Might Raheem Want His Own Pouncey?
March 9th, 2011
Y0u’re nuts if you’re not enjoying the versatile multimedia coverage from NFL Draft guru Justin Pawlowski, aka The Commish of WDAE-AM 620. The Commish is ripping off all sorts of great stuff exclusively for JoeBucsFan.com — you’ll see him on JoeBucsFan TV soon — and he’s got his own great draft buzz page as well.
Below Pawlowski intelligently explores yet another plausible option for the Bucs in the first round.
By JUSTIN PAWLOWSKI
JoeBucsFan.com analyst
Mark Dominik recently listed his priorities to building a winning franchise. Priority No. 1 was a franchise quarterback, which the Bucs have. No. 2 was protecting that franchise quarterback. And he finished by saying you have to “attack the other team’s quarterback.”
Before Bucs fans move on to Dominik’s third priority, we should ask if No. 2 has been fully addressed.
The Bucs dealt with many issues along their offensive line last year and have many questions to answer this offseason. Davin Joseph and Jeremy Trueblood are destined for free agency. Center Jeff Faine has struggled with staying healthy and, although he’s been allegedly assured he’s coming back in 2011, is due $4.5 million in 2011 before seeing his salary jump to $6 million in 2012 and $7 million in 2013.
Ted Larsen and Derek Hardman played decent at the end of 2010, but can they be counted on in 2011?
Jeremy Zuttah was not great at guard at the beginning of 2010, but seemed at home when filling in for Faine at center. If Davin Joseph finds greener pastures in free agency, the Bucs would be forced to start Zuttah and Larsen at the guard positions and hope Faine can stay injury-free.
Only the Bucs and Mark Dominik know for sure whether they can afford to keep Joseph in a Bucs uniform. If they feel it’s going to be a struggle once free agency does get underway, they might be proactive in finding his replacement in the first round of the 2011 draft.
Sure, Mike Pouncey struggled with shotgun snaps at Florida in 2010, but his production as an overall lineman was very encouraging. He has been a very productive lineman from his days at Lakeland High School through his time with the Gators.
Pouncey has the ability to step in and compete right away, which is what the Bucs might need if Joseph leaves. Pouncey also has versatility, which is another attribute the Bucs like in their offensive linemen.
We should not forget the connection Raheem Morris has with Mike Tomlin, either. Mike Pouncey’s brother, Maurkice, had one of the best years any rookie offensive lineman has ever had in the NFL with the Steelers last year. There’s no doubt that Raheem has heard his buddy Tomlin talk about the luxury of having Maurkice on his lin. And raheem might view this as his opportunity to get his own Pouncey.
It’s all speculation, but isn’t that what the draft’s all about?
March 9th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
This is exactly what I’ve been saying. It’s all about Free, so why not lock up a potential future Pro Bowl center to work with Free the next ten years. Faine gets hurt too often and will IMO end up being cut or traded.
March 9th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
>>It’s all speculation, but isn’t that what the draft’s all about?<<
No. It's about looking into the camera and telling us exactly what will happen with courage and conviction. Then giving teams failing draft grades when they didn't do what you told them to do. Why Joe hates ESPN I'll never know.
March 9th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
If Kerrigan, Watt, Houston, and Aldon Smith are gone (assuming Bowers and Quinn are long gone) then I dont know of a better value @ 20 than our very own Pouncey.
March 9th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
So release a Faine who ALREADY is under contract and then draft Pouncy a guy who failed at hiking to the QB for first several games of the Florida Gators season? All while drafting him in round one, forgoing the defensive need at DE or LB?
Couldn’t be a dumber move this offseason, aside from signing spineless Tiki ‘wife abandoning while pregnant’ Barber.
Speaking of, what possess Tiki to come back at 36 unless he already had a promise from a team? Could he be that dumb? Or broke?
March 9th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Maurkice is a natural guard, wheas his brother is a natural center, Maurkice played guard next to his brother in 09, butwas moved over to center when his brother left Florida.
He will play guard in the NFL
Ill take Pouncey over Zuttah at guard anyday, and keep Zuttah as Faines center knowing he will get hurt.
Plus Zuttah is super valuable for his ability to play any interior position on the interior line.
Penn – Pouncey – Faine – Joseph – ?
March 9th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
BTW Joe, thats a picture of Mike Pouncey, not Maurkice (the one thats is in the draft this year)
I know its confusing, but common….
March 9th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
IF Davin Joseph signs then the OG and Center position are set and I do not see them taking an interior O-Lineman. They would have Joseph, Faine, Zuttah, Larsen, Hardman, and Carter.
They HAVE to sign Jospeh back to keep the depth and unity of the line which is coming along real nice.
I do see them drafting an OT in the mid to late rounds. They could use depth help there. Seems Lee and Penn are definately the starters. Much depends on if Trueblood will re-sign knowing he is probably a backup… and for what price.
IMHO – they need to resign these guys so they can focus on the defensive front 7.
March 9th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Travis: BTW, Mike Pouncey is the one in this year’s draft while Maurkice is on the Steelers…
March 9th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
I would not be surprised at all if they went OL.
But they had better do so only if the Top DEs are gone.
March 9th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Thank you Hunter. Travis if you’re going to try to correct people, it would help to have a clue what you are talking.
March 9th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Travis
What does that rapper “common” have to do with it anyways?
March 9th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Dogh, I did have them mixed up, my bad!
forgive me Joe!
March 9th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
OAR…LMAO…keep them coming!
March 9th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Pouncey…they are twins….there is a reason they did not come out together last year…it is not physical… it’s mental…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyv905Q2omU
March 9th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Rah doesnt think independently – he is profiting by being tomlim jr. If tomlin has a pouncey, you can bet that tomlin jr aka rah rah will want a tomlin. Unfortunately, rah rah aint no tomlin.
March 9th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
I meant “want a pouncey” not “want a tomlin” although rah does vacation with tomlin if you havent already heard, like one thousand times.
Do we have the only coach who includes as part if his credentials that he “vacations” and “talks on the phone with” an excellent head coach? I think so. Btw- did u know that rah rah and joe maddon have drinks together? Who cares? Why is this newsworthy?
March 9th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
I like this move and predicted that Dom would pick Big Mike a couple days ago. O linemen are always at a premium and this guy is the big guard the Bucs need. It just makes too much sense and is less risky than a DE in the first round. The Pats have the first pick in the 2’nd round where Dom could possibly trade up to and maybe pick up a Martez Wilson or the likes.
If Rah is Mike Tomlin Jr., I would consider that a compliment.
March 9th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
This kid is as good as his bro? News to me.
March 9th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Mike is not Maurkice and vice versa. I don’t get why everyone wants to simplify it to ‘well his bother did so great last year, clearly he will do just as well.’
Everyone is aware that Maurkice declared early and Mike did not right? You do think there was a reason for that right? Might it be because his brother was the better pro prospect and now he’s getting a bump in his ratings because of it? Mike struggled a good bit at center this past year, yet people here think he’s a future pro bowl center…awesome.
For those that follow more than football I’ll give you a NBA comparison. Brook and Robin Lopez. Tell me if you see a difference in those twins games.
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/brook_lopez/index.html
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/robin_lopez/index.html
March 9th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
I actually predicted that the Bucs might go with an Olineman several months ago, but this is one move I’m against. Mike might turn out to be good, but I don’t think he’s worth a round 1 pick to find out.
Better, his bump will get someone else to take him so that the guy we need drops closer to us.
March 9th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Wait, so we’re not going to sign a 27 year old proven starter because he’s too expensive and we’re going to replace him with an unproven rookie who’ll probably cost twice as much? Sorry, don’t buy it.
Let’s stick with that whole building from within thing, and keep our own good players.
March 10th, 2011 at 12:26 am
I think Mike wants to play with his brother in Pittsburgh and that they both would go to great lengths to make that happen. As usual for me and the Bucs’ draft, I am absolutely clueless, a term usually reserved for Mr T-2.2.
March 10th, 2011 at 4:08 am
Thomas 2.2,
You are a joke. Only a person with true sh!t for brains would constantly spit the same stupid nonsense over and over, as if anyone on this site takes you serious. Get a life bro!
March 10th, 2011 at 9:58 am
@Tom…You may be right if we are just talking about fans, but the pro scouts are rating him high and they are fooled by a family name…otherwise Grimm would have been a fisrt rounder. Also, many say he will be an OG in the NFL instead of a center. UF also had a some serious changes in their personel, which may have caused his early struggles. Maybe he felt another year of college would help him get that much better, you do not know what his motivations were.
March 10th, 2011 at 10:45 am
That should have said they are not fooled by a family name…