Vikings @ Packers Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 13

[PurpleKoolaid]

NO RECEIVERS.

Yeah its the receivers. Right. All those INTs and underthrown balls were just my imagination. Or him continually staring down 1 receiver and throwing to him no matter what.

[Texas Vike]

I just don't think Webb is going to be a suitable pro QB either. I REALLY want them to be utterly and thoroughly convinced that Ponder is NOT the answer, so I hope he finishes the year.

[soflavike]

That's a hell of an indictment... Stevie Wonder reads defenses better than Ponder.

[yezzir]

This is another case where fans get to engage in pointless speculation. NFL teams don't play to lose, ever. Not should they.

Yes they do. Impossible to prove, but if the coaches job is secure, then definitely.

[soflavike]

I just don't think Webb is going to be a suitable pro QB either. I REALLY want them to be utterly and thoroughly convinced that Ponder is NOT the answer, so I hope he finishes the year.

So, you don't even want to give him a shot to prove his worth in a real game situation? I'm pretty sure that Ponder is not a suitable QB... I don't need to see any more of his play.

[yezzir]

That's a hell of an indictment... Stevie Wonder reads defenses better than Ponder.

Boom.

[FK28]

I just don't think Webb is going to be a suitable pro QB either. I REALLY want them to be utterly and thoroughly convinced that Ponder is NOT the answer, so I hope he finishes the year.

OMG OMG OMG ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! WHAT?

[VikingLord]

This is another case where fans get to engage in pointless speculation. NFL teams don't play to lose, ever. Not should they.

How about playing to assess your roster going into the offseason so you have a better idea of what you need to do?

I don't see that as playing to lose - I see that as playing smart with an eye on the future.

[PurpleKoolaid]

That's a hell of an indictment... Stevie Wonder reads defenses better than Ponder.

honest to god I can read Ds better then Ponder. When has he ever backed out of a run to a pass play for a single coverage on a WR? Never. He only audibles to a run, even with 11 stacked in the box. He has his receiver picked before the game, stares him down, rollout, and throws to him no matter what. Even if someone else is wide open.

[soflavike]

No ponder does recognize blitzes and formations, that does not mean he responds well to them at all times.

Oh, so he recognizes what's going on and then craps his pants and does something stupid. Perfect.

[VikingLord]

No ponder does recognize blitzes and formations, that does not mean he responds well to them at all times.

In fact, Sub-100 recognizes blitzes and pressure that isn't even there. He's so good at recognizing it, he sees it well before anyone else does, including the defenders.

[FK28]

So, you don't even want to give him a shot to prove his worth in a real game situation? I'm pretty sure that Ponder is not a suitable QB... I don't need to see any more of his play.

this is exactly what i am saying! everybody has decided he cant qb! decision made without a trial. guilty till proven innocent without the chance to show proof!

[Texas Vike]

So, you don't even want to give him a shot to prove his worth in a real game situation? I'm pretty sure that Ponder is not a suitable QB... I don't need to see any more of his play.

No. I'd love to give Webb a shot. We need to assess if he is progressing and is worth investing time and resources on.

But I am 100% certain that Wilf, Speilman, Frazier, and Musgrave will not be convinced that we need to move past Ponder until he does this sort of thing another 4 or 5 times.

[yezzir]

Seattle just won. Crap.

[Mothman]

Jim, I get what you're saying, to me it's just coming off sounding nit picky. As Joe Buck mentioned teams with a 200-yard rusher is 57-2 (now 3) since 2000. The defense, while not great, did get critical stops, pressure on Rodgers, and turnovers. Ponder basically handed the football to Peterson and gave away points to the Packers. When one player so overwhelmingly underperforms, the focus is going to be on him.

Ponder also threw a TD pass to Rudolph and was something like 4 out of 5 on a scoring drive that let the defense finally get some rest after their bad start.

I'm not trying to nitpick. The focus should be on Ponder. He made the most glaring errors. I just draw the line at blaming the entire loss on one player when one player clearly wasn't responsible for the entire loss. I don't think it's that picky to be critical of a defense that allowed Green Bay to possess the ball for 38+ minutes. The defense gave up an 11 minute scoring drive in the 4th quarter when the Vikings were trailing by just 6 points. I realize Ponder's INTs were brutal but how is that excusable in a 6 point game?

The coaches, the defense, etc. all have a part in the loss but it's fractional compared to the play of Ponder.

I'm not even willing to go that far. It's never okay for a defense to allow an opponent to possess the ball for 11 straight minutes and then score in the 4 quarter of a tight game. As far as I'm concerned, that's as bad as throwing a dumb INT. Unfortunately for Ponder, it's not as bad as throwing two dumb INTs.