Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

[Dee Dub]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I personally think the immediate and future success of the Pittsburgh Steelers depends on the development of Dennis Dixon. This is Dixon"s third year in the NFL. His time has come. Whether it be 2 games, 3 games, 4 games or 6 games...he should be allowed to show what his worth is.

This team is on the verge of losing players like Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, and possibly LaMarr Woodley. There must be an influx of young talent coming in for the Steelers to compete at a high level. It aint coming from free agency.

If Dennis Dixon shines over a 4 game period after what he showed last year, teams will be beating down the door of the Steelers next offseason with blow me away offers.

[ANPSTEEL]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I personally think the immediate and future success of the Pittsburgh Steelers depends on the development of Dennis Dixon. This is Dixon"s third year in the NFL. His time has come. Whether it be 2 games, 3 games, 4 games or 6 games...he should be allowed to show what his worth is.

This team is on the verge of losing players like Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, and possibly LaMarr Woodley. There must be an influx of young talent coming in for the Steelers to compete at a high level. It aint coming from free agency.

If Dennis Dixon shines over a 4 game period after what he showed last year, teams will be beating down the door of the Steelers next offseason with blow me away offers.

lets hope the coaching staff and front office have the same beliefs.

I've always thought DD has the tools to be a good starting QB- time to prove it.

[SteelHoss]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I find it odd that Lefty is seemingly the pick thus far. It might be that Coach T is waiting for the pre-season to make a decision. I think Tomlin is trying to be as "flexible" as he can at this point in the game. The pre-season should reveal much. The only guess I could make right now barring injury is the starter won't be Charlie Batch!

[cruzer8]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I personally think the immediate and future success of the Pittsburgh Steelers depends on the development of Dennis Dixon. This is Dixon"s third year in the NFL. His time has come. Whether it be 2 games, 3 games, 4 games or 6 games...he should be allowed to show what his worth is.

This team is on the verge of losing players like Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, and possibly LaMarr Woodley. There must be an influx of young talent coming in for the Steelers to compete at a high level. It aint coming from free agency.

If Dennis Dixon shines over a 4 game period after what he showed last year, teams will be beating down the door of the Steelers next offseason with blow me away offers.

If they decide to retire. I don't think they will. But they are on the short side of their careers which is why we need to put the known entity at QB until Ben returns.

I didn't highlight Woodley because he's not going anywhere.

[Shoe]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

Life isn't fair. The Steelers obligation is to take the most low risk approach to the first four games that they based upon years of experience see as the best way to achieve at least two victories in the first four games. Screw giving people "chances" or being "fair."

Yup.
I think that the Steelers have their reasons for inserting Leftwich above Dixon. I'm all for all parties getting a legitimate chance at the starting spot, but Dixon insinuating that he is owed something... I don't buy that

[Snatch98]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

Dixon has put in his time and he certainly knows the offense at this point. I don't believe his agent is implying he deserves to start but I think the Steelers would be best served to see what they have in Dixon. He certainly played well against the Ravens and he's definitely more of a athlete than Bryon. Who knows maybe they don't want him to burst on to the scene just yet. Either way he certainly deserves a chance to compete and getting reps with the first team allows him to. Either way I'm confident with either behind center.

[Captain Lemming]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

The idea of a trade is interesting. I would be in favor of a Dixon trade for someone of great value. Then keep Lefty as #2 behind Ben, with Batch as #3.

Could work.

I think the hope within the Steelers' FO, has always been to develop Dixon and trade him for significant value... alla Matt Cassel.

They can only get significant value if he plays. This is the perfect time. Clearly they dont think all that much about his progress.

[Captain Lemming]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

He wants more reps? Earn them.

I'm so sick of he and his agent acting like he's owed something because he hurt his knee.

Injuries happen kid, suck it up and play through it.

And for Harris to label him a steal is comical.

If Dixon has this starter ability, if the Steelers see his great potential, why did they panic and trade for BL in the first place?

He is no rookie, yet they still arent confident enough for it to be his job. People act like he was so impressive against the Ravens. He was not aweful, but I wasnt blown away either. I know there are legitimate reasons, it was short notice and all but all I'm saying is that it didnt prove anything either way.

The Steelers have been watching him, seeing his progress, and know better than any of us what he has shown.

Ben was a rookie but when Tommy got hurt Ben got the gig as a rookie over Batch who was a very capable backup former starter just like BL.

Here we are, Dixon is a veteran and we are scared to start him for 4 games. I say that despite comments to the contrary, the team does not see him as being all that great.

[stlrz d]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I don't know that getting Lefty was a move out of panic. If they don't get him the only QBs on the roster with any experience (while Ben is out) are Dixon with one actual regular season game played and Charlie Batch. Doesn't hurt to get someone serviceable who is familiar with the system.

[feltdizz]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

He wants more reps? Earn them.

I'm so sick of he and his agent acting like he's owed something because he hurt his knee.

Injuries happen kid, suck it up and play through it.

And for Harris to label him a steal is comical.

If Dixon has this starter ability, if the Steelers see his great potential, why did they panic and trade for BL in the first place?

He is no rookie, yet they still arent confident enough for it to be his job. People act like he was so impressive against the Ravens. He was not aweful, but I wasnt blown away either. I know there are legitimate reasons, it was short notice and all but all I'm saying is that it didnt prove anything either way.

The Steelers have been watching him, seeing his progress, and know better than any of us what he has shown.

Ben was a rookie but when Tommy got hurt Ben got the gig as a rookie over Batch who was a very capable backup former starter just like BL.

Here we are, Dixon is a veteran and we are scared to start him for 4 games. I say that despite comments to the contrary, the team does not see him as being all that great.

Batch was hurt in the preseason that year. The plan was for Ben to sit for a year (or 2) and learn the system.

[SteelStallion]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I happen to agree with the gist of this article. I think the Steelers are just painful about not allowing young players to play and compete for playing time and starting positions. And say what you want but the only real way to develop players is to make them play in real games. And I agree it's a bit over the top that before training camp even opens and before one practice or preseason game, Leftwich is anointed the starter. Right or wrong, where's the competition, where's the player development?

Another example-does anybody think for a second that there's any real competition at Farrior's spot, or doubt for a second that he starts automatically, as old as he is, and as vulnerable as he was last year? We've seen this under Cowher and we see it under Tomlin, both young head coaches, so I can only conclude this is a front office thing, the 'Steeler Way?' The big contract plays, the veteran favorite plays even if he can't play? Do they try to stockpile talent, try to get in the second contract for below market value before the player becomes too big or famous? I don't know, seems like it sometimes, at the expense of team play and player development. I don't mean to sound like I'm bashing the six time champion franchise that I love. And who could argue with what some of you say about 'earning your way,' 'proving your worth,' ect., it's a Steeler strenght, but even in obvious situations that beg for competition I think they could stand to be a little bit more progressive getting the young guys playing, developing and competing than what they do now, without compromising the 'Steeler Way', and I think Art Rooney was trying to say the same thing. I happen to agree. Will be interesting.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

It's not like we absolutely refuse to give young players playing time...we just have a strong veteran team, so there may not be as many opportunities for young guys to play early like there would be if they were drafted by, say, the Rams or Lions. If there is a possible opening, and the young player earns it, he gets on the field...that's good enough for me.

Mike Wallace and D.J. Johnson got plenty of P.T. as rookies last year, and Ziggy started to make a showing late in the year as well. Mendenhall was held back by injury in year one, but burst onto the scene last season and is expected to flourish even more this year. Early on in their careers, other young guys like LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Daniel Sepulveda, William Gay, etc. ended up carving out roles for themselves on this team.

[SteelStallion]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

I don't know if we have a 'strong' veteran team. We certainly have an aging team that missed the playoffs, dudes that started a long, long time yet no heir-apparents in most cases. I think it's a concern. I think ruling out Dixon as starter before training camp even opens is backwards, not progressive and I don't see the point to it. I think not allowing Ziggy to play until Smith went down, and even then playing second fiddle to an aged career backup is backwards, not progressive and I don't see the point. I think having Woodley doing rare spot work behind a mediocre and declining veteran was beyond backwards and pointless, and a waste of his rookie year. I think having Pouncy run with the second team guards in OTAs when other teams have had success with rookie centers, and pretending that we have competent veteran center play is backwards and pointless. And the master plan to 'sit Ben' for a few year? Or predetermining Woirlds and Gibson 'special teams only' and Farrior and McFadden preordained starters, all before training camp opens? Again, I don't mean to sound hypercritical because of this one point, and I'm not talking absolutes, but I'm concerned that short term they need to ramp up their player development if their going to catch the very young, very good Cincinnati's of the world and make the playoffs. And even long term, they could stand to be a little more progressive with their rooks and young players. Anyway, can't wait til training camp, it's been too long

[stlrz d]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

It's not like we absolutely refuse to give young players playing time...we just have a strong veteran team, so there may not be as many opportunities for young guys to play early like there would be if they were drafted by, say, the Rams or Lions. If there is a possible opening, and the young player earns it, he gets on the field...that's good enough for me.

Mike Wallace and D.J. Johnson got plenty of P.T. as rookies last year, and Ziggy started to make a showing late in the year as well. Mendenhall was held back by injury in year one, but burst onto the scene last season and is expected to flourish even more this year. Early on in their careers, other young guys like LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, Daniel Sepulveda, William Gay, etc. ended up carving out roles for themselves on this team.

As usual, logic in excess.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Dennis Dixon wants more reps with 1st-team offense

after tonight's performance, Dixon may very well get a shot at more reps with the 1st-team offense...