The Pittsburgh Steelers have made the decision to start Dennis Dixon at quarterback at least until Ben Roethlisberger returns from suspension, but his role won’t be as big as Roethlisberger’s typically is.
“We’re not asking Dennis to go out there and win the game,” Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward told radio show 790 The Zone in Atlanta. “We’re just asking him to go out there and manage the game. So, if he goes out there and converts on third downs, not try to force things and not turn the ball over, we’ll be fine.”
Ward also sees “a lot of Kordell Stewart” in Dixon’s game, which many Steelers fans will either love or hate.
“One thing I think Dennis brings to the table that’s different from the other quarterbacks is he makes plays with his legs. You can see a lot of Kordell Stewart in him as far as making plays outside of the pocket. He has that capability to take it to the house at any time. But at the same time, he’s still an accurate quarterback. It’s just a matter of getting experience. At some point, a quarterback’s got to be able to get in there and see if he can play, and he’s getting his opportunity this Sunday.”
Sunday can’t come soon enough.