I wouldn’t put him in the “Wildcat” category, or relegate him to the trick-play appendix of the playbook. He’s small, and completely unproven, but I like the chances of players from the PAC-10 to make a pro impact as they regularly face pro-style defenses within the conference. USC & Cal (two of the heavyweights) both run variations of a 3-4 defense with zone blitzes and solid coverage … hell, LeBeau has spent some offseason time teaching the HC’s & Def. Coordinators of those schools some of the nuances of his universally vaunted defensive system … that’s incredible preparation for these kids, and the kids who play against them, should they turn pro. And Dixon wasn’t the kinda guy who was looking to tuck & run every time he had the ball … he handed off to Jonathon Stewart, and he had some good receivers out there as well … he was similar to Ben in his tendency to run outside of the pocket before throwing, and that’s probably one small reason they picked him when they did.

As you said: The best time to draft a good, young QB is when there is not an immediate need! I would love for us to have a big, strong, raw, back up, with a powerful arm…learning from Ben for a couple of years. … Well, that’s what they did with Dixon. Give him 3 or 4 good years learning from Ben, and Pgh. has either a good backup QB who knows the playbook and the system, or a good backup QB to trade for extra picks down the road.

If he flops (and the rate of flops at QB is 50%) then maybe grab another young backup, but as more teams attempt to include Wildcat schemes in their playbooks, someone like Dixon might very well become a wonderful trade commodity in the next 2 to 3 years … especially if those teams keep on losing (i.e. they’d have some nice, high draft picks to trade for someone to stand under center).

If BB goes down the Steelers are screwed. All the best teams in the league are screwed if they lose their starting qb for a majority of the year. Batch or Dixon can hold the fort on a short term basis. That’s all you can ask.

Dixon is certainly unproven, but so would any QB we were to draft. He’ll have chances to prove himself in camp and the preseason this year before probably sliding up to the No 2 spot after next season. That is, if he does in fact prove himself. I think it’s a little too early to have a strong opinion one way or another with him, although that being said I am bullish on his chances.

Now if we could just beef up the line and change around the playbook so Ben doesn’t get hit 12 times a game…Now that would make everyone feel better about the back up situation.

but I do have alot of faith in FO and if they think he can develop, maybe he will.

Best case scenario, BL resigns.

Next best scenario, Charlie comes back healthy and strong from a year of rest.

Both scenarios give Dixon time to develop, learn and for us to access his skills.

he’d look good in black & gold

Dixon is exactly the kind of guy you want to develop behind a relatively young starting QB and shows the same foresight by the Steelers that you indicated for New England. Dixon is not small, he’s lean. He’s almost 6-4, 205, with a strong arm, an outstanding athlete and very smart (graduated in 3.5 years). He can and probably will add 10-15 pounds over the next 2-3 years. He has a good arm and can make all the throws, though there was some question about his accuracy in college. He didn’t have a lot of experience running a pro style offense so he has a lot to learn but he is already very good in one important aspect of playing QB for the Steelers: he can run like hell. I’m looking forward to him being active as the backup QB sometime next year and getting into some games to utilize his athleticism and accelerate his development. Batch can still step in as the starter if Ben goes down, but as Worldtrip mentions, if Ben gets seriously injured then like most teams we are in a world of hurt. We don’t need to draft a QB this year but next year is a possibility. If Dixon develops into a solid backup, then he will want to leave after his first contract (three years plus one year as a RFA) to contend for a starting spot elsewhere long before Ben’s contract expires. He’s only three years younger than Ben (O’Connell is six years younger than Brady). If Dixon doesn’t develop at all over the next two years, then we will need to draft another QB to develop and also find a veteran to fill in the roster gap eventually left by Batch. To me, the only question is whether Batch is healthy enough to come back in 09. If not, then we might look for a guy similar to Leftwich, a veteran journeyman looking for a job. Let’s get Tebow out of our thoughts right now. The only way the Steelers would ever even consider drafting him in the first round next year (even if he lasts that long) is if Ben suffers a career-threatening injury.

I agree we won’t draft one this year. My thinking was for the coaches to have a whole year with Dixon and into preseason to really see what the kid has. If he doesn’t show much promise or is questionable, I would want us to draft a qb next year, a pro-style qb.

Alot depends on Batch, can he go and for how long?

If we do this, we’re in great shape for a long time.

Here we go again some sorry uninteeligent steeler fans thinking Dixon’s not adequate enough to be a good qb.
So steeler mike, are you just slow or did you happen to read all the feedback given to the press about from Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin about this guys great potential or are you possibliy showing some racial understones that you might not see in yourself. And Blitz, please dont be angry with this cross examination. Sometimes you have to ask the tough question in order to assess you your dealing with.
SteelerMike, trust the leadership. That’s why your enjoying the Superbowl victory.

I like his potential, although I agree the dude looks tiny out there. Every game I’ve been to I watch him warming up and think that he looks like a lanky high school kid rather than a pro player. I too worry about him being able to take hits, but feel like his athleticm will serve him well in that respect, to slide away and never take full on hits.

4-5th rounds. If you get him then, yes. If you dont, then there isnt a quarterback worth picking up this year for the price.

Pat White has a good arm, but is a great runner. He would be a return specialist and could be the explosive returner Santonio is for every time we receive a ball.

Someone will take Pat White thinking he MIGHT just be a NFL quality QB someday. Which is a shame really since he could be a nice slot receiver/returner/gadget play guy. He might be an okay backup QB sometime, but he could be really wicked as a slot receiver.

Firstly I think Dixon has potential to backup at least. And If a game DOES come down to the line, and Ben is on the bench, gimme a guy with at least some play making ability like Dixon.

Now on another note. You mention it being sure that Ben will miss games.

Mr RuthlessBerg managed to start every game this year, and got knocked down like 200 times. If we improve that O-line, odds say he’ll start all games next year too.

except I was at my weekly KKK meeting!!! No, wait a minute…I was actually engrossed with my favorite book ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin," and couldn’t put it down.

Pleaasssse with the “race card”….you played the race card b/c I said I wasn’t high on Dixon!?! What!?!I don’t care what all the experts said about his potential…what, I’m not entitled to my own opinion???? I think the guy looks like he will break in half and he shot-puts the ball….the whole purpose of this site is to debate opinions!

I also said “I hope I’m wrong about him”…did you not see that post…did you see where I said I trust front office.!?! I know…you must have missed that one while you were looking up how to spell “intelligent” or should I say “uninteeligent”…what a dumb-ass!!!

I repeat…what a dumb-ass!!!! how do you explain the fact I want Leftwich back…is he not black enough for you!!!! Or how about when I said Batch may still be a good back up…is he not black enough for you!!

No, you didn’t care to comment on that because then you couldn’t play the race card. You conveniently disregarded all those facts…why??? because your a dumb-ass just waiting to play the race card.

C-Mac, if there is anybody who"has racial undertones they may not see", I suspect it’s you.

There is alot more I could say, but I think I’ve wasted enough of my time (and space on this great Steeler site!!!) responding to your “uninteeligent” comments…and more importantly I’ve got to get back to…

Uncle Tom’s Cabin…..LOL!!!

We will draft a quarterback next year, not in 2009.

To all those extremely over reacting people who didnt not like my response to the drafting a QB situation. Too damed bad. Like I said in previous blogs, some of you (accept for me) are unable to deal with truth. See what I mean.
As far as the typos go. Don’t be a fool this not a term paper people.

Remember when some of you were bent out of shape when coach Tomlin was given the head coach position? And his play calling was questioned in the wildcard game against theJags. Seemed everybody wanted BA fired and coach T’s staffing choices were being questioned.

But anyway, I do want to say I’m sorry for making those statments. To especially SteelerMike im sure you’re a cool dude. And Blitz and the rest of the Steeler blog family. Hope you all will forgive me. But some of you need to start dealing with truth.

What is this "truth’ you keep referring to?

You mention this twice in your post…“unable deal with the truth” and “need to start dealing with truth.”

Honestly, I’m confused. Again, if this "truth’ has something to do with race I’m even more confused. If I truly had a problem with Dixon because he’s black, then I certainly would have a problem with BL, CB…which I obviously don’t.

Hey, your entitled to your opinion, if you want to claim my post is racially motivated, even after reading the whole post, then that’s fine. But, I think if you objectively re-read it, you’ll see my points.

Also, check my posting history,,,I’ve been on board with Coach Tomlin since day 1…I thought it was a great hire when most didn’t know who he was. I didn’t dislike him or like him because he was black, I liked him and now love him because he is a great coach, period.

One of my former coaches in college, Clyde Christenson, who is now the receivers coach with the Colts (great, great coach btw) used to tell us…“my decisions about playing time are not based on the color of your skin, it’s not about black or white, it’s all about what you do on the field, whoever plays the best, plays the most, I don’t care if your black, white, or purple.”

I agree. To me, that’s the truth.

I’m very sorry. SteelerMike and the rest of the wonderful SteelerNation.

Hey Mike, I never said you werent an advocate of Tomlin. I was just saying some were and I think it may have to do with race. And hey people, race and politics do sometimes go hand in hand. Please dont tell me it doesnt. And race plays into it.

Some of you probably dont know or ingnore the fact that when Doug Williams (Superbowl Champion) played for the Bucs, he was the lowest payed qb in the league including six bench players. Look it up.

It just reminds me of the comment our wonderful United States Attorney General said in a recent press confrence regarding race. “some people are cowards”. Like some of you who are unwilling to accept my apology even when I have demonstrated full atonement. You seemed to have become irate and borderline out of control.

Dont you just love our Attorney General. But if its cool by you all lets stay with football.

Go Steelers!