Ed: Run, Dennis, Run

[stillers4me]

Thursday, 16 September 2010 12:06


Written by Ed Bouchette http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/templates/pg_twn/images/emailButton.png (http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3BsdXMuc2l0ZXMucG9zdC1nYXpldHRlLmNvb S9pbmRleC5waHAvc3BvcnRzLXRvd24vc3RlZWxlcnMvMTA1MDQ zLWVkLXJ1bi1kZW5uaXMtcnVu)


http://c0020036.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/images/stories/J_Allison/eDqbS.jpgByron Leftwich may be ready to play next week in Tampa and if Dennis Dixon does not play any better this week in Tennessee, the Steelers may change quarterbacks.
Dixon needs to run more. He's good at it, and I have no idea why he did not do it last week against Atlanta. The Steelers will need him to do it against Tennessee. There's no more the worry that he might get hurt, because they have one capable veteran behind him and another possibly on the way next week................

http://ht.ly/192fcB via Twitter:
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PG+ -- Ed: Run, Dennis, Run http://ht.ly/192fcB (http://ht.ly/192fcB)

[HometownGal]

There's no more the worry that he might get hurt, because they have one capable veteran behind him and another possibly on the way next week................


Well - I wouldn't go that far.

Truthfully, I only want to see Dixon run if he believes he can make positive yardage, a play breaks down or the call is a rollout. He has the arm - throw the damned ball. He's a QB not a RB!

[GBMelBlount]

Byron Leftwich may be ready to play next week in Tampa and if Dennis Dixon does not play any better this week in Tennessee, the Steelers may change quarterbacks.

Dixon needs to run more. He's good at it, and I have no idea why he did not do it last week against Atlanta. The Steelers will need him to do it against Tennessee.


PG+ -- Ed: Run, Dennis, Run http://ht.ly/192fcB

Absolutely! The play calling should be designed around HIS strengths! They DIDN'T do that last week.

[BlastFurnace]

Absolutely! The play calling should be designed around HIS strengths! They DIDN'T didn't do that last week.

I think they are afraid to let him do that...which is very confusing because he is the one that they chose to start. Unfortunately, they have made him think pass first when in the pocket instead of thinking "Just get yardage anyway you can".

[steelreserve]

I have to say that both times Dixon has started, I've been disappointed with the playcalling. A lot of predictable runs in there (though Mendenhall tries to make the best of them) and by-the-book passing plays too. I mean, come on, take advantage of his mobility. Or even the threat of his mobility. You do not have to make it into a Michael Vick offense to do that.

In fact, I think using Dixon in a traditional drop-back role 100% of the time is dangerous, because he's still inexperienced and he can be fooled. This "line up and play straight-up offense" stuff can get us in trouble with Dixon, as it almost did with his three near-picks. You don't have to run a scramble or a fleaflicker on every play, but mixing things up enough to keep the defense on its toes would do wonders for the kid.

Then again, predictability seems to be what Arians does best, and this looks like no exception.

[Wallace108]

I have to say that both times Dixon has started, I've been disappointed with the playcalling. A lot of predictable runs in there (though Mendenhall tries to make the best of them) and by-the-book passing plays too. I mean, come on, take advantage of his mobility. Or even the threat of his mobility. You do not have to make it into a Michael Vick offense to do that.

In fact, I think using Dixon in a traditional drop-back role 100% of the time is dangerous, because he's still inexperienced and he can be fooled. This "line up and play straight-up offense" stuff can get us in trouble with Dixon, as it almost did with his three near-picks. You don't have to run a scramble or a fleaflicker on every play, but mixing things up enough to keep the defense on its toes would do wonders for the kid.

Then again, predictability seems to be what Arians does best, and this looks like no exception.

Well said, steelreserve. I like how they used him against the Ravens last year. Minus the interception, the play calling had the Ravens on their heels the whole game.

[Galax Steeler]

I was looking for him to run more then what he did last week. That is why he played so well against the Ravens. I look for him to scramble more this week.

[steelreserve]

Well said, steelreserve. I like how they used him against the Ravens last year. Minus the interception, the play calling had the Ravens on their heels the whole game.

I liked how they used him against the Ravens IN PART, but not entirely. My memory of that game is that we could've been up by 20 points at halftime, but we were so cautious about Dixon that we prevented ourselves from doing that. There were so many times at the start where we went run-run-run, or run-incomplete pass, and then ran again on third-and-8 to "play it safe," that I wanted to pull my hair out. When we did call rollouts and spot passes designed for Dixon, we did great, but that was scattered and sporadic. But when we did start doing it, that opened things up for us and made him twice as effective.

I was willing to give them a pass on that one, because Roethlisberger had some inbetween concussion where we weren't sure if he'd play or not, so we only had a couple days to design an offensive scheme around Dixon. But this time, knowing what we knew going in, it's inexcusable not to have some packages ready to take better advantage of his strengths.

But, like I said ... that's Arians for you.

[Wallace108]

I liked how they used him against the Ravens IN PART, but not entirely. My memory of that game is that we could've been up by 20 points at halftime, but we were so cautious about Dixon that we prevented ourselves from doing that. There were so many times at the start where we went run-run-run, or run-incomplete pass, and then ran again on third-and-8 to "play it safe," that I wanted to pull my hair out. When we did call rollouts and spot passes designed for Dixon, we did great, but that was scattered and sporadic. But when we did start doing it, that opened things up for us and made him twice as effective.

I was willing to give them a pass on that one, because Roethlisberger had some inbetween concussion where we weren't sure if he'd play or not, so we only had a couple days to design an offensive scheme around Dixon. But this time, knowing what we knew going in, it's inexcusable not to have some packages ready to take better advantage of his strengths.

But, like I said ... that's Arians for you.

Yeah, they were conservative in the beginning, but I think that was to be expected. Dixon didn't have a lot of time to prepare. But they opened it up a little more as the game progressed.

And I agree, I expected to see a few more plays to take advantage of Dixon's mobility. It'll be interesting to see what they do Sunday.

[GBMelBlount]

I have to say that both times Dixon has started, I've been disappointed with the playcalling. A lot of predictable runs in there (though Mendenhall tries to make the best of them) and by-the-book passing plays too. I mean, come on, take advantage of his mobility. Or even the threat of his mobility. You do not have to make it into a Michael Vick offense to do that.

In fact, I think using Dixon in a traditional drop-back role 100% of the time is dangerous, because he's still inexperienced and he can be fooled. This "line up and play straight-up offense" stuff can get us in trouble with Dixon, as it almost did with his three near-picks. You don't have to run a scramble or a fleaflicker on every play, but mixing things up enough to keep the defense on its toes would do wonders for the kid.

Then again, predictability seems to be what Arians does best, and this looks like no exception.

Unfortunately, I felt that way too last week.

His ability to run is a huge asset and defenses would have to plan for this!

Plus, with our mediocre line, it is important to keep the defense off balance. Let's face it, our O-line had 50 lbs. on them and still didn't take control of the line in the 2nd half against a defense that was arguable poor last year.

My concern is a predictable offense against a stout defense....

[stillers4me]

Bruce is still afraid he'll fall down, go boom.



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Designed QB runs with just two healthy QBs not advisable says Arians after practice (http://twitter.com/Steelersdepot).

[SteelerSal]

Bruce is still afraid he'll fall down, go boom.


.

Can't play scared, Bruce. :frusty:

[Killer]

So Ed is blatantly stealing my material now.


Run Dixon Run!

[Steely McSmash]

Good comments here.

I agree that I'd like to see him run more. Nothing to lose -- If the Steelers think Dixon is a #3 then use him with abandon.

Safe on 3rd and 8th is so stupid -- frikkin go for it!

I'd like to see him throw some more long balls. If he's INT prone, might as well happen 40 yards downfield. IT also forces the defense to do other things. IF you throw a mix of screens, bubble screeens and runs, the defense doesn't have to play off the LOS.