The Oregon offense has exceeded most expectations to this point, amassing an average of 335 yards per game to lead the Pacific-10 Conference and rank third in the nation in that category. The Ducks’ two 300-plus yard performances in their first two games (339 against Houston and 331 at Michigan) match their total for 300-plus performances in the entire 2006 season.
Clearing the way for the Oregon backfield is an offensive line that boasts both size and experience. At the head of this unit stands senior right tackle Geoff Schwartz.
While junior center Max Unger has started more games (25 at left tackle, two at center) than Schwartz (25 total), Schwartz leads the line by virtue of his intelligence in understanding blocking schemes and his work ethic on and off the field.
“He’s probably one of the smartest football players I’ve ever met. As far as having the concept of the plays and being able to execute them physically he’s probably one of the best,” said Unger. “It’s hard to put a premium on having someone who has started that many games. He didn’t redshirt so he’s been through a couple of offenses now and knows a lot about football.”
Schwartz considers himself a leader by example and not the kind that barks at his linemates in practice or gives fiery speeches to rile them up before games.
“I’m not really a rah-rah type of guy. I just try and work hard and have people follow that,” he said.
Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood agreed with Schwartz’s assessment. “Is he a real vociferous kind of leader? Probably not, but by his actions and his demeanor I think yes, he is a leader for us,” he said. “He’s got a good presence within the group. We get a lot of kidding and everything and Geoff is a good talker so the guys rib him and all that but I think they respect what he does by his actions.”
Greatwood, whose coaching career has featured more than 20 years as a line coach at Oregon along with stints at USC, Maryland, and with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, said that Schwartz is the kind of guy that all coaches love.
“He’s really been a joy to coach. He’s very dedicated, very motivated, and very prideful in what he does,” said Greatwood. “I think he’s the kind of guy that can look at himself and see the flaws in his game and take the coaching and work hard to try to improve. As a coach you like that kind of guy that’s always working to get better.”
Schwartz and Unger both said that the offensive line is traditionally one of the tightest groups on the team, and this year’s group is no exception.
“We all hang out and we all have a great time. We just get along well, we communicate well, and we just go out and have fun every day,” said Schwartz. “That’s basically what this line is all about is having fun, being together, and playing as one.”
Unger said that along with this sense of unity comes a motivation for all of the linemen to help make sure Schwartz has a successful senior campaign.
“Schwartz was a two-year starter coming in to his senior year, and he didn’t redshirt so he’s really got to ball out this year,” he said. “And we’ve got his back in everything he does.”
Given his 6-foot-7-inch, 337-pound frame, Schwartz definitely has the size to play on Sundays. A successful senior year might solidify his NFL Draft status.
But Schwartz knows that if he focuses too far down the road he could easily jeopardize his dream of playing at the next level.
“I can’t think about that now. I’ve got to take care of my business now and everything else will fall into place,” he said. “You can’t think about the future because there could be no future. I just worry about the next day and the next game and if I play well in games then everything will work itself out.”
As for his expectations for the season, Schwartz believes that the sky is the limit for this year’s squad.
“I just think that we have so much potential to do whatever we want, we just have to take it one game at a time,” he said. “We could easily win every game on our schedule if we do that and play well.”