Christian Ponder Improving

[S197]

Enough already. Take it to PM's or ignore each other but the back and forth is unproductive and derailing.

[J. Kapp 11]

I think the key there was "scoring drives." They resulted in scores. I'd love for them to gain huge chunks of yards from time to time but at least until Simpson returns we don't have the playmakers to do that consistently with any success. Especially against teams protecting against that. Especially when our defense will allow one right back. If the 49ers change their scheme and dare Ponder to throw deep, maybe we'll see more shots. I think that's a lot of people's issue right now: we haven't seen enough attempts to say whether or not we can pull it off with any degree of success.

All I'm saying is that we're struggling to make plays of any distance. Not huge chunks of yardage. Just ... anything.

I'm watching Atlanta play Denver right now. The Falcons just drove down the field for a TD, and Matt Ryan didn't throw any deep passes. He did, however, throw a ton of passes in the 10-15 yard range. Their drive had pace and momentum, and they didn't have to struggle to score. Conversely, we walked around yesterday in the fourth quarter, down two scores, like it was the middle of the first half. No tempo. No urgency. And it took a tipped pass into tight coverage and a lucky bounce to score.

Obviously, when you're throwing to Julio Jones, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas, you're in a better position to make plays in the passing game than when Michael Jenkins is your #1 wideout. We need some talent.

And none of this takes away from my point ... we don't throw much early in games thus far. I think I proved that point fairly well.

[dead_poet]

I'm watching Atlanta play Denver right now. The Falcons just drove down the field for a TD, and Matt Ryan didn't throw any deep passes. He did, however, throw a ton of passes in the 10-15 yard range. Their drive had pace and momentum, and they didn't have to struggle to score. Conversely, we walked around yesterday in the fourth quarter, down two scores, like it was the middle of the first half. No tempo. No urgency. And it took a tipped pass into tight coverage and a lucky bounce to score.

Obviously, when you're throwing to Julio Jones, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas, you're in a better position to make plays in the passing game than when Michael Jenkins is your #1 wideout. We need some talent.

I agree 100%. However I think by nature with the no-huddle offense you're going to have more energy, momentum, tempo, urgency. In comparison, the Vikings offense does look pretty stagnant from play to play. Even the ones where Ponder is targeting Harvin relentlessly.

And none of this takes away from my point ... we don't throw much early in games thus far. I think I proved that point fairly well.

I just don't know if throwing early and often with the pieces we have is going to produce better results. I'd love for them to try it, though, but I understand why it's not to this point. I maintain that our ground game remains superior to our passing game, so it only makes sense to continue to play to your strengths. Maybe I'm wrong and other teams shift away from what they do best. Or maybe what we do best isn't the run game? I'm probably wrong.

[mosscarter]

ponder has "plenty of people to throw the ball to, percy, adrian, toby, rudy, michael, devin, john?" are you serious? the problem is, aside from harvin and rudolph this collection of bums wouldn't be on most teams practice squads, let alone starting. and how about that smooth drop right in rudolph's hands that would have been a first down yesterday, i don't see anyone talking about that. not only do the receivers fail to separate or get open, they often drop balls at crucial points. ponder, nor montana, would be good with these receivers, they are downright pathetic.

[PurpleMustReign]

LOL! It's a deal.

I'll watch.. and I'll even play. But I need a Nerf ball because my hands are small too...

[J. Kapp 11]

understand why it's not to this point. I maintain that our ground game remains superior to our passing game, so it only makes sense to continue to play to your strengths. Maybe I'm wrong and other teams shift away from what they do best. Or maybe what we do best isn't the run game? I'm probably wrong.

I could be wrong, but I'm not convinced our rushing attack is a strength right now.

Other than Percy Harvin's one carry, the longest rushing play for the Vikings yesterday was 8 yards. We've had a grand total of three rushing plays that have gone for as much as 10 yards. Our backs run into traffic at or behind the line pretty frequently.

It's just sorta lackluster right now. I'm hoping when Simpson returns and A.P. is 100%, maybe we can move the ball a little better.

[yesmanfan]

I just don't know if throwing early and often with the pieces we have is going to produce better results. I'd love for them to try it, though,

me too!

[yesmanfan]

ponder has "plenty of people to throw the ball to, percy, adrian, toby, rudy, michael, devin, john?" are you serious? the problem is, aside from harvin and rudolph this collection of bums wouldn't be on most teams practice squads, let alone starting. and how about that smooth drop right in rudolph's hands that would have been a first down yesterday, i don't see anyone talking about that. not only do the receivers fail to separate or get open, they often drop balls at crucial points. ponder, nor montana, would be good with these receivers, they are downright pathetic.

lol did he just call adrian a bum?

[mosscarter]

no, adrian isn't a receiver and i'm not sure why he is on the list. anyway, they don't utilize him on screens either.

[Mothman]

no, adrian isn't a receiver and i'm not sure why he is on the list. anyway, they don't utilize him on screens either.

They threw a screen to him yesterday! They threw one to Gerhart too.

[yesmanfan]

no, adrian isn't a receiver and i'm not sure why he is on the list. anyway, they don't utilize him on screens either.

he had a huge catch and run yesterday in the fourth quarter and the reason he is on the list is he should definitely be used as a receiver more, but our coaching staff is completely incompetent.

[mosscarter]

i agree yesman. why not come out and let ponder loose sunday by mixing it up with some no huddle to start the game? but the truth is they will go run, run, and be third and long after their first possession. honestly, musgrave's approach makes me want to vomit, its the same thing week after week.

[yesmanfan]

i agree yesman. why not come out and let ponder loose sunday by mixing it up with some no huddle to start the game? but the truth is they will go run, run, and be third and long after their first possession. honestly, musgrave's approach makes me want to vomit, its the same thing week after week.

we are on the exact same page, except i dont believe our offense players other than harvin and rudolph are bums that couldnt make another team and most of them couldn't make a practice squad. im guessing you were exaggerating to make a point. every single one of them would make a 53 man roster except possibly aroush who would definitely make every single teams practice squad.

[Juice]

we are on the exact same page, except i dont believe our offense players other than harvin and rudolph are bums that couldnt make another team and most of them couldn't make a practice squad. im guessing you were exaggerating to make a point. every single one of them would make a 53 man roster except possibly aroush who would definitely make every single teams practice squad.

Aromoshodu (if that's who you were referring to) isn't eligible to make a practice squad anymore.

[mosscarter]

for what its worth, i don't think a single nfl team would sign jenkins if he were released tomorrow. as far as burton goes, i think that is all i need to say.