Vikings Message Board.Com

The 3 passes that Ponder hasn't made (well enough) that stood out to me is the short pass that he fires to Jennings with enough velocity and deciciveness that Jennings has time to catch it, pull it down, and run making the first man miss and doing all the rest himself. With Ponder that's a throw that gets there late, the catch might have been made, and then tackled immediately for a minimal pick up.

Second being the long pass over the middle to simpson. His passes just felt different, on a rope with velocity I guess is the term. Ponder throws these floating ducks that he tries to "drop" in there. That pass has it's place but he uses it for every thing past 15 yards down the field.

The third one being another laser to Jennings in the End Zone for the TD.

All three of those are either a minor gain with Ponder or not even attempted / completed. That was the biggest difference to me.

Breaking news ..... our genius coach just adamantly declared Ponder our starter in a post game interview on WCCO. In fact he laughed at the question as if David McCoy were high.

If the Vikings start Ponder that might be it for me a fan forever..

there is only so much a person can take

I don't get why he needs to look at the film, it was clear to anyone who watched the game. Plus I know he already knows because he actually smiled for the first time in a game that I can remember after Cassel threw that dart into the EZ for a TD to a Jennings a WR. Yes he smiled, dare I say it was a laugh?

808vikingsfan wrote:
I think if Ponder starts, he'll lose the team.

Yep. And if Ponder starts our next game and we lose, Frazier is done. I think Frazier is trying to be respectful to Ponder. He doesn't want to make that flight home any longer for him.

Reignman wrote:I don't get why he needs to look at the film, it was clear to anyone who watched the game. Plus I know he already knows because he actually smiled for the first time in a game that I can remember after Cassel threw that dart into the EZ for a TD to a Jennings a WR. Yes he smiled, dare I say it was a laugh?

Jennings will flip tables in the locker room if he sees Ponder starting next week. I wouldn't blame him.

mondry wrote:The 3 passes that Ponder hasn't made (well enough) that stood out to me is the short pass that he fires to Jennings with enough velocity and deciciveness that Jennings has time to catch it, pull it down, and run making the first man miss and doing all the rest himself.

Yes! That's the thing I took away from this game. The balls were delivered quickly, with velocity, and in stride so guys could run after the catch, or make a move. I was saying during the game, I bet the receivers doubled their season RAC yards in this game alone. Ponder delivers the ball so slow and late the defenders are always on the receiver with the catch.

Phil Mackey @PMac21

Matt Cassel with a 200+ yard passing day, two TDs and zero INTs. Ponder has done that twice in his career so far.

All three of those are either a minor gain with Ponder or not even attempted / completed. That was the biggest difference to me.

Hell even the check down to Gerhart that gives us a manageable down after the throws it ahead of him allowing him to make a play while he catches it. Ponder throws it too him, he's hit and downed 5 yards short...

You know what you didn't see today? Roll outs! Not left, not right. Cassel stood behind that line made quick decisions and got rid of the ball like how it should be done in a WCO, and suddenly our O-line looks awesome. It didn't hurt getting Felton back xD.

Reignman wrote:You know what you didn't see today? Roll outs! Not left, not right. Cassel stood behind that line made quick decisions and got rid of the ball like how it should be done in a WCO, and suddenly our O-line looks awesome. It didn't hurt getting Felton back xD.

Reignman wrote:You know what you didn't see today? Roll outs! Not left, not right. Cassel stood behind that line made quick decisions and got rid of the ball like how it should be done in a WCO, and suddenly our O-line looks awesome. It didn't hurt getting Felton back xD.

This.

Cassel stepped up in the pocket and delivered the ball -- on time, on target, and with something on it.

If Ponder starts without an injury to Cassel, I'll be pretty pissed.

J. Kapp 11 wrote: This.

Cassel stepped up in the pocket and delivered the ball -- on time, on target, and with something on it.

If Ponder starts without an injury to Cassel, I'll be pretty pissed.

Yeah... amazing how our line looks good when your QB isn't a panicking, emotionally soft, little girl squirming out of the pocket who could step up and beat out any blitz by finding the open man and being decisive with it.....

808vikingsfan wrote:
That play stood out to me too. Ponder throws that, it's a gain for 0 yds.

Agreed. A game of inches and a game of half-seconds. Cassel gets rid of it on time, Ponder doesn't. I feel like Ponder needs to SEE someone open (hence is inability to stay behind the linemen), whereas Cassel can seem to anticipate an opening.

I haven't seen any "Fire Musgrave" comments today. A little too conservative late but the defense held. Ponder in no way, shape, or form would have or could have made most of the throws that Cassel made today. I was impressed with the offense, AP getting him some as well. It seemed the whole team caught a spark and for the most part everyone played well.
Frazier and Spielman are tied to Ponder. It seems imminent that Ponder will return. I hope that he will be on the shortest of short hooks. The Vikings could actually salvage the season if they could rip off a few wins in a row after the bye. I just don't see Ponder being at the helm in that scenario.

I feel that this psychology shouldn't be over-looked:

Jennings, Adrian and Allen will have a smile on their face during their flight home knowing they each played really well AND they won. The feeling of starting Cassel again will fester in their minds over the next 2 weeks, and they will all be pissed if Cassel doesn't start week 6. A coach needs to avoid that from his key players.