Christian Ponder sure looked a lot sharper at Monday’s practice than he did during some early practices in training camp. He was hitting receivers, not throwing interceptions, and looked to be getting into a rhythm. He did OK in Saturday night’s exhibition victory over the Seattle Seahawks, completing 6 of 12 passes for 63 yards. It’s all part of the learning curve for this first-round draft pick out of Florida State who could be the Vikings’ starting quarterback for most of the next decade.

I talked to Ponder after Monday’s practice.

BS: How did you feel it went for you in Seattle?

CP: I thought it was good. It was better than the week before against Tennessee. There’s definitely a lot of room for improvement. I went in there at first and was a little hesitant. After the first series, I was fine. I’m just getting more confident in what I’m doing, and it’s definitely better.

BS: Where is the biggest room for improvement?

CP: The biggest adjustment is getting used to the speed of the game. I have to make my reads a lot quicker and get the ball out a lot faster. I think that’s the biggest adjustment from college.

BS: Many rookies talk about the difference in the speed of the game from college to the NFL. Is it faster than you imagined?

CP: No, I don’t think so. I was expecting it to be fast. It’s one thing to expect it. You still have to get used to it.

BS: You missed the minicamps and OTAs because of the lockout. Are you a lot more comfortable than you were at the start of training camp?

CP: Oh, definitely. I’m getting comfortable with the guys around me, getting comfortable with the system. I feel confident in what I’m doing. The more reps I take, the easier it gets.

BS: Has Donovan McNabb been a mentor for you?

CP: He has. He has been great to me since the first day I met him. We have great chemistry. A lot of people don’t realize how funny he is. He’s a great guy. The whole quarterback room has great chemistry. We’re all friends, but we still have that competitive edge. He has been there after every mistake, or in the film room. He’s right there in my ear, helping me out. And he has been helping Joe (Webb) and Rhett (Bomar) out.

BS: You said McNabb is funny. Does he throw out the one-liners or tell jokes?

CP: He throws out one-liners. He’s pretty funny. He’ll sing and dance a little bit.

BS: Did that surprise you – that he sings and dances?

CP: A little bit. But you know, he loves the game. He loves being around the guys. He has fun.

BS: What was your perception of McNabb before you met him. Sometimes, he looks stoic on the sideline. Is that what you thought he was?

CP: Yeah, that’s what I thought. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. You really don’t know what you’re going to get from a veteran guy who’s been to the playoffs and Super Bowl. He’s great. He’s down to earth. He’s fun to be around.

BS: Have you talked to him about the fact he’s holding the spot for you? Has that come up in conversation?

CP: (Smiles.) No, it doesn’t. Not at all. He knows that some point down the road, whether it’s a year or two, whenever, I’ll be the starting quarterback. So he’s helping me along. I couldn’t ask for a better mentor.

BS: Have you thought about how long it will be before you start, or how long you want it to be?

CP: I don’t know. That doesn’t really matter. It’s not up to me. It’s up to me to prepare myself as a starter. But it’s the coach’s call, so we’ll see.

BS: The coach in Carolina announced that (first overall draft pick) Cam Newton will start this weekend’s preseason game.

CP: I saw that.

BS: Do you watch to see how the other rookie quarterbacks are advancing and what they’re doing?

CP: Yeah. Being a competitor, I realize what everyone else is doing and compare myself to them. You always want to be the best, especially with the guys in your class. It’s good for Cam. It’s exciting for him.

BS: How well do you know him?

CP: I met him at the (scouting) combine and when I was training down at IMG over the summer he was there, too. He’s an interesting guy. He was great. He was pretty cool.

BS: You mentioned the speed of the game before. Has that been the biggest adjustment for you, or is there something else?

CP: I think it’s the speed, along with learning an NFL system. You’re already thinking about so much and the new system, and then you have to adjust to the speed of the game. The windows are a lot tighter. They close a lot faster. It is an adjustment. There’s a nice learning curve.

BS: You’re a single guy, right?

CP: Yeah.

BS: How many marriage proposals have you received since you got to Minnesota?

CP: (Laughs.) None.

BS: Have you had women hitting on you?

CP: (Laughs.) Nah.

BS: You are quite the meal ticket.

CP: (Laughs.) I try to stay away.

BS: So you’ve got your nose to the grindstone?

CP: Exactly.

Bob Sansevere can be reached at bsansevere@pioneerpress.com.