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Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press

If you were to create the perfect Venn diagram of the position that combines the sport's most important and least recognized attributes, center would take the lead. He begins every play with his head down, hoping to snap the ball correctly in a league that has an ever-increasing number of shotgun snaps. Before he snaps the ball, he's likely the one who's made the protection calls for the offensive line, adjusting for the defensive line's alignment.

The instant he snaps the ball, at least one defensive tackle will try to overwhelm him. If he's facing a 4-3 defense, he'll have to deal with a 1-tech nose tackle who may outweigh him by 20-30 pounds and can come off the snap like a bolt of lightning. On many plays, he'll have to get past that tackle and hit the second level, hopefully blocking a linebacker or safety with perfect timing, technique and accuracy. Or, he might be the leader in a zone-blocking slide that requires perfect coordination between the five linemen.

Against a standard 3-4 front, the nose tackle on the other side will be right over his head, and he may weigh as much as 340 pounds. He'll get double-teamed. He'll whiff blocks at times due to the his opponent's sheer load.

And then, after the play ends, he has to line up and do it all over again. Aside from his teammates, his family and a few offensive line geeks in the media, his accomplishments will not be noticed. The one time he will be noticed is when he makes a grievous error that leads to a busted play.

So, let's take a moment to honor the NFL center: He who plays a position requiring a unique blend of intelligence, strength, agility and tenacity. NFL1000 offensive line scout Ethan Young has done so by scouting and ranking every NFL center through the 2017 season, based on the following criteria:

Pass Protection: 25 points. How well does this center deal with pass-rushing tackles straight up or to either shoulder? Can he adapt to stunts and twists on the fly, and coordinate with guards to take on defenders moving through unpredictable gaps? Does he align well in slide protection? And, how well does he analyze fronts and make line calls, based on overall line coordination?

Run Block: 25 points. Does this player drive-block well? Can he get to the second level and block linebackers and safeties with authority and accuracy? Does he align well in zone slides? Can he play the power/counter/trap game when it's called?

Power: 20 points. Does the player use leverage correctly? Does he handle the defender with his hands off the snap? Can he drive the defender back and adjust with power when he's beaten back?

Agility: 20 points. How quickly does this center get his body ready to block after the snap? How accurately does he work his body to block in space? Can he block downfield consistently?

Position Value: 6 points. This accounts for positional importance when comparing scores across other spots on the offense. Centers are given 6/10 points across the board, making their top possible grade a 96.

Make sure to check out all of the NFL1000 rankings from the 2017 season.