vikings/nfl

I've defended Ponder since day 1, but today was his worst game. His inconsistency could derail this season if the Vikings aren't careful. Ponder needs to step it up and if that means audibles at the line, so be it. Christian, if this is YOUR team, then take it over.

Ponder is not a "playmaker" and has no clue how to be one. Our playmaker (Joe Webb) sits on the bench. Simpson was down field 4 times today waiting for the ball and Ponder didn't even look his way. And the coaching staff should have their butt kicked for letting it continue game after game. We are 5-2 by accident. Wait until we play some real teams!

Very lucky to play a team with no QB. Did Harvin go home at the half? Musgrave goes into his play calling conservative shell in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Also, what was their longest throw of the day 12 yards? Other teams keep the foot on the gas, but this team always thinks these leads will hold. They wont when they play a good qb.

Ponder is brutal and getting worse.

Happy for the win. Any win in the NFL is hard to get... so kudos to the team. But.. and that's a big BUT... Ponder is regressing. 4 yards of passing in the 2nd half. Constant three and outs in the 2nd half. We need wins now because Ponder's play will not beat Chicago, G.B.,or Houston. In the last 6 games we could maybe beat St.Louis with Ponder's game falling off so much, but that's it. He is constantly throwing behind receivers now. You notice he can even hit his best friend, Kyle Rudolph, out in the flat. Rudolph is ALWAYS

(sorry about sending in the middle of the sentence) Rudolph is always reaching behind and trying to make a circus catch or just bat the ball down. Happy for ANY win ... but really concerned about Ponder and how his game has just disappeared when we need it the most.

Ponder is NOT the answer. He's just good enough not give up on.....and he's clearly not good enough to win long-term with. I'm afraid we're going to waste 3 years on him before we figure it out. He just doesn't make enough plays.

To all the Green Bay fans that post on the Strib.. HA!!! Can not wait for Green Bay to come to town!! Kalil was the right pick and Smith is going to save a lot of college scouts there jobs on the Vikings payroll.

Ponder catches heat, but let's remember that virtually no one would have predicted the Vikings to be at 5-2 seven games into the season. The Bears, Lions and Packers were supposed to dominate. Ponder is not yet an established NFL quarterback. He's still learning and I think that anyone who is expecting the level of play at his position of (say) an Antoine Winfield or a Jared Allen at theirs is being totally unrealistic. Don't be seduced by the gaudy record--8-8 or maybe 9-7 is probably a realistic expectation at this point and real playoff success is probably several years down the road. The Vikings are doing this right--bringing in a promising quarterback prospect and letting him learn his position with the team, rather than their usual habit of bringing in a tired old retread and trying to wring a passable year or two out of him. Ponder will have success, but he'll need to do his learning and make his mistakes first.

No one can say our defense is a problem. Peterson is having a good season and so is Harvin. That said the Vikes have some issues. Simpson can't stay healthy and his biggest contribution are getting DB's to commit pass interferince. I like the callls, but would like to see some receptions! The biggest problem we have is Ponder. He started out the season great and is getting worse each game. If defenses can get pressure on Ponder he makes poor decisions. In the last 3 games he has thrown more interceptions than TD's. I know he is a young QB, but wasn't one of his strengths being smart? I hope he can work this out sooner rather than later. We haven't got to the tough part of the schedule.