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PITTSBURGH — Offseason training activities (OTAs) have different meanings for players across the individual team. While the team drills instructional bases, each individual aims at specific goals, whether testing out a hotly-trained skill from the offseason or a rookie who has to get their feet wet to feel what the NFL is like daily. So, the second day renders my consciousness somewhat experimental on the individual level, while the team-specific ideas aim to lay the base. The Pittsburgh Steelers are no exception to that. However, on a significant individual and team level, one player that stands out is tight Pat Freiermuth.
You could argue that no one benefits more from Arthur Smith’s hiring than Freiermuth. Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, I get it, but Freiermuth has an easily projectable role in Pittsburgh’s offense. Whatever you think about Smith, he gets productivity from his tight ends. Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, and Delanie Walker have soared under his guidance in some manner.
But Freiermuth is leaning into that alpha dog top tight-end role. It is akin to all of those three names above. Freiermuth lined up all over the formation from out wide to the slot to in-line tight end, and his route tree is expanding, too. The Matt Canada offense trusted Freiermith with many choice routes but limited his route tree to a small sample. This season? A lot more in-breakers and a diverse route tree should come with the Smith offense.
Freiermuth told me he runs slants, digs, flag routes, and more. That’s new because it never appeared on his profile last season or in previous years under Canada. And where Freiermuth wins is his smoothness in space and his rugged toughness, which translates into an elite catch rate. Freiermuth does not drop the ball. This role in Smith’s offense is so different that Freiermuth has taken up watching some wide receivers, including Drake London.
Flashback one second to Freiermuth’s game in Cincinnati last season, and remember how effective of a seam buster he was? Well, the only vertical route he ever ran was as a seam buster, and defenses adjusted more to collapse on him vertically. Now, he should have more versatility to unlock his game across the formation in the receiving game, and of course, he will be asked to take a step up as a blocker. In the early portion of the offseason, it seems like the Steelers offense has significant plans for No. 88.
Alright, I told you all I would go for one standout each day, and maybe I will expand that if necessary at some point. But Wednesday’s pick emerged quickly, and that would be Darius Rush. Rush had two impressive pass breakups. Displaying his length, downhill explosiveness, and improved confidence in his technique. He came out of South Carolina as a raw prospect, so his trust in another year at...
