Where We Look At The Selection Of Christian Ponder. . .Again

BPA. How many times have people touted Spielman’s past draft success because he went with the BPA over need? I’m not saying Ponder won’t turn out to be a good QB because it’s too early to tell but taking him at #12 when most experts have him rated as a low first round to early second round talent is the definition of reaching for a need. I’ll cheer Ponder because he’s our quarterback but calling the pick a reach is reasonable given the talent that was on the board. I consider calling the pick a reach a question of Spielman’s ability to work the draft board rather than an insult to Ponder. Like the player but I question the pick.

…..when the “franchise QB” & the 12th pick of the draft is compared to Chad Pennington. I’m sorry, Chad by all accounts is a great guy and all but……..We passed on so many other impact players available at 12………..He’s a Viking though so he has my support….

Since he’s the new quarterback of the future of the Minnesota Vikings, by default, I’m now a huge Christian Ponder fan. That said, there are quite a few ways I would have gone with the #12 pick before going with Ponder. But hey, I’m not a GM either.

Chris is right—let’s not skewer him until he plays a few games. If he sucks? Then skewer away. But until then, let’s not all assume the sky is falling.

Now all we have to do is wait and speculate for about five (or more) months. Yipee!

because it was the same perspective that I have stuck to regarding Joe Webb. I would have preferred Fairley instead, and, with the Lions scooping him up, I am extremely concerned for the well being of ANY QB we put under center in the years to come. Bolstering our O line has to be in the top two in terms of priorites right now.

It’s not like he picked himself at #12! This pick, by definition, is a reach. Saying this pick is a reach is not saying anything bad about Ponder. It might not even be saying anything bad about the Vikes staff unless you think calling them morons is bad. By picking Ponder at #12, they just established a pretty large gulf between Ponder and Dalton/Mallett/Kaepernick. I don’t see it. I think the Vikes would be in about the same situation of wishing and hoping they hit the QB jackpot with any of those players. Surely, they would have gotten one of those QBs with pick #43, and they would have Prince or Fairley as well.

If the Vikings end up getting Bowers at #43 they will have pulled a rabbit out of their hats and all should be forgiven. They will have lucked into it after being somewhat reckless with the #12 pick, but it would make everything right again.

Give him a chance before we crucify him. The draft is somewhat of a crap shoot anyways and deep down we all know it. There’s no telling who will be the superstar or superbust (Brady at #199 or Ryan Leaf #2 overall case in point). Can’t think of a better scenario than to have Webb and Ponder going head-to-head in training camp and may the best QB take us to the promise land. I’m now on the Ponder bandwagon until he proves otherwise.

2. Christian Ponder, Florida State (6-2, 229)

Ponder’s No. 2 ranking on this list might be better described as "1-A" because, if not for his injuries, he might have put together the kind of year at F.S.U. that would have made him the clear-cut top QB prospect in this draft.

Ponder has developed into a strong decision maker. He consistently makes the correct presnap reads for quick throws to the right receiver as the coverage dictates. He also uses his eyes to draw defenders away from an area he intends to throw the ball.

He has a smooth, compact release, and his drops are precise from center. He operates from a pro-style offense and has a good understanding of the mechanics and reads involved with it. His transition to the N.F.L. should be smoother in this respect than with some of the more athletically heralded prospects in this draft class.

He has big enough hands to execute very convincing pump fakes and play fakes. I also like that against blitzes or tight zones, Ponder was willing to fire the ball into a tight window when he believed his read of the defense was the best opportunity for his offense to execute a productive play. He repeatedly demonstrated a quick drop, a fast release and good velocity on these short to intermediate throws.

Ponder does a good job of climbing the pocket, but he also has a solid internal clock to know when he has to release the ball before pressure begins to break down. He can throw the ball on the move with accuracy and velocity to his left or right to the intermediate range of the field. He demonstrated this impressive touch and accuracy to his left on throws over 20 yards downfield.

Ponder tends to overthrow receivers rather than underthrow them on downfield routes. This is prominently seen on routes designed to arrive under the safety and "in the bucket," where the pass has to drop down at a sharper angle. This is where Ponder doesn’t use his eyes as well as he does on shorter routes.

He has good enough velocity to start in the N.F.L., but I didn’t see evidence of an elite arm. Ponder also suffered a significant injury to his throwing shoulder as a junior and played through an elbow injury for the final six weeks of the 2010 season. In fact, he never seemed completely healthy in 2010.

The question most will have with Ponder is, Will he be the player who looked like a borderline franchise QB in 2009, or the weaker-armed player who was inconsistent and rusty in 2010? I’m more inclined to believe Ponder will be more like the 2009 player who looked fantastic against a North Carolina defense loaded with N.F.L.-capable athletes.

Ponder might not be the flashiest of the quarterbacks in this class, but he could turn out to be one of the best because of his smarts, underrated athleticism and excellent accuracy and mechanics in a pro-style offense. He might be the most prepared quarterback for the N.F.L. in terms of his combination of athleticism, passing skills and understanding of the position.

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It was a reach you can’t deny that, but he is a good QB. Destroying A guy before he steps one toe on the field is ridiculous, I which I myself was guilty of doing when I first heard the pick. Fans will continue to Bitch and Moan about this, but that is there god given right as fans of this football team. But the thing is that every he does will magnified and every mistake that he make will most likely be highlighted in novel length posts by the very same haters. It’s a shame really it is, the kid will hear the boo’s day one.

In that article it says C-Pond is somewhere between Chad Henne and Chad Pennington… Doesn’t that say it all? They guy might be the greatest quarterback ever but if he gets dropped all over the field and is hurt 50% of the time does it matter? Not much of a consolation prize.

I think all the purple realists only want to splash some cold water on this thing and call it like they see it. The kid could be great or a flop, but let’s not forget who was still on the board @ 12 and the fact that Favre, TJax, and Webb weren’t the only ones stinking up the place at times last year.

But I don’t have to wait to call this an act of desperation. It was.

will be the lame puns that will haunt his career…at least he’s not andrew luck