Steelers hoping offense takes off with QB Dixon

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Hines Ward believes Dennis Dixon must run. Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians warns he’d better not run too much.

Coach Mike Tomlin wants Dixon to take advantage of his ability to move the ball by himself, but to do so smartly.

Dixon’s running skills add a different dimension to the Steelers’ offense for their season-opening game Sunday against Atlanta, one that even the suspended Ben Roethlisberger can’t match at quarterback.

Still, the Steelers themselves can’t seem to agree on how much running for a quarterback is too much.

“Let Dennis be Dennis, that’s all we ask for,” said Ward, the Steelers’ career receptions leader. “If the protection breaks down and he’s unsure about the coverage, take off, run. I like the ball in Dennis’ hands when he’s running. Good things happen.”

Before he knew Dixon would be the opening game starter, Arians decided against drawing up an expansive set of such plays for Dixon because he said no NFL quarterback could stand up long to the punishment.

“If he’s your starter, you’re not going to expose him to running the football because they’re going to break him up,” Arians said during training camp. “That wildcat stuff, you can forget about that if he’s the starter. He wouldn’t last two ball games.”

Arians’ reluctance to expose a quarterback to such pounding is one reason why the Steelers didn’t feature Dixon last season in a wildcat-type formation, one that resembles the old-style single wing offense because the ball is snapped to a back who can either run or pass. They did have a package of plays designed for Dixon if the now-injured Byron Leftwich had started this season, but not all were running plays.

Ward remembers the indecision that Dixon’s running skills caused Baltimore’s defense last season during the quarterback’s one and only NFL start. Ward believes Dixon won’t be reluctant to abandon the pocket if a play breaks down against Atlanta.

“One thing he adds that you can’t coach is athleticism, speed,” Ward said. “A lot of defensive coordinators, when a quarterback utilizes his legs the way Dennis does, it changes your whole game plan. Some teams might blitz him, and some might sit back to see if he can read coverages. You really don’t know how to play us.”

Early in the preseason, Arians felt Dixon was too eager to take off running because he was ignoring open receivers downfield. Likewise, the Steelers don’t want to take away the one skill that separates Dixon from most NFL quarterbacks.

“We just want him to do what comes natural,” Tomlin said. “I think if you give him too much instruction, then it’s not going to be natural. It’s not going to be fluid. It’s not going to be comfortable. And those are the things I want his performance to be.”