Is Mike Pouncey a center or guard in the NFL?

by mlmintampa on Mar 1, 2011 12:51 AM EST in Florida Football

At the NFL Combine, Mike Pouncey did enough to prove he is one of the most talented linemen in the 2011 NFL Draft. While he did not play in the Senior Bowl or compete in the bench press at the combine, his times in the 40-yard dash and drills confirmed that he should be the first interior lineman off the board.

The question now for Pouncey is if he wants to play center or is he willing to play guard and hope to become a center in the future?

It is clear watching Pouncey that he has legs and feet that would immediately separate him from most interior linemen in the NFL. With his quick feet, Pouncey's strength was always pulling into the hole to and targeting a linebacker or defensive back at full speed. Like Maurkice Pouncey, Mike has shown a skill level that takes years to develop.

However, Pouncey will be hurt by his own struggles in 2010 and the Gators' struggles. When Pouncey was on his game last season, he looked like an All-American. The bad snaps and inability to blow out big defensive linemen hurt probably more than his good play helped.

If Pouncey is drafted early, I think it is much more likely to be as a center. Even in the new NFL CBA, first round draft picks will still be paid, but rarely is a significant investment made on a guard. Unless, a team drafts Pouncey to groom him as a center by starting him as a young guard. It seems the only team that would draft Pouncey to be exclusively a guard would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. As much as we want to see the Pounceys play together, it is not likely to happen.

Pouncey will have plenty of suitors, which means he can look for a situation that fits him and try to seer towards that team.

Watch NFL Scouting Combine Feb 24 - Mar 1

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Comments

he's a guard

Pittsburgh needs him

Mathew 19:26 "With God, all things are possible"

by southman on Feb 28, 2011 7:24 AM EST reply actions

I think he goes to the Steelers, and they'd have to go first round to get him

They’re too far back in the draft order to wait to the end of the second, they love his brother (Easily their best O lineman), and while they’d play him at guard, I don’t imagine they’d have any problems designating him the second string center…

So really, the question becomes: does he go that late in the first? There are plenty of other teams with horrible lines that have seen what his brother has done for the Steelers…

To mangle “The Social Network”: “I’m 6’5”, 315 pounds, and there are two of me!"

by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Feb 28, 2011 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Gotta agree with the other two fellers that have already posted...

Steelers get a second Pouncey…

And allow me to add…

I think one of the reasons that Mike stayed while Maurk left was the hope that they could pull off being able to wind up on the same team at the next level…

Undoubtedly, Mike will be using the same agent which simply further cements what the plan was…

I don’t think that Mike anticipated having such a tough time adjusting to center and his average to below average play there this season certainly shows that the right Pouncey jumped to the next level early…

You may not like what I have to say...but somebody has to say it...

by gatorhippy on Feb 28, 2011 3:56 PM EST reply actions