Your confidence in Christian Ponder

[Cliff]

[Reignman]

I voted that Ponder is puzzle, but we'll know by January. I'm afraid that I suspect I know how this will turn out, and that I'm right about those suspicions. I don't think Ponder will develop into an effective, consistent NFL starter. I hope my suspicions are wrong, because it's back to square one yet again. I also don't care if it is Ponder or someone else who becomes a legitimate QB for the Vikings. I just want someone to do it. I would prefer Ponder only because it is the most expedient way.

I know I like to bash on Ponder and all, but this pretty much sums up how I feel. I want him to succeed because if he doesn't we gotta go through all this crap again, but at the same time I want him out now because I believe we're just wasting time.

Whether he works out or not, there's no reason why we couldn't have been looking for the next guy NOW. You know, just in case. That way we wouldn't necessarily have to go all the way back to square one. And that's why I accuse the Vikings of coddling Ponder. Webb and now Cassel? Why can't we have a better backup plan?

[dkoby]

I know I like to bash on Ponder and all, but this pretty much sums up how I feel. I want him to succeed because if he doesn't we gotta go through all this crap again, but at the same time I want him out now because I believe we're just wasting time.

Whether he works out or not, there's no reason why we couldn't have been looking for the next guy NOW. You know, just in case. That way we wouldn't necessarily have to go all the way back to square one. And that's why I accuse the Vikings of coddling Ponder. Webb and now Cassel? Why can't we have a better backup plan?

How do you know that they aren't doing that? I share your doubt of Ponder and also fall into this line of thinking (that I want him to make it). But how do you know that Speilman is not already planning a replacement. When he took over, the team was crap. He has been making some very impressive moves and has the team on the right track. We needed a QB when we drafted Ponder and maybe the guy Speilman wanted was gone so we went with Ponder. I'm OK with that because you just never know what you are going to get, Insert picture of J Russel here. I have to laugh at when people say "Speilman is in love with player X" How do any of us know what Speilman has cooking in that brain? You can't trust what he says in the press. He is good at doing a head fake in the press. The Harvin situation is a perfect example......."Oh, we love Percy and want him to be on the field for us".......BOOM, traded for a 1st round pick, which I was in favor of.
In my mind, I think next years draft is the year to draft a QB. Not sure who is there but I hope someone emerges. I know this year sucked for QB's. Geno S. is a total headcase.
As far as Ponder is concerned I think Trent Dilfer was right. Right after we drafted Ponder, he stated that he gets too nervous in a collapsing pocket. Which would explain Ponders terrible footwork on every other throw. I do have to say though, I did finally see him step up in the pocket in the San Fran preseason game. Maybe there is hope yet.
I also disagree with not playing AD in the preseason. How can you get an honest evaluation of what a 1st team defense will do without AD in the game and thus see how Ponder will react to a real test. At least a couple series anyways.

[Delaqure]

@ Reignman- while I agree that Ponder hasn't shown yet that he is definitely the Guy to lead us I really have to wonder what we could have done different. Your idea to plan just in case he doesn't work out sounds great but it falls flat when you look at the facts of who exactly they could have picked up just in case. When we picked Ponder there was really no one else available that was better. When Ponder finished that first season he didn't look all that bad and it would have made little sense at the time to draft another 1st round QB. If We wanted to draft a "just in case" QB this last draft would have been the year to do it. Yet when the the time came for our draft pick there was absolutely NO QB worth drafting. Despite your calls for a "just in case" I just don't see how it could played out any differently than it did.

With that said it seems like there are some decent options finally this year for QB in the draft. So I would be very upset if we have a chance at one and don't grab him if he is available and Ponder plays poorly.

[Funkytown]

When we picked Ponder there was really no one else available that was better.

...or even Dalton?

I'm only kidding. Drafting QBs is pretty tricky. With that said, I do agree with the lack of good QBs out there, especially in free agency. None were worth giving up on our #12 pick for--and it would have been foolish to draft another QB so high not being for certain what Ponder could or couldn't do. Plus, drafting another had all the same risks. So, I mostly agree. I just think a lot of people think Dalton is better than Ponder--and MOST people think Kaep is a lot better. So, there were other options in that draft..but beyond that? Eh. Nothing made more sense than sticking with Ponder for a bit longer. This year (or after) is a different story, though.

[Demi]

Could have signed Peyton as well. Throw an extra handful of millions or more at him? Nah, we didn't want an old player we were developing Ponder who had shown so many reasons to give him that chance. And we were rebuilding so we don't even need to inquire about Manning.

[CbusVikesFan]

Ponder is a puzzle alright. 497 piece puzzle.
jk. Though there is validity to that I am joking. Ponder is definitely an enigma. For where he was drafted his progression seems a bit slow but he has shown where he can play sufficiently enough to be called a decent QB. With the addition of Jennings, Ponder has one of the best opportunities in the NFL to win. Reigning League MVP in the backfield and another offseason to study defenses and how to beat them. This is his put up or shut up year, imo.

[Funkytown]

Stop it. Peyton Manning was never coming here.

True. But, it could have been beautiful.

[PurpleMustReign]

True. But, it could have been beautiful.

I agree but he's been having wet dreams for him and Urlacher, while complaining that Jennings is too old.

[Funkytown]

I agree but he's been having wet dreams for him and Urlacher, while complaining that Jennings is too old.

Wait, everyone doesn't have wet dreams about having Peyton as QB? Oops!

But, Jennings is far from "old". That's for sure! He's especially not "too old".

[Demi]

If we're not signing some guys who can contribute but are "old" why are we signing others? That's my overall point. Either go young and rebuild, or don't. But not this middle ground garbage. And they didn't even inquire into whether Manning would be interested. (Funny how "Guys would love to play with AD" is a talking point unless you disagree!)

For where he was drafted his progression seems a bit slow

Because everyone non-Spielman draft source had him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. A back up level guy. A guy you hold onto to see if he might someday become a starter. A guy with some significant question marks. He was drafted where he was because we were desperate for a QB and paniced. And his progression is no progression at all. He's the same QB now he was two years ago. And that should worry people more than anything. It's the preseason. He should be looking at least above average. Instead he's looking the exact same. Still inconsistent, still lacking confidence, and even the biggest positive he had, his accuracy, isn't there half the time. But maaaybe, if, possibly...sorry, isn't happening.

[Angels Wings]

Stop it. Peyton Manning was never coming here. Zygi coulda gave him majority stake of the team and he still wouldn't have came here. The Vikings were a young team coming off a dismal 3-13 season. He wanted to go somewhere he had a shot to win.

He also wanted to stay in the AFC, so that took us out of the picture...