With neither contestant separating himself in the most recent competition for the title of interim starter behind Ben Roethlisberger, the debate (the public one, at least) rages on between Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon.

Mike Tomlin has said Dixon would need to “take” the starting job if he wanted it, but his inexperience — widely considered his biggest weakness and the glaring difference from the veteran Leftwich — showed against the Broncos.

Still, Dixon has support among the analysts at NFL Network.

“I believe that the upside is with Dixon in the football game,” Marshall Faulk said. “He has an ability to get out of the pocket and make things happen, which I don’t think they showed with him [against the Broncos]. Leftwich, just standing back there, the way this offensive line is playing, that’s not a good recipe for what they want to do. Leftwich, he’s a veteran guy and gets a lot done, but I don’t want to see him back there behind this offensive line, the way they’ve played this preseason.”

Great line by Sapp: “An iron deer in the front line is easy to find.”

Translation from Sapp-ian: Leftwich doesn’t move well in the pocket.

Leftwich has been thought to have the upper hand throughout the preseason. It remains to be seen, though, if his pedestrian performances have done anything to change Tomlin’s thinking, or if the coach believes it will be just enough for the Steelers to win games.

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