The Vikings Offense

[BEEFEATER]

The vikings Offense= Percy Harvin and A.P!!!! Thats it, no joke... Simpson is pathetic, Trade Him. Harvin finally has another season were he is-int blinded by migraines and theres no offense there to support him. I mean A.P is a baller but hey........ Gerhart/rudolph/jenkins?????????????? Jerome "One memorable Play Simpson?????

[schmitty3]

There was a reason the Bengals let Simpson go. He was never a big time player, but that's what the Viking do. Bring in mediocre at best talent and expect them to turn into a top talent.

[LMITOUT]

The vikings Offense= Percy Harvin and A.P!!!! Thats it, no joke... Simpson is pathetic, Trade Him. Harvin finally has another season were he is-int blinded by migraines and theres no offense there to support him. I mean A.P is a baller but hey........ Gerhart/rudolph/jenkins?????????????? Jerome "One memorable Play Simpson?????

You're just realizing that now?

[harvey lee]

Ponder can also go, the Vikes will never be a great team with an at best, average QB.

I realize the Vikes are rebuilding but by the time they are ready to maybe contend, AP will be worn out.

[nofishfisherman]

In fairness to Ponder I actually thought he looked a little better this week. Certainly not great but at least better.

He took some shots down the field and actually put the ball right where it needed to be a few times. Simpson had a nice over the shoulder throw go right between his hands, Ponder put it right on the spot but his the recievers did not hold up their end of the deal. They also showed several replays of the WR's running routes down field and none of them were getting open.

THe other thing I saw that changed from the games I saw earlier in the year was he was throwing the ball out of bounds when nothing developed. Last week he was holding the ball and trying to buy time only to make a dangerous throw or take a sack. Its not something that will show up in the stat line or probably get fans raving but it was an improvment that he needed to make.

I'm far from convinced that Ponder is our guy for the future but we're going to have to go with him the remainder of the year because thats the only way we are going to find out for sure.

One other thing I noticed last night is that he seems to try to finese every throw. He tries to put some loft on the deep ball or just toss a nice easy pass over the middle. I kind of want him to just take the ball and fire it in there with some authority. Stick the dang ball on the WR's chest and say here catch the darn thing. With all these finese throws it seems like it gives defenders an extra half second to react to the throw. Ponder just seems to have a little too much Baby Jesus in him. I want to see a little attitude and a little "I'm going to ram this ball down your throat" kind of intensity.

[EBass]

Right before the first snap the camera zoomed in on Ponder. I could see the fear in his eyes. The Bucs D-line did as well.

He doesn't have the swagger, the fire, the hunger or something. Whatever the "IT" factor is he doesn't have it.

Oh well, worst case is 5-11

[BartmanMN]

Makes a guy really miss watching Favre at work. Man would it be great to have an awesome QB again.

[nofishfisherman]

Man would it be great to have an awesome QB again.

Most of the leaugue is saying the same thing. The leauge is full of teams with average QB's and a few teams with great QB's. The truth is until you can find one of those 1/1,000,000 QB's you have to learn to win with an average one.

[MUSKY18]

In fairness to Ponder.....it is rather hard to have a good game when his offensive line couldn't block pop warner team. How many times did Ponder not even get back from the line of scrimmage to set up before he was being tackled or hit? Sullivan snaps the ball like a toddler, Loadholt is and has been worthless since they drafted him. he just takes up space. Notice how many blitzes came from Kalil's side last night? They made him look like the true rookie he is. It all starts up front and right now we don't have an up front. Don't know what happened, but all of a sudden our O Line got really bad.

[BEEFEATER]

You're just realizing that now?

[SkunkedAgain]

The leauge is full of teams with average RB's and a few teams with great RB's. The truth is until you can find one of those 1/1,000,000 RB's you have to learn to win with an average one.

I fixed that for ya. As the wise, old sage Sheryl Crow once said "It's not having what you want but wanting what you've got"

[BEEFEATER]

Its all about dropping 15 mill on Brett Favre ta make a surprise comeback back in time for seahawks game. Theirs plenty of time ta fly em up here. Dude don’t need ta practice. No reason he cant play, other then his hi turn over ratio in critical situations.... hes good for a couple seasons yet. We'd make the playoffs this season and win the Superbowl next season if A.P and Harvin stayed Healthy, Plus Hed have all next spring ta practice etc etc.........

[Musky Buck]

Would it be a real tragedy to let Joe Webb play ? Give Ponder some time to regroup and watch and learn some more, he could be beat up some now also, I know it's against NFL code to switch guys etc. but ? Breathe some offensive life back into the group.

[Scott K]

I think Webb has a better game then Ponder, but I cant imagine the Vikings switching QB's now. Unless Ponder went down.

[harvey lee]

I don't see Leslie ever changing from Ponder, they will go down together in time.

The guy just does not appear to have it. I agree out O line is average at best but with AP and Harv, Ponder should be doing better. Maybe we need to change our play calling up a bit.

I wonder if we will even win more than one more game?

[Slabasaurus]

I wonder if we will even win more than one more game?

Maybe. But it won't be the vikes winning so much as the other teams losing.

[Scott K]

Ponder has a terrible deep pass, it looks like my deep passes. Just a sky high lob. He must not be able to rifle the ball in there. Not a huge deal, but we need to stop tossing it deep then. They need to work on his decision making, which is mental, and can be coached. His short passes, need a little more zip on them as well. Ponder will be a good serviceable QB, if he can be allowed, and coached to play to "HIS" strengths. I have brought this up before, he reminds me a lot of Brad Johnson, and Brad was a decent QB, and he just needed a coach, a system, and some decent receivers, and TE's that can catch the ball. Simpson, is just a decoy in the Ponders type of strength, some one to make the field spread out a bit, and to throw the ball deep to, a couple times a game.

The Vikes have a few good players, players they can "BUILD AROUND", another good draft like last years, and a couple good play makers from FA, and the coaching staff to make the game plan around Ponders strengths, we could be a 11 game winner next season, and able to compete for the division lead.

A good coaching staff will make plays for their players, and not make plays that is beyond their players playing abilities. Now the coaching have seen what Ponders limits are, lets see if they can make some plays he can complete. I think the short week, didnt give the Vikes enough time to prepare, but we will be ready for the next game, and we will come out with a big win next weekend, and I rarely predict a Vikings win.

[Musky Buck]

Have we or do we have anyone with the guts like Keyshawn Johnson used to have and run a slant across the middle or is that play just not happening in our concussed NFL ? If I were like a Michael Jenkins I'd be begging for that route. Or can we copy like the Bears there wide receiver screens ? Just thinking back to week 1 and those quick throws to Percy and let him do his thing, these are quick short pass plays are are safe from int's and may get Ponder in some rhythm when needed ? Musgrave must wonder what to do what to call these floaters are hold your breath heaves.

[nofishfisherman]

Thats mainly how they have used Harvin. Short passes, bubble screens, simply tossing it to him and the line of scrimmage and let him beat his defender, short crossing routes, etc. When they do it they have moved the ball pretty well, not sure why they get away from it. Seems a steady dose of short passes to Harvin and running AP should move the ball pretty consistently.

[zepman]

Not comparing him to the strongest arms in the NFL but...

Ponder has all the physical tools to throw the ball deep on a rope...he just won't do it....or they won't let him.

Either way, it's concerning....

[fishersofmen]

Yea I don't see Ponder breaking any receivers fingers any time soon (aka the Silver Fox). Better figure something out soon though cause tossing up those marshmellows isn't going to work in this league. Defensive backs are seeing these floaters on film and drooling at the mouth for upcoming games vs the Purple.

[Big Dave2]

Not comparing him to the strongest arms in the NFL but...

Ponder has all the physical tools to throw the ball deep on a rope...he just won't do it....or they won't let him.

Either way, it's concerning....

[Snag]

Ponder needs to be Drew Brees. I don't think he has enough upside to be that guy. I think we got a dud and it will be Joe Webb at the end of the year.

[zepman]

That ranking may be true Big Dave...I won't argue with it, but it certainly doesn't mean he isn't capable of throwing the ball 30-40 yards downfield with authority.

I've seen him in Mankato for two years...trust me, he can throw the ball when he wants.

Too bad we never get to see it...

[nofishfisherman]

How does that ranking rate arm strength? Do they have all 32 QB's stand on the goal line and see who can throw it the furthest? Or is it based on the throws they see them make in game? If that is the case then its not a very accurate ranking since some offenses throw a ton of deep balls and some (like the Vikings) don't throw many at all.

I also think arm strength is an overrated measurement, to a point. As long as a QB has the arm strength to make accurate throws in the 30-40-50 yard range (which most NFL QB's probably can) then I think the arm strength is fine. THere are QB's that can probably put it 70 yards if they need to but how many times do you actually see a 60-70 yard pass play with the ball in the air the entire 60-70 yards, almost never. So as long as a QB has at least average arm strength he'll be fine.