After 2 Seasons Of Steelers Offensive Musical Chairs, Should Kendrick Green Play This Surprising Position In 2023?

Pittsburgh Steelers center, guard, and center again, Kendrick Green has bounced around like a ping pong ball since arriving in the NFL. The frustration has been palpable for Green and the fans who have been aggressive in voicing their frustration. Now a former Steelers player is suggesting that Green might have his best opportunity at a totally new position. 

During his college career at the University of Illinois, he played primarily left guard. When the Steelers selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, they immediately had a different plan for him. They marked him as their starting center during training camp where he competed with J.C. Hassenauer and won the job.

Green had huge shoes to fill as All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey retired at the end of the 2020 season. Any center coming in would have struggled to win over fans, but Green, who had been thrown to the wolves, took significant backlash. By his own admission, he had only played center a few times in college and wasn't as comfortable at the position, earning a PFF rating of 52.4.  

A true team player, Green did whatever he could to help out. He was moved to the guard position for 2022 as the Steelers brought in Mason Cole to be the center. He competed with Kevin Dotson for the spot and lost. While he remained on the active roster, he didn't dress for any of the games.

Now reports are out that Green is back working out as a center. Green has said that he has to do what he has to do to be able to make the team and hopefully play. He also said that after Hassenauer left the Steelers, he saw the writing on the wall and began working out more at center. But former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats thinks that Green would be much more effective at a totally new position. 

Arthur Moats Thinks The Steelers Should Move Kendrick Green To A New Position

Moats now hosts a podcast called The Arthur Moats Experience. On a recent episode, Moats mentioned that he thinks that Green would be outstanding at fullback. The Steelers do not currently have a  fullback on the roster. Derek Watt is a free agent and has not been signed, and rookie Monte Pottebaum made the choice to retire from the NFL prior to the season starting. Moats thinks that Green is the answer in that position. 

"I want Kendrick to go back there. Because I can assure you if he is the lead blocker on a dime as the fullback, it's gonna look drastically different than watching him come from the three-point-stance as a guard. When he hits that linebacker in the hole, I can promise you Kwon Alexander, Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Mark Robinson, all of them if Kendrick Green is the fullback and they gotta hit that, oh they ain't gonna never forget that moment. Whenever he's back, the antennas gonna pop up. They're gonna be like, 'Hey, hey hey, hey.'"

Moats thinks that Green is the perfect size for an NFL fullback. He is 6'2" and about 315 lbs., which makes him a bit small for a center or a guard. He also has good quickness, speed, and athleticism.  

"I am all for it because I think that could really work for him. He is athletic, but he's super undersized for the position. He's at a position where athleticism matters, but size and physicality matter more."

As you get further away from the ball, athleticism is more of a priority than physicality closer to the ball according to Moats. Green can't control his size and that is really what is working against him. 

Green potentially finding new life at fullback makes for an amazing story. While many fans have been negative about Green's struggles at center during his rookie year, many other fans have felt empathy for him. In spite of the adversity he's faced, he always seemed to give each battle his best effort and held his head high. This has the makings of a story that turns him into a fan favorite.

Kendrick Green At Fullback Would Make For Epic Backs On Backers Matchups

This possibility brings new life to the thought of backs on backers. Moats said he can only imagine how the linebackers would feel. The linebackers are always so eager to get to the backs on backers plays in camp. 

"Oh as an LB you love a little backs on backers when you got to go against the running backs. The tight end, he might be a little [tougher], but we're still gonna cook, it's a tight end. If Kendrick Green is back there, you're like, 'Hold on fam, hold on, that's a whole lineman back there who actually knows how to play line.'"

Moats feels the possibilities are endless with a guy like Green at fullback. He said that he keeps envisioning a goal-line play where he can see the coaches just telling Green to go crash face-first into the outside linebacker. He said it is a game changer. They will either have to be willing to cut him, or sidestep him, but either way, a touchdown can be scored. 

What do you think? Could you see Green at fullback? Do you think depth at center is the best use of him as a player? Click to comment below. 

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