Who should start at QB?

[frosted]

I'm guessing he read this: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... ps-at-otas

Thanks for the link, Jim! It seems they will be giving him every opportunity to win the starting job. If the coaching staff feels that he gives us the best chance to win on Sundays, I think that's the best course of action.

[Webbfann]

Well, if that's how it seems to you...

Personally, I'd say there was no bigger hole on the team going into the draft than the need to find a long term solution at QB but I don't think a team needs to draft for immediate need, or in order of biggest need.

True, QB may be a bigger long term need but I'm pretty sure of one thing. Coaches are judged on wins and losses, so they want to win ASAP. That means filling the biggest immediate need first. Fixing their defensive problems (presumably) buys them some short term wins more surely than a rookie QB would, and they apparently saw it that way too.

[Mothman]

True, QB may be a bigger long term need but I'm pretty sure of one thing. Coaches are judged on wins and losses, so they want to win ASAP. That means filling the biggest immediate need first. Fixing their defensive problems (presumably) buys them some short term wins more surely than a rookie QB would, and they apparently saw it that way too.

That's certainly one conclusion you could draw from their decision but I doubt they drafted Barr over a QB because they thought he could buy them more short term wins. Coaches influence these picks but they aren't making the final call. In fact, not favoring short term thinking over long term is one of the reasons it's usually best to have a GM making the final call instead of a coach.

I think it's more likely they drafted Barr over a QB simply because they felt he was a more talented player who offered them more value with the pick and they were okay with trying to trade back into the first round to get a QB, which they did (and which confirms they obviously wanted a rookie QB anyway).

Whatever the reasoning, I have no problem with their decisions. I find them interesting but I'm not opposed to what they did.

[Mothman]

Thanks for the link, Jim! It seems they will be giving him every opportunity to win the starting job. If the coaching staff feels that he gives us the best chance to win on Sundays, I think that's the best course of action.

You're welcome. It certainly seems like they want to give him the chance to seize the job.

[maembe]

The dig because you yourself clearly thought defense, not QB, was our biggest reason for losing last year, and yet now you're puzzled why we didn't take our QB instead of D at #9. Seems to me we should fill our biggest hole first in the draft.

Unfortunately, this isn't fantasy football. You can't draft a defense.

[Mothman]

Sure you can...it could even theoretically be done in a year if you managed to amass 11 or more draft picks!

You guys are cracking me up.

[mondry]

This just in, turns out we needed better QB play and a better defense to contend for a super bowl.

[Webbfann]

This just in, turns out we needed better QB play and a better defense to contend for a super bowl.

Yeah, but you only get one first pick.

[King James]

All I know is Bridgewater is looking pretty good in minicamp right now. I know it's just against rookies but he's completed some better throws than I see from Ponder and Cassel.

[Purple bruise]

All I know is Bridgewater is looking pretty good in minicamp right now. I know it's just against rookies but he's completed some better throws than I see from Ponder and Cassel.

Are they better than the ones he threw at his Pro Day I hope.

[King James]

Are they better than the ones he threw at his Pro Day I hope.

Look at the highlights on the Vikings.com website. He really puts the ball in a nice spot and has a little zip on his short to intermediate passes. I still want to see how he does with the deep balls though.

[Purple bruise]

Look at the highlights on the Vikings.com website. He really puts the ball in a nice spot and has a little zip on his short to intermediate passes. I still want to see how he does with the deep balls though.

And Cassell and Ponder don't throw as good of short and intermediate passes in practice Amazing, most pro QBs do.

[Demi]

Look at the highlights on the Vikings.com website. He really puts the ball in a nice spot and has a little zip on his short to intermediate passes. I still want to see how he does with the deep balls though.

Pro Day.
Watch his games in college.
Some of us watched Ponder's games. And it was clear the guy was never going to make it as a starter in the NFL. But Spielman thought he was. Huh. Guess who was right. Not the NFL GM.

Not sure why you feel the need to attack Bridgewater, he's the Vikings future (should be present) at QB. Instead you try and defend two guys who've had more than enough chances to prove they shouldn't be more than backups in the league...
The minute they name Bridgewater a starter you'll never mention his pro day again...funny how that works.

[Purple bruise]

..

The minute they name Bridgewater a starter you'll never mention his pro day again...funny how that works. [/quote]

Very strange coming from you because if he succeeds then Spielman would not have anything to do with drafting him and if he sucks then you will heap hundreds of more posts about how Spielman screwed up and drafted him I am fully supporting Bridgewater. I am not attacking Bridgewater, in fact I hope that he turns into a Pro Bowl QB and leads the team to the Super Bowl. But when someone says that Bridgewater can not learn ONE thing from 2 pro QBs that have been in the league for 14 years then yeah I question that fact. And when a statement is made that some one watched Bridgewater at a rookie practice throwing better than Cassell or Ponder can than yeah I question that too especially after watching him throw at his Pro Day.

[King James]

And Cassell and Ponder don't throw as good of short and intermediate passes in practice Amazing, most pro QBs do.

Now you know Bridgewater can do this during games to. Ponder and Cassel were never as accurate coming out of college. Ponder does NOT put the ball in perfect spots. Cassel does but he tends to hold on to the ball longer than he should. Once Bridgewater takes those 5 steps, the ball is out. There's no standing in the back like Cassel and Ponder. Ponder doesn't even throw this accurate in practice. Well atleast not his intermediate passes. I've seen enough of Ponder throws to know that WRs often have to come back to ball, whether it's a game or practice. With Bridgewater he puts the ball in a place where they can still run in stride and not have to turn around, or over extend their bodies to catch the ball.

And the pro day argument is weak. One bad pro day doesn't overshadow all the good games he's had in college. You're just trying too hard to look for an excuse on why Bridgewater isn't better than Ponder or Cassel. But you will believe soon enough. Maybe not now but by the end of training camp, you will see why Bridgewater is the best QB on the roster this year.