Assessing Need: Center

by John Morgan on Apr 5, 2010 4:27 PM PDT

Center

Starter: Max Unger

Age: Turns 24 April 14.

Health: Good.

Contract: Three years remaining.

Performance: Poor.

Backup: Steve Vallos

Depth: Spencer

Depth: Wrotto

Etc.

Position need: Small, or great, depending. Unger did not thrive at guard, but it was the bull rush that victimized him most. He will be lined across nose tackles now, and that worries me. It's possible that Seattle moves Unger back to guard and finds another player to play center. Maybe Vallos. Vallos is the most Gibbs like player on the entire team, I think. Either center is a need and guard less so, or center is settled and the Seahawks badly need some guards. Either way, if Seattle drafts a center, it will address a need at guard.

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Is Max Unger a center in Alex Gibb's OL

If you believe the Get to Know Alex Gibbs story as to what he prefers in his guards and centers when he says, “Nobody over 6’3”.“, tall centers may not be an option. Considering Max Unger is 6’5”, I think that might move Unger to tackle.

Who knows though, Gibbs may not be so height prejudiced about his interior linemen anymore. Looking at the starting center for Houston last year, Chris Myers is listed at 6’4" but no other interior lineman was over 6’3".

by Kevaru on Apr 5, 2010 4:44 PM PDT reply actions

Unger at tackle is an interesting consideration.

I wonder if he can fit there in Gibbs’ system?

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Sam Bradford, OT Ciron Black*, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling**, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Apr 5, 2010 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

He fits the size and he is really athletic and has some of the desire and drive Gibbs wants

He’s pretty athletic, from what I remember about him at Oregon, I typically go to two or three Duck games a year compared to my once a year trip to Seattle.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 5, 2010 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Unger seems to be the smartest o-linemen we've got

I wonder if he’ll make a 2" exception for Unger.

6/14/60. Sweet.

by Nick Andron on Apr 6, 2010 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

he didn't do well but I don't think anyone in his position could have

he’s probably our most athletic too, I hope he does.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 6, 2010 9:00 AM PDT up reply actions

What's the rationale for a 6'3" cap anyway?

Center of gravity issue?

inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

by shams on Apr 6, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Once a defensive lineman gets under you,

he can get by you. Offensive linemen need to be able to stay low and inside the shoulder pads on pass plays. Tall guys need to get low when they’re standing up a linebacker when they’re run blocking, too.

by BurtonOerney on Apr 6, 2010 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I think it makes cut blocking more difficult if you're taller.

by Nate Dogg on Apr 6, 2010 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I think what BurtonOerney and Nate Dogg are trying to say is:

yes, a lower centre of gravity is better on the interior linemen because it is harder for the D-lineman to get under it, and it’s easier to get down to cut block as well.

by why's-guy on Apr 6, 2010 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions

The taller you are, the more ridiculous you look squatting over a pigskin with another guy's hands beneath your ass.

by sev79 on Apr 6, 2010 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions

No, that's not height issues...that's weight issues.

If you’re fat/big-boned with another guy’s hands on your ass then people would guess you play centre no matter how tall you are!

by why's-guy on Apr 6, 2010 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, but the NFL is trying to get guys to only do that to the center.

by Kryten on Apr 7, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

That's a great link about Gibbs and makes me think this is one of the best things to happen to this team over the offseason

If the SBN player analysis are accurate the right about Vallos makes him the ideal candidate to be our starting center.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 5, 2010 5:40 PM PDT reply actions

Shouldn't Unger be listed as depth at Guard, and Spencer be listed as depth at Center?

You know, since both played those positions last year. I guess I’m also assuming that Spencer sticks around, because….do Q/PM really want to rebuild the ENTIRE FUCKING OFFENSIVE LINE this season? Is there no value in continuity?

Ugh, we traded Sims and Tapp for a 4th, 5th and Clemons. That is a very poor return; there is only so much talent that this team can piss away with a straight face.

by J.L. White on Apr 5, 2010 9:05 PM PDT reply actions

I know!

Our offensive line was just about do do an adequate job right at the end of the season and now it’s all gone. Sims was it. He was the glue holding that formidable unit together. If we replaced Spencer, we might not be able to regularly convert on third and short, complete anything but short passes and our quarterback might get sacked all the time.

I don’t worry about Unger. He was able to come in and start right away and he’s only going to get better. Vallos is a seventh round guy going into his fourth year. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect him to improve too. Spencer has been durable and tough but he’s had weird problems snapping the ball that the best center in the 2005 draft shouldn’t still be having.

I like Spencer/Unger as starting guards but if some other team needs a guard/center, Spencer was drafted in the first round…

by BurtonOerney on Apr 6, 2010 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I can see clearly what is going on now...

Tim Ruskell tried to fill every position with at least adequate talent before the draft. This way other teams would have no clue which way we “needed” to go.
The current FO is doing exactly the same thing— only making so many holes no other team will have a clue which one we “need” to fill. Brilliant!

by Kryten on Apr 5, 2010 10:44 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd because I've made the same joke in the past.

by why's-guy on Apr 6, 2010 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions

HA! I didn't see it or I would have given you credit for the idea.

Although who said I was joking? ;-)

by Kryten on Apr 7, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Here's a potential Gibbs project at Center, which frees up Unger...

Ted Larsen, C, North Carolina State

Has the right body type to play for Gibbs. Also used to be a defensive tackle and got moved to C, suggesting he’s very coachable. Could probably be had in the 4th round.

by sideshow bob on Apr 6, 2010 7:47 AM PDT reply actions

We could add him with Selvish Capers with one of our 10 4th round picks

I do like that Gibbs that has an eye for talent, it will help fix the defense.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 6, 2010 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions

I prefer my O-line guys to have tough, Eastern European-sounding names

Guys with names like ‘Wisniewski’, or ‘Iupati’. Selvish Capers sounds like a jazz artist currently living in Key West, Florida. Maybe it’s just me.

by sideshow bob on Apr 6, 2010 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

It is a very Smoov B. sounding name

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 6, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Iupati is waaaay eastern Europe!!

Past Russia, past China, past Australia…

by Kryten on Apr 7, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

We can get Roger Saffold (tackle, Indiana) at 60.

We could also get Mike Pouncey, a center from Florida and Jon Asamoah, the Illinois guard in the second round.

I like Saffold the best. I’ve read he’s down the board because of ‘character issues.’ He was arrested for drunk driving a moped.

Jason Fox is a tackle out of Miami who we could get in the fourth. He’s got some kind of heart issue but it probably won’t be a problem. You takes yer chances with fourth rounders, I guess.

by BurtonOerney on Apr 6, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions

If draft picks were flowing like water, maybe..

…but since they ain’t, and Gibbs has this track record of polishing diamonds out of raw coal, I would not expect any of our 1st or 2nd rd picks used on a Center or Guard. Maybe a left tackle.

by sideshow bob on Apr 6, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I keep hearing that too if so it allow us to clean up the mess they've made at safety, DE, and get the DT we needed

I’ve heard he doesn’t like tackles with big huge contracts either.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 6, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions

So I went back through the entire draft history for offensive linemen.

The only four year periods in our history when we’ve spent as few (and as low) picks on the line as we have since 2006 are the years 1985-1988 and 1990-1993 (1995 really – the Flores era! Viva la QB milagre!)

When Knox was coach, he drafted nine O linemen in his first two years – mostly depth; we had already drafted six including a second and a third rounder in ‘80-81. It payed dividends. After we started heading downhill in 1988, Knox took five more linemen in the ’89-’90 drafts, including Andy Heck in the first and Joe Tofflemire in the second. We started improving

Then came Flores along with McGwire, Stouffer and Mirer. We didn’t get many linemen but we lucked out with Kevin Mawae in the second round in 1994. Chris Warren had 1545 yards that year.

Under Erikson, we added six linemen in three years, including Pete Kendall, Robert Barr and Walter Jones. Two were first rounders, one was a second and one was a third. Warren Moon threw for 3678 yards in 1997.

We drafted 11 linemen in all from 1996 to 2001. That’s when we got Hutch and Womack. It’s also when Alexander started getting 1000+ yard seasons.

It looks like during the two times we’ve been afflicted with success, we stopped adding depth to the line. We seem to be successful when we continuously add a mix of low-round choices and depth.

by BurtonOerney on Apr 6, 2010 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions

You are thinking of Kyle Calloway, the tackle from Iowa

Rodger Saffold (Indiana) has no such character concerns. Please try to get these things right; these are real people we’re talking about and tossing around “character concerns” or false arrest records flippantly is not cool.

Check your facts, please; this community holds itself to a high standard.

(I didn’t even mention that you got the wrong Pouncey, too.)

by busplunger on Apr 7, 2010 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Unger at LT?

Is he quick enough? Strong enough? Certainly smart enough…

by bleedshawkblue on Apr 6, 2010 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

Btw, I have no idea how true that is, and I am an Oregon fan, i just try to show this video any chance I get…

by why's-guy on Apr 6, 2010 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I base it on interviews and I'm a Duck

I think Chris Spencer is smart too, though I don’t know if that translates to football smarts.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 7, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Vulnerability to light.

by John Morgan on Apr 6, 2010 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

Hasn't been slagged by Holmgren.

by BrianL on Apr 7, 2010 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I love this idea.

by John Morgan on Apr 6, 2010 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions

They said he could play anywhere during last years draft

He seems to match what Gibbs likes at tackle, big, athletic with a mean streak, and doesn’t hve a huge contract so he isn’t a me guy. That also assumes that Gibbs is firm about not have a guard or center over 6’3.

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 7, 2010 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Unger is not playing left tackle.

He spent his rookie season getting crushed at right guard.

by John Morgan on Apr 7, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions

If by "getting crushed" you mean physically...

…wouldn’t it make sense (on a most basic level) to move him to a space where the opposition is smaller, like tackle?

Just sayin’

by djafrot on Apr 7, 2010 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions

what about the right side?

At least we aren't the Raiders?

by Generzal Zod on Apr 8, 2010 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions

RT is typically a power-position.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Sam Bradford, OT Ciron Black*, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling**, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Apr 8, 2010 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions