Decision on Ponder's option may not be easy

[majorm]

So all of the hypocritical cynics that have posted 100's of Ponder bashing posts are now concerned that some fans might/have bashed Cassell. That is the funniest crap that I have read yet
As a side bar, there are several who would be complaining if Tom Brady was traded here. There are those that complain about the owner, the GM, the new uniforms, most all of the players, the new stadium and some will be shocked if they are complaining about an average journeyman QB like Cassell....Tell me it isn't so

Just answer me one simple question. Based on what you SAW last season. Forget the stats. Forget the won/loss record. Just after watching them both play last season - and with only Ponder and Cassel as your choices right now - you would rather have Ponder as the starter to begin the season than Cassel? Is that what you're saying?

[Purple bruise]

Just answer me one simple question. Based on what you SAW last season. Forget the stats. Forget the won/loss record. Just after watching them both play last season - and with only Ponder and Cassel as your choices right now - you would rather have Ponder as the starter to begin the season than Cassel? Is that what you're saying?

What I am saying is that I want a fair competion this summer and may the best of the two "horrible" qb's win out. I am a huge FSU fan and thus is my support for Ponder. Now answer my question. Even though you swore not to "mention" Ponder ever again, (of course that lasted less than one day), why all of the hate
I have also said that I am fine if the Vikes release him or trade him and that I want them to draft JFB. I also said, many times, that Cassell certainly is no answer to their QB problems, not even for the short term IMO

[majorm]

What I am saying is that I want a fair competion this summer and may the best of the two "horrible" qb's win out. I am a huge FSU fan and thus is my support for Ponder. Now answer my question. Even though you swore not to "mention" Ponder ever again, (of course that lasted less than one day), why all of the hate
I have also said that I am fine if the Vikes release him or trade him and that I want them to draft JFB. I also said, many times, that Cassell certainly is no answer to their QB problems, not even for the short term IMO

I already answered that question in ridiculous detail a couple of pages back in response to Moth.

I don't hate Ponder at all. If he somehow ends up back in the lineup, I would want him to do well. I just don't think he possesses the mental makeup or arm strength to be a quality NFL QB. I think he's shown that time and time again and there is no reason to see any more.

While I also don't for a second believe Cassel is the the long-term answer, I believe strongly he is clearly the better of the two which makes him the much better short-term solution at this point.

And I know I did say I wouldn't mention Ponder again. What can I say?

Every time I think I'm out, you guys pull me back in!!

[Mothman]

I already answered that question in ridiculous detail a couple of pages back in response to Moth.

I don't hate Ponder at all. If he somehow ends up back in the lineup, I would want him to do well. I just don't think he possesses the mental makeup or arm strength to be a quality NFL QB.

While I also don't for a second believe Cassel is the the long-term answer, I believe strongly he is clearly the better of the two.

And I know I did say I wouldn't mention Ponder again. What can I say?

Every time I think I'm out, you guys pull me back in!!

Since the Vikings have a new coaching staff and will have a new offensive system, I like the idea of a fair competition for the starting QB job this summer. If the Vikes draft a QB, hopefully he would have a chance to win that competition too.

[majorm]

Since the Vikings have a new coaching staff and will have a new offensive system, I like the idea of a fair competition for the starting QB job this summer. If the Vikes draft a QB, hopefully he would have a chance to win that competition too.

Good morning sir. You and I seem to be the early risers around here. I'm up this early for my job. You??

You know, okay. I have said and still believe it's best for all if Ponder is gone. There is too much ill will - not just from me - among fans toward him. But if he ends up still on the roster I guess I'd be okay with giving him a fair look in camp/pre-season and see if Norv can find something there. I'm confident Cassel would beat him out. And I would LOVE it if they drafted a QB that beat them both in Russell Wilson fashion.

[Mothman]

Good morning sir. You and I seem to be the early risers around here. I'm up this early for my job. You??

Good morning! I'm up for my job too. I'm self-employed but my boss is a jerk and he makes me get up early to start work.

You know, okay. If Ponder is still on the roster I guess I'd be okay with giving him a fair look in camp/pre-season and see if Norv can find something there. I'm confident Cassel would beat him out. And I would LOVE it if they drafted a QB that beat them both in Russell Wilson fashion.

I'd love that too. I want that long term solution you mentioned above and I doubt it's Ponder or Cassel.

[Funkytown]

Good morning! I'm up for my job too. I'm self-employed but my boss is a jerk and he makes me get up early to start work.

[VikingPaul73]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 96411.html

[mosscarter]

that is excellent news about ponder. forget about this guy he is not an nfl qb.

[PurpleMustReign]

I am curious how he will perform with a real offense... Its unfortunate that he never got it together as a player. He seems like a good guy, and like TJack, never grumbled about being benched. I like those kinds of players a lot. But, ultimately, it is a very performance driven business and his performance was never starting caliber.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk

[Eli]

I am curious how he will perform with a real offense... Its unfortunate that he never got it together as a player. He seems like a good guy, and like TJack, never grumbled about being benched. I like those kinds of players a lot. But, ultimately, it is a very performance driven business and his performance was never starting caliber.

He has no room to grumble. He's an intelligent guy. He knows damn well his performance was poor and that he'd look like a fool if he complained about being benched after looking as bad as he has.

[mondry]

Ponder and Cassel look different using the eye test, but the reason they look so similar in stats imo has a lot more to do with the scheme and Musgrave's offense. It's contradicting to say it wasn't a very QB friendly offense what with common opinion being Adrian Peterson pulling guys into the box = easy time for the QB but it wasn't an offense that rewarded the QB very often.

Not as common as you might think, the dreaded run, run, pass scenario did play out, and often times the QB only had one passing play to try and keep the chains moving. The problem is it'd be 3rd down and 7+ in an obvious passing situation. Peterson is nice but he doesn't help much at all given that down and distance and ultimately that's not a favorable situation for your QB. Passing for us on 3rd and long wasn't any easier than any other team passing on 3rd and long, but since it was telegraphed / obvious you might even say it was harder. (I suppose that is what I'm saying!) I believe it really helps a QB (young or veteran) to be able to get into a rhythm early and establish himself. I think sometimes we got so caught up in feeding Peterson that we'd forget our QB and they'd go cold. On the flipside, you have Josh Freeman throw it what was it? 53 times? That won't work either so I really don't know what Musgrave was thinking!

Other times the formation caused problems, sometimes having only 1 actual WR on the field, supported by a bunch of blocking tight ends, a FB, and of course Peterson himself in the power running formations. These are difficult to pass out of because of the lack of targets. Even if you get 1on1 matchups, if you don't win that matchup, the play is doomed. Most passing teams run multiple WR's or pass catching TE's because every pass catcher you put on the field, is another chance for your guy to win his matchup and for the play to succeed. There are other reasons as well like running "picks" or trying to cause confusion running multiple guys into a zone defense etc but that's the big one.

A few months back I said "Bridgewater would bust here" back when he was still the #1 consensus top QB. I just didn't think any QB would succeed in Musgrave's offense because in today's NFL you simply can't make it that easy on an NFL defense and you're putting your QB in a hole from the get go.

That's why I'm excited for Cassell in Norv's offense. When it comes to the eye test he's better than Ponder, but because of the way Musgrave's system operated they both ended up about the same stats wise and neither was likely going to light the world on fire anyway so it would take a truly exceptional QB to stand out / thrive in Musgrave's system. For Ponder, I think he's played better when he's not thinking so much (playing on instinct) and not under center so while I don't have much hope for him, I think it is possible Turner could play to Ponder's strength's more than Musgrave's system did.

Let's not forget that even last year, the D makes a single stop at the end and we might have as many as 4-5 more wins, heck Ponder would have quite a few of them. I don't think 8-10 wins is nearly as bleak as it's made out to be. If we do draft a QB at #8 or really anywhere else I feel better about their chances with Turner here too.

[Eli]

If Ponder never sees the field this year, we may never get a chance to test all the theories about the effects on his career that bad coaching and incompetent offensive coordinators have had. I just know that I've watched him unable to deliver the ball to too many wide open receivers and get flushed early from too many pockets to believe that coaching and play calling had anything to do with his lack of success.

One thing that I become more and more certain of every day: If the Vikings don't take a first round QB in this year's draft, they'll also have to draft a QB in the 2015 draft (barring some kind of Russell Wilson-like miracle find). That will leave no room for two veteran QBs on the roster and Ponder will not be a Viking in 2015.

[soflavike]

I'm glad the Ponder experiment is coming to an end. Paying him close to $10 Million for a 5th year simply made zero sense. I wish him well, wherever he ends up and whenever the Vikes release him. Time to look forward and find our QB of the future. Cassell will do in the short-term.

[Texas Vike]

If Ponder never sees the field this year, we may never get a chance to test all the theories about the effects on his career that bad coaching and incompetent offensive coordinators have had. I just know that I've watched him unable to deliver the ball to too many wide open receivers and get flushed early from too many pockets to believe that coaching and play calling had anything to do with his lack of success.

One thing that I become more and more certain of every day: If the Vikings don't take a first round QB in this year's draft, they'll also have to draft a QB in the 2015 draft (barring some kind of Russell Wilson-like miracle find). That will leave no room for two veteran QBs on the roster and Ponder will not be a Viking in 2015.

I agree.

My guess is that Spielman is hesitant to take say a Bortles or Carr at 8 due to his swing and miss on Ponder, but I believe he, Zimmer, and Turner all agree that they have to draft a QB in the top 40 picks. My best guess is that they'll move back from 8 and grab someone in the teens/twenties.