The Minnesota Vikings officially have a quarterback competition on their hands. The team's first win came at the hands of Matt Cassel, not Christian Ponder, leaving many to wonder who will be the starter in Week 5. After starter Ponder was placed on the bench for a rib injury, Cassel got the call and managed to get the Vikings a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. So who gets the start in the team's next game? Head coach Leslie Frazier is not really sure.
Cassel finished Sunday going 16-of-25 in passing for 248 yards and two scores. He connected well with Greg Jennings and Jerome Simpson, something Ponder has failed to do. He has earned the praise of running back Adrian Peterson and now brings up the question of whether or not he should remain the starter in Minnesota. Frazier is aware these questions are going to be asked and he certainly is not closing the door on change for the team.
"I don't know what I would base it on [now] other than what I've seen with the naked eye," Frazier said, via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com. "I'd have to look at the tape, look at our football team and then come back and evaluate what we need to do to come back a better team. That's what I base it on. I think it would be premature for me to say anything other than what I'm saying now."
Fraizer has a case for bringing change in Minnesota. In the first three games, Ponder threw five interceptions. He was tentative and not commanding in the pocket. As a third-year starter, Ponder was ineffective. While one start is not enough to build a case for Cassel, he did more in one game than Ponder did in three.
Ponder realizes Cassel is hot on his heels. After the game the quarterback said, "I have to pick up my play. That decision's out of my hands." He noted that Cassel played very well and made Ponder "even hungier to come back and be a better quarterback."
Frazier was not the only one pleased with Cassel's performance. Peterson praised the backup for his presence in the huddle and on the field.
"He's more vocal,'' Peterson said, via the Star Tribune. "He was out there saying his two cents worth in the huddle and you see guys buying into it, and keeping the huddle together and that's all you can ask for ...He did a good job.''
Frazier did a good job of defusing the quarterback competition. The Vikings have a bye week so there is plenty of time for Ponder to heal and the head coach to make a very important decision.
