The NFL starting debut of Minnesota rookie quarterback Christian Ponder received several positive reviews following Sunday’s 33-27 loss to Green Bay at the Metrodome.
Though Ponder’s 13 completions in 32 attempts for 219 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions, didn’t statistically match the numbers of last year’s Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, Aaron Rodgers, who was able to complete 24 of 30 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, Ponder’s first start was praised by Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier.
“(Ponder) showed a lot of poise and composure that you need to play with against a good defense and he made a lot of plays which really give you some hope for the future,” Frazier said.
However, Frazier declined to make comparisons of Ponder to the veteran quarterback he replaced, Donovan McNabb.
“I just know that Christian did a good job for us throughout this game and he just battled and continued to make plays for us right to the very end,” Frazier said. “I’m very proud of the way he competed and proud of the things he did throughout the day.”
Ponder, who was selected by the Vikings as the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, called his first start a “great experience for me,” though he took responsibility for the loss to the NFC North rival.
“I made some mistakes, personally, that were crucial and that put this loss on me,” he said. “The players around me played extremely well and kept me in it.”
The option of handing off to star running back Adrian Peterson instead of throwing the football produced 175 of Minnesota’s 218 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Given the NFL lockout affecting Ponder’s ability to prepare for his first start, he said he “thought it was a great decision to bring Donovan in and give me time to sit back and learn.”
“I figured I wouldn’t be starting for another year or two, but obviously starting this game, I was excited about it,” Ponder said. “I felt that I was prepared really well and I was comfortable out there.”
Being that Ponder’s performance didn’t produce a Vikings victory along the lines of another quarterback’s highly-hyped first start this season, namely Denver’s Tim Tebow, Minnesota finds itself 1-6, six games behind the undefeated Packers in the NFC North with nine regular season games left to play.
The best the Vikings could do is finish the regular season 10-6. A 4-5 finish or better by Green Bay in the last nine games would place the Packers in front of Minnesota.
Despite the Vikings having only one victory in 2011, Frazier has publicly put aside the notion that Minnesota is in the running for next year’s top draft pick and insists the team is going to try to get a win “whoever our next opponent is.”
“We’re going to work as hard as we can to get a win and put our focus on whoever our next opponent is,” he said.
The next opponent, Carolina, is also starting a rookie quarterback, Cam Newton, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and this year’s top draft pick.
Boneske may be reached via e-mail at kevin@ifallsjournal.com
