Morning Links (and Daily Thread)…

Posted on September 14, 2010 by adam

A quick daily look at what’s happening around Steelers Nation. And consider this your open thread for discussing the days events and, well, anything else that comes to mind about the Black and Gold.

– So … how about that Ravens-Jets game? Uglllllllllllllllllllllllllly. The headlines will say it was a defensive slugfest, but the reality is it was two teams that played an ugly, sloppy game.

– More recaps from Sunday… Dennis Dixon proves he has a good supporting cast. [DC Steeler Nation]

– Reactions from the Falcons side. [Behind The Steel Curtain]

– Another test for Dennis Dixon [Steel City Insider]

– And for your random YouTube of the day: Terry Bradshaw to John Stallworth…

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  • Randy Steele

    Here’s the best reason I can think of to back Dennis Dixon as starting quarterback: as proved during the Falcons game, defenses have to play off and around him or he’ll slip through a crack and tear loose for a dozen-plus yards.

    Even though Dixon’s running tally after the game was Leftwich-esque, the THREAT that he would run made the Steelers offensive line look almost adequate, despite the fact that it has lost its starting left tackle, right tackle, and has a rookie playing center.

    The Falcons had to hang back and try to corral Dixon into a pocket. They even sacrifice a linebacker in order to spy on Dixon. If Batch is under center, the Falcons throw the house against him and the o-line.

    That doesn’t mean Dixon doesn’t have more than his share of liabilities. Despite is presentable numbers and passer rating, he bounced two 3rd-down passes, had two easy interceptions dropped, and overthrew Heath Miller badly on the only interception the Falcons caught.

    The Steelers won the game despite Dennis Dixon, not because of him. That said, I’m now in the Dennis Dixon camp. I think Charlie Batch would have won the Falcons game with more poise and much less drama, but with the o-line in its current precarious state, the threat of Dennis Dixon running the ball will help keep the Titan’s defense a little bit more on its heels and give the Steelers a better chance to win.

    • JCRODRIGUEZ

      Randy, I disagree with your comment on a couple of items, number one, Adams and Maurkice are UPGRADES in our O-line, Colon was not, I repeat, was not Anthony Muñoz, no matter how hard the guys around here try to sell that, and that wasn’t Dermonti Dawson at center last year, either. So the only loss, real loss, is the injury at LT. So Dennis started this year with a better O-line than the one that started last year.

      Number two, the victory belongs to the team, not to Dennis…or Ben…or any Steeler QB…they do not win despite Dennis, they win with him…and partially because of him…could he be better?, you bet!, would I prefer Ben to start at Tenn.?, of course!, but the new set of circumstances asked for several players to adapt their roles, and all of them delivered almost a perfect game.

      • Randy Steele

        This offensive line is better than last years? Hmm. Pouncey is certainly a upgrade, but is Flozell markedly better than Willie Colon? I think we’re talking about different shades of gray.

        • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

          JJ might disagree with me, but anecdotally, I think 2010 has a chance to be > 2009 > 2008 re: o-line.

  • Cols714

    Anyone watch that terrible game last night? I’m convinced that Joe Flacco is the luckiest QB in the league. He’s great at throwing the deep out pattern and at chucking the ball up and either getting an awesome catch by his receivers or pass interference.

    Whatever, I’m no longer scared of the Ravens. As long as we have Ben of course.

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      Seriously. The Ravens best rookie draft pick last night? Kyle Wilson. Wait, what? Wilson plays for the Jets? God, he was turrible.

    • bengt

      According to the playbook, the only ‘play’ D. Revis made was a penalty. Did the Ravens really throw away from hom 100%?

      • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

        bengt,

        There was the penalty and Flacco threw to Mason incomplete because Revis was in perfect coverage. Those are the only two instances I remember seeing Revis even close to the ball.

        • bengt

          Someone wrote in FO’s audibles that the Titans did not throw in Asomugha’s direction at all, making it almost a 10-on-10 game. Ravens are quick learners, it seems.
          And of course I meant gamebook.

  • Kevin

    You know what worries me about the upcoming game this weekend against the Titans? Big Ben was 33-43 for 363 yards against them last year, and we STILL only scored 13 points. Our running game was non-existent (23 Carries, 36 yds.). While Ben did only throw one TD and 2 INT’s, the numbers prove that the ONLY way we could move the ball was through the air.

    We will have to be able to gain some ground in the running game this year, or else we may have to rely on our defense to get into the end zone to put up some points this week. I have faith in Dennis Dixon, but only as a game manager, completing short passes. He has proven this season/pre-season that he has no business throwing the out pattern (short or deep). He was decently efficient while dinking and dunking on Sunday, but those drives all faultered once the defense tightened up on him in the red zone.

    Getting Mike Wallace behind the defense for a long score might also be a way to get into the end zone. I would rather Dixon try a few bombs to Wallace rather that throwing the out pattern. At least this way you get a good chance at a long pass play or pass interference, and even if the pass is picked off, it would more likely resemble a punt than anything.

    I have a distinct feeling that this game could be decided by a QB mistake in the form of a pick-6 thrown by Young or Dixon. Here;s to hoping it’s Young that makes that mistake!

  • Anonymous

    I love that the over the shoulder catch is descibed in the video as “state of the art” like it’s a new piece of technology.

  • Cols714

    This was a really big win for the team. It’s now pretty likely that the team will be at least 2-2 before they get their QB back. And yes, I know they could still lose to the Bucs, but I’m betting they won’t.

    And Troy’s interception was so huge. All I could think of was that the defense was going to give up a last second FG or TD just like last year, and then he comes up huge.

    The OL looked pretty damn good. Scott is going to be a problem, however. I think maybe Adams is better than Colon in the run game and having a center that isn’t 3 yards in the backfield is an excellent addition.

    Dixon just needs to make some throws. He looked pretty bad, except for the long throw to Wallace which was nice, although slightly underthrown. Wallace is probably wondering when a QB will actually hit him in stride.

  • Cols714

    This was a really big win for the team. It’s now pretty likely that the team will be at least 2-2 before they get their QB back. And yes, I know they could still lose to the Bucs, but I’m betting they won’t.

    And Troy’s interception was so huge. All I could think of was that the defense was going to give up a last second FG or TD just like last year, and then he comes up huge.

    The OL looked pretty damn good. Scott is going to be a problem, however. I think maybe Adams is better than Colon in the run game and having a center that isn’t 3 yards in the backfield is an excellent addition.

    Dixon just needs to make some throws. He looked pretty bad, except for the long throw to Wallace which was nice, although slightly underthrown. Wallace is probably wondering when a QB will actually hit him in stride.

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