Minnesota Vikings’ Christian Ponder compares his running skills to Russell Wison, Robert Griffin III
By Bryant West
In an interview with NBC Sports, Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder said he believes his running game is undervalued in a mobile quarterback league.
When asked what part of his game he “feels he doesn’t get enough credit for”, he said he feels like he’s a pretty athletic guy who can move and run the ball pretty well.
“We’re seeing this shift to more mobile quarterbacks in the league, and everyone talks about, you know, RGIII and Russell Wilson, and I feel I can move pretty well.”
It’s good that Ponder didn’t go so far as to say he’s just as good a runner as Wilson or Robert Griffin III, considering the stats would never back that up. Ponder isn’t an unathletic player, and his 253 rushing yards last year were 8th most by a quarterback. Still, Wilson notched 481 yards and Griffin had 815—not exactly comparable numbers for the Vikings QB.
Ponder has plenty to improve on this season—he had 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year—and while it’s good to see he has confidence, he should mostly leave the athletic running game to Adrian Peterson.