With only three picks in the first five rounds of the draft, the pressure is on those picks to make an impact in year one.
This is especially the case for Max Unger, who was the only offseason addition to an aging unit torn apart by injuries last year.
He'll have the opportunity to be an important player off the bench and a much-needed starter in the near future.The only question is where will he start and at who's expense?
To continue...
Max Unger
6-5
309 pounds
The skills
Unger was a bit of an unknown quantity when he arrived on campus in Eugene. Oregon was the only Division-I school to offer him a scholarship, but it didn't take long for him to earn it.
Starting at left tackle his first two years before sliding over to center, Unger started 51 consecutive games and was consistently Oregon's best lineman.
Unger's best asset is his intelligence. He made all the line calls at center and has terrific awareness. He slides laterally very well with great footwork and is quick to the second level.
Unger's only weakness is his lack of ideal strength at the point of attack. But in a zone-blocking scheme, this shouldn't be a concern.
Rookie projection
Obviously, there's no doubt Unger makes the team. It's merely a matter of whether he'll start. Initially, the team started him out at left guard, which may preclude him from the chance to compete with Chris Spencer at center.
However, the decision to put him at left guard may be because that's where the coaching staff believes he'll have the best chance to start.
The current starter, 32-year-old Mike Wahle, has missed 10 games in the last three seasons, six last year. He's been unable to go thus far in the mini camps, and the team may be using Unger as insurance in case Wahle can't be counted on to stay healthy.
Otherwise, the team is returning multi-year starters at every position and Unger shouldn't be expected to unseat any of them. Here's more on why he won't start at center especially. Still, he should get a handful of starts due to injury.
The long projection
Here is where things get interesting. Most Seahawks fans will be hoping for Unger to be the future at center, where former first rounder, Chris Spencer, has been a disappointment.
Spencer is entering the final year of his contract. But if the league has an uncapped season, which may be likely, then free-agent rules change, and Spencer can no longer be an unrestricted free agent.
Still, it may not matter as Spencer could make a great guard. As it is, here's a possible starting lineup for Seattle in a couple seasons, assuming everyone re-signs and Walter Jones is retired:
LT Sean Locklear
LG Chris Spencer
C Max Unger
RG Rob Sims
RT Ray Willis
Between the two, Spencer is the much better athlete but Unger's greatest strength, his intelligence, will be best utilized at center. That should be his position of the future.
With the zone-blocking scheme increasing the need for a smart center to make the line calls, Unger should be the future at that position for the 'Hawks, perhaps as soon as 2010.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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