Drafting Logan Jones in the 2nd round was met with mixed reviews by experts at the time. Many felt the Iowa center was more of a 3rd round prospect, largely because of his short arms and advanced age (25). The Chicago Bears didn’t see it that way. Head coach Ben Johnson identified a smart, unselfish, and polished player with glittering character. His no-quit style of play and intangibles as a leader would fit perfectly in this offense. However, the NFL’s biggest concern is allowing Jones to fall into Dan Roushar’s hands.
Chicago’s offensive line coach is one of the best in the business. While he may coach all five positions, center might be his best. Three different players have gone on to make the Pro Bowl under his guidance. Drew Dalman is one. Erik McCoy is another. Yet the name that should truly interest Bears fans is Max Unger. New Orleans traded for the veteran center in 2015, where he became a captain and made the Pro Bowl in 2018.
Not only did Drew Brees have arguably the best season of his career that season, but the Saints were also 7th in rushing. Unger was a driving force behind it all.
Logan Jones mirrors Unger in several ways.
Coming out of Oregon in 2009, Unger was considered too light for the NFL and had shorter-than-average arms. Teams worried about his overall lack of power. Still, they noted he was a gifted athlete with great instincts who demonstrated awareness and technique in pass protection. The clip above shows it. He gets a quick first punch on the defensive tackle, stalling his momentum, and constantly moves his feet to maintain balance. Then, on the next play, he keeps his hands in front of him and maintains proper leverage, allowing Brees to go for the touchdown.
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If you watch Logan Jones in college, he exhibits similar qualities. Knowing he can’t swallow defenders with size or brute force them with power, he utilizes quick hands, quick feet, and tenacity to stay in front of them. So many reps like this are textbook.
For all the talk about Dalman being the comparison for Jones, the truth is his playing style mirrors Unger. He was a better pass protector than Dalman. If this is the type of center Roushar now has, then the Bears’ offensive line has a chance to be even better than it was last year. Likely over a longer period of time, too.
Unger’s importance was never fully appreciated.
Trading him was one of the worst mistakes the Seattle franchise ever made. They flipped him to the Saints in 2015, believing they could replace him while getting Jimmy Graham. They’d just gone to two Super Bowls, winning one of them with him in the middle. After he left, they never even made it back to the NFC Championship, and their running game fell apart as well. Meanwhile, the Saints’ offense went from pass-happy to one of the most well-balanced in the NFL. That 2018 team was probably the best one they had since the Super Bowl season in 2009 and should’ve reached the Super Bowl.
Unger retired the following season, and again with him went their balance. That is what Logan Jones potentially represents for the Bears. He is a well-rounded player who can impact the run and passing games. His leadership and character were considered elite even before getting into the league. Putting Roushar in charge of him is the final cherry on the sundae. He saw firsthand what Unger brought to the table. He’ll almost certainly use the same plan for Jones.
