Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

[hawaiiansteel]

Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers



Mike and Maurkice Pouncey

Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011
By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff


PITTSBURGH - Never before have two brothers played together for the Steelers. But that could change soon.

Maurkice Pouncey was nothing short of sensational this past season. So why not find a way to get Mike Pouncey on the team?

The Steelers could double their pleasure on the offensive line for years to come with Pouncey and Pouncey. But the possibility of the identical twins playing for the Steelers might be a long shot.

For starters, Mike Pouncey probably won't be available when it's the Steelers' turn to make their first-round pick. He's one of the highest-rated interior linemen in the draft, and he might not last until the Steelers choose at No. 31.

Certainly, other teams in the league needing a force inside have seen what Maurkice did as a rookie. So why not take Mike if he's available?

Plus, maybe the Steelers will be so worried about their precarious situation at cornerback that they may go that route.

Still, the Steelers do have issues on the O-line, including right guard. In the last three seasons, the Steelers have started five different players there, including three this season (Trai Essex, Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster).

That problem could be solved if the Steelers take Mike Pouncey. He played center at the University of Florida this past season. But in the previous two years, he started at right guard next to Maurkice, who centered for the Gators.

Since the Steelers chose Maurkice Pouncey with the 19th pick in 2010, they have loved everything about him. They rave about his athleticism, intelligence and the way he plays the game. They rave about his character and his willingness to learn. He's a terrific football player and a good guy to boot.

Maurkice wants to be reunited with his brother. Likewise for Mike Pouncey.

It's hard to imagine that if Mike Pouncey's name is still on the draft board when the Steelers make their first-round pick that coach Mike Tomlin and director of football operations Kevin Colbert would pass on him.

But Pouncey and Pouncey surely has a nice ring to it. Maybe the Steelers will trade up to get him.

[url="http://www.timesonline.com/sports/steelers/double-dose-of-pouncey-would-help-steelers/article_e2c40ce0-372a-11e0-af4e-0017a4a78c22.html"]http://www.timesonline.com/sports/steel ... 78c22.html[/url]

[Crash]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Starks/Pouncey/Legursky/Pouncey/Adams

That combination, would win the AFC.

[msp26505]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

I suspect that the fact that we keep hearing and reading about this means that there is ZERO chance that Mike will be available at #31.

The Steelers scouting department is one of the best and most widely-respected in the NFL. If other teams believe that the Steelers are truly interested, they will jump at the opportunity to draft Pouncey #2 not only because Mike is a good player, but also because it would foil the Steelers plans.

Have the Steelers indicated interest? Because if so, I believe it would be a smokescreen. They have better poker faces than that.

[aggiebones]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Exactly. We are not desperate for G like other positions. Pouncey is not an interest for us. Its a story, nothing more. And pray he's gone by our pick so we can avoid the awkwardness of passing on him.

[phillyesq]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Exactly. We are not desperate for G like other positions. Pouncey is not an interest for us. Its a story, nothing more. And pray he's gone by our pick so we can avoid the awkwardness of passing on him.

If Pouncey was available at 31 and on top of the Steelers board, they'd take him, no question. The Steelers draft for talent, not need, and its served them well.

While I'd love to see the Steelers focus on a DB, if they end up with two brothers who can play together at an all pro level for the next decade, I'm not going to gripe.

[birtikidis]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

A handful of poor showings by our secondary and all of a sudden Corner is our most dire need. don't take into the fact that we have the #1 defense in the NFL and teams CAN'T run against us so ALL they can do is throw the ball. I don't know the last time a team was #1 across the board. Has it even happened?
yet, we have one of the worst red zone offenses, an inability to consistently run the ball (especially on short yardage situations) and the most sacked qb in the NFL over the last five years and people want to talk like our O-Line isn't our biggest problem.
Arians apologists say that our offense would be great with a better o-line
ben apologists say that our offense and our qb would be the best in the NFL if we had a better O-Line
Mendenhall apologists say that our RB would be a top rb in the NFL if it weren't for a ****ty o-line.
I've never heard anyone make excuses for our offensive line.. they're bad. they need upgraded. It's a much more dire situation the Corner.

[SteelBucks]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Address CB in free agency and draft Pouncey sounds like a solid plan to me. Unfortunately they would probably need to move up to get him.

[birtikidis]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Address CB in free agency and draft Pouncey sounds like a solid plan to me. Unfortunately they would probably need to move up to get him.

I think we can get a decent young guy in the 2nd. I haven't given up on our rookie from last year or the 2nd year guy (Butler and Lewis). Maybe getting rid of Horton will help their development.

[D Rock]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Maybe Kemo can be used as trade bait to move up in the first.


A team wants a Guard and is picking somewhere in the 20-24 range. Mike Pouncey is available and the Steelers call and offer a known commodity and a multiple year starting OG as well as the 31st pick. Sounds reasonable to me.


The Steelers know they can plug in Legursky and Foster as the guards to start the year if Mike isn't ready. I don't think losing Kemo, especially to replace him with a more talented yet unknown player, would be an issue.

[birtikidis]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Maybe Kemo can be used as trade bait to move up in the first.


A team wants a Guard and is picking somewhere in the 20-24 range. Mike Pouncey is available and the Steelers call and offer a known commodity and a multiple year starting OG as well as the 31st pick. Sounds reasonable to me.


The Steelers know they can plug in Legursky and Foster as the guards to start the year if Mike isn't ready. I don't think losing Kemo, especially to replace him with a more talented yet unknown player, would be an issue.

Sorry D, I think that's a bad idea. You're just taking the problem and putting a band aid on it. Here's what I think is the problem: Kemo is playing out of position, our RG is playing out of position.
now. focus on the solution, not the problem.
Move KEMO to RG where he will not be out of position (I personally believe that Kemo cannot handle playing space the way a LG has to-- IE when the LT has to block a good outside speed rusher such as Suggs, but he could play well in limited space at RG where the RT doesn't have to open up as often)
Draft Pouncey to play LG where he will not be out of position
Move Foster to back up tackle where he can be the top guy to back up both tackles.
let Legursky be the top back up to both guards and center.
we can let Colon walk... i don't know if he'll ever be the same anyway.

[birtikidis]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

and IMO drafting a corner who is not a top LOCK down guy, and I mean lock down, is not going to shore up the weakness in our secondary. I don't see a guy with that ability worth it at 1.31 but, i can see some value in the 2nd

[D Rock]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

Maybe Kemo can be used as trade bait to move up in the first.


A team wants a Guard and is picking somewhere in the 20-24 range. Mike Pouncey is available and the Steelers call and offer a known commodity and a multiple year starting OG as well as the 31st pick. Sounds reasonable to me.


The Steelers know they can plug in Legursky and Foster as the guards to start the year if Mike isn't ready. I don't think losing Kemo, especially to replace him with a more talented yet unknown player, would be an issue.

Sorry D, I think that's a bad idea. You're just taking the problem and putting a band aid on it. Here's what I think is the problem: Kemo is playing out of position, our RG is playing out of position.
now. focus on the solution, not the problem.
Move KEMO to RG where he will not be out of position (I personally believe that Kemo cannot handle playing space the way a LG has to-- IE when the LT has to block a good outside speed rusher such as Suggs, but he could play well in limited space at RG where the RT doesn't have to open up as often)
Draft Pouncey to play LG where he will not be out of position
Move Foster to back up tackle where he can be the top guy to back up both tackles.
let Legursky be the top back up to both guards and center.
we can let Colon walk... i don't know if he'll ever be the same anyway.

I don't know nearly enough about line play to get into all that. That sure seems like moving a lot of people around though. If they are all that out of position, then why are they playing those spots in the first place?

Wouldn't the FO have taken care of things a bit more if it was really that far off?

[birtikidis]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

[quote=D Rock]

Maybe Kemo can be used as trade bait to move up in the first.


A team wants a Guard and is picking somewhere in the 20-24 range. Mike Pouncey is available and the Steelers call and offer a known commodity and a multiple year starting OG as well as the 31st pick. Sounds reasonable to me.


The Steelers know they can plug in Legursky and Foster as the guards to start the year if Mike isn't ready. I don't think losing Kemo, especially to replace him with a more talented yet unknown player, would be an issue.

Sorry D, I think that's a bad idea. You're just taking the problem and putting a band aid on it. Here's what I think is the problem: Kemo is playing out of position, our RG is playing out of position.
now. focus on the solution, not the problem.
Move KEMO to RG where he will not be out of position (I personally believe that Kemo cannot handle playing space the way a LG has to-- IE when the LT has to block a good outside speed rusher such as Suggs, but he could play well in limited space at RG where the RT doesn't have to open up as often)
Draft Pouncey to play LG where he will not be out of position
Move Foster to back up tackle where he can be the top guy to back up both tackles.
let Legursky be the top back up to both guards and center.
we can let Colon walk... i don't know if he'll ever be the same anyway.

I don't know nearly enough about line play to get into all that. That sure seems like moving a lot of people around though. If they are all that out of position, then why are they playing those spots in the first place?

Wouldn't the FO have taken care of things a bit more if it was really that far off?[/quote:2h0nzsgg]
D, there is now way they could have foreseen both Max and Willie getting hurt. If they don't get hurt, you really only have ONE guy being moved. also, our line would be Max, Mike, Mo, Kemo and flo... so you'd really only be moving 2 guys.

[birtikidis]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

also, Urbik and any of our other guards didn't pan out.
but think about it...
Foster was a tackle...
Legs was a center
Essex was a tackle
Hills is a tackle
Scott is a tackle
Scott is a tackle
etc etc
all we have guard wise on the team right now is Kemo.

[SteelCrazy]

Re: Double dose of Pouncey would help Steelers

The fact is Mike will not be there at 31 and if he is, he would have to be the best player available, in the Steelers eyes, before they'd take him. We have a winning formula when it comes to drafting and as much as we like to talk a big game in here, it doesnt change the fact the Steelers will draft whom they deem the best available or we wont pick him.