Posted by Frank on
April 27, 2008 at 12:25 pm - 
Dennis Dixon to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Oregon QB Dennis Dixon was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 5th round. Not the best spot for Dixon if he wants to play QB. Barring an injury to Big Ben, Dixon won’t have many opportunities to get under center. This may not go over well with Oregon fans, but I can see the Steelers maybe seeing how he’d do as a punt or kickoff return man in the early going.Steelers Gab on the Dennis Dixon selection:
Could the Steelers have their next “Slash”? Maybe, as Sunday in round five the team took a shot on a very athletic QB in Oregon’s Dennis Dixon. Just ask Michigan about Dixon, who can release the ball quickly, and can also run the ball about as good as any QB that was in the draft. He will likely draw comparisons to former Steeler Kordell Stewart, who use to come in on certain situations and fire off passes of run, as that was his ability. Of course Stewart could also catch, something you won’t see Dixon do.
Posted by Frank on
April 22, 2008 at 1:12 am -
Dennis Dixon Interview, New Era Scouting
Dave Gardner over at New Era Scouting has a very good interview with former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon and how he’s staying positive. Good read. I’ve started looking at mock drafts and trying to get a feel for where he might get drafted, but it’s pretty hard to tell. In New Era Scoutings draft guide, they have Dixon going to Jacksonville in the 5th round with pick no. 159.
Coaches and scouts never seemed too worried about Dixon’s commitment to the game or his athletic ability. They worried about the spread option offense. In the NFL, quarterbacks are too important to take off running frequently. Spread option college quarterbacks have historically had trouble in the pro game because they can’t run around NFL defenders like they can college defenders, and because they don’t have the experience in taking snaps under center. Dixon isn’t worried about his ability to adjust.
“I’ve played under center,” he said. “It’s no different to me. The (keys are) the footwork and the timing with your receivers. As soon as you get those down, you’re good to go.
