Draft Rewind 2011 - Christian Ponder - Minnesota Vikings

What Ourlads NFL Scouting Services said about CHRISTIAN PONDER: Florida State, 6021 222 4.65. A three-year starter. Graduated in 2 ½ years and has been working on his MBA for the past year and a half. Learning complex NFL offenses will not be a problem. Has Kurt Warner type accuracy. Consistent ability to keep receivers on their routes with few adjustments. Throws a catchable ball with timing, touch, and rare ball placement to his receivers. Completed 68.8 percent of his passes in 2009. Patient passing the ball. Lets the play develop while reading coverages, then delivers ball. Equally skilled at throwing horizontal or vertical passes with accuracy. Quick release. Always ready to throw, keeps the ball up at shoulder level or above. No wasted motion. Tight spiral with velocity. Quick feet. Gets to throwing point quickly in conventional or shotgun alignments. Good mechanics. Can scramble out, gather himself, and throw accurately. Quick and fluid. A poised leader who doesn’t get rattled. Features the arm strength to fit the ball into tight spots in the “red zone.” Quick twitch from vision to launch point. He sees it, he hits it. Makes plays left or right on the move. Accurate on bootlegs and waggles. Played in nine games in 2010 before he had surgery on his right shoulder after being injured in the Clemson game. 2010 stats: 2044 passing yds, 61.5%, 20 TDs, 8 INTs. Ball velocity 51 mph. OSR:4/18. First/second round. (A-31 3/4, H-10 1/8, SS-4.09, VJ-34).

Ourlads Annual Laddie Awards 2011

OURLADS’ Annual LADDIE AWARDS

***Note. This Poll was taken before the 2011 Draft.



The LADDIES have become a regular part of our Draft coverage. We
enjoy them. It’s fun. Based on our discussion with subscribers, most
enjoy them as well. These awards are the subjective result of a poll among
‘our lads’ and are for your enjoyment. And the 2011 Awards go to:

Quarterbacks

Cream of the Crop: Blaine Gabbert (Missouri)

Arm Strength: Colin Kaepernick (Nevada)
Accuracy: Scott Tolzien (Wisconsin), Pat Devlin (Delaware)
Touch: Christian Ponder (Florida State)
Mobility: Cam Newton (Auburn), Jake Locker (Washington)
Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech)
Underappreciated: Ricky Stanzi (Iowa)
Combine King: Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Christian Ponder (Florida State)
Free Agent Find: Mike Hartline (Kentucky)

Running Backs

Cream of the Crop:
Mark Ingram (Alabama)
Fastest: Da’Rel Scott (Maryland)
Hands: DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma)
Blocker: Patrick DiMarco (South Carolina)
Moves: Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State)
Power: Allen Bradford (Southern Cal)
Toughest: Mark Ingram (Alabama)
Underappreciated: Allen Bradford (Southern Cal)
Return Man: Derrick Locke (Kentucky)
Combine King: Roy Helu (Nebraska)
Best All-Star Performance: Delone Carter (Syracuse)
Free Agent Find: Chad Spann (Northern Illinois)
Johnny White (North Carolina)

Wide Receivers

Cream of the Crop: AJ Green (Georgia)
Hands: AJ Green (Georgia)
Fastest: Edmund Gates (Abilene Christian)
Routes: Greg Salas (Hawaii)
Blocker: Julio Jones (Alabama)
Run After Catch: Julio Jones (Alabama)
Return Man: Jeremy Kerley (TCU)
Jerrel Jernigan (Troy)
Leaper: Jon Baldwin (Pittsburgh)
Underappreciated: Greg Little (North Carolina)
Combine King: Julio Jones (Alabama)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Leonard Hankerson (Miami)
Free Agent Find: Kris Durham (Georgia)

Tight Ends

Cream of the Crop:
Kyle Rudolph (Notre Dame)
Hands: DJ Williams (Arkansas)
Blocker: Lee Smith (Marshall)
Fastest: Rob Housler (Florida Atlantic)
Strongest: Luke Stocker (Tennessee)
Charlie Gantt (Michigan State)
Underappreciated: Colin Cochart (South Dakota State)
Combine King: Jordan Cameron (Southern Cal)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Julius Thomas (Portland State)
Free Agent Find: Colin Cochart (South Dakota State)

Offensive Line

Cream of the Crop: Mike Pouncey (Florida)
Feet: Tyron Smith (Southern Cal)
Pass Blocker: Nate Solder (Colorado), Tyron Smith (Southern Cal)
Run Blocker: Michael Pouncey (Florida)
Strongest: Ryan Bartholomew (Syracuse), Marcus Cannon (TCU)
Toughest: Danny Watkins (Baylor)
Underappreciated: Mike Person (Montana State)
Tim Barnes (Missouri)
Combine King: Nate Solder (Colorado)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Rodney Hudson (Florida State)
Free Agent Find: Dan Kilgore (Appalachian State)

Defensive Line

Cream of the Crop: Marcel Dareus (Alabama)
Run Stopper: Marcel Dareus (Alabama)
Pass Rusher: Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue)
Fastest: Robert Quinn (North Carolina)
Strongest: Stephen Paea (Oregon State)
Toughest: JJ Watt (Wisconsin), Adrian Clayborn (Iowa)
Marcel Dareus (Alabama), Nick Fairley (Auburn)
Underappreciated: Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma)
Combine King: JJ Watt (Wisconsin)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Martin Parker (Richmond)
Justin Trattou (Florida)
Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue)
Free Agent Find: John Graves (Virginia Tech)

Linebackers
Cream of the Crop: Von Miller (Texas A&M)
Run Defender: Greg Jones (Michigan State)
Pass Coverage: Mason Foster (Washington)
Pass Rusher: Von Miller (Texas A&M)
Fastest: Martez Wilson (Illinois)
Strongest: Justin Houston (Georgia)
Toughest: Mark Herzlich (Boston College)
Underappreciated: Casey Matthews (Oregon)
Bruce Miller (Central Florida)
Combine King: Von Miller (Texas A&M)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Von Miller (Texas A&M)
Free Agent Find: Eric Gordon (Michigan State)

Defensive Backs

Cream of the Crop: Patrick Peterson (LSU)
Coverage: Patrick Peterson (LSU)
Toughest: Quinton Carter (Oklahoma), Jermale Hines (Ohio State)
Fastest: DeMarcus Van Dyke (Miami), Patrick Peterson (LSU)
Playmaker: Patrick Peterson (LSU)
Return Man: Patrick Peterson (LSU)
Leaper: Curtis Brown (Texas)
Underappreciated: Ahmad Black (Florida)
Combine King: Patrick Peterson (LSU)
Best All-Star Bowl Performance: Kendric Burney (North Carolina)
Free Agent Find: Ryan Jones (NW Missouri State)
Josh Gatlin (North Dakota State)

Place Kickers
Cream of the Crop: Alex Henery (Nebraska)
Free Agent Find: Dan Bailey (Oklahoma State)

PuntersCream of the Crop: Aaron Bates (Michigan State)
Free Agent Find: Reid Forrest (Washington State)

Special Teams
Best Long Snapper: Zach Enyeart (Washington State)

Christian Ponder 12th Pick 2011 NFL Draft

Ponder,Christian Florida State 6021 222 4.65

Minnesota Vikings

A three-year starter. Graduated in 2 ½ years and has been working
on his MBA for the past year and a half. Learning complex NFL
offenses will not be a problem. Has Kurt Warner type accuracy.
Consistent ability to keep receivers on their routes with few
adjustments. Throws a catchable ball with timing, touch, and
rare ball placement to his receivers. Completed 68.8 percent of
his passes in 2009. Patient passing the ball. Lets the play develop
while reading coverages, then delivers ball. Equally skilled at
throwing horizontal or vertical passes with accuracy. Quick
release. Always ready to throw, keeps the ball up at shoulder
level or above. No wasted motion. Tight spiral with velocity.
Quick feet. Gets to throwing point quickly in conventional or
shotgun alignments. Good mechanics. Can scramble out, gather
himself, and throw accurately. Quick and fluid. A poised leader
who doesn’t get rattled. Features the arm strength to fit the ball
into tight spots in the “red zone.” Quick twitch from vision
For complete report see Ourlads Guide To The NFL Draft

2011 First Round Quarterbacks......

Newton, Cam Auburn 6050 248 4.59
CAROLINA Junior entry.
One-year starter. Junior college transfer. Started
career at the University of Florida. Won the junior college
national championship at Blinn (TX) Junior College in 2009.
Runs the spread, no huddle, run first edition. Confident and
aggressive in his play. Runs the dive and read option. Quick up
the field when he runs the ball. Big and strong. Uses the stiff arm
to ward off tacklers. Physical in the run game. Can take and
give a hit. Runs the ball out of the Wildcat. Can avoid defenders
in space. Question ability to pre-read, sight adjust, and locate
secondary receivers. His field vision and awareness are not readily
evident. Runs the quarterback counter sweep and follows his
blockers. Demonstrates an open field burst to run away from
defenders. Can elude pass rushers. Tall enough to see over the
line. Has a strong arm and fast ball when he needs it. Can zip the
ball on a shallow post route or hit a receiver on a 25-yard
comeback. Generally throws to wide open receivers. One flaw is
that he stares down and locks on a receiver.For complete
report
see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Locker,Jake Washington 6022 231 4.59

Tennessee Three-year starter who is a
dynamic playmaker. Possesses all
the tools and athletic ability to succeed on the next level. Broke
his thumb in game four against Stanford in 2008 which slowed
his progress. Played in 2009 with a group of young receivers
who dropped several passes early in the year but proved to be
talented skill players by season’s end. Returned to the Huskies
in 2010 to continue his development under quarterback guru
and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Fundamentally, Locker is an
ascending player who can throw from the pocket or on the
move from a variety of deliveries. Classic compact release.
Holds ball cheek level and is quick on his release. Plays in both
a spread offense where he takes shotgun snaps and a pro style
where he accepts the ball from under center. His arm is strong
enough to throw deep and all the sideline passes. He can zip the
tough deep comeback route. Has the innate ability to speed up
his delivery under a heavy rush and gets the ball out of his hand
quickly and on time. Can hit a moving target in stride on vertical
patterns down the field. Particularly dangerous on play action,
See Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft for the complete report.

Gabbert Blaine Missouri 6043 234 4.62 Junior entry.

Jacksonville
Two-year starter. Right handed passer who is consistent
and accurate in his play. Gets the ball out of his hand quickly.
Sudden to “catch” and release. He sees it quickly and hits it quickly.
Can speed up his delivery under the pressure of a rush and keep his
accuracy. Carries the ball chest high or higher at all times. No
wasted motion to re-cock and throw. High overhand release.
Demonstrates good touch over the linebackers and in front of the
safeties. Generally throws a tight spiral with good velocity. High
RPMs, good rotation. Will use his eyes and pump fakes to move
the safeties. Athletic and mobile enough to extend the play. A
rhythm and timing passer. Plays in a pass first spread offense that
features slant routes, bubble screens, and quick outs. Will also step
into the deep passes downfield and put the ball between the numbers
on the receiver. A patient quarterback who spreads the ball around
to four, sometimes five different receivers. Accurate throwing the
skinny post down the seam. Deadly on the 18-yard out. Strong
enough to run quarterback draws in the red zone.For the complete
report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft..


Ponder, Christian Florida State 6021 222 4.65
Minnesota A three-year starter.
Graduated in 2 ½ years and has been working
on his MBA for the past year and a half. Learning complex NFL
offenses will not be a problem. Has Kurt Warner type accuracy.
Consistent ability to keep receivers on their routes with few
adjustments. Throws a catchable ball with timing, touch, and
rare ball placement to his receivers. Completed 68.8 percent of
his passes in 2009. Patient passing the ball. Lets the play develop
while reading coverages, then delivers ball. Equally skilled at
throwing horizontal or vertical passes with accuracy. Quick
release. Always ready to throw, keeps the ball up at shoulder
level or above. No wasted motion. Tight spiral with velocity.
Quick feet. Gets to throwing point quickly in conventional or
shotgun alignments. Good mechanics. Can scramble out, gather
himself, and throw accurately. Quick and fluid. A poised leader
who doesn’t get rattled. Features the arm strength to fit the ball
into tight spots in the “red zone.” Quick twitch from vision to
launch point. He sees it, he hits it.For the complete report see
Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft...

Cincinnati Bengals 2011 Mock Draft

Cincinnati
4 AJ Green WR Georgia
35 Christian Ponder QB Florida St.
66 Terrell McClain DT S. Florida
101 Allen Bradford RB South. Cal
134 Shiloh Keo SS Idaho
167 Zach Hurd OG Connect.
207 Josh Bynes IB Auburn
246 Byron Stingily OT Louisville

Notes on 2011 NFL Draft Prospects

Quarterback Notes:Cam Newton is a more skilled passer than Vince Young. His athletic
prowess is special. Junior Blaine Gabbert delivers the ball suddenly to his
receivers. No delay. Athletic and mobile. Stands tall in the pocket. Plays in a
spread ball control passing attack. Jake Locker has outstanding athletic
ability and a quick release. May be best in a play action offense. Ryan
Mallett’s best asset is his arm strength and size. He is skilled enough to take
advantage of coverage breakdowns. Christian Ponder has had durability
problems, but like Locker may be featured in a play action offense. A good
ball control passer who is mobile enough to buy time with his feet. Tough and
smart. Colin Kaepernick has good deep accuracy and the arm strength to
throw the deep out. Athletic and nimble-footed to get out of trouble and
make something happen. Will need technique work, but has talent.

Runningback Notes:Junior Mark Ingram has exceptional contact balance and agility in traffic.
Beats the first tackler on a regular basis. Daniel Thomas bookended his
junior year with a strong senior season. Lacks track speed, but makes the tough
three and four yard runs. Physical and athletic. DeMarco Murray should develop
into a solid NFL all-purpose type back that consistently catches the ball in his
hands. Has the speed to turn the corner and return kickoffs. Allen Bradford had
a stretch where he fumbled four times in twenty carries this fall. He appeared to
have cleaned up the ball security problem late in the year, running for over 212
yards and 2 touchdowns versus UCLA. Kendall Hunter overcame an injuryplagued
2009 by rushing for 1516 yards and 16 touchdowns. Hunter has good
running skills, vision, and cutting ability.

2011 NFL Draft, Quarterback, Christian Ponder, Florida State

Will be a three year starter. Graduated in 2 ½ years and has been working on his MBA for the past year and a half. Learning complex NFL offenses will not be a problem. Has Kurt Warner type accuracy. Consistent ability to keep receivers on their routes with few adjustments. Throws a catchable ball with timing, touch, and rare ball placement to his receivers. Completed 68.8 percent of his passes. Patient passing the ball. Lets the play develop while reading coverages, then delivers ball. Equally skilled at throwing horizontal or vertical passes with accuracy. Quick release. Always ready to throw, keeps the ball up at shoulder level or above. No wasted motion. Tight spiral with velocity. Quick feet. Gets to throwing point quickly in conventional or shotgun alignments. Good mechanics. Can scramble out, gather himself, and throw accurately.Quick and fluid. A poised leader who doesn’t get rattled. Features the arm strength to fit the ball into tight spots in the “red zone.” Quick twitch from vision to launch point. He sees it, he hits it. Makes plays left or right on the move. Accurate on bootlegs and waggles. Played in nine games in 2009 before he had surgery on his right shoulder after being injured in the Clemson game. He is expected to be full go when the season starts September 4th.