I'm just tired of seeing Ponder.

If Cassell goes 0-20 with three interceptions, the final outcome wouldn't be any worse than it's been with Ponder. Plus, nobody is under any delusion that Cassell is a franchise QB. Enough with Ponder -- seriously, enough. Full stop.

Keep in mind that in Cassel's career year in 2010 he had a lower QBR than Ponder did last year. So his ceiling is lower than Ponder's season that many thought earned him a spot on the bench. He later proved that that season was fluke, so I have very low expectations of Cassel. The worst thing that could happen is that he plays mediocre and doesn't make too many mistakes so we decide to make him the starter next season.

Raptorman wrote: Unless the O-line steps it up, I don't think it will matter.

It isn't all the oline, part of it is the play calling scheme. Nothing to keep the defense honest.

It's probably why they need to find a new offensive coordinator next year. Musgrave has had horrid offenses everywhere he's been.

Don't get me wrong, the oline hasn't played very well either. But good coaching can mask some of that, and here that hasn't happened.

DanAS wrote: I would be happy if Mr. Magoo started at QB. Honestly, I'm just tired of seeing Ponder.

If Cassell goes 0-20 with three interceptions, the final outcome wouldn't be any worse than it's been with Ponder. Plus, nobody is under any delusion that Cassell is a franchise QB. Enough with Ponder -- seriously, enough. Full stop.

You and I are on the same page Dan. Just say NO to Ponder!

I just knew this was going to happen when last season ended. After the decent game he had against Green Bay and then he couldn't play in the playoff. I just knew they would be convinced he had figured it out and go with him this year. And I KNEW that was going to be bad.

If Ponder had played in that playoff game at Lambeau, he probably would have played poorly and they may have tried to go after a QB during the off season. Instead, we have another wasted season with another sub-par signal caller.

I just hope Cassell can somehow do enough to at least make Frazier CONSIDER keeping Ponder on the bench.

majorm wrote: You and I are on the same page Dan. Just say NO to Ponder!

I just knew this was going to happen when last season ended. After the decent game he had against Green Bay and then he couldn't play in the playoff. I just knew they would be convinced he had figured it out and go with him this year. And I KNEW that was going to be bad.

If Ponder had played in that playoff game at Lambeau, he probably would have played poorly and they may have tried to go after a QB during the off season. Instead, we have another wasted season with another sub-par signal caller.

I just hope Cassell can somehow do enough to at least make Frazier CONSIDER keeping Ponder on the bench.

No thanks! I don't want these idiots to start thinking Cassel is the answer, and become "their guy" Cassel has basically the same grade D skill set as Ponder, noodle arm, bad decision making, and he's less moble than Ponder. A statue better have a rocket arm, or forget it.

I'm not sure I want things to change... My biggest fear is that Cassel plays as good as he can(as he did in NE), and our front office decides to let Cassel play for 3 years while Cassel goes back to his normal self(a sub-par QB), and we are back to square one.

To be perfectly honest, I want Cassel to stink it up. I want us to go 0-16 or at most 2-14 so we can draft a new QB(and get new coaches).

Ohjay wrote:I'm not sure I want things to change... My biggest fear is that Cassel plays as good as he can(as he did in NE), and our front office decides to let Cassel play for 3 years while Cassel goes back to his normal self(a sub-par QB), and we are back to square one.

To be perfectly honest, I want Cassel to stink it up. I want us to go 0-16 or at most 2-14 so we can draft a new QB(and get new coaches).

Oh my gosh! Don't think for a second that I think Cassell is the answer at QB!! In fact, I'm sure he's not. I just am so sick of Ponder I'm ready for somebody else. ANYBODY else. Mr. Magoo or whoever.

I'm just at the point where I'm thinking he can NOT be worse. He just can't be. He HAS to be a little better. At least a little.

Ohjay wrote:I'm not sure I want things to change... My biggest fear is that Cassel plays as good as he can(as he did in NE), and our front office decides to let Cassel play for 3 years while Cassel goes back to his normal self(a sub-par QB), and we are back to square one.

To be perfectly honest, I want Cassel to stink it up. I want us to go 0-16 or at most 2-14 so we can draft a new QB(and get new coaches).

The concern for me is that Spielman will use the injury as an excuse. Ponder will miss a few games for this, come back for a couple and then miss a few more for a bicep. And at the end of the year, it will be another "incomplete" grade for Ponder, and another offseason of uncertainty.

I just wanted the guy to play an entire 16 game season, good, bad, or horrible.

I think it will come down to protection, but if Cassel can at least see the field and be more accurate than Ponder, then I think this could be positive outcome. Our WR and TE are very talented, they are just stuck in Ponder's shadow. There is potential for a breakout type game.

We should all hope as much. If the passing game/Cassel light it up chances are Ponder will stay on the bench.

Hey a guy can dream right?

majorm wrote:Oh my gosh! Don't think for a second that I think Cassell is the answer at QB!! In fact, I'm sure he's not. I just am so sick of Ponder I'm ready for somebody else. ANYBODY else. Mr. Magoo or whoever.

Yeah don't get me wrong, if we don't see Ponder any more this season I will be one happy camper. But our coaches might fall in love with Cassel and we get a Ponder Redux... Which none of us want!
So it's not what we think of Cassel, it's what the coaches might think of Cassel if he plays good