Miami Dolphins Preview: Mike Pouncey

The Miami Dolphins have a couple of issues up front along the offensive line, but center Mike Pouncey isn’t one of them. Since drafting Pouncey in the first round of the 2012 draft, he has been a stalwart along the line and was rewarded as such this off-season with a contract extension. The Miami Dolphins will need for him to continue his solid play and develop as a leader; especially as Miami embarks on a youth movement flanking him at guard.

2014 Review

While 2014 resulted in another Pro Bowl berth, this was definitely Pouncey’s weakest year of his career as it was marred by injuries and playing out of position. The year began with Pouncey injuring his hip in the off-season and the Miami Dolphins bringing in veteran center Samson Satele to fill the void. The Miami Dolphins needed to turn to the veteran center to stabilize a line that sorely missed its Pro Bowl anchor. Upon Mike Pouncey‘s return, the Miami Dolphins were finding success up front with an obvious hole at right guard. With Pouncey healthy, simple minds prevailed, it was the perfect fit for Pouncey to rejoin the unit at right guard to complete the starting five. At first it worked out as Miami had something that resembled a complete unit but then injuries hit and shelved left tackle Branden Albert while slowing down Satele and Daryn Colledge. As the entire unit began to struggle, so did Pouncey, not to mention he had the burden of still rounding out into shape while playing out of position.

2015 Preview

With a clean bill of health and an entire offseason back in his familiar spot of center and team leader; look for Pouncey to have another Pro Bowl caliber type season. Free from distractions of bogus lawsuits and old scandals, look for Pouncey to reward brass for their faith in him and hefty contract extension. The Miami Dolphins will need him to play all 16 games in a season for the first time since 2012 and speed along the progression of the young guards that flank him. Bill Lazor’s scheme suits him immensely and this will be his first full offseason running it in the pivot, expect big things. Expect to see Pouncey pulling in space leading the way for a sweeping Lamar Miller; expect Pouncey coming around the backside closing out for Ryan Tannehill to scamper on the read option. Most of all expect a pivot man with excellent communication skills in pass pro with the mobility and punch to assist to either side of the protection. Pouncey is a stud and the Miami Dolphins are lucky to have him, they need a big season from him and I’m sure practicing across from Ndamukong Suh everyday is going to get him prepped to the best of his ability.

All in all, Pouncey’s challenge will be staying healthy; the past two seasons he hasn’t been able to avoid the injury bug. If he can stay healthy, he will provide the Miami Dolphins with a considerable amount of stability up front, which will be needed mostly for my second point. His second challenge will be overcoming the lack of experience around him on the line, considering 3 of the projected starters on the line have a combined 4 years of league experience amongst them. While Ja’Wuan James, Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner have big talent, their youth brings growing pains and they will be leaning heavily on Pouncey’s reads and calls during games. If anybody can do it, it’s Pouncey, he’s a leader and bonafide blue chip talent, let’s hope he can lift the play of those around him for a whole season.

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