What Greg Cosell said about Christian Ponder pre-draft

[theENGLISHseahawk]

Showed a strong arm against Oklahoma, with good juice on intermediate throws. Good feel for the timing of the drop-back passing game and should transition well to the NFL. Reads coverage well, and can stick throws into a tight window, essential for an NFL quarterback. Comfortable throwing the ball to the outside with timing.

Cosell also gives Ponder props for his arm strength, something he says Dalton doesn't have. It's Cosell's view that Ponder can make throws that Dalton will never be able to make because he has superior arm strength. And that's a tool that is vitally important in today's NFL.

Ponder more NFL traits than Newton/Locker/Gabbert. Better prospect than Dalton.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

LOL.

I'm not normally one of these guys, but I honestly think I could play QB better than Christian Ponder.

 

[theENGLISHseahawk]

FWIW -- the game against Oklahoma referred to here included several turnovers because Ponder couldn't throw even a basic WR screen with any juice. He was hopeless.

 

[Trrrroy]

Cosell is a smart X's and O's guy, but it seems he's off on his talent evaluation more often than not. Especially with quarterbacks. Anyone with decent eyeballs could see that Ponder didn't have good armstrength.

 

[Sac]

He'd probably still take Ponder over RW.

 

[nanomoz]

It seems that once you break into sports journalism with a major outlet, there is no expectation that you have to actually know what the hell you are talking about.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

It seems that once you break into sports journalism with a major outlet, there is no expectation that you have to actually know what the hell you are talking about.

Especially when you're the nephew of a famous broadcaster. Nepotism ftw.

 

[nanomoz]

It seems that once you break into sports journalism with a major outlet, there is no expectation that you have to actually know what the hell you are talking about.

Especially when you're the nephew of a famous broadcaster. Nepotism ftw.

Well said.

 

[Scottemojo]

Wasn't arm strength the main concern with Ponder? He had a grade three shoulder separation in 2009, and it reportedly took 3 years to even get all the feeling back in his arm. I know the surgery and resulting noodle arm is why didn't like the idea of him in Seattle.

 

[theENGLISHseahawk]

Wasn't arm strength the main concern with Ponder? He had a grade three shoulder separation in 2009, and it reportedly took 3 years to even get all the feeling back in his arm. I know the surgery and resulting noodle arm is why didn't like the idea of him in Seattle.

Yep.

At no point in his final two years at FSU did he flash any level of adequate arm strength.

 

[nanomoz]

^And it's not like he had a laundry list of amazing intangibles to make up for it. SEE: Pocket Presence.^