Should Ponder Start or Sit?

just because i think the lockout is hurting majorly. I think Ponder is our guy, and we will do well with him. I don’t think getting some trash heap vet will help his development anymore than getting the game time experience will. Look at the guys that Rodgers and Brady sat behind (Favre and Bledsoe). Proven starters, proven winners, Hall of Famers. Ponder would be sitting behind the likes of Hasselbeck (who wants to be a starter for a few more years) McNabb (same) Kolb (same) or people like Bulger and Orton who have proven they can manage games, and win, but also could lose just as easily. If they were proven winners, they’d still be starting.

whatever Trent the dent Dilwad didn’t do. I’m not sure how I it happens but he continually makes me dislike him more and more everytime he opens his mouth. I think with the lockout ponder will have a tough time understanding what is going on with the playbook and the speed of the game. As well having to deal with more complex defenses and coverage. If we have a preseason let him go at it day one. If not, then give him a couple of weeks. I would definitely get him some action in his first year though.

This is not a good year for Rookie Coach’s and Rookie QB’s.
Let a Vet-FA come in and get his butt kicked, while the offense adjusts to the new scheme.

Sit.

Next year?

Sit.

We would need to know how well he is grasping the playbook, how much time he will have working with the first team prior to the start of the season, and if Sidney is coming back.

If it ends in time for him to get a training camp, a chance to work with #1 receivers, a few pre-season games, then throw him in at the deep end against the Chargers.

If it ends a week before regular season starts, bring in McNabb and let McNabb start.

Give Ponder a couple months with a Vikings QB coach and WRs and some experience facing an NFL-caliber defense before expecting great things from him.

Joe Webb gets first nod to start the first 2 games so that ponder can get familiar with the process. Ponder takes over 2nd half of game. Games 3 & 4 – Ponder starts, Joe finishes up. Game 5 and on… evaluate game 1-4 results. Wouldn’t hurt to develop both equally because there’s two dynamic playing styles (eg Webb can do things Ponder cant and vice versa). This creates logistical nightmare and prepartion problems for any team facing the Vikings. Keep em guessing.

The problem with Farve in 2010 was opponents had some idea what to expect and the unpredictability of the first season was gone. The most telling stat in Farve’s Season 1 and 2 with Vikings is the 3rd down success rate. I cant find this conversion % stat but yahoo says 3rd down QB rating in 2010 was 59.4 vs 94.4 in 2009. A huge difference which is the fundamental reason why we did not make the playoffs.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/1025/situational;_ylt=AsmyfaL6.WFq726IXCcIxLL.uLYF

This QB rating and 3rd down success rate stats can be useful for an objective Webb & Ponder evaluation. The vikings cannot be known as a 2 down team and give opponents confidence when 3rd down advantage is in their favor.

Ok. after some further research, here it is:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/downs
Vikings in 2010 – 34.5% success rate on 3rd downs, ranked 24th of teams, did not make playoffs. In 2010, there were many close games. Just converting on a handful of these 3rd downs could have made the Viking’s year far more successful, particularly against the division rivals.
Vikings in 2009 – 44.8% success rate on 3rd downs, ranked 5th of all teams, made playoffs.

Stats simplified.

and hasn’r even attended a rookie symposium, rookie camp, ota or mini-camp. nobody knows what is going to happen with the lock-out, training camp or even the season. who knows, he might end up holding out on signing his contract even after training camp begins. you or i just don’t know.

“should ponder sit or start?”….how can this question possibly be answered in a reasonable fashion?

all i can say is that he is going to be a whole lot less prepared to start in his first nfl season than any qb ever drafted. and it would probably be wise to get him signed and showing up for work every day before trying to make him the starter. he seems like he is capable of handling the pressure and is probably as prepared as you can expect a college qb to be, but nobady knows how he will handle things once actual football begins.

i favor the “let’s wait a little bit before throwing him in” approach due to the circumstances of this season.
i hope we get a vet in here for the short term starter/mentor role.

Depends on whether or not you guys sign a veteran. If you don’t, then I think Ponder kind of has to start. Otherwise, it might be hard to justify starting Webb over him, especially because Ponder was/is considered by many probably the most pro ready of any guy in this year’s class. But if you sign a solid veteran, I could understand playing that veteran and letting Ponder get some experience and studying under his belt.

If he thinks Ponder has grasped the offense better and we’ll win more games with him, I trust him. And vice versa with Webb.

I thought about expanding my search to include quarterbacks who made the Superbowl and lost, but then I would have to include Rex Grossman, which made me change my mind.

HAHAH CLASSIC!

I can’t honestly vote. It depends how much time he can get in training camp. If it goes where there is barely any training camp that has to be factored in and I would imagine Rookies that started there Rookie season and have won a Super Bowl probably got a full off season training camp.

Though the argument can be made that Favre wasn’t a good mentor, at least by watching Favre, Rodgers could learn what not to do at the end of a close game, i.e., throw gut wrenching interceptions.

Its a good thing Rodgers didnt see Favre punt an interception to lose in an OT playoff game then ;-)

Before the first game of the season, I think minds will change if/when training camp begins and if we acquire a vet.

On a side note,just remember, Peyton Manning went 3-13, Aaron Rodgers went 6-10

If hes going to suck regardless of how long we wait, shouldnt we throw him in? IN the Rodgers model, we will be waiting six years.

DNM, from MCM.
In my opinion as what i said with our rookie qb Jake Locker let him sit until midseason if we bring a Vet QB or Kerry Coktails Collins back.

If Cocktail goes on another 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, or 0-6 streak he’s outta here to the bench and i’d like to See Jake start.

idk if any of you think the same or similar on your Christian as well

As it stands right now, I would start him. But if we sign a McNabb-type veteran, we’ll have some options. Let the vet start until the season is lost (which won’t be long) then put Ponder in there for some on the job experience.

To actually get to talk to your OC like that. That thred is the first REAL football I have got to read in months. I am curious though, how did you get in touch with your OC? Twitter? regardless of how, that is something to get you Vikings fans pumped up about. after reading that interview it seems like Ponder should get the start from day 1, I mean basically running the same kind of offense at FSU, jumping to this level should be a little easier than what Cam will have to learn.