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<h1 style="margin-bottom: 0.2em;">Maiocco: Changes for 49ers' Dixon</h1><br class="gap">
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<div>Anthony
Dixon is known for his quickness and athleticism. The 49ers want him to
"run like a big back."</div></div></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">May 26, 2010</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">MAIOCCO ARCHIVE</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">49ERS PAGE | 49ERS VIDEO</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">DIXON POST-DRAFT INTERVIEW</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matt Maiocco</span>
<span style="font-style: italic;">CSNBayArea.com</span>
With Frank
Gore and Glen
Coffee on the roster, the 49ers spent a
sixth-round pick on a change-of-pace running back.</p>
OK, he's not
your typical change-of-pace runner. Anthony
Dixon is bigger than Gore and Coffee. But at this point, he runs
"smaller" than the two running backs already on the team.</p>The
49ers will likely try to change that. Vice president of player personnel
Trent Baalke said during a recent film session with the media that
Dixon "has to learn to run like a big back." Both Gore and Coffee
exhibit no-nonsense, one-cut-and-get-up-the-field approaches.
Dixon
is a player I'm interested to see in pads once training camp opens.
During his two days of practices last week, he showed some nice moves
and a burst of speed for a 235-pounder. He also appears to be a capable
pass catcher. His biggest chore will be learning and performing all of
the blitz pickup assignments RBs coach Tom Rathman will throw at him.<a rel="nofollow" name="bp"></a></p>
My first impression of Dixon is that his style reminds me of
Kevan Barlow, a 238-pound back who did a bit more dancing than his 49ers
coaches wanted to see from him.</p>
When Barlow used his size, he was
very productive. Barlow was very good in his first three NFL seasons
when he shared the load with Garrison Hearst. Barlow gained 1,024 yards
and averaged 5.1 yards a carry in 2003. Then, things went south and he
was out of the league three seasons later.</p>
Dixon, however, seems
to have a good head on his shoulders and should be able to adapt to give
the 49ers what they want. Coach
Mike Singletary last week singled out Dixon for his willingness to
work hard.</p>
Dixon played in 48 games (40 starts) at Mississippi
State, where he set school records with 3,994 yards and 42 touchdowns on
910 carries. So he knows what it's like to carry the load in college
football's premier conference, the SEC.</p>
But Dixon did not make it
out of the 49ers' first week week of offseason practices healthy. He
tweaked his left hamstring during individual drills and sat out the
final two days of work.</p>
The 49ers are not
expecting Dixon to be their workhorse any time soon. Gore is still the
49ers' main man. Gore became the first 49ers running back to rush for
1,000-plus yards in three consecutive seasons in 2008. He followed that
up last year with a fourth year and his second
Pro Bowl appearance.</p>
Both Gore and Coffee have the mindsets
the 49ers want to see from their running backs. If Dixon shows a
willingness to use his size on a more consistent basis, he might give
offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye the luxury of a third option in the run
game.</p>
Initially, though, Dixon must prove his worth on special
teams to earn a uniform to wear on Sundays during the regular season.</p><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;" id="TixyyLink">
Read more: Maiocco:
Changes for 49ers' Dixon
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