I think (in your reasonable attempt to be fair and balanced) grossly understated what a badass Dennis Dixon was in 2007.

I’d go so far as to say this: if Dennis Dixon doesn’t hurt his knee against UA, then he wins the Heisman and Oregon wins the national title.

When Dixon was selected as the Steelers 5th round pick, B.A grinned, dusted off Slash’s old playbook and began scribbling new plays on napkins while listening to the rest of the draft. Unlike Ward and Randle El, Dixon is 6’4”. In 2 years, the Steelers’ offense could be an explosive juggernaut if everything goes according to planned and the o-line is solid. The upside is ‘sky’s the limit’.

PB@BON – Dixon slightly tore his ACL before the UA game and completely tore it during the game. I remember watching it. he shouldn’t have been playing but I guess it was a blessing in disguise so that he could fall to the 5th round to the Steelers.

After the game when he partially tore it, he got an MRI, saw it was partially torn, and had a sit-down meeting with Ducks coach Mike Belotti. Coach B straight-up said “don’t play football for us again, you would hamper your future too much” and Dixon refused to sit the bench, saying he wanted to help the team as much and for as long as possible.

Dude is a freaking badass…playing on a torn ACL.

I hope this works out but I’d set the odds pretty low. Dixon will have to decide in his mind that he is ok with not playing QB anymore and very few come to that conclusion quickly. Not only that, they can’t stash him on the practice squad so he’ll have to start the season on the 53 or (as schnifin already mentioned) he could start the season on the PUP list while he recovers and learns to play WR. I’d love to see/hear some quotes from him soon to see if he’s embracing the idea of changing positions.

Ken has too many toys…

than play against him down the road. Assuming he is completely fine post injury, he is a steel who could have gone much higher. I like the attitude he brings, and his reaction (at least from how I can tell), is very positive on joining the team. I think he will rehab and play with something to prove.

Much better than last year’s 5th round pick, of cameron stephenson (oline!) who is doing jack for the team now, or even 2006 5th rounder rian wallace (lb) who didn’t pan out.

2006 was qb omar jacobs- so dixon has far greater potential than the previous 3 guys taken by the steelers in the 5th round.

Sounds like he and the Steelers view him as a QB:

How do you feel getting drafted behind a guy who is 26 and just signed a long-term deal?

I just want to be like a sponge and soak everything in. "Big Ben" Roethlisberger is a great quarterback and I want to learn the ins and outs of playing the quarterback position as well.

It would appear that the door is shut here ever being the starter with him here:

Well the sky is the limit and I am just going to come in and do the best that I can. I am truly honored to have the opportunity to come and play at the next level.

Dennis did they tell you that they would like to use you exclusively at quarterback?

Yes, Coach Tomlin likes me as a quarterback. He likes what I can bring. I can throw the ball at different levels with strength. I know I have a lot to work on, and I’m willing and ready with open arms.

Would you be open to doing something else while you are learning quarterback?

Yeah, I just want an opportunity to play at the next level. If Coach Tomlin sees me as something else I’m happy with that.

I could see Dixon making a real impact in 2009 as a backup QB. Playing well in the preseason, filling in for Ben a couple of games that he might need to sit out for injury. If you think about it, he plays a lot like Ben with a greater ability to scramble for yards, and if you have a backup QB come in and he’s not as familiar with the offense and receivers as the starter then the ability to scramble and get key first downs is HUGE. If he is healthy and plays well in limited time 2009 or 2010 his value would skyrocket (a.k.a. Matt Schaub). Atlanta went up two spots in the draft and picked up two 2nd round picks in future drafts. Think about the value of that for a 5th round pick. All of this is contingent of course on him being a BALLER.

To somehow who watched more Oregon football than I did, does Dixon has experience running the option?

Not that they’ll use it much but I’d love to see an option sprinkled in a couple times if he’s got the ability.