Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon has not practiced with the first team and it has become obvious Byron Leftwich will open the season as the starting quarterback according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With the return of Roethlisbeger this week, Dixon has gotten more snaps and was No. 2 Thursday, but Leftwich ran the first team since minicamp April 30 until Roethlisberger's arrival Tuesday. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
I don't believe its because Arians isn't creative enough to start Dixon. From this year's OTAs, there were numerous occasions that show DD isn't able to throw the long passes to speedy Mike Wallace. Mike Wallace will be a weapon now that Holmes is gone and if DD isn't able to make use of him, why have him start? BL has been able to connect with Wallace again and again in deep passes because he's got a cannon for an arm. However, they should put DD in on plays where they will be running plays by RB or run the ball himself. He seems adept at that.
Can't really take much from OTA's imo. I still hold out hope that Dixon will get hia act together when all is said and done...
Problem with Leftwhich is that he is immobile and inneffective if rushed. He is essentially in Bill Simmons terminology the Homeless Man's Drew Bledsoe.
this is awful...the biggest knock on dixon is his experience and they refuse to give him any at all so that will always be his knock. leftwich played well in spot duty 2 years ago but i want to see what dixon has or if hes another 5ht round failure **********Automerged Doublepost********** btw arians is TERRIBLE and is not creative enough
You give him too much credit...Arians and creative shouldn't even be close to in the same sentence. He's got ZERO creativity. ZERO...which did win one Super Bowl... Maybe it's sort of like reverse psychology...:icon_rolleyes:
Gotta agree you go with Leftwich. He gives them their BEST CHANCE to win. Dixon has some talent and can be used in creative ways but it's not about being creative...it's about WINNING. With Ben out they have to have someone under center with experience reading defenses and making the decisions. Leftwich may be immobile but that shouldn't matter. With a stronger focus on the running game and more play action deep passes it'll keep defenses a lot more honest and not stacking the box or blitzing like mad. Bottom line...Leftwich gives the Steelers their best chance to win without Ben.
Everyone keeps thinking that the run game is going to return to form...what if it doesn't? IF it doesn't and Leftwich is stuck behind that line (saying it doesn't improve much over the last couple seasons) to complete passes, I don't have a lot of confidence in him. He's a statue...a poor man's Drew Bledsoe even? Dixon gives them a little more of a chance with his mobility.
pouncey instantly makes the run game better. leftwich or dixon will be sacked less in 4-6 games than ben will be in his first game back
Yes. You'd think Pouncey would make the run game better...but if he doesn't, Lefftwich is a sitting duck. They may get sacked less but will probably have more interceptions in 4-6 games than Ben has in 10-12...lol.
