Vikings @ Packers Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 5

[Odlid]

Glad that the game was over by the end of the 1st quarter, so I could go to bed early and get some sleep. After 30+ years of supporting this team, I have decided to not invest any more of my time or money on this franchise until there is an ownership change, front office changes, and a cultural changes. Disgusted...

Holy sheet, the Vikings wasted a 12th over-all pick on Ponder and took Kalil at #4. Pretty much sums up the organization!

[IrishViking]

Glad that the game was over by the end of the 1st quarter, so I could go to bed early and get some sleep. After 30+ years of supporting this team, I have decided to not invest any more of my time or money on this franchise until there is an ownership change, front office changes, and a cultural changes. Disgusted...

Holy sheet, the Vikings wasted a 12th over-all pick on Ponder and took Kalil at #4. Pretty much sums up the organization!

They also draft Bridgewater and cordarelle and let Allen go, and gor harrison smith....

Anyways see ya after teddy's first win streak.

[Dirtyswabby]

Glad that the game was over by the end of the 1st quarter, so I could go to bed early and get some sleep. After 30+ years of supporting this team, I have decided to not invest any more of my time or money on this franchise until there is an ownership change, front office changes, and a cultural changes. Disgusted...

Holy sheet, the Vikings wasted a 12th over-all pick on Ponder and took Kalil at #4. Pretty much sums up the organization!

Bye

[BGM]

For those suggesting we should have started Harnish or MBT, I have one question. What game plan could have possibly been implemented in four days? These are guys with no familiarity whatsoever with Norv Turner's system and terminology. Ponder was, unfortunately, "Evil Goatee" Ponder last night. Believing that a new signing would offer a different result is good barometer of how frustrating it was to watch the team implode like a dying star last night.

[Thaumaturgist]

Believing that a new signing would offer a different result is good barometer of how frustrating it was to watch the team implode like a dying star last night.

Yea it was a pretty frustrating game. I don't know if there was a single positive about last nights game.

[Just Me]

For those suggesting we should have started Harnish or MBT, I have one question. What game plan could have possibly been implemented in four days? These are guys with no familiarity whatsoever with Norv Turner's system and terminology. Ponder was, unfortunately, "Evil Goatee" Ponder last night. Believing that a new signing would offer a different result is good barometer of how frustrating it was to watch the team implode like a dying star last night.

I take exception to this. Dying stars are at least interesting to watch. The Vikings last night...not so much.

But, on a serious note, even though I "wanted" to them try Harnish for the second half (because it couldn't get much worse, could it?), I knew that wasn't realistic. As bad as Ponder was (and he was bad). The only likely outcome would have been a 42-0 score instead of 42-10. I can't imaging a team being that desperate for a back-up QB that they'd invest anything in Ponder next year. As bad as that game was, I'm afraid that Ponder may have signed his own "pink slip" from the NFL after that performance. Maybe he'll get picked up, but he certainly didn't help himself by turning in a "stinker" like he did...

[Mothman]

For those suggesting we should have started Harnish or MBT, I have one question. What game plan could have possibly been implemented in four days? These are guys with no familiarity whatsoever with Norv Turner's system and terminology. Ponder was, unfortunately, "Evil Goatee" Ponder last night. Believing that a new signing would offer a different result is good barometer of how frustrating it was to watch the team implode like a dying star last night.

... and that's what happened: the team imploded. They played terribly. Most of the things that went right for them last Sunday went wrong last night and it was clear very early that they were in trouble. The defense managed to force a three and out to start the game but the Vikes started in poor field position, their blocking was awful on the first offensive series and they had to give the ball to the Packers in good field position. Two bad defensive series and another ineffective offensive series later, they were in a 14 point hole, on the road, and GB had the lead they needed to attack Ponder with impunity. Unsurprisingly, he didn't handle it well at all and we all know the rest of the story.

It was another debacle. Zimmer really has his work cut out for him.

[Craws84]

I don't know how ponder is still in the NFL, he's nothing but a failure. Turns teams one dimensional, never can make them pay for blitzing, panicks as soon as he snaps the ball, put defenses in bad positions, throws receivers into positions there gonna get killed. Just all around awful!!

[Crax]

People want to talk about Asiata and to a lesser extent Mckinnon being bums, well again without competent QB play and without Adrian Peterson the run will get snuffed out.

Yep. I haven't watched the replay yet(not sure I really want to after watching it once already), but it seemed like GB was pretty much just daring the Vikings to throw. Peterson aside, you're almost never going to get a running game going if the defense on the other side doesn't even have an ounce of respect for the passing game. No reason for GB to switch the defense until they get beat, and the Vikings couldn't force them into honest coverage.

[BGM]

I take exception to this. Dying stars are at least interesting to watch. The Vikings last night...not so much.

True! I should also apologize to Neil DeGrasse Tyson, who I am sure would agree with you.

As bad as that game was, I'm afraid that Ponder may have signed his own "pink slip" from the NFL after that performance. Maybe he'll get picked up, but he certainly didn't help himself by turning in a "stinker" like he did...

I agree with this completely. He has no value for any other team at this point.

[DK Sweets]

In film review this week, I would like somebody to confirm this, but it seems as if Ponder stepped INTO the pressure on multiple plays. The defense played well enough for us to win for a time (although these slow starts are getting very frustrating) but the offense wasn't capable of doing anything.

When Green Bay is clearly playing the run and pressuring the QB until he makes them pay...you can't have somebody under center who has no pocket presence. We have too many good players missing on offense for the team to rise above BAD Quarterback play.

[NDVikeFan]

Glad that the game was over by the end of the 1st quarter, so I could go to bed early and get some sleep. After 30+ years of supporting this team, I have decided to not invest any more of my time or money on this franchise until there is an ownership change, front office changes, and a cultural changes. Disgusted...

Holy sheet, the Vikings wasted a 12th over-all pick on Ponder and took Kalil at #4. Pretty much sums up the organization!

if this is how you feel you should just quit watching sports all together IMO. There are ups and downs with EVERY team. Don't be such a fair weather fan.

[mondry]

In film review this week, I would like somebody to confirm this, but it seems as if Ponder stepped INTO the pressure on multiple plays. The defense played well enough for us to win for a time (although these slow starts are getting very frustrating) but the offense wasn't capable of doing anything.

When Green Bay is clearly playing the run and pressuring the QB until he makes them pay...you can't have somebody under center who has no pocket presence. We have too many good players missing on offense for the team to rise above BAD Quarterback play.

It's a hallmark of Ponder's career at QB, he never knows where the pressure is coming from because he can't read a defense or figure out where blitzes are coming from. He'll never stand tall in the pocket and deliver a strike to a WR either, he just immediately goes into panic mode and that makes it really hard for the O-line to block for him. Blocking means you keep a guy from going left, or you keep a guy from going right, based on your belief that the QB will step up into the pocket and be in this spot. When the QB is just all over the place like Ponder usually is, you can think you're blocking properly and turns out for no reason ponders moved and it changes the angle and all the leverage an offensive lineman has.

[Pondering Her Percy]

For those suggesting we should have started Harnish or MBT, I have one question. What game plan could have possibly been implemented in four days? These are guys with no familiarity whatsoever with Norv Turner's system and terminology. Ponder was, unfortunately, "Evil Goatee" Ponder last night. Believing that a new signing would offer a different result is good barometer of how frustrating it was to watch the team implode like a dying star last night.

I completely agree.

[John_Viveiros]

It's a toxic combination of a short week, injuries, a lack of talent at key positions, and facing an expertly coached team with a sure HoFer at QB.

Now, I just can't get behind this "McCarthy is a genius" bandwagon I keep hearing, here ^ and from TV commentators. Without Rodgers, this team is toast. Last year showed that clearly. How many games does he win with Ponder and Harnish as his QB's?!

Shanahan was a genius, as long as Elway played. When he was injured, the Broncos were lousy. When Shanahan got to build another team without Elway, they were lousy.

The Colts with a #1 draft pick QB (Manning, then Luck) = double digit wins every year. The Colts with a journeyman QB = two wins. That's not coaching. QB play has an oversized role in win-loss records in the NFL.