A closer look at the biggest surprise in the draft.
When Jake Locker was selected 8th overall to the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select Blaine Gabbert 10th overall many thought the Minnesota Vikings would not be selecting a quarterback with the 12th overall pick. Then as the pick came in and it was announced... "With the 12th pick in the NFL Draft the Minnesota Vikings select... Christian Ponder, Quarterback, Florida State." I think everybody was shocked and to some Viking fans anger set in.
My initial reaction just after the pick was my honest feelings about the pick. Why would they reach for a quarterback instead of trading back or possibly trading up?
Spielman acknowledged there was talk of trying to made a trade with Dallas to move up to the ninth pick and get Gabbert. "I know Jacksonville ended up giving a one and a second-round pick for Blaine," Spielman said. "We weren't going to be able to do that." That is in large part due to the Vikings not having their third-round pick, having traded it to New England last year in the deal for Randy Moss. The Vikings only had one pick (43rd overall) in the second round and going the rest of the draft without a pick until round four was just not an option. For months, vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman have said they would look to recoup the third-round pick the Vikings squandered in an October trade for Randy Moss. The team did attempt to trade down while on the clock, so we have to give them credit for that, but there were no suitors willing to move up. Also there stood a very good chance that Ponder would have been picked by Miami (15) or Washington (16) which could have been the reason they traded back with Jacksonville in the first place. There was no way they could have gotten Ponder with their second round pick (43rd overall). The last time the Vikings took a flier on a second round quarterback they thought would one day develop into a starter, namely Tarvaris Jackson who was drafted in the second-round of the 2006 NFL Draft, it set them back and led to a series of short-term band-aid solutions with bringing in veterans such as Brett Favre. All this only delayed the inevitable decision to move on from the failure that Tarvaris was. Neither Spielman nor coach Leslie Frazier claimed he was their first choice but the draft saw three quarterbacks selected in the top 10 for the first time since 1999. Following Cam Newton (No. 1 to Carolina), Jake Locker (No. 8 to Tennessee) and Blaine Gabbert (No. 10 to Jacksonville) the Vikings obviously felt Ponder was the best quarterback left. Spielman called Ponder "one of our top-rated quarterbacks" who was "right there in the mix" with other quarterbacks he evaluated.
The Vikings ultimately decided it was best to take a chance on Christian Ponder being that elusive franchise quarterback and made Ponder only the third quarterback to be taken in the first round in the franchise's 51-year history, joining Tommy Kramer (1977) and Daunte Culpepper (1999).
"The thing that we went back and forth on," Spielman said, "was this: 'When are you going to get another chance to swing?' If we didn't get a quarterback this year that we liked, then maybe we're looking at a quarterback next year. Who knows what the quarterback class is next year? And I know we're sure as heck not planning on picking at No. 12."
While many still feel this pick was a reach let me make the argument for how the Vikings justified this as the right pick to make. If he pans out who cares where he was picked? This wait and see approach is a little hard for me to get behind but ultimately it's what has to happen.
My initial reaction just after the pick was my honest feelings about the pick. Why would they reach for a quarterback instead of trading back or possibly trading up?
Spielman acknowledged there was talk of trying to made a trade with Dallas to move up to the ninth pick and get Gabbert. "I know Jacksonville ended up giving a one and a second-round pick for Blaine," Spielman said. "We weren't going to be able to do that." That is in large part due to the Vikings not having their third-round pick, having traded it to New England last year in the deal for Randy Moss. The Vikings only had one pick (43rd overall) in the second round and going the rest of the draft without a pick until round four was just not an option. For months, vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman have said they would look to recoup the third-round pick the Vikings squandered in an October trade for Randy Moss. The team did attempt to trade down while on the clock, so we have to give them credit for that, but there were no suitors willing to move up. Also there stood a very good chance that Ponder would have been picked by Miami (15) or Washington (16) which could have been the reason they traded back with Jacksonville in the first place. There was no way they could have gotten Ponder with their second round pick (43rd overall). The last time the Vikings took a flier on a second round quarterback they thought would one day develop into a starter, namely Tarvaris Jackson who was drafted in the second-round of the 2006 NFL Draft, it set them back and led to a series of short-term band-aid solutions with bringing in veterans such as Brett Favre. All this only delayed the inevitable decision to move on from the failure that Tarvaris was. Neither Spielman nor coach Leslie Frazier claimed he was their first choice but the draft saw three quarterbacks selected in the top 10 for the first time since 1999. Following Cam Newton (No. 1 to Carolina), Jake Locker (No. 8 to Tennessee) and Blaine Gabbert (No. 10 to Jacksonville) the Vikings obviously felt Ponder was the best quarterback left. Spielman called Ponder "one of our top-rated quarterbacks" who was "right there in the mix" with other quarterbacks he evaluated.
The Vikings ultimately decided it was best to take a chance on Christian Ponder being that elusive franchise quarterback and made Ponder only the third quarterback to be taken in the first round in the franchise's 51-year history, joining Tommy Kramer (1977) and Daunte Culpepper (1999).
"The thing that we went back and forth on," Spielman said, "was this: 'When are you going to get another chance to swing?' If we didn't get a quarterback this year that we liked, then maybe we're looking at a quarterback next year. Who knows what the quarterback class is next year? And I know we're sure as heck not planning on picking at No. 12."
While many still feel this pick was a reach let me make the argument for how the Vikings justified this as the right pick to make. If he pans out who cares where he was picked? This wait and see approach is a little hard for me to get behind but ultimately it's what has to happen.
What does Ponder bring as a player?
In Ponder the Vikings get undoubtedly one of the smartest quarterbacks in the draft. Ponder scored a 37 on his Wonderlic test and has earned All-ACC Academic honors three straight years which is given to those who combine academic prowess with on-field excellence.
Ponder graduated at FSU in only two and a half years and earned his Master's in finance before spending last season working on a second graduate degree in sports management. Clearly, the Vikings who will soon be giving Ponder millions in a guaranteed contract, don't have to worry about their QB's study habits. |
A QB in the NFL has total control of their teams offense and therefore must have a complete understanding of the playbook and the concepts they are trying to run effectively. A large part in playing quarterback successfully has nothing to do with arm strength or throw accuracy or any other physical requirement but rather the mental aspects of the position.
One of the most important abilities a quarterback must have to play the position at the NFL level is the ability to read defenses. Not only during the play in split second decisions but presnap when going to the line to identify the blitzers and call the protections or even audible his team into the right play.
"Being able to comprehend everything that's going on, and the way I prepare," Ponder said was his greatest asset. "I watch a lot of film and I'm going to be the hardest worker on my team."
Ponder can run a huddle, call a play, and then go to the line and do everything to get his team set up for success on that play and then make the correct reads and convert the pass with sound decision-making and poise in the pocket. His ability to do those things means he should be able to play earlier then some of the other QB's taken in the draft which is why I'm sure the Vikings felt confident enough to draft him as high as they did. Besides his ability to understand protections and make reads the Vikings must have fell in love with the accuracy Ponder showcases on his passes.
One of the most important abilities a quarterback must have to play the position at the NFL level is the ability to read defenses. Not only during the play in split second decisions but presnap when going to the line to identify the blitzers and call the protections or even audible his team into the right play.
"Being able to comprehend everything that's going on, and the way I prepare," Ponder said was his greatest asset. "I watch a lot of film and I'm going to be the hardest worker on my team."
Ponder can run a huddle, call a play, and then go to the line and do everything to get his team set up for success on that play and then make the correct reads and convert the pass with sound decision-making and poise in the pocket. His ability to do those things means he should be able to play earlier then some of the other QB's taken in the draft which is why I'm sure the Vikings felt confident enough to draft him as high as they did. Besides his ability to understand protections and make reads the Vikings must have fell in love with the accuracy Ponder showcases on his passes.
Ponder completed 68.9 percent of his passes and averaged more than 300 yards per game as a junior at Florida State and despite his performance dip after the bursa sac injury last season he played through the arm injury most of the season and still improved statistically from his previous season. Despite a season-long battle with the arm injury, Ponder tossed a single-season, career-high 20 touchdown passes with only eight interceptions in 12 starts. He completed 184 of 299 pass attempts for 2,044 yards and rushed for 180 yards and equaled his single-season, career-high with four rushing touchdowns. Ponder and FSU also lead the ACC in third down conversions with 41 of his 45 third down pass completions going for either a touchdown or a first down (91.1%). In the red zone, Ponder went 29 of 47 (61.7%) for 234 yards and 16 touchdowns with just one interception.
He's one of, if not thee, most accurate passers in this draft class and a guy who has the ability to get surgical in between the hashes. I could see him becoming as good as Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers in this regard one day. The Vikings have the targets in Percy Harvin, pending free agent Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, and now Kyle Rudolph so they are built for success with the short and intermediate accurate passing game and Ponder has all those skills to get that done. His knowledge and understanding of NFL concepts and what defenses are trying to do will help him make the correct reads and get the ball out quickly and his experience with the footwork from taking snaps from under center and his solid fundamental throwing motion and will allow him to accurately put the ball on target. It's for these reasons that I believe Ponder, more so than any other QB in this draft class, will be able to come in and start right away.
He's one of, if not thee, most accurate passers in this draft class and a guy who has the ability to get surgical in between the hashes. I could see him becoming as good as Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers in this regard one day. The Vikings have the targets in Percy Harvin, pending free agent Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, and now Kyle Rudolph so they are built for success with the short and intermediate accurate passing game and Ponder has all those skills to get that done. His knowledge and understanding of NFL concepts and what defenses are trying to do will help him make the correct reads and get the ball out quickly and his experience with the footwork from taking snaps from under center and his solid fundamental throwing motion and will allow him to accurately put the ball on target. It's for these reasons that I believe Ponder, more so than any other QB in this draft class, will be able to come in and start right away.
A perceived lack of arm strength?
Don't be naive and assume that Ponder doesn't have enough arm strength to be a successful QB. His arm strength is better than he is credited for. Too many times have I heard the comparison to Chad Pennington, who despite showing to have a weak arm was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets because he was a very accurate passer. Pennington is actually the NFL's all-time leader in career completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts at 66.0%. While Ponder is as accurate as Chad Pennington and he shares the same initials he just doesn't have that weak of an arm. It's not his greatest asset but to be compared to Chad Pennington just isn't warranted. He has more than adequate arm strength.
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No it's not his greatest asset like it is for Ryan Mallett. Mallett throws the ball at 65.4 MPH whereas Ponder only 36 MPH but how many top QB's in the NFL have the strongest arms? A few, yes, Phillip Rivers comes to mind but I think you see a lot more of the intelligent and accurate passers today with adequate arm strength at or near the top in the league. Quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Tony Romo, Kyle Orton, and yes even Aaron Rodgers who's arm strength was questioned coming out and now he throws one of the nicest deep balls in the NFL.
Ponder didn't have a completion longer than 44 yards as a senior in 2010, when he played through an upper-forearm injury that required weekly draining and postseason clean-up surgery.
“What people didn’t realize is that they were draining three cc’s of fluid from his arm after each game," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said of Ponder. "When his arm is healthy and it is right now, he’s going to throw the ball 75 yards down the field. He’s going to make all the throws."
"I think you're going to be really surprised at his arm talent and his accuracy," Fisher said. "He's going to make good decisions and get the ball to where it has to go."
Maybe Bill Musgrave, the new offensive coordinator and former Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons, sees some Matt Ryan talent in Ponder. Last year Matt Ryan had a long pass of 46 yards and only completed six 40+ yard passes. Ryan has just 19 40+ yard passes in his young NFL career. If Musgrave runs a similar offense like he is rumored to be doing in Minnesota then Ponder's arm should be just fine.
“What people didn’t realize is that they were draining three cc’s of fluid from his arm after each game," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said of Ponder. "When his arm is healthy and it is right now, he’s going to throw the ball 75 yards down the field. He’s going to make all the throws."
"I think you're going to be really surprised at his arm talent and his accuracy," Fisher said. "He's going to make good decisions and get the ball to where it has to go."
Maybe Bill Musgrave, the new offensive coordinator and former Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons, sees some Matt Ryan talent in Ponder. Last year Matt Ryan had a long pass of 46 yards and only completed six 40+ yard passes. Ryan has just 19 40+ yard passes in his young NFL career. If Musgrave runs a similar offense like he is rumored to be doing in Minnesota then Ponder's arm should be just fine.
All of these issues raised some concerns but following a series of strong showings in the pre-draft process he convinced teams he was healthy and eliminated most of those concerns. He out shined everybody and had a strong week at the 2011 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Ponder playing quarterback for the South team lead them to a 24-10 victory while completing seven of his 13 throws for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Ponder led the South with a steady passing attack and 17 of the South's 24 points came on three drives led by Ponder that covered 72, 70, and 68 yards. His play earned him the Senior Bowl MVP honors. He also had arguably the best throwing session at the combine amongst all the top quarterbacks in the draft. He followed that up at Florida State's pro day where he once again proved his arm was healthy.
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The Vikings have said they have no concerns about his injury history. "We put each quarterback that we worked out through the same paces, through the same routine so we could compare and contrast." Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said. "He was right up there with the top guys in terms of arm strength and accuracy." Ponder himself has said, "I think I was mislabeled as injury prone." Sound familiar? Adrian Peterson was also mislabeled as injury prone coming out. Speaking of Adrian Peterson when you have a runningback as good as him in the backfield your offense is not going to be pass orientated and you don't need a quarterback who is going to throw 30 to 40 times a game consistently. You need one who knows what to do with the ball and will convert on third down and won't turn it over. The Vikings will have to protect Ponder and give him a chance for success but with Peterson in the backfield he's coming into a good situation, not too much unlike what Matt Ryan walked into in Atlanta, where he can hand the ball off and take advantage of the play action on bootlegs with his athleticism and throw accurately on the run.
"He has tremendous hands – not only arm strength but hand talent. The ability to pass the football and throw it at different angles. He doesn’t have to be the classic motion. He can drop down sidearm if he has to get it around a guy." Fisher said, "When I first started coaching him, I didn’t realize how athletic he was. That’s one of the things that allows him to be so accurate. He can get his balance and body control back in place and use his hands so well when he’s in awkward positions."
Ponder comes to the NFL following five seasons (he redshirted in 2006) in a pro-style system with the Florida State Seminoles. A experience many quarterbacks coming out of college don't have. Ponder finished his Florida State career ranking among the top five at FSU for career passing yards (4th, 6,872), career completions (3rd, 596), career total offense (3rd, 7,705), career TD passes (tied 5th, 49) and career completion percentage (2nd, 61.8). Ponder's 22-13 record as a starter is tied for third most career victories in school history. His 49 career TD passes tied for 19th in ACC history.
"I really think I'm the whole package at quarterback," said Ponder. "I have great accuracy and can make all the throws. Intelligence is a huge advantage for me, being able to comprehend offenses and defenses and everything that's going on. We ran a complex offense at Florida State and I think it will carry over well to the NFL. I'm athletic enough to move in the pocket and make plays with my feet."
Ponder brings quality accuracy, great intelligence, and sound decision-making to the position. He has all the intangibles you look for in a franchise quarterback. As much was true for Ponder at Florida State where he was a highly respected team captain who takes his role as a leader seriously. He was comfortable leading vocally or by setting the example on and off the field. He was coached up well at Florida State and should continue to be coached up well by Bill Musgrave in Minnesota. His durability is a bit of a concern but he possesses all the physical tools to play quarterback — he doesn't have an exceptional arm, but his accuracy is above-average — and he excels at the mental aspect of playing quarterback having the smarts to understand a complex offense. He may never be anything more than a solid NFL starter but he also may just surprise us all and could be better than anyone anticipates as a pro quarterback.
Steve Mariucci, Jim Mora Jr., Torry Holt, Kurt Warner, and others on NFL Network said the one thing they like about Ponder is that he just has that "it" factor about him. They believe he'll be a good quarterback in the NFL so why shouldn't Viking fans have the same optimism?
Ponder reminds me of another Florida State QB that played for the Vikings, Brad Johnson. Just like Johnson Ponder should have a long and successful career as a accurate passer and a smart QB. He'll only be asked to manage the game and with a good team around him maybe they can even win a Super Bowl like Johnson did with Tampa Bay. I think the player Ponder will come to be eventually falls somewhere in between Orton (now) and Brees (also now). Probably somewhere along the lines of a Tony Romo or Kurt Warner in terms of ability. He will probably never pass for 4,000+ yards or 30+ touchdowns but his TD/INT ratio should be good. If he develops into that good of a quarterback I don't think anybody will be saying "reach" or "bust."
Although it's hard and it goes against human nature let's reserve judgment of him until we see him on the field. I think many doubters will come around when Ponder starts actually playing. I'm not saying you have to like the pick and I'm definitely not saying you have to like the number but give them the benefit of the doubt and who knows maybe, just maybe... they got the next Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. Brees' college success led to projections that he would be a mid-to-late first round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, but he slipped due to concerns about his relatively short stature for a professional quarterback (6'0") and a perceived lack of arm strength. Same with Aaron Rodgers who also had people questioning him coming out because of his throwing motion and perceived lack of arm strength. It's also worth pointing out Rick Spielman has never missed on a 1st round pick for the Vikings and Ponder doesn't plan on being his first.
"I know people will have their doubts whether I deserved to go No. 12 but I’m going to make sure I work my butt off," Ponder said. "I have to earn my respect -- from the fans, from my teammates. There's a lot of uncertainty with any pick in the draft, so I know that I'm going to put in my time to earn that respect and I'm going to do what I have to do. I know what comes with this role, and I'm going to prepare myself for it and I'll be fine."
Ponder comes to the NFL following five seasons (he redshirted in 2006) in a pro-style system with the Florida State Seminoles. A experience many quarterbacks coming out of college don't have. Ponder finished his Florida State career ranking among the top five at FSU for career passing yards (4th, 6,872), career completions (3rd, 596), career total offense (3rd, 7,705), career TD passes (tied 5th, 49) and career completion percentage (2nd, 61.8). Ponder's 22-13 record as a starter is tied for third most career victories in school history. His 49 career TD passes tied for 19th in ACC history.
"I really think I'm the whole package at quarterback," said Ponder. "I have great accuracy and can make all the throws. Intelligence is a huge advantage for me, being able to comprehend offenses and defenses and everything that's going on. We ran a complex offense at Florida State and I think it will carry over well to the NFL. I'm athletic enough to move in the pocket and make plays with my feet."
Ponder brings quality accuracy, great intelligence, and sound decision-making to the position. He has all the intangibles you look for in a franchise quarterback. As much was true for Ponder at Florida State where he was a highly respected team captain who takes his role as a leader seriously. He was comfortable leading vocally or by setting the example on and off the field. He was coached up well at Florida State and should continue to be coached up well by Bill Musgrave in Minnesota. His durability is a bit of a concern but he possesses all the physical tools to play quarterback — he doesn't have an exceptional arm, but his accuracy is above-average — and he excels at the mental aspect of playing quarterback having the smarts to understand a complex offense. He may never be anything more than a solid NFL starter but he also may just surprise us all and could be better than anyone anticipates as a pro quarterback.
Steve Mariucci, Jim Mora Jr., Torry Holt, Kurt Warner, and others on NFL Network said the one thing they like about Ponder is that he just has that "it" factor about him. They believe he'll be a good quarterback in the NFL so why shouldn't Viking fans have the same optimism?
Ponder reminds me of another Florida State QB that played for the Vikings, Brad Johnson. Just like Johnson Ponder should have a long and successful career as a accurate passer and a smart QB. He'll only be asked to manage the game and with a good team around him maybe they can even win a Super Bowl like Johnson did with Tampa Bay. I think the player Ponder will come to be eventually falls somewhere in between Orton (now) and Brees (also now). Probably somewhere along the lines of a Tony Romo or Kurt Warner in terms of ability. He will probably never pass for 4,000+ yards or 30+ touchdowns but his TD/INT ratio should be good. If he develops into that good of a quarterback I don't think anybody will be saying "reach" or "bust."
Although it's hard and it goes against human nature let's reserve judgment of him until we see him on the field. I think many doubters will come around when Ponder starts actually playing. I'm not saying you have to like the pick and I'm definitely not saying you have to like the number but give them the benefit of the doubt and who knows maybe, just maybe... they got the next Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. Brees' college success led to projections that he would be a mid-to-late first round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, but he slipped due to concerns about his relatively short stature for a professional quarterback (6'0") and a perceived lack of arm strength. Same with Aaron Rodgers who also had people questioning him coming out because of his throwing motion and perceived lack of arm strength. It's also worth pointing out Rick Spielman has never missed on a 1st round pick for the Vikings and Ponder doesn't plan on being his first.
"I know people will have their doubts whether I deserved to go No. 12 but I’m going to make sure I work my butt off," Ponder said. "I have to earn my respect -- from the fans, from my teammates. There's a lot of uncertainty with any pick in the draft, so I know that I'm going to put in my time to earn that respect and I'm going to do what I have to do. I know what comes with this role, and I'm going to prepare myself for it and I'll be fine."
"I don't think anyone else's expectations match what I have for myself," Ponder said during his introductory media conference at Winter Park. "I expect perfection. I really am a perfectionist ... When I make a mistake or not perform as well as I should, I'm going to put in my time to correct it. I'm an extreme competitor and I expect to be the best, and that's what everyone else should expect as well." |