The Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with plenty of depth chart issues in the past two seasons. Last year, it was with the running backs, and the year before it was the cornerbacks. However, another position that the Steelers have experience issues on the depth chart with is the center position.
Despite being one of the best center in the league when healthy, Maurkice Pouncey hasn’t been able to stay healthy in the past couple of years. During the 2013 season, Pouncey started at center in the first game against the Tennessee Titans, but then left the game with a right knee injury. He was soon placed on the Injured Reserve List.
In 2014, Pouncey came back and had a strong season. He started all 16 games and made the start against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wildcard game. When the 2015 season rolled around, Pouncey once again fell to injury. He was placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured; Designated For Return List on Sept. 6, 2015.
Now would be a great time for the Steelers to find a reliable center. The team has three players – Cody Wallace, Chris Hubbard and B.J. Finney – on their roster who are listed as centers/guards. However, besides Pouncey, there is no player listed as solely a center.
That’s where the NFL Draft comes in. The Steelers are more than likely going to use their top picks to pick out some defensive players. However, when it comes to their later picks, the Steelers could always use those for offensive needs.
Max Tuerk, from the University of Southern California, is a big, 6-foot 5-inch center. Last season, he did suffer a knee injury, but started every game before that for the Trojans. He is lighter than the average offensive lineman, as Tuerk is only 298 pounds. NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein said that Tuerk was athletic, but undersized.
“(He is an) Athletic, but undersized center who gives tremendous pound-for-pound effort on every rep,” Zierlein said. “Tuerk uses hand strength and plus balance and body control to make up for a lack of power, but his knee injury and below average mass for the position will certainly scare some teams away. Tuerk can handle himself in any scheme but is a fit for primarily zone scheme rushing attacks who don’t face many 3-4 fronts within their division.”
Tuerk would be a steady replacement for Pouncey, if he were to go down with injury. Tuerk can also play other positions, but has listed himself as a center only due to his experience and knowledge at the position.
The Steelers could always pick up Tuerk in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, which occurs April 28-30. Drafttek has Tuerk going off the board around the 169th pick. Drafttek has also listed him as the fifth overall center.
