Max Unger, … recorded just 22 reps. USC place kicker David Buehler did 25 reps and is about 70 pounds lighter.

I’ve seen Unger on a number of mock drafts for us. Please god no. He looks a lot like the mediocre linemen we already have, except less athletic. If we take Unger over Mack I will shoot myself.

I would hope we’d take a DL in the 2nd round. We’re getting too old in that area.

If Mack is around he’s a no brainer, but there’s a good possibility that the Fins or Titans might draft him. If Duke Robinson is gone by then as well I would say it’s quite possible that we go CB in the first round.

Unger might not put up big numbers on the bench, but that probably isn’t that important compared to the kind of function strength he’s displayed on the field. Still, i’m suspicious of any lineman that works out of the spread.

one thing we’ve learned from the kevin colbert era is that if they really like a guy they’ll get him whether his is a position of immediate need or not. Mendenhall last year is an example, as was the pick of woodley (after taking timmons in the first round) two years ago. Dennis Dixon might even fit that description. Yes, they probably needed an o or d lineman more in that spot, but they saw something in dixon they thought was special. we may see something similar at the top of this draft. i don’t know who the big name corners are, but if there’s a guy there at 32 who the steelers have higher up on their own board, a guy they think is special, it shouldn’t be surprising if they take him. they seem to have enough confidence in their drafting ability that they feel they have the whole draft to address their line needs, not just round 1.

they rarely put their hands in the dirt. i know we were talking about a center but the scheme is all reach blocking, pulling uncovered linemen, some double-and-chip techniques. they’re always in two-point stances and when they pass protect everyone’s in the shotgun and the ball comes out so quick. it’s not like the pro scheme at all. pro coaches want to see their hands in the dirt and how they drive block, how they set up against an outside speed rusher, etc… the spread scheme doesn’t train linemen for the power game of the pros.

what will be interesting is this: will pro coaches continue to seek players who fit into their so-called “pro” schemes or will they assimilate more of the spread scheme to adapt to the incoming talent?

Every player in a spread offense has to make a big adjustment to the NFL. Unger is interesting more because of his versatility than his strength at any one position. He’s obviously pretty smart and athletic and will get stronger. The combine results and post-season were positive for Texas Tech spread offense guard Luis Vasquez (6-5, 333). Here is a note about him from NFL Draft Scout: “EAST-WEST SHRINE STANDOUT: OG Louis Vasquez, Texas Tech: When you talk about line play in coach Mike Leach’s Texas Tech offense, people think of wide splits and pass protection. But Vasquez is not a finesse player by any stretch of the imagination. He proved to scouts that he can fire off the ball from a three-point stance (which he didn’t do much in Tech’s pass- and draw-happy offense) and dominate tackles in the power running game.” … At the combine he blew away everyone in strength testing (for what that is worth). He is also reputedly very slow and rated no better than a mid-round draft pick, but getting guys from different systems into the same evaluation facility is a useful aspect of the combine.