Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach when Matt Ryan broke in as a rookie in 2008, leading the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. Ryan now is ranked with the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Vikings quarterback coach Craig Johnson was in that role with the Tennessee Titans when Vince Young joined in 2006 and ended up winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award.
So the two coaches were asked to talk about their experiences with rookie starters in the past and how they compare to Christian Ponder.
"[Ryan and Ponder] played in good offenses at college, [were] well-schooled and asked to do a lot of pro concepts," Musgrave said. "They have some good time on task from college."
Both Young and Ryan were the No. 3 overall draft picks. Ponder was the No. 12 selection in April.
Musgrave said that, like most rookies, Ryan was green as grass when he started.
"They've got a lot to learn, and the only way to learn is to get out on the field and experience it," Musgrave said. "Same with Ponder. He'll see some things that he's never seen before, but if history is any indication, he'll learn from his mistakes and get better all the way."
Musgrave said he didn't know if anybody ever anticipated Ryan progressing at the rate that he did that 2008 rookie year in Atlanta, but he said Ryan, who played four years at Boston College, was a good student and did a good job of learning from his mistakes, a skill essential for any quarterback.