The Tape: Max Unger Misses the Blitz

by John Morgan on Apr 29, 2009 12:33 PM PDT

Let's do something different and chop this scouting report up by drives. The final play is an important reminder that even "cerebral" centers make line-calling mistakes.

Oregon starts its day with a trick play. Unger is instrumental to this working. The play starts with Jeremiah Masoli under center. Unger snaps, pops up and pulls hard left. The defense shades left. Masoli laterals to Jeff Maehl. The defense bites down on the "pass". Maehl runs back towards Masoli. Unger breaks back and seals the right edge, becoming the de facto right tackle. Masoli passes to Jamere Holland over the middle for 47. Good awareness and excellent execution by Unger.

The next play is a sweep. Unger pitches the ball out of shotgun. Remene Alston runs for two. Unger does not factor.

The next play is again out of shotgun. Unger snaps, pops up, doubles the Cowboys left defensive tackle, moves into the second level, attempts to block a linebacker, overextends and is shed. Masoli laterals to Maehl for a loss of one.

Fourth play: Shotgun, Unger snaps, doubles the left defensive tackle, the tackle moves hard offensive-right pulling Unger and Mark Lewis out and away from the blitz.

The Cowboys overload offensive left. Patrick Lavine comes untouched and sacks Masoli for a loss of ten. Unger misses the blitz before the snap and is then lured out and away from the action.

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Can't be worse than Spencer.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Apr 29, 2009 12:40 PM PDT reply actions

Spencer is not the Brian Russell of centers.

He’s just not as good as we hoped to get from a first round pick. What I’m saying is, Unger very well could be worse than Spencer, at least at the moment.

by sev79 on Apr 29, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd wager it's far more likely Unger develops more functional strength

than Spencer ever developing Unger’s instincts and awareness.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Apr 29, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Surrounding talent

If you were to guage Unger’s surrounding line talent with the Hawks’ center-surrounding line talent, which is better? (Holding the fact that one is college and one is pro, equal)

If Unger makes mistakes like this as a Hawk, does the rest of the line have the talent to cover for his mistakes, or will we get punished because we simply don’t have enough line talent to make up for them?

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Apr 29, 2009 1:49 PM PDT reply actions

Oregon was better relative to competition than Seattle will be.

by John Morgan on Apr 29, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Hmmm

Well let’s simply hope the coaching staff makes the right decision in regards to playing time. If he’s apt to such mistakes (I really have no clue how often he made them), I hope we strike the right balance of playing time to minimize the mistakes and maximize his talents.

…. I guess that goes for any player on any team, rookie or veteran.

Just forget I said anything

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Apr 29, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions