The Minnesota Vikings have always had a reliable run game with Adrian Peterson, but in the offseason they made moves to up the passing game in part to help quarterback Christian Ponder. While Ponder has certainly not played poorly, the team is expecting bigger things for the quarterback this season with the idea of the postseason being a top goal. Newly acquired wide receiver Greg Jennings thinks the offseason is totally set for Ponder to have a breakout year.
Since coming over from the Green Bay Packers, Jennings has been bombarded with questions surrounding the differences between the Vikings and their rival team. While speaking to ESPN, Jennings noted that Ponder never had the same kind of help that quarterbacks like Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers have, but this year that all changes.
"Brett Favre, receivers around him. Aaron Rodgers, receivers around him. Christian Ponder, receivers around him," Jennings said. "He [Ponder] has always been in a position where the stress and pressure was on him. He really didn't have the help around him to take that load off, outside of 'All Day'. "
Percy Harvin is likely to have a different opinion on that matter, but for the most part he has been the biggest deep threat for Ponder. After being dealt to the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings had to do their best to refuel on offensive weapons for Ponder. Insert rookie Cordarrelle Patterson and re-signing Jerome Simpson to go along with Jennings, and Ponder will have his pick of receivers to make plays with.
Jennings is expected to get the majority of the targets in the pass game, but he believes a stacked supporting cast is important to Ponder's overall success. He is aware he and Patterson cannot do all the work themselves. Jennings has spent a brief amount of time with the other wide receivers and has walked away impressed, especially with rookie, Patterson.
"I remember coming out of college. I had that definitive step. That kind of gets washed out because everything they teach you is that they want everything to look the same. The definitive step starts to kind of fade away, that that's what creates that separation. I just told him, do not lose that. Because the more I see him do that, the more I remember when I used to do that and create so much, even more separation," Jennings said.
Jennings believes Patterson has gifts that most receivers will never be taught, they just have them or they do not. After a strong offseason, the veteran is ready to get to work with his new team, excited for the possibilities to come.
