Before this season began, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman says he sat down, performed a detailed statistical analysis of a handful of elite quarterbacks around the NFL, then used that data to project Christian Ponder's 2012 statistics.
Through 10 games, Spielman insists, his Ponder projections have proven pretty darn accurate.
Spielman wouldn't reveal the numbers he came up with for his young quarterback. So for now, we'll have to take his word that they're in the ballpark of what Ponder has done so far in aiding the Vikings' 6-4 start: a .652 completion percentage, 2,027 yards, 12 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 24 sacks.
In a casual interview session Wednesday morning with print reporters, Spielman became the latest to voice his unwavering support for Ponder as the long-term answer at quarterback.
On the outside, Ponder's worth may have come into question in recent weeks as he struggled mightily in games against Arizona, Tampa Bay and Seattle. The 24-year-old quarterback helped to quiet some of that agitation this past Sunday when he went 24-for-32 for 221 yards and two touchdowns in a much-needed win over Detroit.
Still, Spielman reiterated Wednesday that, under his philosophy, all young quarterbacks are entitled to be evaluated under a "three-year rule," giving coaches and the front office a big enough sample size to evaluate hot streaks, disconcerting slumps and long-term viability.
Ponder, of course, is right in the middle of that timetable at present.
Said Spielman: "You've got to remember, our guy's only in his second year. You look at the history of development of quarterbacks and I've talked to you guys a lot about that and where they come. I know they're getting measured – regardless if they're a rookie or second-year [player] – they're going to get evaluated from the outside and from the media on their performance that week. But you have to be, from an internal standpoint, looking at the whole picture and looking at a length of time."
