Steelers Green struggles at center
Despite a huge hole at center and a considerable amount of turnover along the offensive line in general, the team waited until the third round to add college guard Kendrick Green with the expectation that he will move to center. While long-term Green has the traits to succeed at center if he develops properly, the team needs a contributor there now. Green has a lot riding on him in camp, and the team is really banking on the best-case scenario working out with him.
Now, Green doesn’t have to be an elite center by the time the season begins. Heck, I’m still in the camp that believes B.J. Finney will be the starting center in week one due to his experience. That said, Green still has to look at least look competent and comfortable at center if he wants to make the move to starter at some point this year. If he is getting pushed around and struggles with the basics at center, the Steelers will be in trouble.
If Green can’t grasp the center job in camp, the team will be forced to make one of two decisions. Either they let Finney start for a considerable amount of time or they roll with Green and hope for the best. Finney is a fine spot starter but expecting good center play for a long stretch of games won’t likely happen. Throwing Green in and banking on him playing well after struggling in camp is a recipe for in-game disaster. For a team that is relying on an essentially new line to be better than last year’s unit, they will need Green to step up. The alternative could be a disaster.