Leftwich Is Hurt. Let the Second-guessing Begin

by Anthony Defeo on Sep 3, 2010 12:22 AM EDT

Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich sprained his knee in the first half of the team's last pre-season game against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz field.

The extent of the injury is unknown, but this much is clear: Tomlin will be scrutinized even more for his handling of the preseason qb rotation.

Ben Roethlisberger started and played the majority of the first quarter. As much as I love Ben, I didn't agree with that. I could see him getting some time in a couple of the games, but tonight's contest should have been designed for getting some first-team reps for Leftwich, the presumed starter for the beginning of the season.

People will say that if Leftwich started the game, he would have been out by the second quarter when the injury occured.

But you can't predict injuries. He could have very easily gotten hurt on the very first play from scrimmage. Tomlin did what he thought was best for the team, but this will provide much fodder for the talk shows from now until the game against Atlanta.

So who will start the first game if Leftwich can't go? Will it be Dixon or Batch? Since Dixon only played one series, I'm guessing it's going to be him. I know Batch has been the sexy pick for what he did in Denver, and I wouldn't mind that, personally, but I think Dixon is going to get the nod if Leftwich can't go in ten days. Dixon can at least use his legs to get away from the pass rush and with the way the pocket seems to collapse on every other pass play, he's going to need those legs.

The linemen seem to be a little better at run-blocking this preseason so maybe they revert back to 2004 with a 60/40 run-to-pass ratio. That is if Arians can stomach such a thing.

Mendenhall better get ready to run until his wheels fall off. Or at least until October.

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Time to use them big fat lineman and start maulin

Steady dose of Mendy and Redman.

This sentence should take up no more than 1 line.

by SteelerMessican on Sep 3, 2010 7:41 AM EDT reply actions

Very Good!!!

by Steelchamps !! on Sep 3, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

As if...

…other teams wouldn’t put 8 in the box against our puny run playbook and dare us to throw. We’d need a new OC to pull that off.

"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness, but [Thank God] I am not a government official" Francis Wolcott in "Deadwood", Season 2

by Flying Polamalus on Sep 3, 2010 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

Injury is a Blessing in Disguise?

I feel bad for Lefty, I really do. I like Lord Byron. But…

…this could be a blessing in disguise for the Steelers. While there will be a few people calling for the 35-year old Batch to start, Dixon will undoubtedly get the starting nod. Since Lefty is down, he won’t be looking over his shoulder. I think this may help the kid relax and he may very well perform well. If he does, we’ll win games and we’ll have a valuable trade chip at the end of the year.

Furthermore, the OL will get a steady dose of run blocking practice the first four weeks of the season. This will hopefully make Arians more comfortable relying on the running game and keep it going after Big Ben comes back. Dixon’s mobility also gives the OL a little more leeway in gelling for pass blocking and keeps them prepared for Ben’s return since both Dixon and Ben like to move around.

Finally, I think it ups the ante on the defense. I’ve always thought our defense responded well to pressure. So this puts the onus back on the core of our team to hold down the opposition. Let’s see if they can respond.

by Blackadar on Sep 3, 2010 8:44 AM EDT reply actions

It's only a blessing if our coaches are incompetent

I mean, sure Arians is, but Tomlin is the one that was going to pick Leftwich. Also, we have to be able to run the ball in order to run the ball.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 3, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

This is exciting....

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 3, 2010 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

All Redman, all the time. It’s on!

by twault on Sep 3, 2010 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

Like Donkey Kong!

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 3, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

or the classic Atari pong

Things can always be worse....

by ncmt40 on Sep 3, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

So because he got injured in the second, if he had only played the first (and Ben played the second maybe?) by your logic since these things happen not by random chance but by the system the coach puts the QB’s in, Ben would have the torn MCL. Even better!

by Michael Uhlhorn on Sep 3, 2010 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

Damn

I knew I should have killed that butterfly last week.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 3, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh

by worldtrip on Sep 3, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

no

Ben doesnt lift his left leg when he throws :P

but anyways nothing we say is going to change it, whats done is done

"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly

"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly

by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 3, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions