100 in 100: Anthony Dixon (66 of 100)

by Drew Kerr on Mar 18, 2010 2:00 PM PDT in 100 in 100 (2010)

The State of Mississippi has produced a lot of football talent in all shapes and sizes. Dixon is no exception. While he may not possess blazing speed to break a long run, he has the size, strength, and vision to help move the chains. His playing style is a lot like that of a Toby Gerhart, although Gerhart does have better speed.

Dixon played all four years while at Mississippi State, and two of those years went over 1000 Yards. He scored 42 times in 910 Rushing Attempts and also had 4 scores from passes he caught. However, even though Dixon is on the larger side of what a running back typically is, he has had big problems in pass blocking. This could be a big problem at the next level.

This past season, Dixon broke the schools single-season rushing record with 1,391 Yards. The previous record belonged to J.J. Johnson with 1,383 Yards. Dixon also became only the seventh player in the history of the SEC to lead his team in rushing all four years.

Below, we'll take a look at some of Dixon's other accomplishments.

This video illustrates and emphasizes Dixon's power and strength. He invited contact and most often was on the giving side of the punishment. Dixon loves to run downhill and could be a very solid back up at the next level; possibly a great goaline back. At 6'1", 233 Pounds, he is going to punish defensive backs if he gets to the secondary.

CAREER STATS:

Stats Overview	Rushing					Receiving					Fumbles
YEAR	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2006	169	668	4.0	65	9	4	42	10.5	20	0	0	0
2007	287	1066	3.7	30	14	14	167	11.9	53	2	0	0
2008	197	869	4.4	71	7	20	117	5.9	16	2	0	0
2009	257	1391	5.4	70	12	18	123	6.8	18	0	0	0

2009 Regular Season Game Log			Rushing					Receiving					Fumbles
DATE	OPP	RESULT	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
9/5	Jackson State	W 45-7	Did Not Play or did not accumulate any stats.
9/12	@Auburn	L 49-24	20	92	4.6	27	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
9/19	@Vanderbilt	W 15-3	21	123	5.9	40	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
9/26	LSU	L 30-26	27	106	3.9	18	2	1	-1	-1.0	0	0	0	0
10/3	Georgia Tech	L 42-31	18	106	5.9	17	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/10	Houston	L 31-24	21	134	6.4	50	2	1	5	5.0	5	0	0	0
10/17	@Middle Tennessee	W 27-6	27	135	5.0	57	2	2	11	5.5	9	0	0	0
10/24	Florida	L 29-19	15	53	3.5	11	0	3	21	7.0	9	0	0	0
10/31	@Kentucky	W 31-24	33	252	7.6	47	2	2	14	7.0	15	0	0	0
11/14	Alabama	L 31-3	22	81	3.7	18	0	6	59	9.8	18	0	0	0
11/21	@Arkansas	L 42-21	24	176	7.3	70	2	1	2	2.0	2	0	0	0
11/28	Mississippi	W 41-27	29	133	4.6	22	1	2	12	6.0	13	0	0	0

SUMMARY AND PROJECTION:

As mentioned above, I think that Dixon will be drafted primarily as a back up. I don't believe he has the tangibles to be a feature back which leads me to think that he wll be a mid round pick. He was only a top-performer in one event at the combine in the broad jump where he leaped 10'1". With that said, here are the possibilities.

Possibilities -- 3rd Round: Picks 81-95, 4th Round: Picks 96-127.

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Comments

Off topic of this post....

but I just saw the updated mock draft on Yahoo and it had me disgusted. It showed the Seahawks taking Berry AND Spiller, just the thought of them getting probably the two most coveted players on our Niners blog world had me throw up in my mouth a little bit (well not literally lol). Thankfully, these things rarely pan out exactly how they are made.

by sanfranfanmdk on Mar 18, 2010 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

They just signed Ganther from Washington. I am pretty sure that they will be set with Julius Jones, Justin Forsett, and Quinton Ganther for the three backs on their depth chart. Unless any crazy trades go down, you can probably expect them to take a running back in the 6th or 7th if any at all.

"If you're not first, you're last" -Reese Bobby.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 18, 2010 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha good...

I didn’t actually expect to end up that way, it just caused a heart murmur lol

by sanfranfanmdk on Mar 18, 2010 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Guys like Dixon

Are why I’m against the Niners taking Spiller. I just think there is too much depth at RB for it to be worth it to use a first rounder for a guy who’s not THAT much better than most of them, especially when the Niners already have Gore. Give me Haden in the 1st and Gerhart, McCluster, or Dixon in the 3rd or 4th round over Spiller and someone like Javier Arenas.

by Brendan Scolari on Mar 18, 2010 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

Dixon can't block, play special teams, or catch that well.

That is why I am for getting an electric player like Spiller. We may as well not even draft a Running Back if we don’t get a guy like Spiller or Best… someone who can give the team a homerun ability and contribute in so many other areas

"If you're not first, you're last" -Reese Bobby.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 18, 2010 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Dallas already had Barber and Coice when they picked up Felix Jones

and look how well it’s paid off for them and their run game.

"If you're not first, you're last" -Reese Bobby.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 18, 2010 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

This guy wouldn’t be a COP back for us and wouldn’t add anything at all to what we already have.

by Mangoman on Mar 18, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

But that’s not too say he isn’t good though. I like his downhill style and he does have very good power.

by Mangoman on Mar 18, 2010 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm fine with Best in the second, for the record.

But Spiller sure as heck isn’t going to play special teams (beyond returns), so I’m not sure what you meant by that. He is an electric return man but you can pick up someone like Trindon Holliday or Brandon Banks late in the draft and get basically the same thing, I see zero reason to draft Spiller because of that.

I didn’t know about Dixon’s blocking but the point still stands, I wouldn’t draft a backup to Gore in the 1st round when there are so many other good backs available later. If you really must have a quicker guy (and I’m not sure Sing or the FO sees it that way) then take McCluster or McKnight in the 3rd/4th or Best in the second, don’t waste a 1st rounder when you can get 90% of Spiller’s production later in the draft and use the 1st rounder on a much more glaring need.

by Brendan Scolari on Mar 18, 2010 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Aren’t returns part of special teams? I am not sure I know what you’re confused about.

Just because you see zero reason to draft Spiller doesn’t mean that the 49ers aren’t. In fact he is one of the 60 players out of 300+ that they interviewed, so I know they have interest. Whether you like it or not, there’s a possibility he could be a Niner. Are you planning on not supporting him if he becomes one? Because it sounds like you don’t care for him at all. And how is taking Best (who has had multiple concussions) in the 2nd, and better than taking Spiller in the 1st? That is strange to me. A 2nd Round pick is still extremely high.

None of the other guys you mention, McCluster, Holliday, Banks (an ex qb), McKnight, etc aren’t even close to the same caliber of player that Spiller is. The only one that could come close is Best, but he’s got his issues with the concussions. So for me, it seems like the more risky thing to do, would be to get Best in the 2nd over Spiller in the 1st. There aren’t any of the tackles besides Trent Williams (who is not very good), that have played much or any Right Tackle. There are guys that will be available in the 2nd however who have.

"If you're not first, you're last" -Reese Bobby.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 18, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

*60 players out of 300 that they interviewed at the Combine

"If you're not first, you're last" -Reese Bobby.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 18, 2010 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

re:

Aren’t returns part of special teams? I am not sure I know what you’re confused about.

Yeah, sorry I misread that. I thought you listed returns and special teams as two seperate positives.

Just because you see zero reason to draft Spiller doesn’t mean that the 49ers aren’t. In fact he is one of the 60 players out of 300+ that they interviewed, so I know they have interest.

Of course. I’m just giving my personal opinions on why I don’t think they should draft Spiller, I would never be so arrogant as to think my opinion determined the Niners draft strategy. I wouldn’t be surprised if they draft him. And you misquoted me, I did not say there was zero reason to draft Spiller. I said there was zero reason to draft Spiller for his return abilities when you can take a guy with near equal return abilities much later in the draft. There are certainly very good reasons to draft Spiller, I just don’t think they outweigh the negatives.

Whether you like it or not, there’s a possibility he could be a Niner. Are you planning on not supporting him if he becomes one? Because it sounds like you don’t care for him at all.

I’m not sure where you get this idea. I like him quite a bit, I watched him quite a few times in college, and I think he’s an outstanding player but I do not believe he is worth the #13 or #17 pick when you take all of the factors into consideration (who else is on the board at those picks, the depth of this RB class, the presence of Frank Gore on the Niners roster, and the various other needs the Niners have).

And how is taking Best (who has had multiple concussions) in the 2nd, and better than taking Spiller in the 1st? That is strange to me. A 2nd Round pick is still extremely high.

Because the quality of players is much lower at #49 than at #13. If Spiller were available in the second round I would be estatic even if the Niners had to trade up to get him, but he won’t be. I personally hope the Niners trade down with one of their 1st round picks, so I hope they use the other on Berry, Haden, or an O-lineman.

None of the other guys you mention, McCluster, Holliday, Banks (an ex qb), McKnight, etc aren’t even close to the same caliber of player that Spiller is.

Perhaps but they are in the same caliber as kick returners. If you can get a kick returner with basically the same abilities as Spiller in the 6th round, it makes zero sense to not use the 1st rounder on someone esle (unless you think that Spiller’s abilities as a running back are so overwhelming that even with the presence of Gore it is still worth it to use a 1st rounder on a backup running back).

So for me, it seems like the more risky thing to do, would be to get Best in the 2nd over Spiller in the 1st.

I just don’t see it. The value is not there for a backup running back at #13. If I could have the 1st 3 picks plus a 6th round pick used on Haden/Trent Williams/Jahvid Best/Trindon Holliday or Spiller/Earl Thomas/Ducasse/6th round flier guy I’d take the former in a heartbeat. With the former the Niners address the same issues but with the value maximized. They get a great return man, an electric backup running back, a shutdown defensive back, and an elite offensive lineman (your issues with Williams aside). In scenario #2 they get a lesser defensive back, and a much worse offensive lineman, all for a slight upgrade at backup running back. Where’s the value?

by Brendan Scolari on Mar 18, 2010 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions