Vikings Could Still Add Veteran Quarterback Before Season Starts
by Christopher Gates on Jun 4, 2011 10:03 PM CDT
in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season
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PrintWe're all well aware that Christian Ponder is the future quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. . .but while that point isn't up for debate, the question of whether or not he'll be the team's quarterback of the present is a matter of some debate, and that debate will only get louder as we get closer to the start of the 2011 NFL season without a labor agreement being reached.
As we get closer to the start of the season, it remains debatable whether or not a rookie quarterback, even one with the obvious intelligence that Ponder possesses, could get fully prepared for their first NFL season with an abbreviated training camp, especially with a new offensive coordinator that hasn't been able to install any of their offense with any of the other players at this point.
When asked about it by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Frazier said this about the quarterback situation:
What you don’t want to do is put a guy in harm’s way to the point where his confidence is affected for the future. So, we’ve got some different things that we’ve got to talk through and figure out based on when we start football.
So it appears that getting a "veteran quarterback" is still something that's potentially in play for the Vikings. . .it's simply a matter of which "veteran quarterbacks" are going to be available. A guy like a Matt Hasselbeck or Marc Bulger that could actually serve as a mentor as well as start would be ideal, and wouldn't cost any draft picks if they could potentially be convinced to come to Minnesota. Donovan McNabb will also be available, and I don't think I can voice my opposition to that strongly enough. A deal for Denver's Kyle Orton could be an alternative as well, but it's likely that Denver would be asking for quite a bit, particularly from a team in the situation that the Vikings could perceive themselves to be in.
I still feel that, regardless, the Vikings are going to put #7 out there from Day One to let him sink or swim, but any developments on that front will become more interesting as we get closer to the start of the season. . .or the lack thereof.
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I agree
Let the kid play. He looks like he is motivated, give him a chance and see what happens. I really don’t think it could be much worse than last seasons fiasco.
Huge fan of Hasslebeck
If we could pull that off, I’d be ecstatic. Perfect mentor for the kid.
H-beck +1
But I don’t hate the idea of McNabb. McNabb had a bad season last year but it was with a dreadful supporting cast. He had no running game and Santana Mos as his #1WR, ouch. The Skins were terrible last year and it wasent because of McNabb. Check his stats from his last year with Philly.
Worse SB matchup ever!
Yep, McNabb had ZERO help.
I would be happy with either.
The problem with McNabb is he will want to start, as he has at least 3 good years left in him, and we want a guy who is going to step aside when Ponder is ready. Donovan gives us the best shot at winning now, but Hasslebeck might be the best option for Ponder’s development.
I think at a time when we need as much good news and exposure as possible to nail this Stadium deal, McNabb is probably the way I would choose to go. He would give us a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl run for a few years, and that would go a long way in drumming up support for the new stadium.
They need to add a veteran
The longer this goes the less time Ponder gets to be practice with his coaches and all of his teammates. Lots of attention on the WRs not showing up but nothing said about the offensive line not showing up. Funny. You think Hutch is going to fly to Florida to work out with a rookie who has not done anything yet and could be the next Brady Quinn or Matt Leinart (I hope not)?
The Vikings owe it to this veteran team to add a veteran QB who will give them a better shot at winning than Ponder. These players could only have a couple of years left and probably do not want to waste then while a rookie QB struggles (which he will as they all do). Of course they have no say but I think it is wiser considering there has been no OTAs and mini camps. If there were these workouts and they were able to work with Ponder then I could see them giving it more consideration to start Ponder.
The Vikings could rebound and get back to their 2009 form IF the offensive line can stay healthy and play better. Much better. Having Ponder is great and bringing him along slowly is the most logical choice as this CBA mess drags out. Also, he is just one play away from starting anyway and will more than likely see some playing time.
I would add a veteran and bring Ponder along at the most appropriate pace that is in direct correlation to his time spent working out with his entire offense. Throwing passes down in Florida is good but he also needs to go over line calls with the offensive line too.
I agree,
Especially with the way things are going with the Lockout.
Ponder is missing out on some very important OTA’s this year.
Ponder is nowhere ready to take on the likes of the Packers and Lions D this year. :)
Bringing in a Veteran FA is a good idea. Let the Vet come in and run the Offense for this year, while Ponder adjusts to the NFL.
"we're all well aware the Christian Ponder is the future quarterback"
We are?
I’d like to see him do something first, don’t you think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourselves?
by CMDR on Jun 5, 2011 8:57 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise
Webb – 6th round
Ponder – 12th overall pick
Webb – ‘nowhere near ready’, according to a team source
Ponder – ’we’d like him to start on day one’
Trust me. It’s a DONE deal. Whether or not he proves he’s ready, Webb is not beating Ponder on the depth chart.
If it was a DONE deal, don't you think they would have moved Webb to WR already,
Instead of wasting time trying to make him into a backup QB?
Where Webb was drafted compared to Ponder is not the sole deciding factor. The guy who gives the Vikings the best chance to win will be the one starting, period.
Now, that is not to say that Ponder will not get some preference, but if Webb outperforms Ponder it would be stupid to start CP7 over Webb. Hell, we don’t know if Ponder is anywhere near ready either, which is why there is talk of a Veteran QB.
Ponders "Guaranteed Millions" definitely gives him the edge on starting before Webb.
but I agree, Ponder should have to earn in.
If Webb, or any other QB they bring in is the better QB, then that’s who they should go with.
With no FA, they really can’t make any moves.
For all we know, the Vikings could bring in a FAQB, and Webb could get bumped to 3rd string….or maybe even WR/KR.
Webb was a 6th round pick, so it’s not like it’s START or BUST with him.
I just don't think that...
the team would rather pay a guy 10 million dollars and lose than pay a guy 10 million dollars and win? Either way, they are paying him the same amount of money.
I'm sure we all agree that the best man deserves the job,
but what i’m saying is, the Vikings are paying a boat load more money on Ponder than they are Webb, so the Vikings will most likely spend more of their resources on Ponder than they will Webb.
I think Ponder will have to fall on his face, or get injured to lose the job to Webb.
so the Vikings will most likely spend more of their resources on Ponder than they will Webb.
No argument from me there.
I think Ponder will have to fall on his face, or get injured to lose the job to Webb.
But this I just don’t think will happen. Frazier will put the best product on the field… period. If he does not, then he is stupid.
No
Unless he is completely clueless and unable to complete a pass, he’s is going to be the starter, sooner rather than later. You don’t draft a QB in the top 15 and put him on the bench for two years.
Yes, he has to earn it, but when the HC says he wants him starting week 1, he’s going to be given every opportunity and benefit of the doubt to be the starter on opening day.
"Lord I pray for the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a lion and the balls of a combat helicopter pilot."
What I mean is
Its guaranteed that he’ll be “a” future quarterback. But I don’t see where the confidence level is coming from that he’ll be “the” future quarterback.
I lot of QBs with a lot better college careers have fizzled at the next level.
Its not if hes going to start or not....
Its the question of is he THE FUTURE or not.
As much as people want to say HES CRAP, its got about as much chance of coming true as those that say hes God’s gift.
If we play this season and hes NOT starting, someone needs to answer for that.
Like him or not, hes the 12th pick of the draft, he better be in a uni throwing a damn ball Day 1.
**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**
Like him or not, hes the 12th pick of the draft, he better be in a uni throwing a damn ball Day 1.
why? that is pretty short sighted, imo. what if we get a good vet in here to lead the way and let ponder develop for the long haul? what if ponder gets injured and can’t play? what if he just stinks it up and gets hammered and throws a bunch of pick-sixes?
none of those questions can be answered at this time. why place an ultimatum onto the situation?
the team has more problems than just the qb situation. what about protecting him with an o-line?
Because
all i get to hear from people on here is how great and pro ready he is…
Hes not a 2nd round pick.
He was a first round pick I expect his butt throwing day 1.
Why, because I do :)
How is that short sighted?
He needs to take some hits, if he cant take hits behind the line, then we have bigger problems.
**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**
How is that short sighted?
i think it is short sighted to put an ultimatum out there that if he is not starting this season…
because we don’t know what is going to happen yet…how a variety of things will play out.
we are still in a lock out, he is not even signed, we are installing a new offense, our o-line sucks balls, who are the wrs going to be, we don’t know if there will be training camp…
many things could happen between now and when/if the season gets underway. if this guy is to be “the future”, then i think it would be wise to develop him and the team around him to ensure that he is the future, for the long haul.
phillip rivers sat for his first 2 seasons. aaron rodgers sat for his first 3 seasons.
they benefitted from developing behind veterans. maybe ponder will have that chance.
if there is no training camp, and the vikes toss ponder out there, and he gets crushed and injured because he doesn’t know what he is doing or if the o-line doesn’t know their new assignments, and then he misses the rest of the season recovering…
do you expect somebody to answer to that too?
OK so let me get this straight....
I spent weeks hearing how READY he is, how hes GREAT and the BEST and wow he shoots rainbows out his butt…Hes starring this mini camps hes getting together with Player A and Player B is excited to work with him and blah blah blah.
Now i expect him to start day 1 since hes this “great” QB and youre pissed?
He was the 12th pick overall, he was the savior or the Viks pick, he has been touted as this by the news, by the fans here, and by the coach who said he wanted him to start DAY 1…
Now yes we have now all had a shot of reality about who really is and isnt speaking to him and who is and isnt actually even praticing with him or contacting him to the point they care to see a playbook…HOWEVER.
YES I expect him to start. I dont care what you call it, i call it a 1st round pick doing what he was picked to do.
My opinion.
**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**
Now i expect him to start day 1…and youre pissed?
“…and youre pissed?” huh, where are you coming up with that?
i said that it would be short sighted to place an ultimatum on him starting right away. that’s it. and, i explained in detail why, two times now. if you WANT him to start, that’s fine with me. but to expect him to start just because people on a blog pump him up doesn’t seem to consider all of the various possbilities of the situation (third time).
this is going nowhere. i hope it all works out for the best.
How about...
Because the coach has pumped him up, not just the arm chair coaches here.
And the amount of jumping on 1 part of my post and running with it is where you seem rather, lets go with upset then, since pissed seems to, upset you too.
I know there are a variety of possibilities, HOWEVER this kid was not drafted behind a team with a Vet QB already in position.
he was drafted for 1 reason, to play QB out the gate, why is my expecting him to be what he was drafted short sighted?
Because of the lockout?
Hes the only player with the play book possibly.
Hes working out we keep reading about.
Technically he may be the most prep’d Oside person come start since hes has more time then anyone to work the new system.
And ive now explained in detail 3 times why, if you want to explain in detail the same thing a 3rd time you can, but agree to disagree and lets all move on.
My opinion, again.
**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**
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