Drafter Strangelove: Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Christian Ponder

As long as Ponders starting, I’ll be awatching

A) Do you think Ponder has what it takes to step in and be the Vikings’ starter when the Vikings go to San Diego in Week 1? (Or, you know, whenever we start playing NFL games.)
I do not only because I believe in CP7’s ability but also because I don’t think there’s a better QB on the roster right now.

2) What are your perceptions of Ponder’s strengths and weaknesses? What kinds of things did he still struggle a bit with by the end of his Florida State career?
His strengths are his passion, intelligence, and mobility. His greatest weakness IMO is his passion. FTR, his arm strength is not a concern. His passes will have zip as long as he’s healthy.

D) Should Viking fans be concerned about Ponder’s injury history?
No. I don’t think he’s injury prone at all. The reason his passion is a double edged sword is because he will put himself in precarious positions because he wants to win so badly. With a supremely talented team around him, I don’t think he will continue to do that. It was necessary here because we weren’t what we used to be. He didn’t have the horses.

Ponder > Locker) What are some of your favorite memories that Christian Ponder provided for you as a Florida State fan?
My favorite memory is his last home game. Losing to your most hated rival six times in a row is tough. We NEEDED to win. Despite being hurt (damn near injured) CP went out and gave us that win. He’s had better statistical performances before but IMO that November game summed up who he is as a competitor and will be his defining game as a Nole.

CP7) Has Ponder being drafted by Minnesota made you more apt to cheer for the Vikings (for those of you that follow the NFL)?
I will be watching and cheering for Minny. I think you have a good one at QB and I hope he gives you guys as many reasons to love him as he did for us.

1) Do you think Ponder has what it takes to step in and be the Vikings’ starter when the Vikings go to San Diego in Week 1? (Or, you know, whenever we start playing NFL games.)

He did a lot with less talent (especially receivers) on this team. The idea of Ponder with a full set of weapons makes me giggle a little. Not gonna lie. Will he be ready? He’s got as good or better a shot than just about any other rookie ever has, in my opinion.

2) What are your perceptions of Ponder’s strengths and weaknesses? What kinds of things did he still struggle a bit with by the end of his Florida State career?

Strengths: Immense character, intelligent, driven, absolute competitor (to a fault). Masters the playbook and reads the hell out of defenses. Drives them nuts making reads. I wouldn’t call it a strength, but his arm is far better than he’s given credit for. There are video clips of him throwing off his back foot on the run across his body into the end zone way downfield, and that ball had zip. He’s got an arm.

Weaknesses: needs to protect himself a little better, wouldn’t mind if he was a few inches taller (though he’s tall enough). Occasionally stares down receivers, but I kind of don’t blame him on this as his receivers were very sketchy at times. A lot of “bad throws” were blown routes, in my opinion and others agree.

3) Should Viking fans be concerned about Ponder’s injury history?

I don’t think so, except in the context of making some better decisions to protect himself. He’s not injury prone so much as fearless, and that probably needs to be dialed back a little. He separated his shoulder running down an interception and lowering the boom on the guy. The “elbow injury” reported so widely wasn’t even his elbow, just a freak injury to his arm that got misdiagnosed and aggravated. Both injuries have nothing to do with fragility, so no, I wouldn’t be concerned at all. Just pissed that you get him completely healthy now and wish we’d had him that way the whole year!

4) What are some of your favorite memories that Christian Ponder provided for you as a Florida State fan?

2009 was a great performance year for Christian and 2010 had even more potential. Without the arm injury and some issues on the O-line, who knows what kind of year he (and FSU) could’ve had? The Miami and Florida games (2010) stand out the most for me now.

5) Has Ponder being drafted by Minnesota made you more apt to cheer for the Vikings (for those of you that follow the NFL)?

Definitely yes, but I’m not wearing purple. :)

Congrats on the great pick, I think you guys done good.

Why was Dalton your personal top guy?

definitely pulling for the vikes now..congrats on the pick. can’t believe he’ll be throwing to harvin after what that kid did to us for years, but c’est la vie. the injury issues really were freak ones, especially the one this year (just bad luck) that never had the time to properly heal. notice how the shoulder issues from 09 weren’t really discussed, only that he “had the injury”? he’s had time to heal and i think should be alright. i just worry about the OL y’all have, fans don’t seem too excited about its future.

ponder is a fantastic guy, everything you’d want in a QB for your team. jimbo teaches a complex, NFL style multiple scheme….so ponder should be ready. good luck to you!

1) Do you think Ponder has what it takes to step in and be the Vikings’ starter when the Vikings go to San Diego in Week 1? (Or, you know, whenever we start playing NFL games.)
Yes (short answer. others have covered more detail). Jimbo did say he’s the best he’s every had, and he’s put 11 QB’s in the league.

2) Both a strength and a weakness: The guy never wants to come out of the game, even when hurt. You obviously want this attribute, but sometimes you need to heal.

3) Should Viking fans be concerned about Ponder’s injury history?
No. He didn’t sustain any injuries standing in the pocket, or doing any routing QB activity. He got them doing thing usually reserved for LB, Safeties, RB. He didn’t shy away from contact.

4) What are some of your favorite memories that Christian Ponder provided for you as a Florida State fan?

There are many over the past few seasons, and I’m sure I’ve left some out:

98 yd TD pass in the “Comeback” vs UNC in 2009 (really, the entire 2nd Half)

2008 vs miami. Caught miami off-guard. Really the first game that showed his quickness and ability as a runner.

2009 Season: Ponder will be remembered as one of the guys that returned FSU football to relevance. He put the team on his back, and kept the bowl streak alive (longest in college football). If this come from behind victory doesn’t happen vs UNC, this streak is probably over.

2009 vs Georgia Tech: Ponder was 26 of 36 with 359 yards passing, 5 TDs AND LOST!!! And he connected with 8 Different receivers in that game. Add that to one of his strengths. He trusts his receivers and will throw to whoever is open.

2009 @ BYU

2010: Beatdowns of Miami and Florida.

5) Absolutely. There are other FSU players that have been drafted that I want to do well, but I don’t really keep up with them or pull for there teams. Ponder is a different story. He’s definitely a guy that I want to pull for in the NFL, and I will be pulling for the Vikings. After the pick I looked at my wife said, “I guess we’re Viking fans now”.

Keep in mind, I’m not a huge NFL guy, but pulling for the Vikings is no easy task for somebody that grew up a Falcons fan. I have fond memories of the Falcons come from behind victory over the Vikings to make it to the superbowl. That being said, I can’t say that I won’t be pulling for Ponder/Viking when they play the Falcons moving forward. Ponder is a guy you want to pull for, and meant alot to the FSU program during our rebuilding years.

It would be interesting to see the number of Viking jerseys sold in Florida this year.

1) Do you think Ponder has what it takes to step in and be the Vikings’ starter when the Vikings go to San Diego in Week 1?

He may have to, and though he may even be good, neither the Vikings’ nor Ponder’s long-term interests are best served in that situation. As wonderful as I think Ponder is, he’s still gonna be a rookie.
A better situation would be to get a veteran QB with a similar style of play to not only be a stopgap, but also to mentor the young Ponder for a year. My favorite person for this would be Donovan McNabb-he’s a free agent, his style of play was similar to Ponder’s earlier in his career, and the Vikings could get him at a decent price when the labor situation clears up.

2) What are your perceptions of Ponder’s strengths and weaknesses? What kinds of things did he still struggle a bit with by the end of his Florida State career?

Strengths:
A) Very mobile. He’s able to scramble for positive yardage, yet does not rely on his legs so much that they are a crutch that hindered his development a la early-career Michael Vick. Again, I am reminded of early-career Donovan McNabb.
2) Has great mechanics and good arm strength-he’s accurate, on time and has a tight spiral. He can also throw the deep ball. This video is from 2009 and was a play that was called back due to a holding penalty. It shows what Ponder is capable of-a 50+ yard throw, with accuracy, that was made on the run and thrown across his body.
D) As everyone says, his intangibles are tremendous. Ponder’s got intelligence to burn, he’s very disciplined, studies film religiously, learns the playbook inside and out, and can read defenses like he’s listening to the opposing DC’s Telex.
Weaknesses:
A) The biggest one is that he can be reckless with his body. The injury that caused the shoulder separation happened when he decided to lead with his throwing shoulder while tackling a safety who intercepted his pass, and he’s never been good at remembering to slide at the end of a scramble. He absolutely has to work on preserving his body in the future.
2) Ponder has worked with a TE with catching ability, but he was nowhere near as gifted and productive as Shiancoe is. Until Ponder gets acclimated to the system, Visanthe will be pining for the looks he got from Brett Favre.
D) He did stare down some of his receivers this past year, but this is less of a concern for me. FSU’s receivers were a glaring weakness in the early part of last year and did not run their routes reliably. Many of the incompletions and interceptions from last year happened because the receiver, not the ball, was in the wrong place. That did not happen nearly as much in 2009 (our receivers were much better then) and it makes me think it will not be a problem when he gets to Minnesota.

3) Should Viking fans be concerned about Ponder’s injury history?

The injury history isn’t as much of a concern as his recklessness mentioned above. He did not injure his throwing shoulder twice as some of your reports say. Ponder injured his throwing shoulder in 2009 (the major injury), and the fascia surrounding his elbow in 2010 (outside of the elbow joint itself, and thus a minor injury). The two areas are NOT related, he has made a full recovery from both, and there should be no lingering weakness in his throwing arm.
He IS NOT “injury-prone” as some of your more vocal critics allege.

4) What are some of your favorite memories that Christian Ponder provided for you as a Florida State fan?

My favorite victories of his have got to be the huge victories over Florida and Miami this past year. Aside from them being our hated rivals, they were also total victories. Ponder, in particular, used all of his faculties to their fullest with impressive results in each of those games. Some of my favorite quotes from those games actually came from the opposing defenders-time and again they were in disbelief that they were so completely neutralized. Ponder read their defenses, adjusted his line’s blocking assignments, and checked the recievers into routes that took advantage of the flaws in their coverages.
The 2010 FSU-Florida game in particular bears looking at. Ponder completely dismantled a secondary run by former Cardinals DB coach Teryl Austin. It is perhaps his most complete performance to date.

5) Has Ponder being drafted by Minnesota made you more apt to cheer for the Vikings (for those of you that follow the NFL)?

It has. I cheered for the Tampa Bay Bucs when they took lots of Seminole greats in the late 1990s as well, so I have no problem rooting for teams who draft Seminoles. I also have no favorite teams in the NFC (I’m a Steelers fan), so I’m definitely ready to cheer on the Vikes on the few occasions they’re on TV down here in Florida.

2. Strengths are game management, checkdowns and audibles, and play action. Weakness is arm strength but play-action with Adrian Peterson would give him more room to fit passes into.
3. Injury history should always worry football teams but he’s a tough guy.
4. Favorite memories are beating Florida 31-7 in his final home game and rushing for something like 140 yds against Miami in Miami his sophomore year…it really showed how mobile he was.
5. I am definitely a fan of Minnesota now that he is there.

He has that CHARACTER. He’ll work harder, do more for the community, and set a better example than anybody out there. He’ll bring everyone up around him.

I think the reason most Noles absolutely love him, and are now Vikings fans, is because of what he did for FSU. Before Ponder, we had endured QBs who were lazy, prima donnas, bad decision makers, felons, and underachievers. Ponder came in as a legacy guy, a 3 star who was never supposed to start, and became a super-star. In the age of underachieving teams, Ponder stepped into a role that was never supposed to be his, and shined. He owned his leadership role, not just on the field, but as a representative of FSU.

I grew up in a Cowboys household, but I remember when I was younger I decided to rebel and pick another team. The team I chose was the Vikings. While I’ll probably still get depressed when the Cowpokes lose (it’s in my DNA), I’m sure I will legitimately root for the Vikes. I want to see Ponder – the guy who was never supposed to start at FSU, and now the guy who was not supposed to go that high in the draft – become a Minnesota legend, just as he is now a Seminole Legend.