Vikings @ Lions Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 1

[BGM]

Two drafts. The jury is still out on the latest one but so far, nothing special has come of it.

Three quality starters (Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith and Josh Robinson) and a record setting kicker. Not to mention, making low cost moves to trade up to address positions of need and get quality players. That seems to be the sign of an excellent GM. Everyone admits the draft is basically educated guess work, so I think the guy is doing just fine. Obviously, YMMV.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Spielman is responsible for Ponder (and Cassel) for being on this team. And last year Webb was his pick as our backup QB. A little caution when you sing the praises of Mr Spielman. Time will tell if he is a draft expert. But when it comes to the QB, the Vikings have failed.

[Arma]

I think they're just giving Ponder the 3 years they PLANNED to give him from the beginning. I like spielman so far, and if Ponder and musgrave keep this up I expect him to bring in a new OC, a new QB, and a new offense. Don't really see a need to blow everything up and look for a new GM just because the QB was a flop. Now if he wants to stick with Ponder and Musgrave then that's an issue.

Exactly how I feel. Frazier/Spielmen are safe as long as our team doesn't go full blown retard. You never want to go full blown retard.

[CalVike]

Spielman is responsible for Ponder (and Cassel) for being on this team. And last year Webb was his pick as our backup QB. A little caution when you sing the praises of Mr Spielman. Time will tell if he is a draft expert. But when it comes to the QB, the Vikings have failed.

They were 10-6 and made the playoffs. The cupboard is not empty. Spielman is golden, Ponder not so much.

[PurpleKoolaid]

They were 10-6 and made the playoffs. The cupboard is not empty. Spielman is golden, Ponder not so much.

They were a QB away from going further. That's my point. They continue to neglect the most important posisition in football. Spielman is part of that. He drafted Ponder. He made Webb our backup last year. And Cassel our backup this year.

[BGM]

Spielman is responsible for Ponder (and Cassel) for being on this team. And last year Webb was his pick as our backup QB. A little caution when you sing the praises of Mr Spielman. Time will tell if he is a draft expert. But when it comes to the QB, the Vikings have failed.

Obviously, the ball has been dropped when it comes to QB. But basing whether or not to sing his praises based primarily on his lack of success in finding a QB seems absurd. I'm beginning to think the coaches see things in practice with Ponder that are not translating to success on the field. He's a good guy, hard worker, studies film, but it just doesn't come together. It's hard dropping your support for a guy like that, even in the rare air of the NFL.

[CalVike]

They were a QB away from going further. That's my point. They continue to neglect the most important posisition in football. Spielman is part of that. He drafted Ponder. He made Webb our backup last year. And Cassel our backup this year.

A football organization is more than a QB. LOL

[allday1991]

A football organization is more than a QB. LOL

Did he say it wasn't?

[Just Me]

What he is saying is no one knows because apparently there is a three year rule when is comes to evaluating drafted players, just like us Ponder haters can label Ponder crappy till he has had three seasons, Because Ponder might magically take off in his third year and smith must start sucking by his third ... right

I don't know that you have to wait three years, but the QB position is the most complicated in football, so there are typically "late bloomers" at that position (more than other positions). Demi seemed ready to pronounce failure on Spielman's performance as a whole, when Spielman has made some strong moves. I think it's going to play out that the QB was not one of them, but do you throw Spielman under the bus because he was batting .750 instead of 1.000? (I got the reference to the 3 year development window, but Ponder did improve in year 2. I've only seen one game this year, but I think I can say he regressed from last year (so far). I'd day if he plays like this for 4 games, we will have another QB in there...

[BGM]

They were a QB away from going further. That's my point. They continue to neglect the most important posisition in football. Spielman is part of that. He drafted Ponder. He made Webb our backup last year. And Cassel our backup this year.

I have to ask... what were the realistic options? Who was available and willing to come here? Who was draftable? Honestly, I would have loved Kaepernick, but he was never even in the conversation when the draft hit.

[allday1991]

I don't know that you have to wait three years, but the QB position is the most complicated in football, so there are typically "late bloomers" at that position (more than other positions). Demi seemed ready to pronounce failure on Spielman's performance as a whole, when Spielman has made some strong moves. I think it's going to play out that the QB was not one of them, but do you throw Spielman under the bus because he was batting .750 instead of 1.000? (I got the reference to the 3 year development window, but Ponder did improve in year 2. I've only seen one game this year, but I think I can say he regressed from last year (so far). I'd day if he plays like this for 4 games, we will have another QB in there...

I don't blame him at all, I just want them to move on and start looking for an actual answer, it is not Ponder!

[yezzir]

Maybe the ones who should be working the phones are the Wilfs, who should be looking for other options at GM.

Spielman has done a good job so far.

[GoldenBear91]

Wasn't able to watch the game living in IL, but saw the stats...3 picks for Ponder. The part that bothers me is knowing if you draft a qb high you will be stuck with it for a few years even if they don't perform. Jackson and now Ponder....I am just waiting for them to make a move. Screw politics.

[PurpleKoolaid]

quote="CalVike"]

Spielman is responsible for Ponder (and Cassel) for being on this team. And last year Webb was his pick as our backup QB. A little caution when you sing the praises of Mr Spielman. Time will tell if he is a draft expert. But when it comes to the QB, the Vikings have failed.

They were 10-6 and made the playoffs. The cupboard is not empty. Spielman is golden, Ponder not so much.[/quote]

They were a QB away from going further. That's my point. They continue to neglect the most important posisition in football. Spielman is part of that. He drafted Ponder. He made Webb our backup last year. And Cassel our backup this year.[/quote]

I have to ask... what were the realistic options? Who was available and willing to come here? Who was draftable? Honestly, I would have loved Kaepernick, but he was never even in the conversation when the draft hit.[/quote]

Seriously? Im not a GM, nor a HC. But If you want I can go back and look at the other options. Ponder at 12 was a huge reach. I hated the pick, and I hate it even more now. I personally would have waited for Mallet later on, since the pick they wanted was Locker. Palmer isn't looking too bad either. I can name more but Im just not up to it now.

[yezzir]

Just Me:
Exactly. Spielman has been an above average drafter so far. He's made many good decisions. I like him a lot.