If the Miami Dolphins need Anthony Steen to step in for center Mike Pouncey again to start the 2017 NFL season, the former Alabama standout will be "comfortable with it now."

A guard at Alabama and through two seasons of practice-squad experience in the NFL, Steen made his regular-season debut as Miami's starting center in the Dolphins' 2016 season-opening game with Pouncey sidelined by a hip injury.

"I hadn't played in a game since college -- three years," Steen said. "At the beginning of the season, I was definitely nervous. I'm not going to lie. It was nerve-wracking, plus playing center last year for the first time. I was scared to death, honestly. But it is part of football. It's exciting when you get in the game, score a touchdown, even a simple field goal. It'll get your adrenaline going."

Steen played in 15 games for Miami in 2016 and started seven of them, even though he suffered ankle and shoulder injuries during the season.

"Whatever it takes to win, I'm going to do it," Steen said at a press conference during the Dolphins' minicamp. "I'm not one of those guys that's going to make an excuse: 'I'm 50 percent. I don't need to go.' If I can go, I'm going to go. It's as simple as that."

During Miami's offseason program, Steen worked at center and both guard positions. He isn't expected to be a starter. But as happened last year, an injury could put him into the Dolphins' lineup, so he prepped to be ready at three spots in the offensive line.

"I'm just trying to switch everything in my head, especially when you go from right guard and three plays later they want you to go to left guard," Steen said. "Some people might not think much of it, but when you're pass blocking, your hands have got to go totally opposite when you're switching positions. It's been a little bit of a challenge, but I'm getting the hang of it. ...

"Whatever coach wants me to do -- he wants me to play guard, he wants me to play center -- whatever's best for the team."

Pouncey didn't participate in the on-the-field portions of Miami's offseason program as he continues to rehab from hip surgery. The three-time Pro Bowler is still awaiting clearance to return to football, and although the Dolphins maintain he should be ready for the 2017 season-opener, Pouncey has missed 19 games over the past four seasons.

"I think right now his mindset is, yeah, he's going to play," Steen said. "I think for a player, you've got to think that way. If you think you're not going to make it, then it's not going to happen. You've got to be able to say to yourself, 'I'm going to be the starting center or guard' or whatever. You have to tell yourself you're going to be ready. You can't just want to be in the training room just to be in there. You've got to want to be out of the training room to be able to play."

Steen was a three-year starter at guard for Alabama, including on the BCS national-championship teams of the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum after his senior season and was not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Steen joined the Arizona Cardinals for their offseason program and training camp as a rookie. The Cardinals released him in the cut to the regular-season roster limit, but kept him for their practice squad. On Dec. 1, 2014, Steen joined Arizona's active roster, but he didn't get into a game before the season ended.

The 2015 season followed the same pattern: Cut at the end of the preseason, Steen joined the Cardinals' practice squad. But this time, instead of getting a call-up to the active roster, Steen was released on Sept. 22. He spent two months out of football before joining Miami's practice squad on Nov. 24, 2015.

Steen not only made the Dolphins' regular-season roster in 2016, he started the first three games of the season at center. An ankle sprain sidelined Steen for a game, and he returned to the bench with Pouncey back on the field. But when the center got hurt again, Steen started the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th games of the 2016 season.

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After a trip to Orange Beach for a family vacation at the end of minicamp, Steen has resumed training for the 2017 season. The Dolphins' veterans report for training camp on July 26, and Miami opens its preseason schedule on Aug. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons.