With The 19th Pick In The 2011 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft, The New York Giants Select...

Mike Pouncey - OG/C, Florida

Pick made by erockrap:

The G-Men don't have many glaring holes in their roster. The overall consensus for needs on the roster boil down to the offensive line and linebacker positions. While the Giants had quite an up and down year, perhaps the bigger need out of these two positions would be some reinforcements along the offensive line. Yes, OG Snee and C O'Hara both made the Pro Bowl, and many thought RT McKenzie was the G-Men's best Offensive Lineman (+23.6 on his PFF grade). However, ask any Giant's fan and they'll tell you O'Hara making the Pro Bowl was merely a popularity contest. O'Hara was hurt much of the season, did not play well when he was "healthy," turns 34 next season, having a pair of surgeries in the offseason, is really the only option at center right now, and who knows how many games he has in the tank.

Enter Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida. I believe that Pouncey will jump up on the boards a little bit higher than everyone expects. He had a good combine, solid season at Floridia, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants trade down to get him. On many draft boards he is the #1 Guard, but his ability to shift to Center could be the key to the Giants snatching up Pouncey. Most people forget that Mike played DT his freshman year at Florida before moving to Guard where he and his brother formed a tag-team punch on an elite college offensive line. This past year he took over Center for his brother, and it was a quick, but not easy transition. This 6'5 320lb guard shows himself as more of a run-blocker than a pass-blocker, is a little bigger than his brother, and really could possess all the skills needed to be a mainstay at Center for the men in blue. Mix that all together with an experienced, but ageing front-line in New York, and we got ourselves some young talent, to become the long-term solution at Center for the Giants.

While Pouncey will be the long-term solution at Center for the G-Men, we should not expect him to perform as well as his brother did this year. I believe he will have a positive impact, but I expect the Giants to ease him into a starter role by the end of the season. I'm also pretty certain we'll see him play a bigger role as injuries begin to pile up around this ageing offensive line. This is a MUST needed youth-upgrade for the offensive line that protects the other franchise quarterback named Manning, and a team that usually has a pretty bruising rushing attack. In two-three years, the Giants will have a new face as the anchor of their O-line.

If Pouncey is taken 19th overall, it'll be the first time since 1999 the Giants have taken an OL in the first round (Luke Petitgout). Also, it'll be the second straight year a Pouncey from Florida was taken in the first round, after twin brother Markice was taken 18th overall by the Steelers last year.

Mike Pouncey Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

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