PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s not often you see a Steelers rookie wear the number of a player who just retired and will replace. There it was during the first day of Steelers mini-camp on the South Side as third round pick Kendrick Green wore number 53 playing in the center of the line.
“They didn’t hand it to me,” Green said Friday. “I wore 53 since high school. I wore it at Illinois as well. I requested it knowing he had retired; maybe I could get it. I was fully prepared for them to keep it.”
“They let me have it. I got big shoes to fill, gonna work towards that.”
That number worn by 10-year Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who was first team All-Pro five times, started 134 games and the potential to be a Hall of Famer.
Green talked to Pouncey the day after the draft as Pouncey told him to work and play hard in the Steeler tradition. He said they didn’t discuss wearing his number because he wasn’t sure what it would be at that point.
Does Green believe he can start his rookie year?
“I can’t really put too much expectations on myself,” Green said. “My goal is I’m going to show up every day and compete and get as much out of every day as possible. Try and maximize my time here.”
Green comes from an Illinois offense where the only time the quarterback was under center was for a sneak. He moved over from defense his freshman year in college and then over from guard and started only four games at center.
He doesn’t see that as an issue, saying the physicality is the same, it’s just center involves more of the mental side of the game. Green says he’s fully prepared for it.
“We have been digging into the playbook, even today,” Green said having yet to meet any veterans on the offensive line. “Trying to get the hang of that.”
“Just showing up every day, if I get the spot. I do. I’m ready to come in and compete but also learn from the older guys.”