Ahmad Dixon made the team

[JonJon]

He has really good instincts from what I can tell. He was always around the ball and made the play while there.

Jeff Heath on the other hand didn't have a good game at all. It looks like he got worse.

 

[Future]

Looks like he has some upside to develop into something more than a average player.

He has a presence out there.

"presence" is a good word to describe him. There are too many guys on this team, especially on the defensive side of the ball, that are just out there and you hardly ever notice him. Even if he isn't making the perfect play every time, you're going to notice Dixon. I think you can say the same thing about JJ Wilcox as well.

 

[DoctorChicken]

Get a speedy guy next to him to cover and he could be our Chancellor.

 

[Kaiser]

I love the player and love the pick, but later in the preseason he is going to be in pass coverage. He will be targeted and get burned badly, like any rookie. I don't want to get too high watching a game that highlights his strengths, and I'm not going to get too low watching a game that highlights his weaknesses.

He is going to be a special teams demon and that is great value for a 7th round pick. But people shouldn't let expectations get out of control.

 

[50cent]

I saw a lot of Brian Dawkins in the way he stuck his nose in there on tackles and that's not a bad thing at all! Get well soon and don't change your approach pup!

 

[CowboyDan]

I love the player and love the pick, but later in the preseason he is going to be in pass coverage. He will be targeted and get burned badly, like any rookie. I don't want to get too high watching a game that highlights his strengths, and I'm not going to get too low watching a game that highlights his weaknesses.

He is going to be a special teams demon and that is great value for a 7th round pick. But people shouldn't let expectations get out of control.

I want to see him in coverage. I didn't see it, or didn't pay attention to it, last night. But I'm looking forward to see how he covers. You never know, he might surprise there too. Not all rookie safeties get burned.

 

[rpntex]

Coverage skills was the knock on him at Baylor. He hits, and has excellent run-game skills, but that's all he brings. Will that liability be big enough to push him down the roster?

Better question---will he play well on special teams? He's going to have to in order to have a chance to improve his coverage abilities. At best, he's going to be the #4 safety on the roster, behind Church, Wilcox, and Jakaar Hamilton (reportedly has improved tremendously during the offseason). If he plays well on ST, then he'll stick around and get a chance to refine his overall game. That will be the key to his gaining a spot on the 53.

Coaches have called Jeff Heath one of the best, if not THE best, ST player the Cowboys have. He's going to have an edge on Dixon until Dixon contributes on ST.

Dixon reminds me of a guy named Dwayne Slay, who was an All-American at Texas Tech a few years ago. The hits he put on people made Dixon's look like "love taps". The problem was that he couldn't cover me---a stroke victim with partial paralysis on one side of my body (not to mention two knee surgeries). Still, people got so caught up in his hitting ability that thought he was the best safety in the history of the game (some Tech fans still think this). He ended up on the Bear's practice squad for a year---at LB, not safety. Then he played arena ball and one year in the CFL. Just goes to show you that the big hits make great highlight reels, but they won't do much for earning you a roster spot.

In Dixon's case, it's all about how well he performs on special teams.

 

[TrailBlazer]

In my opinion, made the team tonight.

Interesting that he was in at safety early and Heath was pushed to nickel DB.

After one game? He certainly isn't good enough in his coverage ability to play safety. Just too slow IMO. If he makes plays on special teams, then he makes it.

 

[Corso]

Very impressive debut for my pet cat. I really like the way this guy plays.

Your sig is beyond greatness.
I laughed and laughed...


And props on The Dead reference!

 

[rockj7]

I think he would be perfect to replace Church if he went down.

I may get boooed for this but I have never been all that sol on Barry Church ( let me duck now)

 

[Corso]

I love the player and love the pick, but later in the preseason he is going to be in pass coverage. He will be targeted and get burned badly, like any rookie. I don't want to get too high watching a game that highlights his strengths, and I'm not going to get too low watching a game that highlights his weaknesses.

He is going to be a special teams demon and that is great value for a 7th round pick. But people shouldn't let expectations get out of control.

Yessir. My name is Corso- and I support this Post.

 

[ilykdrama]

Without question. He has work to do in coverage, but was all over the field. 11 or 12 tackles? Sheesh.

 

[paladin]

I'm concerned that what we saw yesterday merely exploited his strengths- he is a very strong in-the-box type safety. His weakness is coverage.

from CBS
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737155/ahmad-dixon

stiff midsection and hips, inhibiting him from quickly changing directions...struggles in man coverage to find the ball and keep his feet moving to stick with targets downfield...awareness is still a work-in-progress, too often he is a step late to the play against the pass - too many incorrect reads with questionable diagnose skills...suspect ballskills and doesn't make enough plays on the ball...undisciplined striker and will get flagged for targeting and head-hunting, going for the knockout blow...

stiff hips seems to be a common fatal defect among out safeties.
I wonder if that is why we keep hanging onto Matt Johnson, It might be he is the non-CB we have that can actually turn and run. (momentarily, before collapsing & writhing).

 

[TellerMorrow34]

He has really good instincts from what I can tell. He was always around the ball and made the play while there.

Jeff Heath on the other hand didn't have a good game at all. It looks like he got worse.

Is it even possible that he gets worse? He's already just about the worst football player I've seen. I hate seeing him on the field for any reason.

 

[Alexander]

Get a speedy guy next to him to cover and he could be our Chancellor.

No can do. That would threaten team leader Barry Church's position.

 

[Bungarian]

Likes to lay wood and has a head injury. Gotta play smart.

 

[speedkilz88]

I'm concerned that what we saw yesterday merely exploited his strengths- he is a very strong in-the-box type safety. His weakness is coverage.

from CBS
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737155/ahmad-dixon


stiff hips seems to be a common fatal defect among out safeties.
I wonder if that is why we keep hanging onto Matt Johnson, It might be he is the non-CB we have that can actually turn and run. (momentarily, before collapsing & writhing).

Pretty common for SS in the nfl.

 

[MRV52]

Yes.

Where is the bridge when you you need one?

 

[casmith07]

I love the player and love the pick, but later in the preseason he is going to be in pass coverage. He will be targeted and get burned badly, like any rookie. I don't want to get too high watching a game that highlights his strengths, and I'm not going to get too low watching a game that highlights his weaknesses.

He is going to be a special teams demon and that is great value for a 7th round pick. But people shouldn't let expectations get out of control.

He and Wilcox didn't get burned because they had the deep routes covered. He won't get burned if he keeps up his coverage that I saw watching - they're both entirely too athletic and rangy to get behind.

Where we will get eaten up is underneath in the middle if we can't generate pressure.

 

[casmith07]

Is it even possible that he gets worse? He's already just about the worst football player I've seen. I hate seeing him on the field for any reason.

I don't like it either. I just don't think he can play.