Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan had words of praise for Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder on Tuesday ahead of Washington's clash with Minnesota on Saturday according to ESPN Radio 980 in Washington
"I like Christian," Shanahan said. We had him in here for a visit. [He’s] just a class guy that played extremely well at Florida State. [He has] good speed and he’s getting used to the system. Like most quarterbacks, [he’s] adjusting to life in the NFL."
Ponder has thrown for 1,757 yards and 13 touchdowns against 12 interceptions for the Vikings this season, good for a 72.3 quarterback rating. He's also racked up 199 rushing yards on 24 attempts, good for an 8.3 yards per carry average.
Ponder was drafted No. 12 overall by the Vikings this past spring after playing his college career at Florida State. During his senior season in 2010, Ponder threw for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions in leading the Seminoles to a 10-4 record, including a win in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. That performance caught Shanahan's eye.
"I liked him. I liked his release," Shanahan said. "I liked the way he handled himself, the way he played the game. I thought he had a good release. I thought he had adequate arm strength where he could make the throws and a good sense of timing."
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