NFL Draft 2011: Christian Ponder Wonders How NFL Lockout Will Affect Him

The NFL draft this year is a little different than in previous years.

The NFL lockout has brought an aura of uncertainty to the league’s 32 teams. We’re not completely sure if there will be free agency, although we think it’ll happen at some point. We’re also not completely sure if the lockout will remain lifted as the NFL is appealing Judge Susan Nelson’s ruling.

So that means the incoming rookie class isn’t sure when they’ll be able to get to work. Many teams conduct a rookie minicamp a week or two after the draft which is the first time rookies can get acclimated to their new teammates. That may not happen this year, at least not right away.

For rookie quarterbacks, this is even more difficult. Quarterback isn’t like any other position -- you need to understand the offense better than anyone and you need to bring a level of leadership. Both of those take time.

I spoke with QB Christian Ponder this week as he awaits to find out where his name will be called in the 2011 NFL draft. He talked about the difficulties the lockout would impose on him if it were to remain in place.

Especially as a rookie QB, it’s kind of brought some difficultly into what I’m going to be doing when the draft is over. The good thing about now, throughout the pre-draft process, it hasn’t really affected me so I haven’t been that worried about it. But when the draft ends, and if the lockout is reinstated, I can’t communicate with my coaches and I can’t get a playbook. It’s going to hinder my process of learning and trying to get prepared so it’s going to be a little more difficult.

Something as simple as getting a playbook and meeting his teammates won’t be easy. He says if the lockout is in place he’ll have to turn to his new teammates with help on learning the offense.

But if this thing goes into August or September, it could spell doom for rookie quarterbacks like Ponder, especially in year one.

God forbid it goes on into August or September. I need as much time as possible. The biggest thing for me, other than learning the playbook, is establishing myself as a leader, and establishing myself in that role of the QB of the team and interacting with the team and those guys, getting them more comfortable around me. I think that’s going to be the biggest issue.

Ponder said he feels he can learn a playbook quickly if that’s the case. He’s been tabbed as one of the smarter quarterbacks in the draft and some, like Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, think he’ll actually end up being the best quarterback in the group.

The NFL lockout is hurting the fans because we simply want to see football. But with rookie quarterbacks like Ponder, it’s hurting their livelihood.

if he plays in year one, how well he does could come down to what kind of offensive line he has. Plenty of quarterback’s careers have been ruined by shaky offensive lines and he’s hoping that’s not the case. He mentioned a new line of stats out from New York Life Protection Index, which basically quantifies an offensive line’s effectiveness.

An offensive line stat is something nobody really does so I imagine, for the sake of his own health, he’s hoping he lands in a city that also houses an elite offensive line.