Minus Ben, Steelers go with inexperience

September 12, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Of all the improbable scenarios the Pittsburgh Steelers could have concocted during perhaps the most miserable offseason in the franchise’s history, this would be near the top of the list.

Dennis Dixon will be their season-opening quarterback today against the Atlanta Falcons.

Not Ben Roethlisberger, who is throwing passes to nondescript receivers at a high school stadium while he serves a four-game suspension for his off-field misbehavior.

Not Byron Leftwich, who was reacquired to start while Roethlisberger was out but is sidelined with a left knee injury.

Not Charlie Batch, who has been with the Steelers since 2002 and knows the playbook better than the coaches do.

Nope, it’s Dixon — a former fifth-round pick who was passed over multiple times by every NFL team in the 2008 draft.

Not since No. 1 pick Terry Bradshaw was the rawest of rookies in 1970, the Hall of Famer’s first and worst season, have the Steelers started so inexperienced a quarterback in their opener.

Dixon has thrown all of 27 passes, started all of one game. His running skills might be the best of any NFL quarterback, yet his own offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, said he won’t last a game if he tries to run too much.

Which raises some intriguing questions, not only for the Steelers themselves but also the Falcons.

Is starting a quarterback so unproven a decided disadvantage for the Steelers?

Or does Dixon, with his ability to take off with the football at any moment, offer such a change from what the Steelers do with Roethlisberger that starting him might prove to be a strategical masterstroke by coach Mike Tomlin?

“He’s a dual threat,” wide receiver Mike Wallace said. “He can throw it, but at any time he can break those 40- or 50-yard runs. I expect him to control our offense and lead our team to a victory.”

Ask the Falcons, and they’ll take playing Pittsburgh without Roethlisberger any time.

“I mean, yeah!” tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “I’m just answering honestly. He’s a Pro Bowl player, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league — it will be like if we didn’t have Matt Ryan.

“At the same time, they’ve known that and prepared for that. The guy going in has a whole different skills set, a whole different dynamic.”

Safety Thomas DeCloud feels similarly, saying, “Not going against a team’s No. 1 quarterback is always somewhat of a leg up for the defense.”

The Steelers have started unproven quarterbacks before. Cliff Stoudt had thrown only 98 passes before replacing the injured Bradshaw in 1983. Kordell Stewart had thrown all of 37 passes, some in his so-called Slash role, before starting in 1997. But Dixon is even less experienced than they were.

“It’s so surreal,” Dixon said. “You envision this as little kid, starting in the National Football League, and to open up the season, too.”

A season that could offer considerable intrigue for both teams, whose last game at Heinz Field eight years ago resulted in a 34-all tie — one of only two NFL ties since 1997.