The Pittsburgh Steelers first preseason game of the 2023 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed a lot of bright spots. However, it also showed where the coaching staff might need to make some personnel changes and spots that Omar Khan should think about adding some outside help. One of these positions is back-up center, and depth overall behind Mason Cole.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers offensive lineman Kendrick Green has suddenly become a favorite in Latrobe, as he's now seeing snaps at fullback.
Kendrick Green had a rough showing Friday night, and showed many that the Steelers have a serious issue with their depth at the center position. Green got beat multiple times in pass protection, committed a crucial holding penalty, and then had an errant snap on the next play which resulted in a difficult third-and-31 for the offense. Third string center, Ryan McCollum, didn't have a strong game at center either, meaning the Steelers will likely need to find outside help or make some personnel changes.
Steelers Internal Options For Back-Up Center
Spencer Anderson
Spencer Anderson is a rookie who was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was selected as a tackle out of Maryland where he was a very versatile offensive linemen. He started four games at center during his college career while also starting 10 at right tackle and 12 at right guard. He is currently listed as the fourth center on the Steelers depth chart, behind the starting center in Cole, and back-ups Green and McCollum. If he was buried behind those two back-ups on the depth chart, after seeing their play Friday night, it is unlikely he'll be able to be a viable option as the second-string center.
Steelers.com
Steelers' OL Spencer Anderson
Nate Herbig
Nate Herbig was signed by the Steelers during free agency of the 2023 offseason. He went undrafted in 2019 before being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and he played for them through the 2021 season before signing with the New York Jets for the 2022 season. Like Anderson, Herbig was also a versatile offensive linemen at Stanford. He played both guard positions and some right tackle. In his NFL career he has only played guard, but so far in 2023 training camp he has been seen taking some reps at center.
Nate Herbig getting some reps at center today. 👀 #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/JeTz1kcd5w
— B-Wall (@BWall) August 8, 2023
With Herbig's lack of experience, having not played center at the collegiate level or in the NFL, it is unlikely he will counted on to be the team's back-up to Cole. His only experience at the position has been some meaningless repetitions in practice drills, so the Steelers should look for outside help.
Pittsburgh Steelers / steelers.com
Nate Herbig meets with the media for his first time as a Pittsburgh Steeler.
External Options For The Steelers At Back-Up Center
There are not many available free agent centers in the NFL. Most who are free agents spent 2022 on a practice squad. Three viable options for the Steelers are all long-time NFL veterans who could possibly make peace with being a back-up this late in their career. They include Rodney Hudson, Nick Martin and Matt Skura.
Rodney Hudson
Hudson is 34 years old, and has spent most of his career with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, while also playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals. He has made the Pro Bowl three times while also being named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2019. He has been a good center his entire career before getting hurt during 2022 with the Cardinals. He has started 143 out of 159 games that he has appeared in, so he is not used to being a back-up. However, after getting hurt last year he might consider taking on a limited role this late in his career.
Nick Martin
Martin is a former second-round pick from 2016 who last played for the Washington Commanders in 2022. He played three games at center in 2022, starting two of them. In 2021, Martin was the back-up center for the Raiders for the entire season. In order to be given an opportunity to play again, he would likely highly consider taking on a second-string center position since he already has experience doing so.
Matt Skura
Skura was born in Pittsburgh and went on to play his college football at Duke. He went undrafted in 2016 before signing with the Baltimore Ravens where he played through 2020. He was their starting center for the better part of three seasons, and has started 65 games in the NFL at the position. Skura spent the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams, being activated from the practice squad in October of 2022. Skura seems like the most likely option for the Steelers. He has experience starting in the league, was born in Pittsburgh, and has been on active rosters recently.
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports
Steelers' back-up center option Matt Skura
If the Steelers are not comfortable with any of their internal options at back-up center and choose not to sign any of the available free agents, there is a chance they wait until other teams around the league begin to make cuts and wait for a center they desire becomes available. They will likely give Green opportunities to redeem himself in practice, but the front office is certainly weighing all possibilities when it comes to that position.
What do you think the Steelers should do at back-up center SteelerNation? Let us know in the comments below!
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