NFL Draft: Steelers pounce on Pouncey
-
Steelers first-round draft pick Maurkice Pouncey with head coach Mike Tomlin and team president Art Rooney II at an introductory press conference. -
Florida center Maurkice Pouncey has a background as an offensive guard, too.
Share with others:
The Steelers had 10 minutes to make their choice in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night, yet wasted little time in taking center Maurkice Pouncey of Florida.
They did not even give other teams time to pitch them a trade.
"He was just that good," director of football operations Kevin Colbert explained simply, time after time.
Pouncey, 6 feet 5, 305 pounds, is the first center drafted by the Steelers in the first round since World War II. And starting today, he will be a guard.
The Steelers plan to start out Pouncey, 20, at guard, where he started as a freshman at Florida before switching to center the past two years.
Coach Mike Tomlin explained that starting him out at guard, where the Steelers have had four different starters since the 2008 training camp, will ease his learning curve in the NFL.
"As a young guy coming in, it's probably easier coming in at guard," Tomlin said. "The guard is one who receives information rather than gives it. Hopefully, that eases his workload."
It would be the same path Dermontti Dawson followed with the Steelers.
He played right guard as a rookie in 1988, then switched to center in 1989 after Mike Webster retired. Dawson remained their starter for 12 years, made seven Pro Bowls and came close to joining Webster in the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year when he reached the final 10 candidates.
Justin Hartwig, 32, will enter his third season as the Steelers' starting center, but there is no strong candidate to start at right guard. Although someone thinks there is.
"That's my plan," said Pouncey, a starter in 39 games in his three seasons at Florida
"Man, it's so great," in his first interview after the Steelers drafted him.
"I'm so happy to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. I'm so happy they picked me. I just like the Steelers so much."
He said he came upon those feelings only recently, not growing up a Steelers fan but becoming one after spending time talking with them.
He said he is aware of the Steelers' long, distinguished history at center, where Webster, Dawson and Jeff Hartings handled the position for three decades and combined for 18 Pro Bowls.
First Published April 23, 2010 12:01 am
