Steelers Defensive Line Excited For Reunion "If Kendrick Get In The Way...We Got To Go Through Him"

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be traveling to Texas in Week 4 for their matchup against the Houston Texans, and while many fans assumed this game would be an easy victory going into the season, it seems it will be more of challenge than expected. Texans' CJ Stroud, a rookie quarterback, has already cracked the top five quarterbacks in passing yards this year and is playing well. That, paired with the Steelers slow start on offense should make this a closer game than originally expected. 

Steelers Playing Against A Familiar Face

The Steelers will be going against a familiar face, as offensive lineman Kendrick Green has been the Texans starting left guard throughout the first three weeks of the 2023 NFL season. He will be another factor that can make this game closer than expected. One of the Steelers best attributes is being able to effectively rush the passer, and he knows a lot about players like TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Larry Ogunjobi. When speaking to the media, third-year Steelers lineman Montravius Adams spoke about the possibility of Green giving the rest of the Texans players tips on how to deal with the Steelers elite pass rush.

"The toughest thing is that he knows everyone on the D-Line. That's what he will share with the other offensive linemen. TJ, Alex, Larry, all their strengths. I think he will share with his O-Line to help them be in place."

Green surely will give some pointers to his offensive line peers in Houston. It's unsure how well they will help, since he wasn't able to block the Steelers pass rush well enough in training camp to avoid being shipped out of town for just a sixth-round pick. While Green knows the Steelers defensive line, they also know Green. They know his weaknesses and how to best attack him, so it should be expected that the interior of the defensive line will be able to be highly effective in Week 4 for the Steelers.

Green was drafted by the Steelers in the third-round back in 2021 to be Ben Roethlisberger's center after Maurkice Pouncey retired the year prior. He started 15 games in his rookie year, and spent all of his second season as a healthy inactive on game days. He eventually was traded at the end of training camp prior to the 2023 season. He spent two full seasons in Pittsburgh, so obviously he formed some great relationships with most of the team. Isaiahh Loudermilk, who was in the same draft class as Green, spoke about what it will be like on Sunday. 

"It will be interesting, been going up against him the last three years. We kind of know what kind of player he is. He knows what kind of players we are. It will be interesting."

Most of the defensive line must be excited to see an old teammate, but also because they know they get to line up across from him and go against him. Green has had a rough start to his NFL career, and has found it hard to make a positive impact on the field. Every player along the Steelers defensive line will surely be looking to exploit that. 

The Steelers are focusing on executing and finding a way to get a victory, and they know that one of the best ways to do that is to attack the weakness on the Texans offensive line. This will be Green if he remains the starting left guard, and whoever winds up playing left tackle for Houston. Their star left tackle Laremy Tunsil is expected to be out, as well as his back up. 

Due to Green playing left guard and the current injury status at the left tackle position for the Texans, Highsmith should have a day as a pass-rusher as long as the Steelers secondary can force Stroud to hang onto the ball. Adams once again spoke on his friendship with Green, and how he plans on attacking the game mentally on Sunday. 

"At the beginning, it will be fun to get to see him. Once it starts, all the friendships are out the window and it's about winning. On the D-Line, we are trying to get to the quarterback and whoever else got the ball. If Kendrick get in the way, or anybody else, we got to go through him. At the end of the day, the best dog wins. It doesn't matter what you know, you have to execute."

Adams knows Green has had issues executing in his NFL career, so he insinuates it doesn't matter how well he knows the Steelers defensive line. They will still find a way to beat him.

What do you think of all the players comments about the reunion with Green? Let us know in the comments below!

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