Oregon sure knows how to suck the fun out of a high-powered offense.
- Max Unger single blocks Tonga Tea, but does not get a push.
- Another strong single block on Tea, Unger keeps his shoulders square and holds middle integrity.
- Ducks break 2WR (right), WR (left), TE(left), RB, SG; Cowboys in a 3-3 nickel. Very nice play by Unger here. He starts by combo blocking Tea with the left guard, but doesn't square towards Tea, instead reach blocking him, turning him and making him an easy single-block for Jeff Kendall. Unger separates into the second level, engages and then rag-dolls undersized Cowboys middle linebacker Patrick Lavine. Jeremiah Johnson rushes for two and the first.
- Unger single blocks in pass pro.
- Ducks break 2WR(left), 2 WR (right), Rb (left), SG; Cowboys in a 4-2 nickel. Cowboys bluff a double "A" gap blitz. Oregon attempts to set up a wide receiver screen, but right guard Mark Lewis fails to attain outside containment and Terrence Scott slaps away a poor pass by Jeremiah Massoli. Unger is deep in the 2-3 level looking for a block.
- Broken pass play, Unger holds his man, but the consistently unimpressive Fenuki Tupou is beat and Masoli improvises for 15. It's like watching bad football in slow motion.
- Oregon attempts to shift the pocket right and Unger does, but the pocket is threadbare along the left, Tupou is beat, and Masoli, under duress, fires a tumbler towards Terrence Scott's body.
- State stunts and Unger fails to block anyone. Pressure never arrives, but Masoli cannot connect.
- Ducks: 2 WR (right), WR (left), TE (right), RB, SG; Cowboys in a 3-3 nickel. Good one-man screen by Unger. Unger sells pass pro, pulls forward, and takes a straight and clean line to the left flat. Unger's linemates loop and wander but never get in front of Johnson, and after Johnson receives, the safety has a clear shot. Unger does something cerebral, choosing not to chase the unreachable safety and instead turning his back on Johnson and resuming lead-blocking. It pays off, as Johnson shakes the safety and Unger gets a good pop on outside linebacker Andre Sexton. The play results in six, but if I haven't said it until now, it must be said, Unger so outshines his linemates it sometimes looks like he's running a different play. That was not supposed to be a one-man screen by Unger.
- Unger drops Tea with a good cut block. Sub-sixfoot signal-caller Masoli, suddenly able to see in front of him converts the fourth with a ten yard pass to tight end Ed Dickinson. This is the execution I continue to see from Unger that doesn't draw attention from the commentators but thrills coaches. Masoli doesn't connect on that mid-range pass over the middle if Unger doesn't drop the defensive lineman and create a gaping throwing lane.
- Unger ends with a steady single block and after another missed field goal, the half is nearly over. Bad football, mess you up.