WHO GETS CREDIT FOR ATLANTA GAME - OFFENSE?

That was a great team win for the Steelers. The defense for the most part dominated, the offense provided just enough to get a win and the special teams prevented any long returns.



Offense

Quarterback
Dennis Dixon played ok on Sunday. He could have very easily had a very bad game, but it turned out to be a mediocre performance. He had several throws that could have been interceptions and one did, but it was not a deciding factor in the game. For one time the announcers on TV actually had an insightful point. When Dixon tried to throw out patterns he was nearly intercepted several times, I'm including the screen pass into the gut of the Defensive End. When he threw it between the hash marks that's when he had the most success.



Running Backs
Of course Rashard Mendenhall had a great game simply because he broke the last play of the game for a touchdown. Give a lot of credit to the O Line and Hines Ward for the blocks that sprung him for that TD. But he was the one in the end zone at the end of the play. Up to that point I kept saying to myself that he hadn't done anything. He kept getting stuffed in the backfield, then he'd break a 9 or 10 yarder. It was all or nothing.

Isaac Redman was ok also in his debut this year. He made a first down on a 3rd down attempt and also got stuffed on a third down attempt. The thing about him is he doesn't give up. On the 3rd down he didn't make he made about 5 guys tackle him. I can see why he could make a good short yardage back.



Receivers
The wide receiving corps was not spectacular, but they too did what needed to be done. Hines Ward continued to show why he is still one of the best receivers in the league. He had 108 yards on 6 receptions to lead the Steelers. Heath Miller also chipped in another 4 for 40 yards. Mike Wallace had a big grab for 52 yards also. The one sore spot for me with the receivers was the play of Antwaan Randle El. For some unknown reason Dixon kept trying to connect with him and Randle El kept running routes short of the first down and then dropping a lot of them. Dixon finally figured out who the future Hall of Famer was and that Randle El wasn't. It's only the first game and I wouldn't give up on him yet, but Antwaan has to play better than that.



Offensive Line
The line also played ok. None of them stood out until that last play of the game. In that one play they made up for any mediocre play throughout the game. Dixon wasn't able to sit back in the pocket unharrassed, but he did have time most of the game to read the defense and get off a good throw. The run blocking was good here and good there but not consistently good.

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