The Steelers backup quarterback position is viewed as being unstable in league circles, which has led to some NFL insiders speculation that Pittsburgh is interested in Michael Vick.
When the players hit the practice field for the first time on Saturday, the backup quarterback position will be one of the most highly contested position battles in camp.
The player to watch will be 2nd year player Dennix Dixon who has his sights set on unseating Charlie Batch as the Steelers #2 quarterback.
From all indications, the Steelers plan on giving Dixon every opportunity to beat out Batch in training camp.
When the Steelers drafted Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon with their 5th round pick in 2008, the Steelers had Dixon valued as a 3rd round pick.
Dixon suffered a season ending knee injury in his senior season which led to him falling to the 5th round.
In mini camp, Dixon showed that he
has made great strides in his progression. He threw the ball very well in mini-camp and was clearly a more efficient passer than Charlie Batch, who struggled in camp
Dixon who was the 2007 Pac-10 offensive player of the year, will look to build off of a strong mini-camp and make a run at supplanting Batch.
The Steelers don’t appear worried that Dixon is a completely different kind of quarterback than Ben Roethlisberger.
As for Charlie Batch, he enters camp as the Steelers #2 quarterback but there are some concerns inside the organization.
Batch, 34, has not thrown a pass since week 17 of the 2007 season, after being put on injury reserve prior to the 2008 season opener.
Batch also struggled throwing a deep ball in mini-camp and appears to have lost some zip on his throws.
The quarterback position like the Steelers wide receiver group could be a position of transition in 09.
