It was talked about quite a bit yesterday about the Steelers QB situation, and how Dennis Dixon’s surgery is going to sit him for anywhere it sounds like from 4 to 6 weeks.
By then, the club will have Ben Roethlisberger back as the starter, Byron Leftwich will be the backup, and it would come down to Dixon or Charlie Batch as the #3.
So wouldn’t it just make sense to put Dixon on injured reserve the rest of the year? I see this one as a no-brainer. He’s not going to see the field at all, Leftwich will be the backup, and there serves no purpose to having him push through an injury to have him hold a clipboard as the number 3.
Batch this way would keep his roster spot, and Dixon would still be able to attend meetings and be a part of the team from the mental standpoint.
The issue with Dixon as a whole is he’s going to end up in this ‘No Man’s Land’ of not really having a future with this franchise. Unless Roethlsiberger has another off field issue or major injury, there’s no shot that Dixon will be a starter for this team anytime soon.
Ben is 28, and with the money invested in him, it’s not going to happen for Dixon, and unless he’s happy being a backup, or the Steelers can find a trade partner to get value for him, his NFL career could be one of many questions of “what if,” until he becomes a free agent and looks for work elsewhere.
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mark
September 22, 2010 at 10:04 am
I agree 100%. It helps both parties. The team, as well as Dixon for the reasons mentioned above. I had to deal with a so-called “Steeler fan” during the game on Sunday. He proceded to “teach” me things about the Steelers. He said Dixon is our future, I told him no; Ben is their future (assuming he stays CLEAN) and if you think Dixon is the heir apparent your nuts. Also,he gave me all sorts of inane and downright stupid assessments of the Steeler franchise. I am telling you, I wanted to punch this guy! I may not be sideline worthy in my Steeler knowledge, but I cant stand the morons that no nothing but think they can “teach” me! Sorry for the rant!!
James
September 22, 2010 at 10:19 am
Yeah it makes sense to stick him on IR – I expected him to step up in preseason/these 4 games and make a name for himself but he failed to rise to the occasion, even if he was shackled.
The only reason I see them keeping him on the roster is so that he can see some playing time in wildcat/gadget plays but I don’t see Arians wanting to call many of them plays or utilising him correctly. (I imagined Bruce raging on the sidelines when DD went for the 20yard scamper at the end of the 1st)
The Tony
September 22, 2010 at 10:38 am
What are the Steelers going to do if Leftwhich can’t go and Batch is the only QB on the roster this week?
Matt Loede
September 22, 2010 at 11:02 am
Start Batch, which seems to be the way they are leaning right now. The gameplan will be similar to the one against the Titans, play great D, be solid on special teams, and make a few plays and get a lead on offense.
Of course the Bucs don’t have Chris Johnson, and that’s why no matter who plays QB the Steelers are and should remain favorites to win the game.
Adam
September 22, 2010 at 11:12 am
We all realize that with this current Defense playing as they are which quite frankly is amazing/scary that if Batch throws one TD and hopefully two we will be in a very good position. I am very excited to see this Defense play with a little help from the offense. Hats off to the O-line also for not quitting and finding ways to get job done
The Tony
September 22, 2010 at 11:19 am
Who is going to be the back up?
mark
September 22, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Leftwich will back-up Batch. Randle-El backs up Leftwich….. GOD forbid we get to that point!
mark
September 22, 2010 at 11:21 am
If the O-line plays a solid game this Sunday, the Steelers will have too many weapons on either side of the ball to lose. What I mean is, the defense will be its typical self and if the O-line plays well they will have the ability to run the ball and thus give Batch or whoever is back there the ability to pass at will.Batch looks like he can certainly give the Steelers 150 yards in the air, a TD and NO turnovers. Thats what experience will do for the Steelers. I cant imagine the Bucs moving the ball with ease, which will limit their scoring opportunites without a doubt. They CANNOT drive the ball on the Steelers, so field position,turnovers and TD’s instead of FG’s will be the difference. Yes, this can be a typical “trap” game. But its too early in the year and the team is playing too well on defense to fall into that. Unlike the Raiders/Chiefs/Browns debacle of last season. A 3-0 start will be HUGE. Even though this is not an AFC game, a win is a win and it keeps the other teams in the North looking up at us.
Adam
September 22, 2010 at 11:27 am
Good comment Mark, Charlie should be able to get one TD and no T.O. for us. Have you guys noticed that the analyst have started to jump of Steeler wagon. I jsut heard Cowherd tell Terico that Steelers are best in the league an d only going to get better. I rather they just leave us alone and forget about us.
Dave
September 22, 2010 at 11:34 am
Antwaan Randle El has experience as a QB (he threw that touchdown pass in the superbowl/was Indiana University’s starting QB) and if both Batch and Leftwitch were taken out, he would be our only guy left. It would be tough, but with how everyone else is playing I’m still convinced we’d win.
mark
September 22, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I guess with only 2 games into the season, the Steelers are no longer “under the radar”. LOL. Hey there is only 14 games to go!!!I do believe that the Steelers can only get better, offensively anyway. I find it funny that one stretch of 5 games,last season, had the critics signing the Steeler death certificate. Now after 2 games, they are the front tunner to be champs! Incredible. When a batter has a slump and goes 0-8 or so, do critics automatically call for their trade? When A-Rod goes a few games without a homer, do critics really believe that he is finished? C’mon people. Knowledgable fans knew that the Steelers would still be a tough team and championship caliber once they settled down and got healthy. That 5 game losing streak last year was a slump. I think they will show this season that that is all it was.
DrGeorge
September 22, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Dixon’s knee injury and surgery is probably the end of his Steelers career; whether he goes on IR or not. His season is over. Even if Ben should have another off-field incident or a major injury, Dixon is not the QB of the future. For that matter, I didn’t think he was before his injury, although I liked his potential as a special situations QB (similar to Joe Cribbs). Like Willie Parker, who never fully recovered from his knee injury, Dixon will be cut loose before next season for the same reason: the cost to productivity ratio simply makes no sense financially. Batch will probably retire gracefully at seaon’s end as well. Which means the Steelers will be in the market for a quality QB, or maybe two in 2011. In fact, if one were available now, the Steelers would hire him, as the QB auditions this week demonstrate.
Tomlin knows that he is rolling the dice in going to Tampa with Randel-El as the third string QB, who was a sensational college QB at Indiana, but never considered as an NFL QB due to his poor downfield visibility (caused by his lack of height). If he has to play QB, there will be no passing game or even the threat of one. The defense and special teams will simply have to carry the load for two games until Ben comes back, as they did in Tennessee. The worst scenario for Tomlin is that we lose two games in a row, after which he gets Ben back. Our two game win streak makes the gamble acceptable strategically, and in all honesty, Tomlin has no practical choice. Moreover, if Leftwich and Batch can avoid injury and mistakes, we have a good chance of winning one of these next two games and possibly both of them. When Ben was suspended, we would all have been thrilled to have a 3-1 record by Week 5. We still ought to be.
jay
September 22, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I couldn’t agree more, Dr. George! We were speculating acceptability levels at 2-2! Now, although that is, on paper, a realistic possibility. It seems improbable. I’m hoping that Batch can “coast” us to a win in Tampa…What I mean is, stay healthy, play well, no turnovers, run the ball well and play great D ( i would never use the word “coast” in terms of the NFL to insinuate that one team could simply walk all over another…remember…any given sunday)…If that happens, maybe, just maybe Leftwich can come back healthy for a game against Baltimore and cut it loose…throw the ball all over the field…Hell, the Ravens will have had three weeks (3 games) of footage of us simply running the ball and playing conservatively on offense! It might give them some game prep issues. At any rate and lastly, I predict that with BB we will be 10-2 or 9-3. Any thoughts about that prognostication???
mark
September 22, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Jay, I hate to forecast brother. Ill give you this: No matter what their record is at the bye week, the return of Ben is naturally a HUGE boost to both sides of the ball. Offensively, they are now dangerous all around and defensively, they can get better rests because the Steelers offense should generate more 1st downs and more scores. 10-2 or 9-3 is certainly attainable, but they are going to have to beat the Ravens and Bengals 3 out of the 4 games to do this.I expect a Browns sweep, the Raiders, Panthers and Bills should fall as well. That leaves the Saints, Patriots,Jets and Dolphins as our “swing” games in order to get to 12-4 or so. Ill go on a limb and say the worse they will be is 10-6, but I expect 11-5.
mark
September 22, 2010 at 6:40 pm
I also do NOT like to forecast wins. Us Steeler fans have learned the hard way on that. Sure, Tampa is a “trap” game, but in all reality this one should be a lock. Run the ball,play great defense and do NOT let the Bucs hang around by way of Turnovers/Special teams Gaffes. The team is in good hands with Batch, steady and dependable. I can see Batxh throwing the ball around a bit just to loosen up the secondary/linebackers. I doubt he will take too many chances that could cause the BIG play for Tampa. Protect the ball and they will win.