Getting Centered

Now that the ritual unloading of vehicles is over, Steelers training camp is in full swing. In today's Post-Gazette, Ed Bouchette offers encouraging words about the first impressions made by Maurkice Pouncey, the first-round draft pick (18th overall) from the University of Florida.

According to Bouchette, who has seen it all and is rarely quick to praise, Pouncey already has evoked comparisons to former Steeler great Dermontti Dawson, and that is no faint praise indeed ...

"... it became quickly evident that Pouncey was the most talented center in camp after his first two practices Saturday, which went well.

"... people in the organization were talking about how they had not seen this kind of play by a center against nose tackles since Dermontti Dawson retired a decade ago. Pouncey, who lined up at center and right guard in the two Saturday practices at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, moves nose tackles back. He gets low, gets leverage and away they go as if on roller skates. His feet move like no center since Dawson."

The Steelers have sorely missed that sort of talent, mobility and power at the center position the past few years. It would be nice, to say the least, to see Pouncey continue the tradition of great Steelers centers from Ray Mansfield to Mike Webster and Dermontti Dawson.

What a relief that would be.