Seahawks Draft Grade: Max Unger

by John Morgan on Apr 27, 2009 1:04 PM PDT

Max Unger

Upside:

Unger played left tackle his first two seasons at Oregon before moving to center his final two seasons. Oregon loved Unger's football intelligence and leadership. I shy away from situational qualities like "leadership", but Unger excels at awareness, adaptation and execution. He diagnoses plays quickly; efficiently adjusts to changing conditions, and brings the coach's play to life. He has good five-yard quickness and the footwork and knowledge of angles to be functionally agile. He's not strong or particularly athletic, and his upside is that of a solid to very good regular. He could make the Pro-Bowl on the wave of a great offense or a great and accomplished team.

Downside:

Unger started 51 games at Oregon. He has no injury or character red flags. In Gregg Knapp's zone blocking scheme, his downside is very small. Unger is a natural fit for a fluid zone-blocking scheme that emphasizes decision making and movement over brute force and dominance at the point of attack. Accordingly, Unger's downside arises if Seattle changes blocking schemes. He is not scheme versatile and cannot excel at center or guard in a power rushing attack. He also is weak against the bull rush.

Fit:

Knapp recently said his offense puts increased demands on the center to make line calls. Let's face it, apologies to Chris Spencer, but that favors Unger. Unger isn't too small to play guard, but he might be best as a center. It's undeniably a position Tim Ruskell values highly. As center, Unger is near-perfect match for Knapp's system. He's a born and made zone-blocking lineman. The other part of fit is filling a need. Seattle does not need a center insomuch that they have a recent first-round pick already playing the position, but if that first round pick is unfit to make line calls, then Seattle doesn't just need a center, it's ravenous for one. Spencer might be KO'd from starting at all, but watch to see if Seattle gets creative and tries him at guard. He played poorly at guard in 2006, but that was a long time and whole `nother offense ago. He's powerful and agile and has more potential than Rob Sims and more polish than Mansfield Wrotto.

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Question:

When you talk about a Unger not being particularly powerful or strong, is there time to develop that aspect of him as a player and bulk up physically, or is he already close or at his peak and ultimately won’t be as powerful/strong as other players? Meaning, will this shortcoming be permanent, or can it be offset or even developed into an asset in the next few seasons?

by Misfit74 on Apr 27, 2009 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

I'm sure he'll get stronger

I’m not sure how he will develop power as compared to other center prospects. Let’s just say on one end you have Olin Kreutz and the other you have Steve Vallos, Unger is probably somewhat past mid-point towards Kreutz.

by John Morgan on Apr 27, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Reading a scouting report or two

it is being said that he is under-developed in his lower body, but that within a season or two he should remedy that. Considering he is already 6’4.5" and 306 lbs, with some weight room time his strength at least could become a plus for him instead of a minus at the NFL level.

Do you feel that way too, or is he destined to be an underwhelming blocker a la Chris Grey or Robbie Tobeck? Perhaps Ruskell sees him as a guy with the smarts and good athleticism, and expects him to develop his body a bit.

by cashless on Apr 27, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Within broad parameters, you can say one guy could develop and one guy can not

But I think anything beyond that is like trying to determine if pitching motion will induce injury. Unger has a big frame, but I’m not going to go out on a limb and say if he’ll fill out or not.

by John Morgan on Apr 27, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Spencer at Guard

I was surprised you didn’t go there right when the Unger pick was made. That is, Unger seems like a clear replacement for Spencer. I thought automatically he’d move to guard. Either that or he’s gonna have to play somewhere else soon.

A bit off-topic, but doesn’t it make you wonder. The team is clearly ready to cut bait on its first ever first round pick. He’ll likely change positions soon or change teams. How is it that the team isn’t ready to cut bait on Brian Russell? What are we missing that they’re seeing?

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Apr 27, 2009 1:54 PM PDT reply actions

This seems to be a bit of a shift for you

since you’d been saying that you didn’t like Unger at center:

I particularly worry about his play at center. With much of the league converting to a 3-4, centers are no longer heady support blockers. They are the man opposite the nose tackle, the strongest players in football. The 3-4 system suffers no easy double teams. Protect your center by doubling with a guard and expose a gap. A modern center must be stout at the point of attack and that’s not Unger.

by The Ancient Mariner on Apr 27, 2009 1:57 PM PDT reply actions

Yep.

He’s going to need assistance for sure. I think the scheme will protect him if Seattle has good backfield blocking, but truth is I’m still worried 3-4 nose tackles might just bully him. I guess it’s something I’m ambivalent about.

by John Morgan on Apr 27, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Man, I can't wait to get your take on Butler over Iglasius...

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Apr 27, 2009 1:59 PM PDT reply actions

I'm excited about Devin Moore.

And Butler. We added much-needed speed and explosiveness to the offense if both guys end up on the field.

by Misfit74 on Apr 27, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Unlike you, I don't share your enthusiasm for Moore, given his serious lack of polish.

But, I will say that, barring a conversion to WR, because of his speed, he will be best utilized as a special teamer, on sweeps outside the OT with a lead blocker, or on flats. He looks like he can do damage in open space, but he has to get there before the defender does because he’s not going to get the extra yards.

I personally don’t think he’s making the roster. I’m actually not confident that he’ll make it past the first cuts.

Butler, on the other hand, I like. He’s much more refined and polished. The only thing that can keep him from making the roster the amount of other receivers who will challenge him for a spot on the roster.

Weez the juice!!

by Carl Shinyama on Apr 27, 2009 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions