Jets' Dixon eager to face old team, Dallas
New York Jets defensive tackle Marcus Dixon at training camp at Atlantic Health Training Center in Florham Park, N.J. (Aug. 3, 2011) Credit: AP
Marcus Dixon had an extra bounce in his step Sunday night before a game he eagerly anticipated since the schedule was released in the spring.
Dixon was facing his former team, the Cowboys, for the first time since they let him go before last season. So the Jets' reserve defensive lineman had extra incentive to play well in the season opener at MetLife Stadium.
"It's your old team, the team that cut me," Dixon said. "But it was a blessing they released me because I came here with the Jets. I feel like it's the best organization out there. It's always added motivation to get out there and play against your old team that you started with.
"So I'm definitely hyped about it and excited to get out there and show them the mistake they made."
That would be fine with Rex Ryan, who knows about wanting to prove people wrong. See: Baltimore Ravens.
"I think there always is something extra," Ryan said. "I don't think there's any doubt. It's almost like, 'Well, I'll show you.' When I go back to Baltimore, even in that preseason game, I want to win. You want to show them that, 'Hey, you made a mistake.' I think that's human nature."
The Cowboys signed Dixon as an undrafted free agent out of Hampton University in 2008. The 6-4, 295-pounder was waived at the end of training camp when Dallas trimmed to the 53-man roster limit. He was signed to the Cowboys' practice squad and spent all season there.
Dixon also was a member of Dallas' practice squad in 2009 but was released last Sept. 4 when final cuts were made. The Jets claimed him off waivers the next day, and he was on their roster the entire 2010 season.
"Marcus has been great for us," Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said. "We were fortunate to get him last year and he's come in and done nothing but just his job and work hard. He's super coachable. He's come a long way. He was very raw techniquewise and just really immersed himself, not only in this system with the coaches, but also in the weight room. It was very clear he did a lot of work on his own during the lockout.
"He's a guy that showed up ready to go. He's all business. You can tell he wants to play."
Especially coming off a season in which his small sample size of playing time led the Jets to believe he was ready for an increased role. Dixon saw his first career action in the Jets' final three regular-season games, posting three tackles and a sack.
"I was talking to him about rotating him and he was real excited because he's a guy who's earned it, just through his work ethic," Pettine said. "He's come so far, and he's a guy you just tell him something once, he's locking it in. That's why we're excited. He's a guy that's disruptive, can make plays. He's also flexible. He can go down the side and play the three [technique]. He's also athletic enough that he can bounce out and also play the big end spot, as well. He's a solid pass rusher in the sub package."
Dixon, 26, is relishing his role in the defensive scheme, contributing to a line rotation that is by far the deepest in Ryan's three seasons here.
"When you've got guys who can rotate and everybody is fresh, you are just constantly after the quarterback," Dixon said. "You are just flying around to the ball, and as soon as you get tired, another man comes in.
"My role this year is to get in there, relieve guys when they are tired, and just go 100 miles per hour," Dixon said, "just go out there and give it all I can every play."
