Danny O'Neil gave us some good partial transcript of a session John Schneider did with the media at the combine.  Sure makes it seem like they won't be making an offer to Chris Spencer, and Unger will be at Center.  Now, that's Carroll's call, of course, and they have a new line coach, and they may make an acquistion in free agency or the draft.  Could be Mike Pouncey, for instance.  But it's either Spencer or someone else.  I am aware and probably more concerned with Spencer's drawbacks than most; I see his talent but it only partially makes up for what he lacks.  When he makes a flawless and beautiful block on an LB after peeling off a double-team, that's awesome, but all I need is the effectiveness of getting in a guy's way for a moment.  I don't want an inability to push forward up the gut to be a ball and chain for the offense forever.  I know things are rarely static, but he contributed to the problem.

But I have to say the thought of going with Unger makes me re-consider my ambivalence to retaining Spencer.  I just can't imagine it would be an overall net upgrade in performance.  Far removed from equalling Spencer.  That's not how personnel moves ought to be made; Spencer oughtn't be re-signed due to the relative issues with at-hand replacements short-term.  But just a thought.  It concerns me for the 2011 season.

But then Doug Farrar posted the video of Schneider's chat, and it was enjoyable.  The gyst is that he agrees with the notion that he's in the middle ground, philosophically, between Ted Thompson's steadfast organic talent farming and Ron Wolf's comfort in spending capital for Brett Favre and Reggie White.

The interesting part here was alluded to in O'Neil's transcript, Schneider saying Ron Wolf wasn't afraid to make mistakes.  His anecdotes suggest when he talked to Wolf about the Whitehurst trade, Wolf didn't like the player (from limited knowledge), and didn't think Schneider ought to have made the trade...BUT didn't necessarily think Schneid gave up too much to get him.  

Anyway, interesting perspective, and it makes me both like and respect Schneider more.