Minnesota Sports Forum

I got to watch my first game of the year, and what a beauty it was! Ponder is what he is, but I don't have a problem with us scoring 27 points against a team that started the day as the 5th best defense in the NFL. But how do you explain giving up 31 points to the 28th ranked offense playing backups at QB and RB? Cleveland had only scored 16 total points in its first two games, but we turned them into the Greatest Show on Turf.

I thought the biggest difference today was in the amount of pressure the defensive lines put on the quarterback. The Browns had twice as many sacks as the Vikings, and it seemed like someone was in Ponder's face the entire game. If the Vikes could have put any consistent pressure on Hoyer, they could have forced 5-6 turnovers out of him.

Finally, I am now convinced Jerome Felton was our MVP last year. AP's 6.9 yards per carry with Felton on the field and 4.6 without is a remarkable stat...2.3 YPC difference! And despite having no turnover at all in the offensive line, the ground game has struggled in the first three games this year with Felton serving his suspension. We have him back for the Steelers' game so AP will be AP again, but unfortunately an 0-3 start has doomed this season.

Not a Ponder or Musgrave fan at all. Everything on offense seems mechanical or forced even. I don't know if that is because of Ponder or because Musgrave doesn't trust Ponder with more. And... you shouldn't have to be told that your raw, but most explosive playmaker isn't getting enough touches.

I'm not a big fan of Ponder or Musgrave either, wall, but 27 points of offense a game shouldn't put you at 0-3. The message boards are full of vitriol toward Musgrave/Ponder, but how much longer is Alan Williams going to get a free pass? Defense has given up over 30 points in all three games, and just gave up 31 to an incredibly bad offensive team. Can you imagine how badly Green Bay and Philly are going to shred this defense, if Hoyer can put up 31?

I agree that the D has been the biggest dissapointment. I for one am happy that the old guard are all in contract years on our D. The D (along with a quarterback) has to be our focus moving forward. The notion that we were a WR away from contending was obviously ludicrous.

I know alot of us including myself wanted to extend those guys to free up cap space for this season. Looking like it was a good call not to. Not sure the figure but wont it free up around 20mil with Allen and Williams gone? Even if we do re sign them after this start to this year it would be for much cheaper.