Christian Ponder?s 2011 NFL Draft profile for the San Francisco 49ers.
Player: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
Age: 23
Height: 6?2?
Weight: 229
2010 Stats: 2,044 yards, 20 TD and 8 INT, 61.5 % comp. (Plus 100 carries for 180 yards?1.8 avg.?and 4 TD.)
Career Stats: 6,872 yards, 49 TD and 30 INT, 61.8 % comp. (Plus 296 carries for 833?2.8 avg.?and 10 TD)
(What you are about to read is an almagamation of perspectives from CNNSI.com, ESPN.com, and NFL DraftScout.com.)
Strengths: Ponder is very smart, and ?at his best when he can make a pre-snap read, make his 3-5-7 step drop, and get the ball out quickly.? (ESPN.)
Can get the ball out in a hurry and is, for the most part, good with his short-range accuracy?especially when throwing over the middle (?slants, skinny posts, in routes, etc.?). (Again, ESPN.)
NFL-caliber tough (both physically and mentally). A leader who commands the huddle.
Very mobile, very quick feet, and has the burst of a back when he goes to scramble?plus, he?s fast and elusive once he decides to go.
Has improved his game each year in college.
Weaknesses: Still will telegraph too many of his throws, and struggles at times when his primary receiver is covered.
Takes too many chances and will force the ball into inappropriately tight windows, trusting his arm way more than he should.
Strong arm, but not dynamically so?only gets adequate zip on the deep out, and will float a deep ball on occasion.
Durability is a concern. Well built, but his style of play makes him susceptive to injury.
Ponder suffered a season-ending shoulder separation in 2009 that required surgery by famed orthopedist James Andrew. He then battled through a series of injuries and at least one concussion during his senior season that limited his ability to throw deep.
Perspectives:
Via ESPN: "Great competitor," Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said afterward, noting that Ponder also brings rare leadership intangibles. "An interesting guy and a great prospect."
Andrew Carter, Orlando Sentinal, on Ponder?s recent pro day:
Ponder threw with confidence and with the kind of velocity that was sometimes missing during the 2010 season, when he played through several nagging arm injuries. [Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher] said Ponder?s arm looked ?like it was as a junior.?
... That?s good news for Ponder, who has steadily improved his NFL Draft stock since his college career ended. ...
Ponder declined to specify which NFL teams have given him the most attention but he said, ?I?m getting a lot of interest ? getting a lot of love. Which is good.?
Why he?s a fit for San Francisco:
I don?t think that Ponder is the fit that say, Andy Dalton is, but I believe he?ll be a serviceable quarterback in the NFL. He?s a leader, he?s athletic, and he?s tough enough to grind out some games.
Ponder is capable of succeeding in a West Coast-type offense?and the 49ers would presume to tailor theirs to his ability to move outside the pocket?but I don?t see the type of consistent accuracy that?s going to make that system hum.
My opinion is this: Ponder is a guy you can win with, but you?re not going to win big.
He?s like a poor man?s Jake Locker, about whom I share all the aforementioned qualms.
He?ll get consideration with the 45th pick in the draft, but if I?m Jim Harbaugh, I pass. I wait for the optimum fit.
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