Cassel v. Ponder

[flaccopoe]

Veteran back-up QB Matt Cassel will start for the embattled starter, Christian Ponder, who is dealing with a serious rib injury.  If Cassel performs significantly better than the widely dismissed Ponder, do you pull a Harbaugh and bench him permanently for your backup?

[flaccopoe]

Just read that Ponder has a rib fracture near his heart.  Thus, he could miss a lot of time, as he can't risk getting stabbed in the heart with the loose bone by a hit.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/09/27/vikings-matt-cassel-will-start-christian-ponder-injured/2881985/

[AsianRice]

I haven't Matt Cassel for awhile but I don't know he can revamp his career.  He'll do fine couple games but can he play competitive level consistently? that's the big question...

 

He has legit targets to throw to and the best RB to take off his pressure; it's hard to not succeed in that line....

[hawkprey]

Funny how only the crappy QBs seem to get hurt. Gabbert, Sanchez, Ponder, Weeden, Pryor, as I remember. Last year it was RGIII, Cassel, Alex Smith, Locker, Vick... Okay, Roethlisberger too. And Romo and Cutler have had their share. But for the most part, the bad QBs are the ones getting the injuries.

[beanfigger]

Funny how only the crappy QBs seem to get hurt. Gabbert, Sanchez, Ponder, Weeden, Pryor, as I remember. Last year it was RGIII, Cassel, Alex Smith, Locker, Vick... Okay, Roethlisberger too. And Romo and Cutler have had their share. But for the most part, the bad QBs are the ones getting the injuries.

Part of being elite is being durable and tough. Roethlisberger is the only one who could be considered elite that goes through seasons missing a few games here and there. The others play every game, unless the injury is very serious (Brady 2008, P. Manning 2011).

[hawkprey]

Part of being elite is being durable and tough. Roethlisberger is the only one who could be considered elite that goes through seasons missing a few games here and there. The others play every game, unless the injury is very serious (Brady 2008, P. Manning 2011).

I don't know if it's toughness as much as it's being smart with the football and being a pocket passer. Bad QBs tend to be the ones who run around a lot. Ponder and Locker included.

[beanfigger]

I don't know if it's toughness as much as it's being smart with the football and being a pocket passer. Bad QBs tend to be the ones who run around a lot. Ponder and Locker included.

 

Also, I know it sounds silly, but knowing "how" to fall when you get hit is important.  Going all out and pushing your body to the limit makes some highlights, but Ken Griffey, Jr. can tell you the cons of that type of play, as well.  Some of these other guys are learning the hard way.  Early on in his career, I noticed that when Joe Flacco goes down it looked very similar to Peyton Manning.  It's not to say that he goes down easy, but he is easier when going down, if that makes sense.  I was very encouraged by this because we all know Manning went over a decade without missing a start to begin his career.  I can see that happening for Flacco, too, barring some freak occurrence (God forbid).  Some of these "athletic" QBs have no control over how they fall when they get hit because all their energy is being used to stay up.  Sometimes you get tackled, and you have to be able to recognize when that's about to happen and make sure you are going down as much under your own control as possible.

[flaccopoe]

Funny how only the crappy QBs seem to get hurt. Gabbert, Sanchez, Ponder, Weeden, Pryor, as I remember. Last year it was RGIII, Cassel, Alex Smith, Locker, Vick... Okay, Roethlisberger too. And Romo and Cutler have had their share. But for the most part, the bad QBs are the ones getting the injuries.

 

It doesn't help that most of those QBs have crappy O-lines.

[hawkprey]

It doesn't help that most of those QBs have crappy O-lines.

Sorta 50-50. Sanchez, Ponder Weeden, RGIII, Cassel, and Alex Smith had very good O-lines.

[T3hRaven]

Cassel or Ponder.  This reminds me of the school mascot election in South Park.

[flaccopoe]

Well, it looks like Cassel's here to stay. He showed a great rapport with Jennings and Simpson and was able to hit his man in the red zone.

[SeaHawk]

Well, it looks like Cassel's here to stay. He showed a great rapport with Jennings and Simpson and was able to hit his man in the red zone.

 

Not hard to do with Peterson behind you, along with Jennings/Simpson out there. I don't understand how Ponder can't do a single good thing facing 8 men in the box. I just can't wrap my mind around it. I mean, you give someone like Rodgers that type of look, and he'll shred you to pieces and break all sorts of game/season records. Ponder must really be that awful.

[cursona pirate]

I still like Ponder more. 

[AsianRice]

Not hard to do with Peterson behind you, along with Jennings/Simpson out there. I don't understand how Ponder can't do a single good thing facing 8 men in the box. I just can't wrap my mind around it. I mean, you give someone like Rodgers that type of look, and he'll shred you to pieces and break all sorts of game/season records. Ponder must really be that awful.

Nothing is perfect...lol i wish Joe has that kind of cast supports too.....

[SeaHawk]

I still like Ponder more. 

 

Dude, if you can't get it done with a solid O-Line (at the very least better than ours), the best RB of this generation (possibly ever), a good TE in Rudolph, and some nice receivers, then you must really be downright terrible. Would I rather have Ponder than Cassell? Maybe, maybe not. We'll see how Cassell does with this new environment. He did great yesterday.

[flaccopoe]

Dude, if you can't get it done with a solid O-Line (at the very least better than ours), the best RB of this generation (possibly ever), a good TE in Rudolph, and some nice receivers, then you must really be downright terrible. Would I rather have Ponder than Cassell? Maybe, maybe not. We'll see how Cassell does with this new environment. He did great yesterday.

 

What Cassel (with 1 'L') has is veteran experience.  He had a great run with a similar team in KC.  If MIN had a better D, they would be quite dangerous now with a competent QB and AP.