Columnist Brian Meehan argues in today's Oregonian that the unexpected venture by incumbent Oregon senior quarterback into minor-league baseball for six weeks this summer (instead of training for the football season) may not necessarily be a bad thing. Is he right? We'll see.
There is no official practice or other team stuff that Dixon will be missing, of course. He'll be back in Eugene in time for training camp. But it's generally agreed that most successful programs have key players unofficially training, studying film and bonding together over the offseason. And as the starting quarterback with not only a lot to prove after a disappointing junior year but a new offensive coordinator to get on the same page with, Dixon certainly raised some eyebrows by leaving Eugene so close before the most important fall of his football-playing career.
However, Meehan argues that baseball teaches an important mental lesson: the ability to constantly overcome failure. Even the most statistically successful baseball hitters get a hit less than 4 times in 10, but they take those difficulties in stride and under advisement for next time. There's no doubt whatsoever that Dixon has both the physical athletic gifts and the intelligence to be a superb quarterback. And there have already been plenty of brilliant moments. But can he put it all together for his senior season?
Two past Oregon quarterbacks bring to mind what Dixon could do this year: Akili Smith and Kellen Clemens. Each had, like Dixon, a collection of individual games and sequences where they looked terrific. But both were world-beaters as seniors, displaying a new level of consistency, leadership and performance. Dixon is unquestionably as able as those two, both of whom were high NFL draft picks. The only difference, of course, is that save for a few great games (Oklahoma and ASU last year, Cal the year before), Dixon's best moments should lay ahead.
