As the 90-man rosters are now set, the time for examining training camp battles is here. We will analyze the Pittsburgh Steelers roster and decipher who not only will make the team, but where they stand in terms of playing time for the 2016 season and beyond. There are always reasons to hold on to these lower-end players, as they can become crucial when other guys come and go via free agency. In this edition, we will look at the Pittsburgh Steelers center position. The Steelers will likely carry two centers this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers Center Depth Chart Projections
Maurkice Pouncey
Pouncey missed the entire 2015 season with a broken fibula. While the Steelers were still successful without him, the question now is how much better would they have been with their four time All-Pro center. Pouncey obviously slots right back into the starting lineup, and gives the offense an underrated extra punch this year. Pouncey is only 26, and is signed on for the next four seasons. While some Steelers fans are mad that he has missed 35 games in six NFL seasons, including Super Bowl XLV, and may want to the Steelers to move on, they are just going to have to be patient like the Steelers and hope that he can stay healthy and earn his contract, something he is fully capable of doing. He certainly will not be moved anytime soon.
Cody Wallace
Wallace was the replacement for Pouncey and he did a commendable job. There is no reason the Steelers should be looking to move on from a backup with so much experience with this team. Wallace is a fiesty player, and sometimes it is for the worst, but he has also played guard in the NFL and is the perfect veteran backup. He is 31, and a free agent next season, but given that Pouncey is young and locked up, the Steelers should be looking to extend him if all goes right this off-season. If Pouncey is hurt again they may be wanting to start to look around at young options, but at this moment they should be looking to ride with these two experienced centers.
Another case for B.J. Finney to make the roster is that he has some experience at center, and may be able to compete for a spot in that way. It probably would still affect Chris Hubbard before it would Wallace, so both centers should feel pretty safe. That all spells bad luck for Quinton Schooley, and undrafted free agent who will go to camp and compete, but probably knows he is just looking for competition and a shot on the practice squad this summer.
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