Vikings Message Board.Com

Ally wrote:Everyone is going to think I'm crazy, and I am, but I think that there will be an open competition during training camp and Ponder will win the starting job. I think Norv is going to help him tremendously and he will be able to beat out Cassel for the job though I think it will be a close competition. I don't know how Bridgewater will look yet but I doubt he's ready to start. He needs time to sit on the bench and learn - maybe a year but most likely two. Whoever ends up starting, they will be the best player we have and I'll support them 100%.

If they keep Ponder I do think he will improve with Turner. He is a smart QB and could thrive in Turners system.
Not sure he would win the starting job. More worried about Cassel staying healthy.

Mothman wrote:
LOL! If I remember correctly, your presence at home games seems to influence the outcome so why not carry that effect over to rookie jerseys?

Wear that Bridgewater jersey with pride!

I decided to get the Nike elite one. Very expensive, but that will be my only jersey purchase this year I believe. It is an expression of my confidence that Bridgewater will be our next franchise QB.

I mean, the team did seem to win almost every time I went to the Metrodome - save for 2011 when I went the Saints and Bears game. Blah, both games were just awful games. Given how bad the team was that season, I don't think all the luck in the world would have allowed that team to win!

Hopefully I will be able to make it to TCF this year. I also hope that the change in stadium venues doesn't affect my attendance 'luck!'

halfgiz wrote: If they keep Ponder I do think he will improve with Turner. He is a smart QB and could thrive in Turners system.
Not sure he would win the starting job. More worried about Cassel staying healthy.

I think Ponder is a smart person, but not a smart QB at all. He has book smarts, but he seems to lack NFL football smarts. I do think he would be marginally better under Norv and Zim than under you know who but we are in no danger of him threatening for the starting job unless Cassel is injured. I think Ponder gets injured more frequently than Cassel though. Nevertheless I'd rather see him gone so we don't ever have to see him again, marginal improvements or not. The last thing we need is Teddy learning from Ponder....

fiestavike wrote:
It seems like a dynamic you just don't want to have on the team. Even if Ponder handles it with total class and grace, he is still the elephant in the room and the failed draft pick as long as he's a Vikings. I would love to see him traded for a late round pick or another teams 3rd string QB, or even packaged with a 5th this year for a Brian Hoyer. This would be good for Ponder and the Vikings.

Agreed on that point too. I don't care whose backup we trade him for we just need him gone.

I picked 13-16 because I want him to excel at picking up the offense and I think the coaching staff will want to see how he does before next season.

Ally wrote:Everyone is going to think I'm crazy, and I am, but I think that there will be an open competition during training camp and Ponder will win the starting job. I think Norv is going to help him tremendously and he will be able to beat out Cassel for the job though I think it will be a close competition. I don't know how Bridgewater will look yet but I doubt he's ready to start. He needs time to sit on the bench and learn - maybe a year but most likely two. Whoever ends up starting, they will be the best player we have and I'll support them 100%.

Ponder is as Ponder does. Ponder is the same intelligent player that they picked and I bet Ponder can grasp what Turner does. Ponder's problem is that he kills it in the classroom and maybe even 7 on 7 in practice but loses his mind when the bullets start flying. The guy will show a couple flashes of good play during a game but leave you with a WTF happened feeling after the game.
No, Ponder is who we know he is.

I'm split...I can see him winning the job from Cassel in camp, but I can also see him and Cassel performing well in preseason and the Vikes going with Cassel until he falters. That could be early if you look at the Vikings schedule. Either way...He should end the year as the starter.

They'll start Cassell until mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and then Teddy will finish up the season. I picked week 9-12.

Ally wrote:Everyone is going to think I'm crazy, and I am, but I think that there will be an open competition during training camp and Ponder will win the starting job. I think Norv is going to help him tremendously and he will be able to beat out Cassel for the job though I think it will be a close competition. I don't know how Bridgewater will look yet but I doubt he's ready to start. He needs time to sit on the bench and learn - maybe a year but most likely two. Whoever ends up starting, they will be the best player we have and I'll support them 100%.

Ponder has so many issues though it's hard for me to believe Turner and time will fix enough of them to vault him into the starter's role on his merits. He struggles to read the field, often locking on to one guy and/or flushing from the pocket early. He doesn't use his eyes to mislead or misdirect defensive backs; conversely, his eyes often tell them exactly where he intends to go with the ball, maling their jobs much easier. Mechanically he rarely throws from a solid base, often falling or leaning backwards or not transferring momentum from his legs, leading to a lot of even simple passes that float on him and/or hit the dirt. We've even seen a fair number of jump passes from Ponder, which one just doesn't see from successful starting NFL-caliber QB's. If the QB has to jump to throw, he has no business throwing as the pass is too risky to begin with. Ponder doesn't seem to get that yet. He also struggles with confidence, rarely throwing unless his primary read is wide open, and it's even more rare to see him throw a covered guy open. He's also late on a lot of deep routes, forcing wide open receivers to slow up and/or even have to come back to the ball.

There are just so many issues there. For Ponder to be the best option heading into next season would have to be one of the most miraculous offseason turnarounds for a QB in the history of the NFL based on what we've seen so far, and I'd say it will take a lot more than just Turner's tutelage to make that happen.

While I don't think Bridgewater will win the job in camp, I'd say the odds are better we'll see him starting at some point next season than Ponder ever starting again, anywhere. I think the only way Ponder sees the field next year is if both Cassell and Bridgewater get hurt.

If the Vikings send out Ponder in week 1, at St Louis, the fans would riot and tear down the Metrodome. Oh wait that already happened.

i'm thrilled at the fact that we really gave up nothing to get him. total bargain. but, as far as on the field goes at this point its a total crap shoot. i'm not worried about the size of hands its the size of his body that concerns me. 212 pounds? he needs to bulk up.

If Teddy Bridgewater is the best QB in camp, he'll start day one. I wouldn't be surprised, nor upset if we see Bridgewater against St. Louis, that's a great sign. It's not like it's a bad situation to start a rookie QB. When Ponder was forced into the starting job, our receiving options were #### and our oline was more porous. We now have a very solid receiving core to go along with an above average oline, and of course Adrian Peterson.

mosscarter wrote:its the size of his body that concerns me. 212 pounds? he needs to bulk up.

Russell Wilson is only 206 pounds. I'm just saying.

I'm not sure why were even asking this question. Bridgewater will start when he's the QB on the roster that gives us the best chance to win. We can't speculate on this at all right now because he hasn't learned the offense yet or even taken a snap in practice. so everybody needs to trust the coaching staff to make the right choices and monitor Teddy's growth throughout training camp and pre-season games. After that is when we can talk about him starting with something for a point of reference.

Demi wrote:They'll start Cassell until mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and then Teddy will finish up the season. I picked week 9-12.

I agree on the first part.......but I disagree that they will ever be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

10-6, wild card. They will win 3 straight road games in the NFC playoffs. Super Bowl champs.

AD will rush for 2500 yards!

You guys heard it here first!!!!