Check Down Charlie

[PurpleKoolaid]

I think what I disliked most about Ponders play was him letting RG3 run wild on the defense.

if he played better, less pick 6, perhaps RG3 wouldnt have been on the field as much to run wild. Or maybe if Ponder could make an audible in the red zone and we get a FG instead of 3 FGs, RG would know he has to throw to win.

[VikingLord]

Here's Ponder's main issue: he's a backpedaler. When he feels pressure he rarely seems to move up in the pocket to reset - he's much more inclined to start moving backwards, away from where he feels the pressure is coming. When a person moves backwards while throwing the ball tends to float. When Ponder misses, he tends to miss high for that reason, which we've seen a decent amount from him.

The trouble I have with what I'm seeing from Ponder is that this behavior is often something a QB cannot unlearn. This reminds me of the TJack jump-pass under pressure. Something in the dude's brain clicks and it's just an autonomic response. It happens without thought. That's why TJack never unlearned the jump-pass, and I am not convinced Ponder will unlearn the pressure backpedal.

[CalVike]

Here's Ponder's main issue: he's a backpedaler. When he feels pressure he rarely seems to move up in the pocket ... and I am not convinced Ponder will unlearn the pressure backpedal.

Interesting observation, Edward. While I think it's far too early in his career to draw any conclusions, I wonder if the Coaches are attempting to train him to roll right under pressure to counteract a tendency to backpedal. I think there's some merit to the theory that some QBs have flaws that cannot be unlearned. I hope this not the case with Ponder, but it seems plausible. Go Vikes! Dave

[ADnChester]

CDC Sucks. Sorry folks for telling it like it is. Even Russell Wilson can throw the ball downfield.

and where was this logic after the 4-1 start? this is not the reason we lost the game the fact is our defense gave up 31 points today. 35 of 52 352 yards? is that not good enough? ponder lead the team down the field and scored to put us back in the game. all we needed was a stop on third down by our defense and we woulda got the ball back with at least 2 min. how high are ppls expectations u want him completing go routes on every down and throwing for 750 yards?

imo i think this topic is irrelevant because of how badly the defense played

[Arma]

The front office starts right NOW looking for a replacement. And they do what the Skins did for RG3, sell your soul for a QB, not a RB. This is a rebuilding year. Next year will be too. And for the love of god, dont let Spielman have much input. Ponder is going to go down as his biggest mistake, like Childress and Tjoke.

Are you being sarcastic? Please tell me you are. Lets sell our souls for WHO? There is no elite QB coming into this draft class when it's going to be headed by Barkely and Geno Smith, both guys who have many ? marks. C'mon man...

[Viking Voodoo]

Ponder isn't terrible, Ponder isn't great. We definitely don't have any downfield threats.

[NextQuestion]

Ponder's picks were UGLY today. Pure garbage but I'm telling you... we can beat Arizona at home next week. Their oLine is HORRIBLE

[Just Me]

Are you being sarcastic? Please tell me you are. Lets sell our souls for WHO? There is no elite QB coming into this draft class when it's going to be headed by Barkely and Geno Smith, both guys who have many ? marks. C'mon man...

Even if there were a player we thought might be the man, ever heard of Herschel Walker? How did "selling our souls" for a perceived needed player work out then? Let's play a game of let's pretend:

Let's pretend that we gave up our 1st and second round picks for Luck or RG3 this year. So now we have one of these "awesome" QBs that some think are going to be long term contenders in the league. For the sake of argument, I'll say that is a given. Now: Imagine this team without Kalil and Smith (Because that's who we would have to have given up for these wunderkind).

Hmmm - No offensive blocking and a crap defense. While I can't say for certainty that they would fail I would say that a HOF QB (in 2010) coming off a 100+ passer rating season in the previous year failed miserably in that formula. And with the level of impatience that I see exhibited by some, if Tom Brady were our QB he would be traded away before he was allowed to develop. RG3 was 2-3 before yesterday's game. He's now .500. Yeah, let's break the bank for Kordell Stewart II... (When RG3 has some more bad games, we can just refer to him as KS2 )

For the record: I think RG3 is going to be a good QB but, like many other newer QBs, I'd like to see a greater sample of his games before I declare him a HOFer or a "bust."

[Captain]

Were you guys really expecting complete games from him EVERY time this season? Lets not forget, we're still a rebuilding team with a QB that is still learning and growing. So lets not over react on this game.

[Mothman]

I think what I disliked most about Ponders play was him letting RG3 run wild on the defense.

I agree. That really bugged me!

[Infinity]

Chill, we're 4-2. Don't be so butthurt about Christian Ponder yet.

[thatguy]

Were you guys really expecting complete games from him EVERY time this season? Lets not forget, we're still a rebuilding team with a QB that is still learning and growing. So lets not over react on this game.

NO! I DEMAND A SUPERSTAR PERFORMANCE EVERY SINGLE GAME NO MATTER WHAT!

[Cliff]

NO! I DEMAND A SUPERSTAR PERFORMANCE EVERY SINGLE GAME NO MATTER WHAT!

You basically got one ... here are Tom Brady's stats from last night's NE Vs. SEA game;
36/58, 395 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT

Ponder;
35/52, 352 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT

[PurpleKoolaid]

How am I so high on him? I've compared him to Chad Pennington many times on this board. Is that comparison that means I'm high on him? I even said he played below average today in that very post you've quoted.

I'm just not ready to give up on him yet and call him a scrub like you and others have deemed him from the moment he was drafted. I don't think he'll ever be an elite QB like Brady, Rodgers, Brees, etc but I'm not ready to call him a bust. If not being elite makes him a bust in your opinion then so be it.

All I was saying is the lack of down field passing game is not on him. We have nobody who can get open down the field if Simpson isn't in the lineup. The QB has no control over whether the WRs get open or not. If Ponder does take those shots and has to expect Aromashodu or slow Jenkins to make plays on the ball like Sidney Rice would the ball will most likely be incomplete or picked and then people would say "HE SUCKZZZZZ, THE GUY WASN'T EVEN OPEN!!!111"

How do you know we dont have anyone getting open down the field? We dont have anyone to throw them the ball if they are!! Mr happy feet is back peddling too far, are try to run by the time they get open. Musgrave cant even make a play for Ponder to go down the field, he has no trust in him. Thats why all the short stuff, all the time, even when theres 50 in the box to stop AD and PH, Ponder cant make a read to save his life. Hes nothing more then Tjoke the second to me.

[smoothoperator]

the coaches have said on film that ponder has no one to throw to because the wrs are not getting open...

cant make a read to save his life? maybe the wrs and tes should make catches thrown right to their hands and chest in important situations. but hey, thats ponders fault too.