Why not squat and deadlift on alternate workouts?

[EastBayGrease]

I'll say upfront, I know this is kind of a thick-headed question, and I know by reputation that Rip is the kind of no-nonsense guy that might just hand me my ass for perpetrating such stupidity, but I'm willing to risk such a fate in attempt to get crystal clear on this...

I know that there is a lot of overlap between squats and deadlifts, but lately I've been considering the significance of balance in a training routine. If I'm misguided, please set me straight, but I've come to accept the idea that a complete routine needs all of the above for the sake of completeness and balance (especially when aesthetics are the main priority, as they are for me. I'm definitely not an aspiring bodybuilder, but I'm also not an athlete):

Horizontal push (i.e. bench) - horizontal pull (i.e. row)
Vertical push (i.e. overhead press) - horizontal pull (i.e. chin up)
Quad dominant movement (i.e. squat) - hip dominant movement (i.e. deadlift)

So basically, what are the reasons that an ideal-ish set up wouldn't look something like this?:

A: Squat, row, bench
B: Deadlift, press, chin

Is it only because deadlifts are too taxing to do so much? Do low bar squats serve in themselves as a balanced lower body exercise? And if so, where and why do desdlifts fit into a balanced routine?

I know there IS a need for deadlifts, and I also know that the common three day a week recommendation for squats in full body routines is no accident. I'm just hoping to gain a better understanding of why. Thanks in advance...

[Mark Rippetoe]

Pushing and pulling are both functions of the fact that muscles contract. There is no logical distinction between them, i.e. a deadlift PUSHES the bar away from the floor. Anterior/posterior superior/inferior medial/lateral arrangement of the muscle mass notwithstanding, any program that trains the whole muscle mass of the body is a complete program. Squats are not quad-dominant when done correctly, deadlifts are a balanced movement when done correctly. We arrange the workouts the way we do because it works better than arranging them in other ways, which we have tried.

[EastBayGrease]

So since they are both balanced lower body movements (if done correctly) why the need for both? I know deadlift also hits traps, forearms, etc but so do the upper body pulls (to a degree), right? So in other words, what training gap would be left unfilled if deadlifts weren't included?

Don't get wrong, I'm not looking for an excuse not to do them - I like deadlifting - I just like to know exactly why I'm doing everything I'm doing.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Have you read my book? Where all this shit is discussed?

[EastBayGrease]

Touche. I recently lent it out to my nephew, but used it mostly an occasional reference when I had it, mostly to make sure my form was on point. Not its intended purpose, I know...

[wal]

Touche. I recently lent it out to my nephew, but used it mostly an occasional reference when I had it, mostly to make sure my form was on point. Not its intended purpose, I know...

You lent it? Better get it back. You cannot memorise it, it has too much detail, it is like having a coach in the cupboard. If your nephew does not want to give it back you had better get another copy.

[PKKamboj]

Read the book. It'll clear up most of your questions. Even after finishing the book go back and look at older posts on this forum. I usually find an answer when I think I have some original question. Also out of curiosity, how can you check for form properly if your not reading the chapters? The book kind of explains everything thoroughly.

[Trewarin]

Kill yourself.

[Mac Ward]

Touche. I recently lent it out to my nephew, but used it mostly an occasional reference when I had it, mostly to make sure my form was on point. Not its intended purpose, I know...

Maybe your nephew knows.

[Nicholas Soleyn]

It would probably be helpful to you to stop thinking in terms of muscle groups worked and start thinking in terms of movement. The point is to load the body across the ways it is meant to be used, involving the most muscle mass the longest effective ranges of motion. This way you get strong in the ways your body is meant to be strong. This is good for aesthetics too.