FSU's Christian Ponder looking legit as an NFL prospect

by Dan Kadar on Oct 23, 2009 12:35 AM EDT

All the quarterback talk this season has been about juniors Jake Locker, Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford and Jevan Snead. But in a 30-27 win over North Carolina Thursday night, Florida State's Christian Ponder made an argument to join the discussion.

Entering the game, the Tar Heels were first in nation in pass defense. How did Ponder respond? By completing 33 of 40 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns.

It's been an incredible year for Ponder. In seven games, he has 2,176 yards passing, 12 touchdowns and only one interception. On the season, he's completing a sparkling 70 percent of his passes.

As a prospect, Ponder's arm might not be as strong as Locker's or Snead's, but it's just as good as Clausen's and Bradford's.

He also has plenty of athleticism for a quarterback. It's great that Locker can run a 4.4 40-yard dash, but how relevant is that to the position?

During the game's broadcast, ESPN's Jesse Palmer said Ponder runs the fastest shuttle on Florida State. For the position, that means he can elude pressure well, which he did nicely of in the second half.

Ponder's football intelligence is clearly optimal. He's been given the freedom to check down at the line of scrimmage and change plays. Unlike most of today's college quarterbacks, he doesn't lock onto one receiver. Sure, he's guilty of that on occasion, but it's a correctable problem.

Ponder's size seems a little inflated at 6-foot-3, but Clausen is considered an early first-round pick and has similar height.

The 'Noles junior would be wise to return for his senior season, though. He has a slender frame so, like Bradford, there might be durability issues. Ponder also has to keep the ball higher before his release and speed up his delivery.

He also has to put a little more zip on throws outside the hashes. On out routes, his passes tend to flutter and can be broken up.

This has also been Ponder's only good season after sputtering most of last year. But looking ahead to the 2011 draft, there's plenty of intrigue in Ponder's game.

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Ponder’s OLine last year was the youngest in the country, three TRUE FRESHMEN and 2 sophomores.

He was running for his life in 2008.

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by Bud Elliott on Oct 23, 2009 1:24 AM EDT reply actions

Seems like a solid 2nd rounder

He’s a little inconsistent (lets see how he follows this up next game…)

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 23, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

Please go look at his game numbers

And then get back to me.

12:1 TD Ratio with a 70% Completion Rate @ 340 Yrds per game vs BCS competition with his last 3 games all producing 300 Yrds +

Just check him out man. The arm strength review is accurate, however, I think that Ponder strives for accuracy over power, so he takes some zip off of it. Give him a year to focus on his accuracy @ a higher velocity; he will produce.

by Trus1te on Oct 27, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

He probably could use another year of school, then he could be a 1st round pick.

FIRE BRUCE BOCHY NOW!!!!!!
AND TAKE BRIAN SABEAN WITH HIM!!!!!

by 49er16 on Oct 23, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

Actually 6’3 isnt bad height for a QB at all. Locker, Ponder, and Clausen are all 6’3. Stafford and Sanchez were both 6’2.

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 23, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

Actually, a lot of people think Clausen is going to measure in at just about 6’1.

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by Dan Kadar on Oct 23, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Well I just dont see it. I’ve heard people that have seen him think he is taller than 6’3. Im not saying he is, I just doubt he is only 6’1.

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 23, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s actually one of the things Chris Mortensen has been hearing from scouts and GMs. So, that’s where I hear it from.

Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.

by Dan Kadar on Oct 24, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

One stat about a QB I dont believe though, is that Locker runs a 4.4. I think that is BS

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 24, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

There is no way

He looks pretty fast on the tube, but he sure as hell isn’t the same speed as Percy Harvin.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Oct 24, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I really don’t trust anything except the Senior Bowl weigh in and the Combine weigh in. Too much misinformation, IMO.

by Der Jaeger on Oct 24, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

And it still doesnt really matter that much. If someone is 1 inch shorter than you thought does it really mean they wont be as succesful in the NFL?

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 25, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

If he didn’t play for Notre Dame, would this be an issue to you? Probably not.

Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.

by Dan Kadar on Oct 25, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I know that I might like ND players a lot but I just dont get what you are saying

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 25, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

I’m just saying that I don’t pay attention to measureables until the Combine and the Senior Bowl.

by Der Jaeger on Oct 25, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Sad to see Ponder's season wasted by such a horrible defense

Still, I’ve been warming up to seeing him in Teal and Black

by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 23, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

I’d so much rather have Ponder over Tebow.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Oct 24, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought Ponder was 6'2" as well but then I asked my buddy who golfs with him and he said definitely over 6'2"

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by Bud Elliott on Oct 23, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

I really like Ponder

I’ve seen him against FSU, South Florida, and now UNC. The guy is remarkably accurate- 33 of 40 is great in itself, but even more amazing when you consider the drops his receivers had (I counted 3).

His poise is also a strength. In all three game- tight game versus Miami, blowout verus USF, and comback versus UNC – he played the same and never rattled.

I’ve got more about Ponder next week with my weekend review.

by Der Jaeger on Oct 23, 2009 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

if you think ponder is not tough

wow..

he is the toughest qb you will ever see

his first year he went head on with most every play

when he scrambles, check out how many yards on average

he has the most uncanny ability to find the first down line..

by Mr. Seminole on Oct 26, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

where are you going to find those kind of statistics

if there werent any dropsies this year, his stats would be unbelievable.
from tomahawknation.com
Ponder is simply amazing. I’ll have an article on him tomorrow. The only QB who is on his level right now is Jimmy Claussen. Fisher called him the best QB in the country. Jake Locker has better physical talents but a ten-cent head right now. McCoy doesn’t quite have the wheels or the arm and McCoy looks to the sidelines for his checks. Ponder calls his own game and checks. Tebow might be playing himself out of the draft. Mallet has the huge arm but not the accuracy or intelligence. And Bradford has a bum wing. Sam is brittle. Fisher gives him 3 plays and he checks the offense into the most favorable before the snap. That’s a huge advantage. Few teams in college can do that. Ponder showed good arm strength and seems to be all the way back from his knee injury. His throws were on the money at a ridiculous clip. He took very few risks.

by Mr. Seminole on Oct 26, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

“Fisher called him the best QB in the country”

So?!? What do you expect him to say?

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 26, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

McCoy does have the wheels, not the arm.

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 26, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Clausen feels like a bust

He doesn’t play very smart. He does, however, play with a lot of heart.

There are a lot of ways to lead your team to victory on the field—both on it and off of it; the reason I bring this up is because Clausen’s antics remind me of Favre—but Favre, in my eyes, is a much more like-able guy, therefore Favre’s 3 retard plays every game are overlooked whereas Clausen ends up looking Romo-esque.

So, I, much like all FSU fans, continue to be smitten with Ponder. When he sits back there the offense knows that they have a very, very potent and precise weapon, with substantial athletic tools.

His success in the NFL will come @ the hands of a savvy coordinator that has the foresight to see that it is Ponder’s deadly accurate mind that make his greatness—not his athlete charisma; the more intrigue and understanding that you can bring to Ponder’s game, the better the outcome for your club.

by Trus1te on Oct 27, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions

haha

by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 27, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Ive met and had interactions with Christian quite a few times

I think he is legitimitely 6’3’’, Right now I think he would be a second round pick. He still has time to murder bad UVA, Maryland, and NCST teams this year, and kill the Wonderlic because he is so smart.

Good shot to be a first round guy.

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by SWFLNole. on Oct 28, 2009 12:00 AM EDT reply actions