Ponder progressing

[dead_poet]

I found this interesting. Let's hope he keeps it up for several more games this year.

Christian Ponder

QBR: 53.8
Passer rating: 81.2

Comment: For a good chunk of this season, Ponder was one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks. He had nine turnovers in a five-game span, finished three games with fewer than 100 yards and had the lowest average pass length for most of the year. All of this came against defenses aligned to stop tailback Adrian Peterson's run toward history. But after a disastrous Week 13 performance against the Packers, Ponder quietly turned himself around and had the NFL's second-best QBR (86.8 ) over the final four games of the season, trailing only Peyton Manning. Over the second half of the season, Ponder's QBR on third down -- measuring not only passes but also his scrambles -- was the league's second best. He finished the season with the NFL's third-lowest average of yards per attempt (6.08), but at least part of the blame for his lack of explosiveness should be attributed to a substandard group of receivers. If nothing else, Ponder minimized any offseason discussion about his status as the Vikings' unquestioned starter in 2013.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... ack-report

[Eli]

If nothing else, Ponder minimized any offseason discussion about his status as the Vikings' unquestioned starter in 2013.

If nothing else.

Everyone was celebrating Ponder's great improvement and maturation as a quarterback after the first games of the season, only to see him revert to playing like a 7th round rookie over the next part of the season. Up, down, forward, backward, sideways. Many quarterbacks play their entire careers like that. Few of them remain starters for very long.

[J. Kapp 11]

If nothing else.

Everyone was celebrating Ponder's great improvement and maturation as a quarterback after the first games of the season, only to see him revert to playing like a 7th round rookie over the next part of the season. Up, down, forward, backward, sideways. Many quarterbacks play their entire careers like that. Few of them remain starters for very long.

I've been pretty critical of Ponder the second half of the season. But let me say this.

The key in any sport is RE-ADJUSTMENT.

A player comes into the league. At some point, he starts to perform well. At that point, the rest of the league -- whether it's a hitter or pitcher in baseball, a quarterback in football, a basketball player, whatever -- starts to study him and figure him out. It happens to nearly everyone. The league adjusts. That's what happened to Ponder.

Players who can re-adjust end up having long careers. Those who can't end up selling cars.

Is Christian Ponder re-adjusting? I don't know. To my mind, he still hasn't broken through, but the trend is in the right direction. Four weeks ago, I thought he was hopeless, that he was never going to be able to make the re-adjustment. So this is certainly an improvement. When I see him make throws like the bomb to Wright or the clutch throw to Jenkins, it sure makes me WANT him to succeed.

[headless_norseman]

Ponder needs one more legit WR to go along with this core group, and he should make strides towards a legit 25 TD season. (Personally, I'm in favor of keeping Simpson for another year, but that's another thread.)

[PurpleHalo]

I have been Ponders biggest critic, but I must admit, he has made progress. One thing he seems to have gotten, is that, when a play is open, you already waited too long. That part may have been rudely learned, with those 2 red zone picks @Green Bay. He seems more decisive and aggressive since that game. There is one more thing to learn, the playoffs are a different deal. I just hope he learns that, while scraping out a win. 0 turnovers Sunday, in a quazi playoff game, gives me some hope.

[Dark]

I was also a ponder critic and he has made great progress, especially in the past few games. I am still a skeptic, but I will give him another year and then I will decide whether I think he is our guy or not. I think once we sign/draft a couple WR's in the offseason, I think he could be a good QB. Almost every QB that has ever been in the league (even some of the best ones) start out slow. In conclusion, ill give him another year.

[BGM]

I'm going to be a downer here, I guess. I like Ponder, I want him to succeed. But despite improvement over the past few games I still have serious doubts about his long term viability. His field vision is still suspect. His long pass accuracy is still a weakness.

I am still willing to give him another season to see what happens, but I have a hard time getting my hopes up. The inconsistencies are still inconsistent. And that's a problem.

[Purple bruise]

From the Star Tribune "In his past four games, Ponder is 60-for-99 for 630 yards, four TDs and one interception, good for an 88.4 passer rating. In those same games he is 22-for-35 for 247 yards and a TD on third down, a 93.4 rating. His 120.2 passer rating Sunday was the highest of his career"
Hard for me to not get enthused

[Eli]

Last four games?? He had 91 yards and a 53.8 passer rating against the Bears. The only thing he did in that game of note was to not lose it outright. Three of his incredible four TD passes in this streak of Pro Bowl quarterbacking were against the Packers last week. He's had one good game and three that were just barely enough.

I wish him all the luck, because he's not going anywhere soon. Vikings fans are stuck with him through next season, like it or not.

[PurpleMustReign]

I'm going to be a downer here, I guess. I like Ponder, I want him to succeed. But despite improvement over the past few games I still have serious doubts about his long term viability. His field vision is still suspect. His long pass accuracy is still a weakness.

I am still willing to give him another season to see what happens, but I have a hard time getting my hopes up. The inconsistencies are still inconsistent. And that's a problem.

the point of the post is more how he has shown progress in the last few games, not really that he is showing that he will succeed long term. We all have reservations on long term for sure. Hopefully he will continue to play as well as he has in the last few weeks.

[Mothman]

I found this interesting. Let's hope he keeps it up for several more games this year.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... ack-report

Thanks for posting that. I'm glad the scrambles were taken into consideration because some of them resulted in very positive plays, including a TD.

At this point, I see no reason to overreact to what Ponder has done in the last 43 games or to minimize it. I definitely think it's encouraging because he's playing winning football. Good quarterbacking isn't just about TDs and high yardage numbers, it's about decision-making and Ponder has definitely improved in that area over the past month. It doesn't mean he's the QB of the future and it doesn't mean he isn't but he has done more than just get out of the way over the course of this winning streak. He's helped the team win. That's significant.

[Mothman]

Vikings talk Christian Ponder: The work, the growth, the huddle and more

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and the players around the Vikings' young quarterback certainly have seen Ponder's development over the past four games. He's putting in the extra work, making better decisions, emerging as a leader on the field and becoming the player the Vikings need him to be.

Musgrave weighed in on Ponder on Wednesday, Jan. 2, as did center John Sullivan, defensive end Jared Allen, fullback Jerome Felton, quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, running back Adrian Peterson and wide receivers Jenkins and Devin Aromashodu.

[mosscarter]

ponder's play really makes you scratch you head. he'll play 3 or 4 bad games, then 1 excellent one. which is why i look for him to tank this sunday. in his defense, maybe his receivers are really that bad. they only called one deep ball and he executed it perfectly. in fact, it was one of the best passes i've ever seen him throw. also, he was amazing on third down, which shocked me. maybe his progressing, albeit slowly, and if we can get him some receivers next year who knows?

[mansquatch]

I think people missed the point on Re-Adjustment. A lot of fan crticism misses the concept of a player improving over time. That is why you see late round draft picks suddenly become pro-bowlers. Just as an exmaple, 3 years ago most people on this board thought John Sullivan was a total disaster. you also hear alot about rookie QB 2nd season slides. We do not have any reason to think what we saw this year was a 2nd season slide, but we also have no reason to think it wasn't. In that sense I agree with Seifert, he'll be the starter in 2013.

The important thing to me is that we are seeing Ponder get better. Moth is right on the money about decision making. You can tell he has improved in that department. More importantly, this team isn't built to win by having a 4000 yard passer, it is built to win on the take/ give via a solid defense and other worldly rushing attack. That Ponder is making strides here shows that his coaches understand who they are trying to be and are getting results out of Ponder in that direction.

A small tidbit on consistency: We've seen that bomb to Wright before. The difference is the Wright caught it and Aromashadu dropped it. Note the consistent factor here: Ponder made the kind of throw, twice, that everyone says he sucks at.

To the guy who said they'd like to see Simpson back. I agree. I think he is showing that it wasn't all hype in the pre-season now that he seems to have his body back to where it needs to be. I think the team will stick with him as that kind of grit is what they seem to be looking for.

[losperros]

Everyone was celebrating Ponder's great improvement and maturation as a quarterback after the first games of the season, only to see him revert to playing like a 7th round rookie over the next part of the season. Up, down, forward, backward, sideways. Many quarterbacks play their entire careers like that. Few of them remain starters for very long.

I agree. Ponder will be the starter in 2013 and I actually agree with that team decision. However, I believe he'll have a shorter leash on him next season and he'll be expected to be more consistent. If the Vikings suspect that the hot and cold patterns are going to continue with Ponder, then I think they'll make a change.

I really want Ponder to succeed, mostly because it will be a big help for the team. OTOH, sometimes Ponder reminds me of a relief pitcher who has 3 good innings in him but that's all, which is why he can't be a starter. It's almost as if Ponder can give you 3 good games but then he regresses. Then he might come back with 3 good games again but then he'll regress once more. If that continues, then Ponder should be a backup. And if that happens, then the Vikings absolutely must look elsewhere for their franchise QB because they can't have a team with three backup QBs on their roster.