Christian Ponder and This Unfamiliar Feeling

by bleedpurple426 on Oct 18, 2011 10:41 AM CDT

Not since the 2009 NFC Championship game (puke) have my eyes been so glued to the television for a Vikings game as they were during the 4th quarter this past Sunday night.

It really is incredible how much you're willing to set aside when you've been waiting in such anticipation for a guy like Christian Ponder to finally get his shot. We were down four scores under the lights on the road, a loss to the Bears all but seals up an expected last place finish in the NFC North, and Devin Hester was making our defense and special teams look like skirt-wearing pansies.

But I set all of that aside. It's sort of that "rock bottom" feeling. I mean, don't get me wrong, we're no Colts or Dolphins here; but my feelings as I saw Ponder put on his helmet and begin to warm up were something I haven't felt in a long time. I started to look at Ponder and see into the future, something that has been really hard to do with Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks in recent years.

You never looked at Brett Favre, Brad Johnson, or Gus Frerotte and thought, there he is, the future of our franchise. It has always been an old guy taking snaps under center, and when it wasn't, it was someone like Tarvaris Jackson; a guy who we jerked around enough to know there was no way he would stay in Minnesota. With Ponder Sunday night, I saw the future; it was a sense of new beginning, promise, angst and youth, and I absolutely loved it.

And when he finally took those snaps--17 of them in one quarter--I was sold; not that there was ever any doubt to begin with. I high fived my brother sitting next to me more times in that quarter alone (not to mention being down 29 points) than I had all season up to that point. Did anyone see a little bit of Drew Brees in Ponder's style? I love how as the pocket (inevitably) collapses around him, he has the awareness to step up and release the ball quick. What a novel concept! I think he's going to be very hard to sack, very hard to track down in the open field, and very accurate, which is essentially the polar opposite from what we had seen from Donovan McNabb through 5.75 games.

So more or less, this is a love letter with a hint of on-field analysis that I hope appeals to a few other Norseman on this site. Thoughts on Ponder, the future of the organization, his style of play, and any likes or dislikes with what you saw would be much appreciated. I know I'm a little late to the Christian Ponder FanPost party, but there is so much to say and very few people here in Des Moines, Iowa, to say it to.

Skol,

Austin

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Comments

So...what you're saying is that...

…Christian Ponder makes you feel kinda funny?

by Soybomb on Oct 18, 2011 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

i think he means "like climbing the rope in gym class" funny.

warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!

by danny lloyd on Oct 18, 2011 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

He Tickles My Tummy

Is this what they call bromance?

Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood Vikings, Red Sox, Heat, and Bruins fan: the oddest amalgamation of sports fanship you've ever heard.

by bleedpurple426 on Oct 18, 2011 11:17 AM CDT reply actions

Good news on the front

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20111018_report_vikings_inform_christian_ponder_he_is_starter

by tuckingfenpin on Oct 18, 2011 1:16 PM CDT reply actions

As long as he doesn't develop a jump pass

I’ll be happy. As much as everyone was clamoring for him to start the game before, I think this is the right time. Had McNabb found a rythm last game the vikings and won, the vikings would at least have a chance of going 9-7. Now they are almost certainly out of it, there is no pressure on ponder (except from the untouched D-Line) to take this team anywhere this season.

Also, the difference in experience between ponder starting in game 6 of the season and starting in game 7 of the season is probably pretty minimal in terms of development.

by domesticllama on Oct 18, 2011 1:24 PM CDT reply actions

A tickle in your tummy?

You have a boner? From the great movie Angus =)

Ponder is ready to start, and quite frankly I believe he was ready to start week 1. You won’t see the kid having a wrist band like McNabb had telling him what the plays were. He’s got an incredible work ethic (ask any of his college teachers)

I think our only beef with Ponder from the beggining will be his timing of his long ball. It was pretty ugly in the 4th quarter when it looked like we were punting the ball when he launched it for Aramoshodu (I believe) That wasn’t his best throw, and i won’t judge him on one, but this he will need to improve on.

SKOL

by PurpleJesuZ on Oct 18, 2011 8:19 PM CDT reply actions

"College Teachers"

I’m not being a smart ass; this is a sincere question. How do you know about his classroom work ethic? Is there a story or something about it, because I would love to read it. I like knowing what kind of intelligence our QBOTF is bringing in to the NFL with him. I mean, we’ve all heard stuff through the grapevine like GPA, his Wonderlic score, etc. Just wondering.

Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood Vikings, Red Sox, Heat, and Bruins fan: the oddest amalgamation of sports fanship you've ever heard.

by bleedpurple426 on Oct 19, 2011 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, he’s working on his second masters degree (I think they are Business and Sports Management) and it’s only been five years since he enrolled at FL State. Aside from just looking at him and seeing that he’s got a good way to him and is funny, two masters degrees in five years is insane.

"Let's go our there, and stick our fists through their ribcages, rip our their hearts, eat them, and shit them back out on the field!!" - Blue Mountain State

by Alittlemore_cowbell on Oct 22, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Reminds me of Brees

He has a quick release and seemingly decent accuracy. He doesn’t gun the ball very hard but it is a tight spiral and the time from wind up to receiver is plenty quick. Also, like Brees, he seems unafraid to throw into a tight window as long as he has a clear view and the WR has body position.

With that said it is hard to take much from last night. The Bears weren’t defending the slant, up 4 scores, and that is all Ponder threw. The guy can definately escape the rush though. I mean, he is freakishly good at that so far. His throw to Harvin was sick but I’m not sure if that was really advisable. It worked but seemed dangerous. All in all Ponder definately seems to have the “it” factor and truth be told he’s had as much practice since his last preseason game as he had before it, so it is reasonable to assume he’s much more comfortable now than he was then.

But at the end of the day he went 50% completion for 100 yards and no scores in less than a quarter of garbage time. This coming week should be a much better test obviously. I hope the team really leans on Peterson though as to not put too much on the young lad right out of the chute. I’d love to see us use Webb more often and more creatively, and to use Ponder on a lot of naked boots and mix his drops. If the Packers bring the heat we might be able to burn them with this kid.

I actually would expect the Packers to really play the run and drop back into coverages first to see if the kid can really pick apart a base coverage. Everyone expects them probably to blitz the rookie like crazy but given Ponder’s skills that might not be the best way to beat him. Should be interesting.

by Sand0 on Oct 19, 2011 6:28 AM CDT reply actions

"Give the kid a break" is what we'll have to say Sunday evening.

Can you imagine going up against a 5 and 0 team, who happened to win the Super Bowl last year, in the first game of your pro career. If the Viking gods deem it so, we might be able to pull this one off, but that’s a lot to ask from Ponder given the curse that we are now suffering from.

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. - John Lennon

by JethroBoViking on Oct 19, 2011 9:33 AM CDT reply actions

Baptism By Fire

I think it’s a GREAT opportunity from him. Throw him right in. Love it.

Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood Vikings, Red Sox, Heat, and Bruins fan: the oddest amalgamation of sports fanship you've ever heard.

by bleedpurple426 on Oct 19, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Hmmm

Not sure wtf the Special Olympics reference was about but I have family that participates. I think you should volunteer at one of the events. You would see more sweat and guts and all for fun than what you saw from the D against the Bears.

@}-----You've been Touched-----{@

by Velvetouch on Oct 19, 2011 10:39 AM CDT reply actions

Bad Decision

It was a poor reference, I apologize for the offense. That’s usually not my kind of humor, but it’s a direct quote from the Bad News Bears remake a few years ago. Really though, I do apologize for that. Removing that line in a few seconds.

Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood Vikings, Red Sox, Heat, and Bruins fan: the oddest amalgamation of sports fanship you've ever heard.

by bleedpurple426 on Oct 19, 2011 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions