As much as Miami Dolphins center Anthony Steen is trying to keep things normal, these are abnormal times. As Steen made his way through the locker room Monday, his fellow offensive linemen jokingly serenaded him with calls of "Steeeeen!!!"
This is what sometimes happens when you become a surprise starter in the NFL. Steen, the second-year player who was undrafted out of Alabama in 2014, has become the focal point of the Dolphins' offensive line in more ways than one.
While Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey is sidelined for at least the next two preseason games with a left hip injury, Steen, a converted guard who has never played center in an NFL game, becomes the starter.
And, yes, life is a bit different.
The media throng in front of Steen's locker was so big Monday _ more than two dozen reporters and TV cameras _ the interview had to be move to a different location in the locker room so Steen didn't disturb his neighbors. That drew more catcalls from the offensive linemen.
"Nothing's really changed," Steen said Monday, downplaying the change in his status. "We're missing Mike right now, but as coach said, 'Next guy up,' and I'm the next guy up so I'm trying to do my job."
Steen, a starter for Alabama's 2011 and 2012 national championship teams, took it all in stride Monday. He doesn't seem fazed by being named a starter, even if his duties carry into the Sept. 11 season opener at Seattle.
"It's the same plays, just the next level, ones from twos," said Steen, who beat out experienced centers such as Jamil Douglas and Kraig Urbik for the backup job. "You're going against different guys, but it's the same exact plays."
The Dolphins learned a harsh lesson last season when Pouncey went down for two games with a hip injury. They didn't have a true backup center so they went with Douglas, the 2014 fourth-round pick.
Douglas, a guard by trade, had a costly bad snap on the final play of the Indianapolis game last season _ the snap was on two, but Douglas snapped it on one causing quarterback Ryan Tannehill to be sacked. The Dolphins lost, 18-12.
Pouncey's absence has the potential to be just as costly as last season.
"Pouncey is one of our best players, I would say," running back Jay Ajayi said, "and he's been a Pro Bowler. He's one of our leaders on the offense. Him not being in there is going to be tough."
To address the void at center last season the Dolphins re-signed Jacques McClendon, but they weren't convinced he was the answer.
"When somebody in that position goes down you better be ready with the next guy, and what happens when that guy goes down," coach Adam Gase said.
Enter Steen, who spent most of the 2014 season on Arizona's practice squad and the 2015 season on the practice squads for Arizona and the Dolphins.
Soon after the Dolphins signed him in the offseason they changed his position. The change came slowly at first, a practice period here and there, then two practice periods, then the full-time change.
And now, Steen is the Dolphins' starter at center. Further complicating things, Steen is flanked by two guards _ Laremy Tunsil on the left side and Jermon Bushrod on the right _ who are converted left tackles.
Steen, who thought the Dolphins were joking when they first told him they wanted him to move to center, said he's now spending more time studying film and preparing for Thursday's game against Atlanta in Orlando. After all, now he has to make all the line calls.
It's a lot of pressure, Steen said, "knowing that if you mess up your call you mess up everything for everybody else. It's just that pressure on you as a center and you have to get used to it."
It's not an ideal situation, but it's the way the Dolphins must roll for now.
"It's the NFL," Gase said. "If you're on the roster you'd better be ready to go."
