PITTSBURGH, PA – A clip of protective lineman Arden Key rushing previous left guard Kendrick Green like he was unnoticeable went viral in the consequences of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason game Saturday night in Jacksonville.
If it wasn’t bad enough for Green that the video was there for the world to see, it struck home when it found its way onto the projection space screen at Steelers headquarters Monday.
In his movie evaluation of the Steelers’ 16-15 victory at Jacksonville, coach Mike Tomlin revealed that clip, plus a couple of others, that didn’t put Green in a favorable light as he tries to earn a beginning spot on the offending line.
“That never makes you feel excellent,” Green said Monday.
Green had no option however to sit there and soak in the misery while surrounding by all of his colleagues.
“The natural response, the comfortable response, is to get in the fetal position and say, ‘Don’t take a look at me,'” Green stated Monday. “You need to own it. You put it on movie.”
The series, in which Green’s missed out on assignment nearly resulted in Key sacking quarterback Kenny Pickett, was illustrative of the offending line’s play in general and the second-year interior lineman’s play in particular in the Steelers’ second preseason video game.
Quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Pickett were struck a combined four times in the first half, and Green was responsible for allowing half of that contact. Left take on Dan Moore enabled Key to sack Trubisky and was accountable for 4 pressures. Green enabled 3 quarterback pressures, including the two hits.
In general, Trubisky was pressed on 6 of his 10 dropbacks. Pickett was forced two times on his 7 throws.
“There wasn’t enough information from a fine motor skill viewpoint, details relative to their position,” Tomlin said. “They didn’t play with enough of an edge individually and jointly. There were things on our tape we’ve got to own.”
Green was prepared to accept his share of the blame and didn’t resent Tomlin for identifying his errors in front of the whole team.
“He’s not cussing you out,” Green stated. “It’s, ‘This is what you are, this is what you put on film.’ It’s reasonable. It’s not like it’s uncalled for. It’s entirely reasonable.”
Green was replaced by Kevin Dotson for the 3rd and second series, and he didn’t return to the game until Pickett subbed in for Trubisky with six minutes left in the first half. That’s when Key made short work of Green and nearly flattened the group’s first-round choice with his rush up the middle.
Asked what occurred when he got beat, Green halfheartedly laughed and stated, “Which one? I got beat a couple of times.”
When the Key play was mentioned, Green nervously laughed once again.
“He beat me a few times,” he said. “He was having a day with me. Coach (Pat Meyer) teaches us to set strongly. He would rather you get your hands beat than get bulled into the quarterback. It’s something to deal with today.”
Not remarkably, when the Steelers took the practice field Monday, it was Dotson working with the first team and Green with the second unit.
“It sort of keeps you on your toes and makes you think more,” Dotson said of the rotation. “It makes you sort of lock in.”
Tomlin stated a choice on naming a starting left guard will not be made until after the Steelers play the Detroit Lions on Sunday in the preseason ending. Green knows his play against the Jaguars didn’t weigh in his favor.
“I’m attempting to have steady self-confidence and try to weather the storm,” he said. “I attempt not to get too expensive or get too low. There was nothing to be high about the last game, however simply keep swinging.”
Green was hardly the only lineman to resist Jacksonville. Center Mason Cole permitted two pressures, as did backup interior lineman John Leglue.
When the Steelers tried running the football, no holes were to be found for a group that was minus starter Najee Harris. The Steelers hurried for 24 lawns on 14 brings, and the other running backs on the lineup combined for 10 lawns on as many efforts.
Guard James Daniels wasn’t surprised the line was put under the microscope throughout film research study.
“It’s what is anticipated,” he stated. “We didn’t play well as a group. It’s excellent we have a coach that … there’s no lack of communication. There is an expectation and we didn’t play up to that expectation. It’s good we have a coach that has the ability to say that. Take the difficulty, know what the expectation is and try to fulfill it.”
“The natural reaction, the comfy reaction, is to get in the fetal position and state, ‘Don’t look at me,'” Green stated Monday. Quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Pickett were hit a combined four times in the very first half, and Green was accountable for permitting half of that contact.”He’s not cussing you out,” Green stated. Green was changed by Kevin Dotson for the 3rd and second series, and he didn’t return to the game up until Pickett subbed in for Trubisky with six minutes left in the first half. Asked what took place when he got beat, Green halfheartedly said and laughed, “Which one?
