Vikings @ Lions Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 1

[Eli]

I'm beginning to think the coaches see things in practice with Ponder that are not translating to success on the field.

The coaches have no more control over the QB situation than you or I. They've been stuck with Ponder. It's not like they were going to discover a starting quarterback in Bethel-Thompson or Vandenberg during training camp. What they see in practice makes no difference whatsoever. They can't very well field an offense that runs the ball 19 plays out of 20.

[CalVike]

Seriously? Im not a GM, nor a HC. But If you want I can go back and look at the other options. Ponder at 12 was a huge reach. I hated the pick, and I hate it even more now. I personally would have waited for Mallet later on, since the pick they wanted was Locker. Palmer isn't looking too bad either. I can name more but Im just not up to it now.

So he's failed at QB. Is that in your eyes enough to dismiss him? If not, then we have little disagreement. For me, it's not. Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert who went higher are not lighting it up either. Eventually the failure at QB may cost Spielman a job, but not ever after a great 10-6 playoff season.

[CalVike]

The coaches have no more control over the QB situation than you or I. They've been stuck with Ponder. It's not like they were going to discover a starting quarterback in Bethel-Thompson or Vandenberg during training camp. What they see in practice makes no difference whatsoever. They can't very well field an offense that runs the ball 19 plays out of 20.

What happens in practice matters not at all? That seems an overstatement.

[Eli]

What happens in practice matters not at all? That seems an overstatement.

Like they're going to bench him for Matt Cassel? And while they might one day say "We don't have a QB who could find his own #### with both hands", what do they do then? Run Adrian Peterson 50 times a game, including 3rd and 15?

#### it... I'm sick of thinking about what the Vikings front office has done to this team yet again.

[S197]

What's most unsettling is one of Ponder's biggest strengths coming out of college was he was supposed to be the most pro ready. Kaepernick had the elite arm, size, and speed but he ran the pistol offense in Nevada. Ponder's arm was never touted as elite, it was average to slightly above average (depending on the scouting report) and he was elusive but not fast. Flash forward to today and you see a QB who still struggles with mechanics and reading the field, two areas he should have started to pick up by now.

[petev_sj]

Yup, same scouting report had Blaine Gabbert as the best QB of the class.

I will continue to stick up for Ponder, because he is our QB. However, I have not seen any difference today than in the preseason. Ponder is getting closer and closer to having his Billy Bean moment. Billy came to a time when he recognize that he just isn't a baseball player. Ponder isn't there yet, but it's getting really close.

[yezzir]

If we want to win games right now, Cassel is our best bet. He is at least has a shred of confidence and won't make as many idiotic decisions as Ponder. But, they more or less promised Ponder a 3 year plan. Unless he plays the next 3 weeks like he did today, he will finish the season. If we finish the season below .500, the QB spot for next year is up for grabs, with Ponder being a long shot.
Spielman is good. Ponder is skating on the thinnest ice right now between him, the OC and the HC.

[Ohjay]

Wow.. reading all 47 pages of this thread is, well, scary!

I'm not ready to call for any heads yet, it was just the first game of this season.
After watching this game and having digested it for a couple of hours I've ended up with the same feeling I had after the first game last season, I felt Musgrave and Ponder weren't right for the Vikings, yet the season ended way better than anticipated after that game.

Anyway, tonights game was awful in so many ways and it has already been said over and over in this thread.
I do like what the D did but K-Will seemed to be missed, a lot. Bush made us bleed!
Musgraves playcalling is beyond pathetic! I know, and have seen, that he can do very well in that department but just like Ponder he is simply too inconsistent.
As for Ponder, I didn't see any real improvement from last season and I'm starting to feel that we need to look for a new QB, I'm not giving up quite yet but I will, soon.

I did like how Rhodes covered Johnson, he didn't mess up catastrophically in my opinion. He shows a lot of promise, and I'm hoping he can become an unstoppable force like Smith(who is beyond awesome).
Why didn't Patterson get more snaps? I'd love to hear Frazier/Musgraves take on this, but I doubt we'll hear anything about it.
Did anyone keep tabs on Floyd? Can't say I saw him more than a couple of times, but then again I wasn't focusing that much on the O-line.

[yezzir]

At least the Packers are about to lose.

[PurpleKoolaid]

At least we aernt alone in the cellar. But we lost to the lowly Lions, the Packers lost to the SB 49ers.

[Demi]

I'm beginning to think the coaches see things in practice with Ponder that are not translating to success on the field.

I wouldn't even go that far. There was talk on KFAN about Ponder's four INT practices as well...

[Eli]

[Crax]

I have to ask... what were the realistic options? Who was available and willing to come here? Who was draftable? Honestly, I would have loved Kaepernick, but he was never even in the conversation when the draft hit.

Shouldn't he have been? All the QB's not drafted before we picked in the past couple were available and draftable. We had multiple chances for some of the following players 2 drafts ago. Seattle took wilson, 49ers took kapernick and redskins took cousins all as projects/backups. Vikings reached for Ponder in many peoples opinions. Would it have killed them to draft a plan b the next year? So to answer your question, anybody drafted after the vikings 1st pick in the last 2 drafts were potential options not including any potential draft trades to move up.

[petev_sj]

Hindsight is easy. Everyone is right with hindsight. It is the same story with Tom Brady and Joe Montana. You really don't know until they step onto the field. By then, it's too late, you have already made the commitment.

[Crax]

Hindsight is easy. Everyone is right with hindsight. It is the same story with Tom Brady and Joe Montana. You really don't know until they step onto the field. By then, it's too late, you have already made the commitment.

Drafting a backup plan at QB isn't hindsight. It's smart. I'm talking about a real backup, not some 7th rounder either. Those are fine too, just more shots in the dark.