From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

Going into the season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t know what he fully had in his offensive line. With five new starters from the 2020 season, including two rookies in center Kendrick Green and left tackle Dan Moore Jr., there were plenty of question marks.

Today though, seven games into the season, the questions are being answered and Roethlisberger likes what he is seeing.

“I think we’re understanding each other. We’re understanding the offense. Having the same group of guys in front for a while now and knowing each other. They’re taking pride. Watching that game again, they’re moving guys off the ball. You look at Myles’ (Garrett) sack and the other one where he got pressure, it was strictly him getting a jump. He timed it perfectly. It’s a lot to ask a young tackle, any tackle to be able to stop a guy that’s that good. Going back and watching what they did, it’s amazing. I was proud of the way they’re playing.”

Moore definitely stepped up against Garrett, one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, something that can definitely be a confidence booster for a young player.

“I would think it would continue to increase his confidence. I think he still takes pride in the sack and then maybe thinking, ‘Oh shoot, I wish I would have done this, or I wish I could have even been better.’ And I think I think that’s awesome to see a young guy who went against one of the best in the business to still be disappointed with the way he played.”

In addition to Moore, Roethlisberger said Green has come ‘a long way’ since the start of the season. There is still some fine-tuning happening, but that is completely expected.

“When we were working on under center snaps in OTAs, my hand is kind of off to the side and we were having issues, so I was like, ‘Alright, if you hit this spot every time, we’ll be good.’ And it wasn’t always pretty. We’re still working. Some of the shotgun snaps you can see are a little high and whatnot. When he turns around, I just give that little look, lower it down, and he will be like, ‘I gotcha.’

“He’s still learning. He’s still growing. I’m not sure how many games he’s played at center in his life, but it’s not very many. I’m just proud of him. I told him that after the game that night, sent him a text of just how proud I was of his play, and just keep doing it.”

One of the things that really stands out for Roethlisberger is how fast the group has come together. And they are doing it without that one true veteran who has taken charge of the group like there has been in the past, instead them coming together as a unit.

“I think the fact they’ve done it in such a short time against some really good defenders. I don’t want to say there’s not a leader, but it’s there’s not like your (Maurkice) Pouncey, Ramon (Foster), (David) DeCastro, Al (Villanueva). Guys that have been there. That staple.

“You look at where it is, it’s either rookies, new guys that have come in, Chuks (Okorafor), Banner, are the only guys that have been here, and Zach’s been hurt. For them to see their cohesion, to see the way they work together without that kind of one guy that’s like a follow me kind of guy. I just think they’re having fun and they’re learning about each other at a really fast rate. It’s shown itself and manifested on the field.”



You can read more from Ben and watch his interview here.