Maurkice Pouncey doesn’t want to miss a rep during the offseason, making up for all the time missed last year.
“I’m full-go. I’m not missing anything. I’m just ready to come out here and take each day at a time…I’m 26 years-old. I’m doing everything. I don’t need time off. I’m (mad) that I missed a lot, so I’m ready to go,” he told Chris Bradford two weeks ago.
But come camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers are smartly going to limit him.
Per Ray Fittipaldo, Mike Munchak said he and Mike Tomlin will determine the best snap count for him to go on in training camp.
The Steelers often put veteran players on an “every other day basis,” as was the case with Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth last year, so maybe Pouncey gets the same treatment. But no matter how the team decides to go about it, it’s certain he will not participate in every practice. You can also surmise his preseason game reps could be even more limited than what he would typically receive.
Pouncey broke his fibula in last year’s preseason contest against the Green Bay Packers. An infection set in and Pouncey said he had to have “multiple” – more than two – surgeries to fully repair the problems. He has been a full-go during this year’s OTA session, a promising sign.
When he is sidelined, Cody Wallace will again step in as the first team center. It’s unclear who will move up to second team. Chris Hubbard and B.J. Finney are the most logical candidates while UDFA Quinton Schooley was NC State’s center. The Hubbard/Finney battle figures to be the top one of training camp.
For Pouncey, the goal is just to make it out of training camp healthy. Tomlin and company are being wise not to overly exert him, even if Pouncey probably disagrees with their assessment.
