Steelers center Kendrick Green lives on Mount Washington, but his commute is only part of the ups and downs he’s experienced in his rookie season.
No rest for the weary, though, as the Steelers travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs and one of the best defensive tackles in football. Chris Jones was just selected as a Pro Bowler for the third year in a row, and he’s coming off a second-team All-Pro campaign in 2020. He’s a force against the run and he can rush the passer, so Green’s ability to hold up against the 6-foot-6, 298-pound Jones will be significant for the Steelers offense at Arrowhead Stadium.
“You feel his dominance and presence,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “Not only as a pass-rusher in terms of producing sacks, but his ability to disrupt the overall offensive game — play the run, bat passes.”
Jones has seven sacks this season and has at least one quarterback hit in six straight games. It’s no secret that Green has struggled at times against powerful tackles bull-rushing him off the ball, an issue of both physicality and technique that he’s trying to fix with the help of offensive line coaches Adrian Klemm and Chris Morgan, as well as veteran guard Trai Turner.
“Still not where I want to be, I’m still in the backfield too often, but it’s something I’ll keep working on,” Green said.
On the other side will be another rookie center, Creed Humphrey, the Chiefs’ second-round pick. The Steelers could’ve taken him instead of tight end Pat Freiermuth, and Humphrey has the highest pass-blocking “win rate” among all centers, according to ESPN. This would be a great time for Green to show that the Steelers knew what they were doing when they waited to draft him in the third round.
Keys to victory
To win, the Chiefs must …
Block Watt. The NFL sack leader has been healthy for nine full games, and the Steelers are 7-2 in those games.
Stop Naj. Najee Harris could help a reeling offense play keepaway from an explosive one, but only if he has room to run.
Fade ‘Tae. If things don’t go through Harris, they run through Diontae Johnson, who deserves a lot of defensive attention.
To win, the Steelers must …
Give thanks to the defense. It’s time for the offense to repay a unit that gave them four takeaways last week.
Ruin Patrick’s day. Mahomes is a wizard with the ball, and generating pressure without blitzing is the best way to combat that.
Have the bigger valentine. When the on-paper matchup seems this lopsided, heart can go a long way, and the Steelers often have it.
Local ties
• Melvin Ingram, who spent all of six games with the Steelers this season before being shipped to Kansas City for a sixth-round pick at the trade deadline
• Dorian O’Daniel, a fourth-year linebacker out of Clemson who was born and raised in Canonsburg until moving to Maryland in seventh grade
• Matt House, linebackers coach who was Pitt’s defensive coordinator in 2013 and 2014 under Paul Chryst
• Greg Lewis, Pitt wide receivers coach in 2014 under Chryst
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: December 26, 2021, 3:30 p.m.