A fractured rib will sideline Christian Ponder on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in London. Matt Cassel will get his first start for the 0-3 Minnesota Vikings as he takes on his former head coach Todd Haley who is now an assistant with the Steelers.
Cassel is still considered the “backup” to Ponder… but a good performance could land him an extended opportunity to lead the Vikings after next week’s bye week.
Cassel has started three times against the Steelers in his career. He has thrown for 571 yards, two touchdowns, three picks, completed under 50% of his attempts and has a 60.5 passer rating during those games.
Those stats look very Ponderish to me, so I guess I will just keep my optimism to myself and hope for the best. Let’s just say I have my fingers crossed that a Vikings’ wide reciever will finally catch a touchdown pass.
Go Vikings!
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Unless Cassel pulls a rabbit out and becomes a late bloomer, I think at this point I'd rather see MBT in there. He doesn't seem to have much other than an arm but you never know when a young guy like that might get things clicking. We need to confirm the obvious: We need to draft the best QB out there next year with our first pick, then find a coaching staff that can develop him and guide the rest of the many talented players still left on this team.
Sweet comment, number 6.
I say go with White Cassel. He went to the pro bowl, he's way more experienced. We just need him to throw it down field. He might play at his best level. Ponder can't throw. Cassel seems more confident by far than Ponder. The MTB killer is another guy with NO experience. I don't suppose he's Brett Favre ready to happen. I hope they trade for the Bucs guy. Cassel might just suck and then we're really screwed.
it's worth giving cassel his shot because he's getting paid a lot to play in a playoff game instead of joe webb when ponder gets hurt that we won't be in now anyway, however, cassel has shown what he is, and that's below average. mbt still has the possibility to surprise everyone and turn out to be a gem because he could learn to be better and develop into something good, and he's got something that can't be taught, a rocket arm, so i'd like to see mbt get his shot at some point, too
Cassel is one of the highest paid backups in the league... It's time to see if he can earn his pay and turn this season around.
Jennings and Simpson think Cassel has better command in the huddle. I like Cassel better because he makes his reads quicker. With A Peterson in the backfield, quick slants and strikes to Jennings, Simpson or Patterson should be open all day long.
This should be a new look for the Vikings... Cassel can't move around much, so this look will either be good or bad. Ponder gave us both the good and the bad all rolled up in one.
Cassel will just be good or bad.
so, carl, are you saying with cassel it's either black or white and read all over, and with ponder we get the best of both worsts?
Bingo.
Ponder is a mixed bag of nutz.
Cassel, on the other hand, can have a pro bowl type season with the right supporting cast around him.
The key with Cassel is, he needs a good solid system around him.
Starting with the Offensive Line...
another reason for accepting the london gig.....the wilfs don't have to sit in their box and listen to boos ...this is starting to feel like childress' last year.....
They were still booing Childress last year, even though he wasn't HC? That's some hate, right there.
Just saw the placement of the apostrophe, Childress' last year.
Imagine my embarrassment, my chagrine.
As you were.
I hope Cassel plays well and we win. Don't think Cassel is the answer...not even close.
I would like to see, win or lose tomorrow, MBT get his shot after the bye. About a 1% chance of that happening.
We lose and Cassel plays ok....they think he deserves another start. We lose and he plays terrible...he'll still get another chance. A win, and it's, "Hey we won, keep him in there"...
At this point, I'll take a win. But, I'm to the point I just don't see Ponder as ever being very good. Tired of just seeing flashes of good...
Put the young rocket arm in and go with him. Please quit wasting time with these two.
With the right supporting cast, and the old Purple People D, Johnny could have a nice season as our QB.
Johnny, eh? Not afraid of the baggage that comes with him?
More of the same. Unless, the FA Bust can read the defense better and get rid of the rock earlier behind a underachieving O-line.
If I am not mistaken, it was Benjamin Franklin who explained that There's no shame in being ignorant, only in refusing to learn.
Thank you for enabling me to learn. I am a tad bit less ignorant right now than I
had been a day ago.
It was nice to see the Boys go into a bye week with a win :)