Dizzying week doesn't deter Steelers QB Dixon

[paw-n-maul-u]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_571850.html

A lot of people knock the dixon pick, but if he develops into a solid backup QB for the future then that alone was worth a fifth rounder. A lot of the late cowher picks were throw aways, a solid backup QB to develop behind a franchise QB who has STILL never started all 16 games in a season entering his 5th year ... well, that isn't a bad pick.

--Hasselbeck yielded a third round pick and the packers got to move up 7 spots in the 1st round of draft

--The falcons got a good deal with Shaub (although they couldnt plan for Vick's incarceration)

thoughts?

[BettisFan]

it would be awesome when Ben is done in a long time if Dixon could take over and produce

[Galax Steeler]

I hope he can prove he can play at the nfl level with the injury he had in college and make us a good back up that we need.

[Steeldude]

he isn't doing too well, from what i have read(short comments from camp). it looks like his inability to throw accurately and his poor field vision are killing him. can anyone say "kordell"?

IMO, he was a complete waste of a pick as a QB. he is a running QB who cannot throw. how many of those have done well in the NFL? i would rather have a veteran QB who knows how to play in a pro-set offense, as the backup.

[revefsreleets]

I know your "schtick" is the contrarian view, but all accounts have DD as a pocket passer who can also run, and he only has accuracy issues when he tries to throw without planting or across his body. I'd be interested to see these "camp notes" that show he's not doing well. He tossed 20 TD's to only 4 INT's last year, and those aren't signs of inaccuracy. I also thought this was interesting from the above article:

"Nobody in the draft process questioned his arm strength, vision, instincts, accuracy or running ability. He was considered a first-day quarterback prospect prior to his injury, which translates into a guy that can come in and play this season," Sperbeck said. "The only question for teams was how soon he was going to be able to contribute, based upon his knee injury."

[Mosca]

You know what? Looking ahead a few years, he might be the kind of guy who we can parlay into a higher pick, maybe even a #1 if someone is desperate for someone who can come in and start right away. It would be nice to come into the draft after a year where we went deep into the playoffs, or even won the ring, with a high AND a low first round pick.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by paw-n-maul-u

--Hasselbeck yielded a third round pick and the packers got to move up 7 spots in the 1st round of draft

--The falcons got a good deal with Shaub (although they couldnt plan for Vick's incarceration)

thoughts?

i think it was a great value pick with very little to lose. value because he was downgraded only for injury (carson palmer seems to be fine after his shredded knee) and value because its a quarterback which is a position that can turn into a teams most valuable player.

one needs to look no further than the packers to see a team that understands qb value.

they traded for brett favre who was not only their most valuable player for all these years, but also the leagues most valuable player for 3 seasons.

they had hasselbeck who brought much value to the seahawks.

at one point aaron brooks was the most valuable saint.

mark brunell became the jaguars best player.

hell, they even had kurt warner who was league and sb MVP and about as valuable as marshall faulk.

they saw the value of aaron rogers falling to them and jumped on it.

they did the same with brian brohm.

theres definitely something to be said for this strategy, especially if youre turning out qb's like the steelers do linebackers.

i understand people have thoughts of tee martin, b. st. pierre, and omar jacobs swimming in their heads, but atleast now we have a qb's coach worth mention...

[Steeldude]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

I know your "schtick" is the contrarian view, but all accounts have DD as a pocket passer who can also run, and he only has accuracy issues when he tries to throw without planting or across his body. I'd be interested to see these "camp notes" that show he's not doing well. He tossed 20 TD's to only 4 INT's last year, and those aren't signs of inaccuracy.

most, if not all, of the draft reports i have read comment on dixon's inaccurate arm. i don't see dixon as a pocket passer who can also run, while running a spread option in college. i don't see 20 TDs and 4 INTs in a spread option proving accuracy. i can't recall any QBs who ran a spread option in college that did well in the pros. so far vince young sucks as predicted.

the camp notes, which i said were short comments, will have to be searched. it was in a pay-site article. i will ask my friend to send me them. the brief comments are scattered in various blogs from camp writers. they were basically on dixon missing open WRs/taking off running before searching the field and inaccuracy.

let's take a look at dixon's 2006 college stats. in that season he threw for 12 TDs/14 INTs. those aren't signs of accuracy.

i wouldn't say my view is contrarian. the majority of people note his inaccuracy

[19ward86]

I hope that we can use dixon like the seahawks use wallace, mostly a backup QB but can come in at WR or even as a return man and play football.

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by Steeldude

most, if not all, of the draft reports i have read comment on dixon's inaccurate arm.

Unfortunately, yep:

Throws with poor mechanics and inaccurate in placing his passes. Forces the ball into covered receivers and waits on the timing passes.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...yers/4752.html

Sounds like another Kordell to me. Thank God we actually have a legit QB this time around and we won't be forced to start him because every other QB on the roster sucks even worse than he does.