Reason why Ponder will not turn things around

[sdranger]

I hope they can fix him. But IMO they missed a chance at GB. Should've put Webb in. Either he would have won the game and maybe lit a fire in Ponder or he would have lost and the Vikes would know what to do.

Mel Kiper (I know, I know) is stating that Barkley is going to fall into the 20's in the first round. The Vikes might have a difficult choice if Ponder doesn't improve. Having said that I really don't want to see another USC QB on our team.

[mosscarter]

correct me if i'm wrong, how do you fix a guy that only has 3 passes in 22 games over 50 yards (through the air)? i might be off by one or two, the first was his first ever throw, the second was last year to harvin against atlanta, and the third was to wright a few weeks back. ponder simply has NO down field throwing ability whatsoever. as someone mentioned, peterson was wide open down the sideline and he under threw him so bad it hit the defender in the back. its downright pathetic. everyone points to how intelligent he is, but in the classroom and on the field are two different stories.

[PurpleHalo]

I hope they can fix him. But IMO they missed a chance at GB. Should've put Webb in. Either he would have won the game and maybe lit a fire in Ponder or he would have lost and the Vikes would know what to do.

Mel Kiper (I know, I know) is stating that Barkley is going to fall into the 20's in the first round. The Vikes might have a difficult choice if Ponder doesn't improve. Having said that I really don't want to see another USC QB on our team.

Who was the other USC QBs on this team? You surely are not refering to Booty, who wasn't expected to be an NFL QB. Sean Salisbury? This team would be tied for, or lead the division, with a QB like him. I know he wasn't great, but Ponder is not even sub par, and they contended. Id roll with Barkley, I know, USC QBs haven't had a ton of success in the NFL recently, but, good lord, anything is better than the pain, of watching Ponder try and play NFL QB. Barkley would have been a high pick in 2012, he slipped, that might be our blessing.

Note: If Im Wilf, I make damn sure, to snuff out this Ponder is our guy bs, even if heads need to roll. You can't wait too long to reverse an obvious mistake, it's too important, everyone sees it.

[PurpleHalo]

I think that is a very legitimate scenario even if the Vikings state for months before the draft that Ponder is their guy. They could always claim a BPA situation like the Packers did with Rodgers when they claimed loyalty to Favre. and then they could pull a Wilson-Flynn Seahawk gimmick and be like "wow, i can't believe it Ponder just got outplayed by our rookie, I hate to do this but we'll have to bench Ponder." and just feign innocence the entire time to minimize the "I told you so's" shot at Spielman and Frazier.

How can anyone say Ponder is the guy? Any such person, should be perma banned, from ANY NFL job! Tavaris Jackson, is worlds better, than is Ponder.

[Just Me]

Tavaris Jackson, is worlds better, than is Ponder.

<Sigh> Please don't make me do this again. I don't want to 'defend' Ponder as he is playing horribly right now, but can people please get some perspective? Ponder is actually performing about the same as Jackson (still) and Ponder is a year 2 player (vs. year 7). The best descriptor I have seen for the Ponder vs. Jackson comparison is 'Dumb and Dumber'. Jackson is by no stretch of the imagination 'worlds better' than Ponder. Don't believe me? Look up the stats yourself and tell me which category Jackson is 'worlds better' than Ponder.

Ponder Stats
Jackson Stats

If you still really believe that, Jackson can't even crack the active roster for Buffalo so I'm sure we could work a trade for a couple of 1st round draft picks for Jackson.

[Mothman]

Forget stats, they CLEARLY don't tell the whole story on Ponder. Jackson doesn't looke petrified in the pocket, Jackson actually throws the ball downfield with authority. Jackson doesn't blow an easy win over the Packers with TWO game losing interceptions. Jackson makes mistakes but he does like any other average to below average QB. Ponder's mistakes and weak throws are uniquely his own and he plays like he doesn't belong in the NFL. Jackson just played like he's not a long term starter. Jackson also had a bunch of good games and lead the team to a division title.

Frerotte had a lot more to do with that division title than Jackson, who was benched that season. It's real stretch to say Jackson ever "led" the Vikings to a division title.

Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't you still cheering for Brett Favre and GB when Jackson was playing QB for the Vikings? Aren't you a recent convert to Vikings fandom (I know you explained it at one point but i can't remember)? Not that you aren't welcome, of course, but I'm just wondering how many of Jackson's performances as a Viking you actually saw. Please believe me, he was every bit as bad as Ponder has been.

This is a pointless debate anyway because whether Ponder is playing slightly better, slightly worse or at the same level as Tarvaris Jackson, it's bad news no matter how you slice it. Tarvaris Jackson is a measure of NFL failure, not a measure of NFL success and if Ponder doesn't get his act together, he will be a failure as an NFL starting QB too.

[Just Me]

This is a pointless debate anyway because whether Ponder is playing slightly better, slightly worse or at the same level as Tarvaris Jackson, it's bad news no matter how you slice it. Tarvaris Jackson is a measure of NFL failure, not a measure of NFL success and if Ponder doesn't get his act together, he will be a failure as an NFL starting QB too.

This is all I'm saying.