Kendrick Green admits he 'didn't really like playing center' in 1st year with Steelers

To say Kendrick Green welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers moving him from center to guard is akin to saying water is wet.

“I think I’ll be a lot better at guard,” Green said Thursday after practice at Saint Vincent. “To be honest, I didn’t really like playing center, but it is what it is. I’m happy to get back to what I did.”

What Green did was make 33 consecutive starts at Illinois — all but four at guard — before the Steelers selected him in the third round of the 2021 draft with the intent of having him replace the retired Maurkice Pouncey in the pivot.

Green struggled adapting to the position switch. Although he started 15 games last year, he suffered a calf injury and lost his job to J.C. Hassenauer for the final two games and the playoff loss at Kansas City.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Green was healthy enough to start late in the year, but the Steelers felt Hassenauer gave them the best chance to win.

Hence the position switch back to Green’s natural position after he was rated the No. 34 center last year by Pro Football Focus. Which isn’t a glowing endorsement considering 32 centers start on a weekly basis.

“Nobody really cares about your excuses,” Green said. “It’s the NFL. I did my best last year trying to play where I was at, but it didn’t go as well as I wanted it to. I’m trying to be my best at guard.”

Green is competing with Kevin Dotson at left guard. Dotson worked with the first-team offense in the first camp practice, but Green got the reps Thursday in the second. Expect a rotation to continue throughout camp.

“Coach has an idea in his head, and I don’t think he’s telling us what he thinks,” Green said.

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