Hartman: Musgrave says Ponder 'is making strides'

  • Article by: SID HARTMAN , Star Tribune
  • Updated: December 21, 2012 - 7:20 AM

The Vikings offensive coordinator saw similar growing pains while coaching Matt Ryan with Atlanta.

  • 42
  • Comments

  • Results per page:
reeksonDec. 20, 1211:04 PM

Oh, so now we're comparing Ponder with Matt Ryan? The better comparison is with Tarvaris Jackson, who Sid probably thought would be great too. If it wasn't for Ponder goofing up the season, especially the Green Bay game, the Vikings probably would be first in the division right now, at the very least, in the playoffs. He is a flop, plain and simple. Watch the team struggle for a few years before giving up on him.

38
12
tc2884Dec. 20, 1211:14 PM

ponder is making strides? funny i was noticing since I am seeing adrian peterson running circles over him....literally.

31
5
ndsulakesDec. 20, 1211:15 PM

im glad I got my dusty rychart fix sid! o wow, give it up!! Ponder will be fine, and why don't you do an article on the 32 Minnesota kids on NDSU football championship team!

11
12
bredpathDec. 21, 1212:08 AM

Ponder's regressing and that's the problem. He looks worse now than he did in the first month of the season. He's not learning from his mistakes either. By the way, how many times have any other starting QB's passed for under 100 yards in a game this season?

33
3
steveinvaDec. 21, 1212:49 AM

Ponder hasn't thrown a completion more than 20 yards in the air in over 5 games. Ryan did it in his first pass in the NFL and never looked back. If you can't throw deep, you can't be an NFL QB. See TJAC. Musgrave needs to go. Bring in Norv Turner.

31
5
jvikings21Dec. 21, 12 1:29 AM

Someone of you have no clue what you are talking about he doesnt need to rack up yards just play as good as he did last week and thats all we need..... the kids athletic as can be and shows serious potential you all just wait until he is a consistent nfl starter taking us deep into playoffs and then see if u r still hating on him

5
32
vikingblitzDec. 21, 12 2:20 AM

@jvikings21 We have seen him miss his reads on open guys time and time again. There is wide open and then there is "NFL open". Ponder lacks the confidence to make those tougher throws. And when he makes the throw, usually it is off the mark. Against the Bears, Wright had his defender beat by 3-4 yards for a TD. Ponder throws up a duck and it gets intercepted. Now the coaching staff is limiting his involvement to PA dump offs to Rudolph and slants to Simpson/Jenkins. He'll occasionally throw it deep to Wright to keep the defense honest, but never actually complete the pass. The rest is up to AD.

24
3
kcfrandDec. 21, 12 7:33 AM

"Furthermore, I have very good relations with some NFL coaches whose teams have faced Ponder, and they agree that the No. 7 overall pick in the 2011 draft has shown great improvement in his second season." Interesting point Sid. And here I thought Ponder's jersey number was 7 and he was the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft.

23
2
hitch22Dec. 21, 12 7:50 AM

Ponder is a decent back up QB... Nothing more. What I find funny is that Sid thinks that the most reliable person to ask about the progress of a player is the player's coach and one of the people responsible for drafting him. Don't believe your own eyes, Bill Musgrave and his 3x5 note card will tell you what you should really think.

19
2
zakfoxxDec. 21, 12 8:06 AM

Ok, let me get this straight. The reason Ponder hasn't had success like other young quarterback is because Peterson gets the ball too much and thows off Ponder's rhythm. That's rich.

23
2

Comment on this story   |  

ADVERTISEMENT

Tampa Bay - LP: C. Archer 1 FINAL
Boston - WP: A. Aceves 5
NY Mets - WP: M. Harvey 4 FINAL
Atlanta - LP: A. Wood 3
Los Angeles 0 Postponed
NY Yankees 0
Washington - LP: R. Detwiler 2 FINAL
Philadelphia - WP: C. Lee 4
Kansas City - LP: K. Herrera 3 FINAL
Cleveland - WP: C. Allen 4
Colorado - LP: J. Francis 3 FINAL
Toronto - WP: E. Rogers 8
Baltimore - WP: Z. Britton 5 FINAL
Detroit - LP: J. Verlander 2
NY Mets - WP: Z. Wheeler 6 FINAL
Atlanta - LP: P. Maholm 1
Pittsburgh - WP: C. Morton 4 FINAL
Cincinnati - LP: M. Latos 0
Oakland - WP: J. Parker 6 FINAL
Texas - LP: Y. Darvish 2
Tampa Bay - LP: J. Peralta 1 FINAL
Boston - WP: A. Bailey 3
Chicago WSox - LP: R. Troncoso 5 FINAL
Minnesota - WP: J. Burton 7
Milwaukee - LP: A. Figaro 1 FINAL
Houston - WP: J. Lyles 10
Chicago Cubs - WP: J. Samardzija 4 FINAL
St. Louis - LP: A. Wainwright 2
Miami - LP: C. Qualls 2 FINAL
Arizona - WP: D. Hernandez 3
Seattle - WP: C. Furbush 3 FINAL
LA Angels - LP: G. Richards 2
San Diego - LP: D. Thayer 4 FINAL
San Francisco - WP: J. Machi 5
San Antonio 100 FINAL
Miami 103
Montreal 6/20/13 6:00 PM
Toronto
Winnipeg 6/20/13 6:00 PM
Hamilton
Calgary 6/20/13 9:00 PM
Saskatchewan
Edmonton 6/21/13 9:00 PM
Brt Columbia
Montreal 6/27/13 8:00 PM
Winnipeg
Washington 86 FINAL
Seattle 96
Connect with twitterConnect with facebookConnect with Google+Connect with PinterestConnect with PinterestConnect with RssfeedConnect with email newsletters

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Date/Opponent Time W L Score
2013 preseason     
Aug 9 - vs. Houston 7 pm
Aug 16 - at Buffalo 6 pm
Aug 25 - at San Francisco 7 pm
Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee 7 pm
2013 regular season     
Sep 8 - at Detroit Noon
Sep 15 - at Chicago Noon
Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland Noon
Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London) Noon
Oct 6 - Bye
Oct 13 - vs. Carolina Noon
Oct 21 - at. NY Giants 7:40 pm
Oct 27 - vs. Green Bay 7:30 pm
Nov 3 - at Dallas Noon
Nov 7 - vs. Washington 7:25 pm
Nov 17 - at Seattle 3:25 pm
Nov. 24 - at Green Bay Noon
Dec 1 - vs. Chicago Noon
Dec 8 - at Baltimore Noon
Dec 15 - vs. Philadelphia Noon
Dec 22 - at Cincinnati Noon
Dec 29 - vs. Detroit Noon

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT