Daily NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
by Ed Valentine on Mar 19, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
in 2010 NFL Draft
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To be successful at anything you sometimes have to think outside the box. If our New York Giants were to select the subject of today's Daily NFL Draft Prospect Profile, I would think it would undoubtedly qualify as an 'outside the box' type move.
Today's subject? Florida center Maurkice Pouncey.
Nearly every report you read about Pouncey says "best center prospect in the draft" or "best center prospect to come along in years."
Maybe center is not the biggest need for the Giants, but when a variety of scouts say those types of things about a player you have to notice. So, let's take a closer look.
Maurkice Pouncey Scouting Reports
From Consensus Draft Services.
Pouncey is probably the most complete center to come out for the last few years. Good in both the run and pass games. ... Does a good job of calling shifts on the line and rarely has an errant snap. ... Has very little experience of snapping to a QB under center since UF ran an exclusively shotgun offense. That should only be a minor issue though.
From SB Nation's Mocking The Draft.
Even though Florida ran a true spread offense, Pouncey showed he can block on power and finesse plays. ... Pouncey moves really well on his feet and shows good agility in pass protection. ... Shows great hand placement in run blocking.
Pouncey is far and away the best center prospect in this year's draft. He started 39 games in three seasons for Florida, playing in 41 total. For his efforts, he was named an All-American and the winner of the Rimington Award in 2009.
Pouncey's best asset is his quickness and athleticism. He gets out of his stance smoothly and sets up nicely. A few tweaks here or there and Pouncey should be solid 10-year starter in the NFL.
From the National Football Post.
A massive (6-foot-5, 318 pounds) center prospect who showcases impressive bend and initial quickness off the snap for his size, Pouncey does a great job of keeping his base low and gaining initial leverage on contact. He possesses a powerful lower body and does a great job of getting his hands inside opposing defenders and driving them off the ball. He's a gifted in-line run blocker and has the ability to consistently push at the point of attack. Pouncey snaps and steps quickly in the pass game and has the fluidity and balance to slide laterally in space and mirror opposing linemen in pass protection. He's fluid for his size with the anchor strength to sit into his stance and keep the pocket clean. One of the best centers to come along in years, Pouncey's combination of size, power and athleticism will likely make him one of the top players at his position in the NFL for years to come.
Why Pouncey fits with the Giants
Because when a multitude of scouts agree that a guy is the best available player at his position that makes him someone you have to think about. And Shaun O'Hara, who will be 34 this season, won't play forever. We have talked a great deal about the need to think about the future of the offensive line. So, why not snag the replacement for the oldest player on that line?
Why the Giants should pass
Because Pouncey will likely come off the board no later than the second round. You could argue that the Giants have too many other holes to fill for 2010 to grab a guy who seems unlikely to have a place to play for a couple of years.
(E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com. Follow Big Blue View on Twitter.)
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Excellent would love him!!! but.........
we have other business to handle and he will be gone by the time we would have taken care of our pressing needs like DT or MLB but i do love the kid and i like his brother as well.
But dont tell em i told you that !!!!!
Can he play G?
If he is the C/G backup now
and the replacement for O’Hara later
then yes, second round
if he is a pure center with no versatility – then no
Yes very versatille big man, probably can play all across the line
But dont tell em i told you that !!!!!
Best Center Prospect to come along in years?
Alex Mack was an instant starter and a stud at center just last year. I seem to remember his hype was something like “top 2 or 3 of his generation.” What does that mean for Maurkice? HOF!!! NOW!!!!
I hate how these scouts and analysts keep comparing these guys to the best of all time. Suh is suddenly Reggie White and Dez Bryant is Randy Moss…? How about useful, realistic comparisons?
PS: I think any good center can play guard, but not all guards can play center. Pouncey would play guard for us unless O’Hara gets injured.
I agree
some GOAT comaparisons are crazy but i think alot of them are comparing the style of play not necessarily saying they will be that good.
But dont tell em i told you that !!!!!
I would take him in the 2nd round
He might be the BPA at #46. My preference would probably be to pass and pick up Matt Tennant in a later round. But it wouldnt be a bad pick. Much better C/G option than Koets or Boothe. And eventual replacement for O’Hara.
I'd like to see the Giants get him, but...
I think he’s one of those guys you’re not going to reach for with the #15 pick and he’s good enough that he probably won’t make it to the Giants in round #2. If he’s there in the second though, he should be a consideration.
I'd say the Eagles too if no pass rusher is there
He might not be fat enough for Andy Ried tho….(Pouncey’s slimmed down to about 305)
Master of the squeegee
by FreeBradshaw on Mar 19, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah he likes humoungus OL
Cowboys might snatch him too if Taylor mays is gone
But dont tell em i told you that !!!!!
Too bad, it's a cloudy day....
so he’ll have to try again. He can start now, as by the time he finishes the second run, it probably won’t be.
It might work if
the Giants don’t like what’s available at #15 and manage to trade down into the 20s and get extra picks. With so many teams going 3-4, I like the idea of a center big enough to deal with the nose tackles. If he can play guard until O’Hara retires, so much the better. Yes, it is a pick for the future rather than the present, but almost any pick will be, given that rookies don’t usually contribute very much. The extra picks could be used for the more obvious problem areas.
Mickey C
Probably inbetween our picks
Pouncey is likely to go around the end of the first. I think the colts would be a likely landing spot with Saturday getting on in years. I would assume the Giants top brass would see it as a reach to go center at #15. However, if he somehow slides to the #46 I basically see him as this years Will Beatty. A guy that should have been gone sooner but somehow slipped through and dumped into your lap. At that point it is a talent + value + future need combination that you just can’t pass up even though he may not fill the biggest ‘right now’ need. The great thing about Pouncey, is he actually could be a right now addition as well though. He would compete for the starting LG postion day one, and could most likely win it. If Beatty is ready to take on LT, that frees Diehl to move to RT. We’d then have one very solid line. We look for a new guard in the future when Pouncey takes over at center. I expect there might be another player available at 15 that I want more (Weatherspoon), but I can’t think of anyone I can project as being available at 46 that I’d rather have than Pouncey if he slides. If Puncey doesn’t slide I’d like to see a pick like Matt Tennant in the 4th or maybe a flyer on a guy like Kevin Mathews in the 6th or 7th.
This guy is an awesome athlete.I'd like to see us get him...
"When I was a boy and had no sense I got my pecker stuck in an electric fence..Well it curled my hair and tickled my balls, and made me shit in my overalls"
I'd be happy with this pick in the 2nd round
if a LB was taken in the first.
Not...
In the first two rounds for the Giants, they can pick up a Tennant, later rounds of the draft.
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