Steelers' Dan Moore Jr. Detailed How Pittsburgh Failed Kendrick Green: "Hurt His Development A Lot"

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kendrick Green in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft with high expectations, tasked with filling the shoes of Steelers great Maurkice Pouncey. Green was thrust into the starting lineup in Week 1, but his rookie season proved challenging. Despite starting 15 games at center, he struggled, with Pro Football Focus assigning him a low grade of 53.1 and noting six penalties, including four holding calls.

Green faced competition from veteran JC Hassenauer, but ultimately secured the job. However, his performance remained underwhelming. After the 2021 season, the Steelers attempted to shift Green to guard, where he competed with Kevin Dotson, but failed to secure a starting role. Green spent the entire 2022 season as a game-day inactive.

On August 29, 2023, the Steelers traded Green to the Houston Texans for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. Unfortunately, Green suffered an injury in Week 4 of the 2023 season. While his tenure in Pittsburgh was widely viewed as unsuccessful, not everyone places the blame solely on him. In a conversation with ESPN's Brooke Pryor, Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. shared his perspective on why Green’s time in Pittsburgh did not pan out.

"He was in an unfortunate situation," Moore said. "Being a guard in college and then having to make that transition to center and having to be the guy Day 1, obviously it is a tough task and it hurt his development a lot."

While Moore isn't directly blaming the Steelers coaching staff, he did suggest that the team’s decision to use Green at center as a rookie hindered his development. Former Offensive Line Coach Adrian Klemm, who oversaw the unit during the 2021 season, left with two games remaining to take a position at Oregon.

Rumors circulated about a strained relationship between Klemm and former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, which may have contributed to Klemm’s departure. Klemm's performance in Pittsburgh was underwhelming, and Moore hinted that he played a significant role in Green's struggles. Moore feels that many mistakes were made in Green's development.

"We had to skip a lot of things in the process just to get him ready for Week 1, and it kind of sped his development up a little bit, so he wasn't really able to learn the little nuances and techniques a center may have to learn."

Green’s lack of success was disappointing, especially given the chaos surrounding the Steelers’ offensive line at the time. It’s intriguing to consider how Green’s career might have unfolded if he had been gradually integrated into the starting role or not thrust into the starting center position as a rookie.

Steelers' Zach Frazier Set To Start As A Rookie

Now, the Steelers face a similar situation with rookie Zach Frazier. Drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Frazier was initially expected to be eased into the starting role. However, with Nate Herbig's injury, Frazier is set to start Week 1 as a rookie.

The Steelers are more confident in Frazier for several reasons. Frazier is not your typical rookie; he’s known for his high character, intense work ethic, and selflessness. His attitude and effort align perfectly with the Steelers' values. 

With impressive college highlights and accolades, Frazier is expected to be a future standout at center. Moore believes that Frazier’s extensive college starting experience has better prepared him than Green was at the start of his career. Steeler Nation will be watching closely to see if Frazier lives up to the expectations.

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