Why the Vikings have botched their QB situation
By Lorenzo Reyes October 31, 2013 12:12 pm
In each of the past three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings have had a different starter at QB.
It seems that with each week that passes, the QB competition becomes more convoluted. Now in week 9, it appears that Minny is no closer to finding its long-term answer at the position.
Vikings center John Sullivan doesn't have a say in the debate, but if he did, he would go with Christian Ponder.
"[Ponder] prepared really hard and he went out there and laid it all on the line," Sullivan told the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Sid Hartman. "You know, you see that last run that he made when things were getting out of reach [a 19-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter against the Packers on Sunday] and he's still out there fighting until the end. I mean, that's not my decision. But I'd love to see him stay back there, of course."
Frazier has tried to keep the plan at QB a secret and has refused to name a starter. That would be a good plan, however, if his players would understand to keep things in the locker room.
"I think we're going with Ponder," WR Jerome Simpson told the Pioneer Press after practice Wednesday. "I feel confident in him. We just got to protect for him and make the catches."
All of these developments lead to the obvious question: How has Minnesota botched its QB situation so badly?
Ponder was benched in favor of Matt Cassel earlier this season, but coach Leslie Frazier announced that newly signed Josh Freeman would start Oct. 21 against the Giants.
When Freeman sustained a concussion in that game, the reins of the Vikings offense once again returned to Ponder.
Freeman may end up being the long-term answer for the Vikings; the problem wasn't that he was signed — it was that Frazier essentially used the Giants game as a practice for Freeman.
The offense Freeman commanded against the Giants was extremely limited. Because Freeman had only a few practices before the game, Minnesota had only basic plays installed, which contributed to the ugly defeat.
The Vikings players deserved better than that.
Earlier this year, RB Adrian Peterson endorsed Matt Cassel as his favorite to start at QB.
The Vikings QB situation has become a joke.
Players need to shut up about whom they want to start. These comments can divide the locker room. Frazier has to pick a QB, give him confidence and stick with his decision.
Otherwise, the way he has managed the position may cost him his job.
Christian Ponder, John Sullivan, Minnesota Vikings, NFL