View topic - play DIXON

[1fourdathumb Profile]

no not at QB just yet...let him return kickoffs. he's a tallent that needs to be used. i'm tired of seeing dookie rumble like a dumptruck to the 25 yd line. we need good field position. any thoughts??

[McLovin Profile]

McLovin doesn't see Dixon as a Mark Malone type but has no objections to Dix running some Antwan or Kordell trick plays. Oh wait Arians doesn't do gadget plays.

[Homer J Profile]

Joe Theismann got his NFL start returning kicks for the Redskins while waiting for Sonny Jurgenson and Billy Kilmer to step aside. Of course, they boycotted him, and wouldn't even talk to Motormouth, so he had to do something. And Dixon would certainly be better than Dookie, who runs forward and dumps his load on the 23 yard line.

And Dixon would be perfect in the wildcat. However, to ask Arians to show imagination would be asking too much.

That said, someone from the special teams would have to sit for him to be something other than EQB on game day.

[Coke Oven Profile]

"And Dixon would be perfect in the wildcat. However, to ask Arians to show imagination would be asking too much. "

It's getting harder and harder for me to believe that Arians' behavior and performance are what they are due to the express written consent and direction from his higher ups. Strange, I know, but if Tomlin can't get ridda the guy he could at least dress him in sweats, put him on the sideline, and take over the play calling himself. To believe otherwise would be to believe that a man of Tomlin's intellect doesn't see what we all do. Uh uh.

[StillCurtain Profile]

Didn't Dixon have a major knee injury a year ago?

I am sure we will use him in a game at some point. He does appear to be a physically talented player (at least he was in college), whether that translates to the NFL, we shall see...

Not a knock on Davenport but... when I see him returning kicks, I start to think about what it was like to run in sand...

[Homer J Profile]

Didn't Dixon have a major knee injury a year ago?
...

Yep. But if he's not at 100% now (based on his speed and elusiveness in the preseason), he's Superman. Because he looked terrific as a runner and scrambler. His talents seemed begging to be used somehow. No question in my mind Whiz would have found a way.

[ktm5411 Profile]

Dookie doesn't do all that bad, especially relative to how our returners have been as of late. The key to a kickoff is to retain possession. Dookie does that. Yeah, he's slower, and not your typical returner but he covers the basics. I couldn't care less how fast you are and how much a potential home run threat you seem to be unless you can hold onto the ball. We've had plenty of fast poster child kick returners that have come in and given the ball away time after time putting our defense back out on the field. Dookie protects the football, that's all that matters. If Dixon can hold onto the ball I'm fine with it, but I'm not going to bitch about our return game this year, because I'm pretty sure we haven't muffed one yet (knock on wood), and that's sure as hell better than what we've done the last few years.

[lynchcowher Profile]

I feel better about the return game as well, but you gotta admit, it's pretty fuckin sad when you're happy with merely hangin on to the ball.
It's time to get Dixon involved in the offense, if he can field kicks, that'd be nice too.

[Nel Profile]

no not at QB just yet...let him return kickoffs. he's a tallent that needs to be used. i'm tired of seeing dookie rumble like a dumptruck to the 25 yd line. we need good field position. any thoughts??

This is a pretty ridiculous idea.

He is our third QB and does not have the return experience.

I don't know why people think an extra 10 or 15 yards on kickoffs will solve the problems created by a poor OL and coordinator.

[Homer J Profile]

no not at QB just yet...let him return kickoffs. he's a tallent that needs to be used. i'm tired of seeing dookie rumble like a dumptruck to the 25 yd line. we need good field position. any thoughts??

This is a pretty ridiculous idea.

He is our third QB and does not have the return experience.

I don't know why people think an extra 10 or 15 yards on kickoffs will solve the problems created by a poor OL and coordinator.

Two words, pal. Josh Cribbs.

The idea that you don't use your best available return man? Now that's a ridiculous idea. And it's not the extra 10 or 15 yards, it's the long one that gets you field position...or a touchdown.

This team, with an erratic offense but a strong defense, needs a solid return game. Not the current loose stool.

[Lake37 Profile]

I don't really have a major problem with Najeh returning kicks b/c he is consistent and doesn't ever get us pinned deep by dancing around. But it kinda makes you wish that we could have found a spot on our 53 man roster for a guy like Jeremy Bloom (a return specialist). And having said that and looking at our roster, i have no idea of who I would have suggested get the boot to allow for a guy like Bloom, although i would have to think that he could also probably play coverage teams and could serve a kind of Sean Morey role.

But I think that Najeh returning kicks isn't really that big of an issue.

[Nel Profile]

Two words, pal. Josh Cribbs.

It's too bad for your position that there is no statistically significant relationship between high yardage kickoff returns and having a winning team. You won't find it.

Sure, Cribbs has 4 kickoff return TDs in 3 years, but look at his team's lack of success.

The leading average kickoff return this year for NFL teams is about 27 yards. The Steelers average 20 yards.

Problem is, the Steelers don't return many kickoffs because the D is so good. So what, 7 yards and maybe 1.33 TD per year, as with Cribbs?

The argument made for Dixon in this thread makes no sense.

And, when you consider that the Stillers rank last in the league in punt return yard average, it's evident that the problem is more systemic than can be solved by inserting a hot shot like Cribbs, who was not even drafted .... especially as a quarterback, so your two-word example is lame.

It's the lack of attention the Steelers and Tomlin pay to the entire special team return game, which includes blocking, that is the problem. It's a low priority, live with it.

[Nel Profile]

But I think that Najeh returning kicks isn't really that big of an issue.

I agree with you.