Musgrave's plan slides in head first

If you're among those pleading with Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder via Twitter to slide feet first to avoid injury, relax. Ponder and Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave believe the safest way for Ponder to hit the deck is head first.

Musgrave said it's typically a personal preference for quarterbacks when it comes to sliding either feet first or head first. Ponder prefers to slide head first, and Musgrave has solidified that decision.

"Coach Musgrave made this [film] cut-up about sliding head-first versus sliding feet-first and we've never seen someone get hurt sliding head first," Ponder said. "So it's on purpose. When you slide feet-first, you're exposing your body to get hit, and like we saw at Washington and me last year, I got pretty jacked up that game. People are tweeting at me like, `Dude, slide feet-first, what are you doing?' But it's a planned deal."

Musgrave said there's no right answer, except to get down ASAP when the big fellas and their helmets start getting closer.

"I know Drew Brees and John Elway were big head-first guys," Musgrave said. "Other guys are feet-first. Aaron Rodgers does both. What's really important when a quarterback runs is getting down in time, in a timely manner, when those defenders converge. You can maximize or squeeze out the last possible yard but at the same time maintain your health so you can line up for the next play."

Ponder's sliding technique came into question in Friday night's preseason game when he slid head first for a first down on third-and-2 from the Bills' 4-yard line.

"When it's wide open, feet first is fine," Musgrave said. "When the defenders are converging, we just need to get down. We've all seen the vicious hits on Trent Green and Steve Pelluer [sliding feet first] in past years. There's just a fine line. The more a quarterback plays in this league, the more he can ascertain the speed and closing ability of these men playing defense at this level.

Musgrave played quarterback in the NFL from 1991 to 1996. He spent training camp with the Cowboys in 1991 before moving on to the 49ers from 1991 to 1994 and the Broncos from 1995 to 1996. So he has the unique resume of having backed up four Hall of Famers: Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Elway.

Asked what his sliding preference was when he played, Musgrave proved he does have a sense of humor.

"I don't know," he said. "It's hard to do a lot of diving from the sideline. I was over there in a very safe spot."

For the record, he preferred sliding head first during the rare occasions that called for it.

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