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Christian Ponder, QB, Minnesota Vikings (1 Viewer)

Jason Wood

Jason Wood

Zoo York
2012 Player Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The Shark Pool is, in our view, the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things fantasy football. In what's become an annual tradition, the Player Spotlight series is a key part of the preseason efforts. As many of you know, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we plan to publish more than 140 offensive spotlights covering the vast majority of expected skill position starters.

As always we will post a list of players to be discussed each week. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discuss expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways. 1) At the end of the week, we will tally the projections into a consensus. 2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Christian Ponder, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Player Page Link: Christian Ponder Player Page

Each article will include:

[*]Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member

[*]Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads

[*]FBG Projections

[*]Consensus Member Projections

The Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

[*]Focus commentary on the player (or players) in question, and your expectations for said player (or players)

[*]Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"

[*]Avoid redundancies or :popcorn: ... this should be about incremental analysis or debate

While not a requirement, we strongly encourage you to provide your own projections for the player (players):

Projections should include:

[*]For QBs: Attempts, Completions, Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Attempts, Rush Yards, Rush TDs

[*]For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs

[*]For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs

Now let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 
I was at the Vikings/Falcons game where on a 4th down play (4th & 13), Ponder dropped back and threw a bomb to the back of the end zone to a streaking Percy Harvin. It was an extremely impressive play for any player to make, much less a rookie QB making his 6th NFL start. It was the type of play a fan base will look at from a young QB and have hope. He did other things well that game too, I thought his pocket composure was solid for a rookie and when he escaped the pocket, he kept his eyes downfield and found open receivers instead of tucking and running.

So I’ve been intrigued by the off-season reports on Ponder that seem to point to a decent chance of him taking that next step in his development. Greg Cosell seems to like Ponder a lot and in lieu of the fact that Ponder was a seen as somewhat of a surprise selection that high up in the 2011 draft, the pick now looks like it could pan out. The issue with the Vikings though is the lack of weapons they have in the passing game. Aside from Percy Harvin, the players the Vikings have are subpar (Michael Jenkins/Devin Aromashadu) or yet to fully develop or realize their potential (Kyle Rudolph/Jerome Simpson). Couple that with the fact that despite what appears to be a very quick recovery from ACL surgery, no matter how incredible the progress Adrian Peterson has made, the Vikings will exercise caution here making the Vikings run game more pedestrian than what a running game with a 100% Adrian Peterson would normally yield.

Thus, you can look at Ponder in one of two ways: 1) because of the dearth of capable weapons on the offensive side of the ball, his development will be slowed and he’ll aspire to questionable QB2 status OR 2) with a year of learning under his belt, he’ll be a much more fluent NFL QB and will be able to make the most of the talent around him. I’m more inclined to side with the latter argument although his inability to stay healthy even for 10 games is probably the biggest impediment to his progression as an NFL QB as any other factor. Reports state he’s gained 20 pounds this off-season, but Ponder had durability issues in college which put his draft stock in question originally and 2011 did nothing to dispel concerns here. If you’re evaluating whether Ponder can be a QB the Vikings can feel good about handing their future over to, I think Ponder has shown more positive than negative signs. But even with what looked like an encouraging opening act in 2011, Ponder was barely rosterable and for him to be so in 2012, most are going to need to see it with their own eyes first before making the plunge. With the quarterback position never having been as deep as it is now (Joe Flacco is as of this writing QB21 on FFC), Ponder simply rates as an intriguing developmental prospect who’ll need to make a quantum leap versus a gradual one before folks start entrusting him on gameday.

Prediction (13 games): 232 Completions, 417 Attempts, 2894 Passing Yards, 19 TD’s, 12 INT’s; 51 Rushes, 312 Rushing Yards, 2 TD’s.

 
Dirty Word, thanks for all your intelligent, well-thought out posts in each of the spotlight threads. Even when the projections may not be agreeable, there is always great rationale and support that help in thinking through a player from different angles. Especially guys like Ponder who likely won't get a lot of discussion. Good stuff.

 
Given the early success of the likes of Andy Dalton and Cam Newton, people tend to be very intolerant of young players who don't immediately flourish. That's a mistake.

I'm not at all sold that Christian Ponder will develop into a long-time NFL starter, but to write him off simply because of last year's struggles would be a colossal error.

That said, given the "win now" position the coaches are likely facing, and given a team I don't see as being competitive, it wouldn't at all surprise me if we see Joe Webb play a few games.

 
yes, thanks for the write ups.DW

i don't have a fancy write up on Ponder,as he seems to be about qb 23.

but , i do see more . not going to dwell to much.

1. 10 indoor games,wks 1-5

2. Peterson, only 9 games imo, maybe.....more pass opp.

3.his wr1,wr2(simpson)wk3, and double te, very solid , rb good...then add peterson,

4.ol help, it can be a surprise , when adding just one stud olman .

5. def, on the weak side, but if they had a lead...would be better then most. getting the ball back,tovers

6. Plus, all the stuff DW mentioned, off season reports have me hooked.

att, closer to 550, td 22,or so, depending on ap. just more snaps, and camp work, but i agree. one more year.

 
'Jason Wood said:
Given the early success of the likes of Andy Dalton and Cam Newton, people tend to be very intolerant of young players who don't immediately flourish. That's a mistake.I'm not at all sold that Christian Ponder will develop into a long-time NFL starter, but to write him off simply because of last year's struggles would be a colossal error. That said, given the "win now" position the coaches are likely facing, and given a team I don't see as being competitive, it wouldn't at all surprise me if we see Joe Webb play a few games.
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After reading your comments on the spotlight series I just wanted to add that Webb is still making mistakes in camp and I don't think we're going to see him outside of a few odd wildcat like packages.One of the biggest points neglected in the spotlight series was the fact that Ponder was sacked 30 times in 9 starts. That's an insane high number that really led to a lot of his poor decision making and 1:1 TD/INT ratio. Now you can chalk up a lot of that to poor line play, but if he starts getting hit like last season he'll revert back to making poor decisions. Teams will attack him until he can prove otherwise, and what I'm really looking for in the preseason is how he reacts inside the pocket.
 
Based on what I'm hearing about Ponder, I'm expecting him to improve significantly this year. His o-line got a huge boost in the offseason, and the additions of Simpson and Carlson will be an asset to the passing game. Rudolph's development while having an actual offseason makes me think he could be a very good, and possibly elite TE, if not this year then maybe next. I like the direction that this team and Ponder are headed in.

That said, as a fantasy QB, I want no part of Ponder. He's athletic enough to add some ground yardage and TDs and there will be weeks where he will be a starting caliber QB, I have no doubt. But trying to guess which weeks those will be is not worth the investment. He hasn't proven he can stay healthy for a full year and he plays in a very rugged division and conference. For every 300yd- 3td passing, 60 yard/ 1td rushing day he has, I would also expect a game with 180 yd- 0td- 2int with a lost fumble and scant rushing production. I think his real world value will be significantly higher than his fantasy value, and inconsistency with twinkles of brilliance to be the hallmark of his season.

If he can stay healthy for 16 games, I would expect approx 3400 yds-22 tds-14 int passing; 350 yds- 3tds rushing

 
'Herb said:
Based on what I'm hearing about Ponder, I'm expecting him to improve significantly this year. His o-line got a huge boost in the offseason, and the additions of Simpson and Carlson will be an asset to the passing game. Rudolph's development while having an actual offseason makes me think he could be a very good, and possibly elite TE, if not this year then maybe next. I like the direction that this team and Ponder are headed in.That said, as a fantasy QB, I want no part of Ponder. He's athletic enough to add some ground yardage and TDs and there will be weeks where he will be a starting caliber QB, I have no doubt. But trying to guess which weeks those will be is not worth the investment. He hasn't proven he can stay healthy for a full year and he plays in a very rugged division and conference. For every 300yd- 3td passing, 60 yard/ 1td rushing day he has, I would also expect a game with 180 yd- 0td- 2int with a lost fumble and scant rushing production. I think his real world value will be significantly higher than his fantasy value, and inconsistency with twinkles of brilliance to be the hallmark of his season.If he can stay healthy for 16 games, I would expect approx 3400 yds-22 tds-14 int passing; 350 yds- 3tds rushing
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I agree with these numbers, he looked good until he was injuried. Can see a 3500 season out of the 2nd yr player
 
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave wants QB Christian Ponder to dive head first when he scrambles because he believes it is less of an injury risk then diving in feet first. Musgrove believes diving head first gives defenders less time to hit the quarterback as well as a smaller area to hit. Musgrove is fine with Ponder going feet first if there is no defenders around him.

Wait. . . What? I understand that it provides a smaller area to hit, but that smaller area is his head? That sounds like awful advice.

 
'lsutigers said:
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave wants QB Christian Ponder to dive head first when he scrambles because he believes it is less of an injury risk then diving in feet first. Musgrove believes diving head first gives defenders less time to hit the quarterback as well as a smaller area to hit. Musgrove is fine with Ponder going feet first if there is no defenders around him.

Wait. . . What? I understand that it provides a smaller area to hit, but that smaller area is his head? That sounds like awful advice.
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Only with the Vikings do you actually expect coaching logic like this. :wall:
 
'SayWhat? said:
'lsutigers said:
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave wants QB Christian Ponder to dive head first when he scrambles because he believes it is less of an injury risk then diving in feet first. Musgrove believes diving head first gives defenders less time to hit the quarterback as well as a smaller area to hit. Musgrove is fine with Ponder going feet first if there is no defenders around him.

Wait. . . What? I understand that it provides a smaller area to hit, but that smaller area is his head? That sounds like awful advice.
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Only with the Vikings do you actually expect coaching logic like this. :wall:
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Yes. I heard Ponder talking about this, it is by design. I guess they did analysis of QBs getting injured moving forward compared to sliding and that there were less injuries to QBs moving forward when hit than those who were trying to slide. So lies and statistics. I am guessing they had a much larger sample size of QBs sliding than those falling forward since this has been what most have been coaching for as long as I have been paying attention to football. The large sample size of slide plays compared to falling forward skews the results to cause the wrong assumption that falling forward is actually safer.

I thought Ponder was supposed to me smart? I have not looked at the numbers they used but I am guessing that if I did we would see this bias and incorrect analysis based on it. But maybe I am wrong. I know RBs don't slide much. They seem to get hurt pretty frequently.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Vikings want Christian Ponder to be cautious when he carries the ball.

By diving head first.

Most NFL quarterbacks are taught to avoid contact and end the play as safely as possible by sliding feet first. There's a rule for that, after all. President Barack Obama, at an event last month with Philadelphia's Nnamdi Asomugha, even had some advice for the league's most prominent scrambler, telling Asomugha to remind teammate Michael Vick to slide.

But Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has provided video evidence for Ponder of his belief that going down head first is actually less of an injury risk.

The subject came up when Ponder scrambled around right end in a game last week, diving head first right in front of the goal line on third-and-2 at the 4 to get a first down. He heard plenty of questions about the tactic, particularly because this is the preseason.

``People are tweeting at me, `Like, dude, slide feet first. What are you doing?''' Ponder said. ``But it's a planned deal.''

Musgrave found decades worth of film to make his case. His former teammate in Denver, John Elway, was a head-first diver, most famously when he leaped forward in the post-1997 Super Bowl and spun around like a helicopter after the hit for a key first down.

Steve Pelluer was knocked out of a game with Dallas in 1988 at Chicago when he slid at the last second at the end of a run. Mike Singletary delivered a jarring hit high, and Maurice Douglass came in low.

Trent Green tried a hook slide in 2006 for Kansas City, but the shoulder of Cincinnati's Robert Geathers crashed into Green hard enough to snap his helmet back. Green's concussion was severe enough to send him to the hospital and sideline him for the next eight games.

Then last year, at the end of Ponder's rookie season, he tried to slide awkwardly in the middle of the field and took a high hit from Washington's London Fletcher. That caused a concussion, forcing him out of the game.

``When it is wide open, feet-first is fine,'' Musgrave said. ``When the defenders are converging, we just need to get down.''

The theory is that diving head first gets one to the ground more quickly and gives a defensive player a smaller area to aim at.

``We don't want to expose ourselves by being a periscope up - exposing all our vital organs. We want to give them a very minimal surface,'' Musgrave said.

Others around the league aren't so sure about this, though.

Head-first dives can cause separated shoulders. The risk of fumbling increases. Also, such a move is not covered by the NFL rulebook.

In 1985, the league declared that a feet-first slide immediately ends a play and makes the ball dead. Defensive players are required to pull up and avoid unnecessary contact. A sliding quarterback is supposed to be treated the same as a runner who has already been downed.

``I think the chance of injury is less if you slide,'' Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey said. ``And most of the time you're sliding into an open area. So I would rather have the guy slide at this point than dive. You can land on the ball and hurt your wrist, any of that stuff.''

The Jets were so anxious about Mark Sanchez not sliding as a rookie in 2009 - his past baseball experience had molded in him a head-first mentality - that they brought in a famous New Yorker to teach him some techniques.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi showed Sanchez how to hook his right leg correctly while protecting the ball and letting his lower body absorb the blow of the inevitable hit. Sanchez hurt his left knee earlier that year when he was tackled at the end of a scramble.

``It's something that you need to learn at this level. Once you get the first down or as many yards as you need, just protect yourself and protect the ball and give yourself a chance to play,'' Sanchez said then.

The loophole in the feet-first rule, of course, is the timing.

Green's slide came late enough that no foul or fine was issued to Geathers, who also was blocked in the back by one of Green's teammates, causing him to lose some control of his body.

``I know that I have a target on my back and I'm going to take as many licks as possible, but I'm not too worried about it,'' Ponder said. ``I think you almost try to give them your back, more so than your helmet. I don't know. I'm sure I'll get popped pretty good at one point.''

Yes, it's a dangerous calling no matter how it's done. Vick is already hurt, with rib and thumb issues, and it's not even September. His running style has bordered on reckless throughout his career, as effective as it's been.

``Get the first down, go down,'' Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers said. ``I would have one less concussion if I'd remembered that one fact.''

And don't get Musgrave wrong, either. Diving, sliding, whatever works to avoid an injury.

``It's a personal preference. What's really important when a quarterback runs is getting down in a timely manner as those defenders converge. You can maximize and squeeze out the last possible yard but at the same time maintain your health so you can line up for the next play,'' Musgrave said.

On an NFL field, of course, injuries can happen anywhere at any time. Musgrave, who backed up Elway for two seasons, joked this week about the comfort zone he found during his playing days.

``It was hard to do a lot of diving from the sidelines. I was over there in a very safe spot,'' Musgrave said. ``In those preseason games at the end, I always tried to. I wanted to emulate the way that John Elway would run it. It was always easy to keep my pads down. I always wanted a lot of forward lean, and it just kind of turned out to be the tree timbering down.''
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http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Want-Ponder-To-Take-A-Dive-Stay-Alive/0209df5c-9524-410f-8fb5-b88d55be9b6cPonder talks about this at 3:16 http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/Ponder-Presser---Bills-Postgame/ceb75009-9dc2-4c07-a014-5b86003183fd

 
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The Vikings OLine was descrribed to me as turnstyle last Season.

Here's the IF's:

If the defense can play up to potential (keep em in game, what is it only give up 14 points?)

If AP can perform (keep defense's honest)

If Simpson can run good route's, and catch the ball.

Id check schedule following bye (Bears havn issue at safety, pack known to give up some pooints etc.) I would imagine this is your bye wk QB if anything, and I might suggest Wilson (Sea).

The percentage for picks is scary, but you may want to look at rushing yds. Last yr, Ponder missed some playtime (@seven games give or take), w/ some question marks on team play. Ponder still had over 200 yds rushing, which means to me, eliminate the IF's, and we all may be underestimating Ponder.

So basically its back to the OLine to a degree (shiny new Left Tackle n all) pass 3500 /TD's 24 Now I cant put my estimate for rushing yd's (but I will remind you he was in top 10 last yr) Id say its floor of 400, ceiling of 600

Before you begin with all the No Way feedback, I dont see anything to add to the amt of TD's thrown (24 is not only his avg, but max at same time) :wall: although a few, may be deep balls too

p.s. Im not really adding/accounting for Rudolph in the Redzone (that may be scary good) I believe AP likes his TD's (got to feed the Beast)

 
I think people are sleeping on Ponder. Last year in the 8 games from the time he started to the time he was hurt (weeks 7-15) he threw 13 TD's and was QB14.

From the projections I've seen he is xpected to regress despite having a franchise LT, a stud running game, Pro Bowl WR and an up and coming TE.

He is an injury risk but while he's healthy I expect solid QB2 numbers.

 
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I really like ponder going forward. I expect low qb2 production this year with a move in to the 10-18 range next year.

I traded him in my 24 team dynasty for santonio Holmes, brandon Lloyd, and brock osweiller. Would have loved to have kept him.

 
Had to deviate from my strategy during my auction and ended up with Ponder backing up Peyton.

The whole situation makes me nervous but I'm cautiously optimistic that Ponder will be better than most think and a serviceable QB2. The production on the ground is what I think could really help his overall numbers.

Hopefully Peyton stays healthy and returns to form and I only need Ponder week 7 at home vs ARI. But I'm also actively in the trade market at the QB position.

 
Only thing stopping Ponder from possibly being a elite QB is his injury history. The weapons are in place, target Harvin/Gerhart all game until you reach the redzone where 6'6 260 Kyle Rudolph can imitate Gronk. He's been destroying defenses all preseason and looks better than I've ever seen him. Another note, he just got one of the best LT to enter the league in a while, Matt Kalil, in the draft. That's how you build a franchise QB/O-line. I'm not sure if he's a 2012 or 2013 play but he will breakout eventually aside from a huge injury. If you like a matchup(week 1 vs the Jags) don't hesitate to pick Ponder up for a spot start. He's the reason I'm buying his main targets Harvin/Rudolph on the cheap right now.

 
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It's not showing up in fantasy yet, but Ponder is having a very good year - 75% completions, 8.3 YPC, and 2 TD and 0 INT.

 
Ponder is on my waiver wire, but not for long. I plan to pick him up soon. The completion %, YPA already tell the story of his maturity in the system. And with Jerome Simpson coming back, he's got a nice trio of receiving weapons with Harvin and Rudolph. The time to buy/acquire is now.

 
He's still shown no ability to get the ball down field and stretch a defense - something that all elite QB's can do in their sleep:

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero

Out of Ponder's 37 throws (including those wiped by penalty), only five (13.5%) were targeted at least 14 yards downfield.

9h Tom Pelissero Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero

Not including 2 vs. prevent defense late, 9 of Christian Ponder's 25 completions Sunday were caught behind line, only 3 caught 10+ beyond.

He's making solid progress, but I still think his ceiling falls well short of elite.

 
'Raiderfan32904 said:
Ponder is on my waiver wire, but not for long. I plan to pick him up soon. The completion %, YPA already tell the story of his maturity in the system. And with Jerome Simpson coming back, he's got a nice trio of receiving weapons with Harvin and Rudolph. The time to buy/acquire is now.
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Just some random thoughts from a vikings homer:The Vikings coaching staff is tearribull and they are running a VERY conservative game plan. Part of the reason his completion percentage is so high is because most of his passes are being thrown around the line of scrimage with a lot of YAC tacked on. Once we start playing decent teams defenses will adapt to this(SF this week). I hope things will change soon with Simpson coming in maybe they will push the ball down feild more, but I don't think they will do this unless they absolutly have have to.With that said Ponder has produced when they were finaly forced to open up the offense in both games. Their defense is really bad so once they start playing decent teams the coaches will have to open things up to even have a chance but with this staff I believe they will still be reluctant to do so.He could be good for some garbage time production but their overall philosophy is to try and keep the came close and run the football to their own detriment. I beleive Ponder has the talent/ability to be a pretty good QB in this league but I have serious doubts about the vikings offensive philoshy which will probably handcuff Ponder for most of this season.
 
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'Andy Dufresne said:
I expect somewhere around 3200/22/15.
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That should have been 4200 yards. 200 ypg is a really low number.For fantasy purposes, he's not going to be much more than a low end back up.For NFL purposes, I don't know how fans can be anything less than pleased. He has shown good arm strength (he threw a sideline pass on Sunday that had great velocity) and an increased pocket awareness.Not having guys that know how to get open downfield will stunt his growth. I don't know that anyone knows if he can make those reads/throws yet.
 
'BallparkFrank said:
He's still shown no ability to get the ball down field and stretch a defense - something that all elite QB's can do in their sleep:

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero

Out of Ponder's 37 throws (including those wiped by penalty), only five (13.5%) were targeted at least 14 yards downfield.

9h Tom Pelissero Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero

Not including 2 vs. prevent defense late, 9 of Christian Ponder's 25 completions Sunday were caught behind line, only 3 caught 10+ beyond.

He's making solid progress, but I still think his ceiling falls well short of elite.
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The problem, IMO, isn't Ponder, it's the coaching and, short of Harvin, the lack of talent at the WR position. Frasier comes from the school of "play it safe..let your defense and running game control the game" ..

When the "leash" has been removed from Ponder, he has proven he can throw it deep if need be..

Unfortunately for Fantasy Football fans I don't see the philosophy changing any time soon.

The only chance Ponder has of being a top 10 fantasy football QB is if the Vikings fall behind by 2 or more touchdowns early..

On second thought we are talking about the Vikings defense here.. ;)

 
'snogger said:
'BallparkFrank said:
He's still shown no ability to get the ball down field and stretch a defense - something that all elite QB's can do in their sleep:

Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero

Out of Ponder's 37 throws (including those wiped by penalty), only five (13.5%) were targeted at least 14 yards downfield.

9h Tom Pelissero Tom Pelissero ‏@TomPelissero

Not including 2 vs. prevent defense late, 9 of Christian Ponder's 25 completions Sunday were caught behind line, only 3 caught 10+ beyond.

He's making solid progress, but I still think his ceiling falls well short of elite.
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The problem, IMO, isn't Ponder, it's the coaching and, short of Harvin, the lack of talent at the WR position. Frasier comes from the school of "play it safe..let your defense and running game control the game" ..

When the "leash" has been removed from Ponder, he has proven he can throw it deep if need be..

Unfortunately for Fantasy Football fans I don't see the philosophy changing any time soon.

The only chance Ponder has of being a top 10 fantasy football QB is if the Vikings fall behind by 2 or more touchdowns early..

On second thought we are talking about the Vikings defense here.. ;)
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A conservative offense and poor WR corps is part of the problem for sure, but I think deep ball production has always been a knock on Ponder. To his credit, he really transformed his body (30 pounds?) this offseason and he looks noticeably different, but we'll have to see. If he can develop a vertical passing game, I think he has the rest of the tools to be very good, but I just don't see it. Last year, it seemed like he was a bit of a gunslinger trying to go outside his comfort zone which led to too many picks and is likely why they're more conservative with him now. He'll have to earn his way out of a conservative gameplan most weeks.
 
Kid looks like he can be a solid starter with some upside. With ADP and Harvin, Rudolph, and if Simpson can give them something, he has the weapons.

 
Very happy with Ponder's decision making this year. His execution has been solid too as evidenced by his league-leading completion percentage.

The first TD to Rudolph today on a roll-out to the left on 4th and 2 from the 2, was awesome. He was running for his life with a guy closing in and he threw a beautiful pass across his body with good zip and accuracy. First score of the game after AD was unsuccessful a few times against SF's tough D. Really set the tone on the opening drive.

 
He is legit, the coaching staff finaly opened up a little bit and it made a huge differance.

Peterson/Harvin are freaks and Rudalph is coming on. Hopefully Simpson will give them some speed and playmaking ability on the outside when he gets on the field next week.

This offense is starting to look like they can put up some points.

:pickle:

 
The praise is deserved but he's not all the way there yet. He still throws a few headscratchers every game. Passes that are either way off target or the result of miscommunication between himself and the receiver. He could have easily had two INTs today. Don't get me wrong, I like him a lot and think he has a bright future ahead but he had some lucky breaks today.

 
'sports_fan said:
The praise is deserved but he's not all the way there yet. He still throws a few headscratchers every game. Passes that are either way off target or the result of miscommunication between himself and the receiver. He could have easily had two INTs today. Don't get me wrong, I like him a lot and think he has a bright future ahead but he had some lucky breaks today.
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I agree. I only saw most of the 2nd half and the only remotely deep ball he attempted that I recall during that span sailed a mile over Rudolph's head but they were bailed out with a personal foul. He's a Rich Gannon clone. If he can develop any ability to stretch the field, he may have a chance to enter into the elite tier at some point. The addition of Simpson could be huge for his development.
 
'sports_fan said:
The praise is deserved but he's not all the way there yet. He still throws a few headscratchers every game. Passes that are either way off target or the result of miscommunication between himself and the receiver. He could have easily had two INTs today. Don't get me wrong, I like him a lot and think he has a bright future ahead but he had some lucky breaks today.
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What QB doesn't throw headscratchers?And that 2nd one that could have been an INT shouldn't have been thrown, but it was only close because the receiver fell down.
 
'Andy Dufresne said:
'sports_fan said:
The praise is deserved but he's not all the way there yet. He still throws a few headscratchers every game. Passes that are either way off target or the result of miscommunication between himself and the receiver. He could have easily had two INTs today. Don't get me wrong, I like him a lot and think he has a bright future ahead but he had some lucky breaks today.
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What QB doesn't throw headscratchers?And that 2nd one that could have been an INT shouldn't have been thrown, but it was only close because the receiver fell down.
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:goodposting: seriously.. Go back and watch a few games of Favre's.. Manning just last week.. The list goes on and on.. every QB will throw a pass that will be a :whoosh: to us.. Most times it is a planned route and miscommunication, other times can be getting pressure..

The thing isn't the "head scratching" throws.. It's what he does the next time..

Does he let it get to him( aka.. Ryan leaf and others), or does he move on and forget..

Ponder seems to realize that once a play is over, it's over... learn from it, but don't dwell on it.. :thumbup:

 
He is all kinds of awful. Minny is a run first, run second, run third team with Podner. I think he has regressed this season.

 
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