Check Down Charlie

[S197]

Are you sure? Pelissero wrote today that Schwartz was in for Fusco. Maybe he played some snaps at both guard positions?

I could have sworn I saw a tweet from Pelissero about Johnson and a lower back injury during the game. I didn't notice Schwartz on the field after the 1st quarter but then again I saw Johnson and just assumed Schwartz was back on the bench.

[ranskal]

I'm happy with Ponder at QB and feel he could be our long-term QB. He has made some good throws and good decisions, and he has made some bad throws and bad decisions. What QB in the league hasn't? Brady-Yes, Rodgers-Yes, Brees-Yes, Rivers-Yes, Romo-Yes, Manning(s)-Yes, all of them have. His stats show he has made more good decisions that bad (Comp %, sacks, rating, W/L).

He has played 17 games in the league, 11 of them were last year with no training camp. He doesn't look like a deer-in-the-headlights when he is out there. His play this year vs. last year is much better and more consistent which equates to progress. One can only hope he continues to progress.

The offense has been conservative, but effective. Our deep threat WR has played 1 game in the first 6 games and in that game had 50 yards receiving and a couple PI calls down the field. Without Simpson, I don't see teams respecting any deep threat we may think we have.

Is he going to lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl victory in years to come?? Who knows. Personally, I think he has ability to do so...I mean, Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl!

[Demi]

What QB in the league hasn't? Brady-Yes, Rodgers-Yes, Brees-Yes, Rivers-Yes, Romo-Yes, Manning(s)-Yes, all of them have.

They also make plays.

2/3rds of Ponders passing yards last game were from the receivers after they caught the ball...

[ranskal]

They also make plays.

2/3rds of Ponders passing yards last game were from the receivers after they caught the ball...

Ponder has made plenty of plays. My point was these guys all throw picks, hold on to the ball too long, and make bad decisions...even though they have been in the league a long time and are considered elite QBs.

Right, factors contributing to that are the lack of a deep threat, a young QB, and the explosive play ability of Percy Harvin.

[Mercy Percy]

They also make plays.

2/3rds of Ponders passing yards last game were from the receivers after they caught the ball...

We arent asking Ponder to make plays ! Who does each of those quarterbacks have?!?!

Brady - Brandon Lloyd, Gronk, Hernandez , Welker

Rodgers - Jennings, Finley, Nelson, Jones, Cobb

Brees - Colston, Graham

Rivers - Gates, Floyd, Meachem ( Only one with mediocre help )

Romo - Witten, Bryant, Austin

Eli Manning - Cruz, Nicks, Bennet

Peyton Manning - Thomas, Decker,

Ponder - Harvin, Rudolph, Simpson

We run a west coast offense not the spread not the run n gun. The offense is based around running , and DINK AND DUNKS, 5 - 10 Yd passes that turn into big plays with explosive play makers like Harvin and Peterson. Its called playing to your talent! The Vikings are doing it and they are doing it well. Ponder isnt a gun slinger! Duh we know. He is a west coast qb ! Im sure Harvin loves being able to touch the ball 10 times a game through 6 games he has 49 receptions already. If you determine a teams success by the deep ball or making great plays. You can take a look over to the lions or maybe cheer for them and leave the team you cheer for right now which is the vikings. Lions make big receiving plays and dont win ball games. In the end it only matters if you win the game or not and this is winning us games.

[Just Me]

They also make plays.

2/3rds of Ponders passing yards last game were from the receivers after they caught the ball...

So do we have to give the Field Goals, Touchdowns, and gained yardage back since we use that strategy?

[Mothman]

So do we have to give the Field Goals, Touchdowns, and gained yardage back since we use that strategy?

Yes. Passing yardage only counts if the ball travels through the air on a specific percentage of the total yardage gained. It's a new rule!

[Delaqure]

I seem to remember a certain Francis A Tarkenton who had a noodle arm. His second year stats were considerably worse than Ponder is on pace for. Just goes to show you CAN'T make a solid judgement on this young QB except to say he's on pace to exceed Tarkenton. That's a mighty fine place to be right now. Have faith.

[mansquatch]

Ponder puts zip on the ball when he needs to but he throws passes with touch too, which is a good thing. A QB doesn't need a Cutler or Favre-like cannon arm to be successful in the NFL.

Regarding the running... I think a lot of fans just see him run and assume the worst. I don't think Ponder's first instinct is flight. I think his first instinct is to make a play and considering the difficulty Vikings receivers often have getting open, sometimes the best way to do that is to move and extend the play. Ponder sometimes leaves the pocket when he doesn't need to but he's shown an increased willingness this season to to "stay home", step up and throw the ball. I've re-watched a lot of the plays this season where he's been criticized for panicking or fleeing the pocket and all too often, it's been because he had nowhere to go with the ball or because the interior was collapsing and he wasn't going to have a pocket to step into... sometimes the criticism is justified. Sometimes it's not. It's easy to play the position from home.

I think we need to recognize and acknowledge the benefits and drawbacks of the two approaches (staying in the pocket and leaving it). When a QB leaves the pocket, he has more options. He can run, throw to a receiver, throw the ball away (without risk of a penalty) and he can dive or run out of bounds to avoid a hit. On the other hand, it can be harder to throw on the move and it tends to reduce options to one side of the field. When in the pocket, the whole field is available but there are drawbacks as well. Throwing the ball away can be more problematic and the probability of being hit, sacked for loss (or worse yet, blindsided), increases.

After just 16 games, Ponder has already demonstrated a lot of the qualities a team needs in their starting QB. He's shown leadership, accuracy (which admittedly slipped a bit last weekend) and good decision-making ability. He's moved the team well, proved he can bring the Vikes from behind and shown he can make throws at all levels of the field. I don't know what people expect from a such a young QB. It almost seems like some want perfection and that just can't be found.

Also, I would argue that his week Ponder didn't regress so much as remind us he is still only playing in his 16th game. Folks seem to have already forgotten that for the previous 5 games he played at a much higher level that his 16th game. But go ahead, hate on. Everyone loves the backup QB.

[sdranger]

You know Ponder is fine. Hell even Brady got beat out at Michigan by a exViking QB. Billicheat is being praised as a hero, future guru, because he's running two tight ends, check downs et. al. The same thing the Vikes and the 9er's are doing. Everything is a full circle in the NFL. The Vikes are on the tip of the spear IMO.

[glg]

Hell even Brady got beat out at Michigan by a exViking QB.

Brady backed up Driesbach and Griese his first two years, then started over Henson his last two, so not an ex-viking.

[sdranger]

Actually he split time with Hensen and he was a Viking backup.

[PurpleMustReign]

Actually he split time with Hensen and he was a Viking backup.

For like one day. Your point holds no value.

[glg]

Actually he split time with Hensen and he was a Viking backup.

No, he didn't. Henson had 137 attempts over the 2 years they were both on the team to 691 for Brady. That's not splitting time, that's mop-up duty.

Henson wasn't ever a backup for the Vikings. He never made the roster. He was on the practice squad one year and got cut in camp the next.

[purplehaze]

Well, I was at the Cards game today and I must say I stand by my first post that Ponder sucks. I think the no separation from receivers excuse is baloney. My son and I counted at least 5 times Ponder had a wide open receiver and he decided to happy feet it instead (Harvin,Aroma, and Burton examples). It is like he does not even look down field or is too scared to throw the ball. And the PI call which was the biggest pass play of the game he overthrew Simpson by 15 yards. All I can see Ponder do is pass the horizontal check down with Harvin making YAC. He has no vertical ability whatsoever from what I have seen thus far. 58 yards passing and a QB rating of 35. Wow.

Kudos to Robison, Smith, Winfiield, JA, and the rest of the defense they won this game hands down.