4 players who need to step up for Steelers to make the playoffs

Steelers C Kendrick Green

I think many Steelers fans set their expectations far too high when it comes to rookie center Kendrick Green — I am guilty of this myself. As a third-round draft choice in his first season, I don’t think we should have expected him to come in and perform well right away.

However, not only has Green been bad this year, he has flat-out killed offensive drives at times because of his poor snaps and inability to anchor against stronger pass rushers. Sadly, some of these traits may not be able to improve until later in his NFL career (if at all). But that doesn’t mean that Green can’t clean up his game down the stretch.

The Steelers center is an aggressive, but inconsistent run blocker in space. If can play a bit more under control in this department, that could help spring some running lanes for Najee Harris in the final games this season.

Other than not allowing the pocket to immediately collapse in the face of his quarterback, Green needs to get on the same page as Ben Roethlisberger and take care of the football. Erred snaps from Maurkice Pouncey put the Steelers in a hole last year in the playoffs and a few more of those from Green could ruin any chance of Pittsburgh making the playoffs this year.