Oregon Football Position Preview: Offensive Line

Up Next: Linebackers Preview

Max Unger is the Ducks offensive line leader and 25-game starter also reigns as the Ducks’ most versatile interior standout. Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - The biggest question heading into last spring was the replacement for three-year starting center and first-team all-league pick Enoka Lucas.

Junior Jeff Kendall emerged as the leading candidate but much won’t be sorted out until it is determined where two-year starting left offensive tackle Max Unger will line up.

The second-team all-Pac-10 Conference honoree and Oregon’s best offensive lineman could play any one of five positions along the interior line.

The 25-game starter will be flanked by senior guard Josh Tschirgi, who has accumulated 22 notches in the starting lineup.

From there, the program’s best five offensive linemen will sort themselves out in the fall.

Senior Geoff Schwartz has started 23 games over the course of the last two seasons, junior Mark Lewis owns the versatility to play on a number of different fronts, junior holdovers Jon Teague and Jacob Hucko have worked their way up the depth chart since this time last year, and senior Pat So'oalo could be ready to make his presence felt.

Most Experienced

Despite the loss of two starters from last year’s offensive line, that area remains as the one that boasts of the most experience heading into the fall.

Junior Max Unger (as well as junior rover Patrick Chung) both have started all 25 games in which the Ducks have played the past two years when they were redshirt freshmen.

But next in line are senior offensive linemen Geoff Schwartz and Josh Tschirgi, who have been in the starting lineup for 23 and 22 games, respectively.

Protecting the Quarterback

Oregon’s 16 quarterback sacks allowed a year ago was good enough to rank second in the Pac-10 as well as tied for 12th in the country.

That’s a far cry from the 41 QB sacks the Ducks allowed in 2004. In the 12 seasons under Mike Bellotti’s watch, Oregon has ranked among the conference’s top three finishers in fewest sacks allowed on seven occasions, including leading the league five times.

Returning Honoree

Max Unger

Pac-10 Conference 2nd team

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