vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Bill Musgrave talks Ponder's growth and Simpson's speed
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Adrian Peterson Updated: September 27, 2012 - 2:43 PM
All throughout Christian Ponder’s rookie year, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was asked in different ways what he could do to boost the young quarterback’s confidence or at least keep it from plummeting. And Musgrave always clung to a simple refrain.
“Confidence,” he’d say, “only comes from demonstrated performance.”
So now, heading into Week 4, Ponder has three games of demonstrated performance to use as confidence fuel. He has a .701 completion percentage and a 104.9 rating. He led an incredible game-tying field goal drive in the closing seconds of regulation against Jacksonville, aiding an overtime win. He threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in Indianapolis to rally the Vikings out of a 20-6 hole. And he turned in an impressive effort against San Francisco, throwing for 198 yards and two scores and adding 33 rushing yards and another TD.
“He has played better each and every week, both mentally and physically,” Musgrave said. “It shows in our results, that’s for sure.”
Musgrave said Ponder’s effort last week was probably the best of his young NFL career so far.
“He played well against Green Bay last year. He threw for 381 yards against the Denver defense last year,” Musgrave said. “But there were those mistakes that made it tough for us to get the victory. The quickest way to lose in this league is to beat yourself. Last year, we did some good things. But he had some untimely mistakes that caused it to be really tough for us to get the outcome we want. We want to keep playing at a high level. But number one we don’t want to beat ourselves.”
Trained well
That 2-yard TD pass Ponder threw to Kyle Rudolph early in the fourth quarter last week? Musgrave was impressed that Ponder recognized the blitz and threw to Rudolph in a one-on-one mismatch situation, which eliminated any concern over the fact that Ponder didn’t see Adrian Peterson uncovered and all alone in the end zone on the play.
“You can’t count on the defense screwing it up,” Musgrave said. “And they screwed it up. They didn’t cover Adrian. So [Christian] has been trained to give ground and give Kyle a catchable ball when they do bring one more than we can block. They ended up bringing two more than we could block because the guy who was covering Adrian declined to do so.
Simpson synopsis
ADVERTISEMENT
recent posts
- Adrian Peterson delivers ear-catching remark on gay marriage
- With contract issues on hold, Jared Allen aiming to have big 2013
- Brian Urlacher retires, assuring he won't be Vikings middle linebacker
- NFL calendar change could push draft into May, combine into March
- Vikings' Chris Kluwe to sign with Oakland Raiders
- Vikings sign three more draft choices; only first-rounders left
- Hold off on buying that Urlacher jersey ...
- Vikings sign three draft picks; Chuck Muncie dies; Urlacher "rumored" to Vikings ...
- Access Vikings blog: ESPN's Bayless, Smith debate whether Ponder was as responsible for playoff run as Peterson (really)
- Bar to be higher for Ponder, lower for Peterson in 2013
- Dayton, PTI hosts question Vikings over Kluwe cut
- Vikings sign Mankato receiver Adam Thielen, tackle Brandon Keith
- Vikings make it official: Punter Chris Kluwe has been cut
- Vikings searching for best development plan for Cordarrelle Patterson
- Rookie Locke could have punter's job locked up by Monday
- Erin Henderson stepping into new role with 'more lead in my pencil'
- Ponder talks: Cassel, Harvin and a scary visit to the emergency room
- Vikings announce signings of 16 undrafted free agents
Post By Category
- Adrian Peterson delivers ear-catching remark on gay marriage
- With contract issues on hold, Jared Allen aiming to have big 2013
- Brian Urlacher retires, assuring he won't be Vikings middle linebacker
- We have the Bank; 49ers have the ... Denim?
- Vikings stadium design unveiled
- Erin Henderson stepping into new role with 'more lead in my pencil'
- Vikings sign Mankato receiver Adam Thielen, tackle Brandon Keith
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2013 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters