After four practices, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to work diligently to bring all players up to playing speed for the upcoming season. With all the new additions to the roster in 2024, the biggest offseason priority is bringing a young and inexperienced offensive line together in an effort to protect Russell Wilson.
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Steelers' current starting quarterback, Russell Wilson.
Over the past two seasons, the Steelers have utilized five of their 14 draft selections on offensive linemen. Broderick Jones and Spencer Anderson were drafted in 2023, while Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick will all be headed into their rookie campaigns this season. The emphasis on protecting the quarterback is more important than ever, and the team knows it.
Of the three linemen drafted in 2024, there is one player who stands out above the rest as needing to be ready right away. That player is Frazier, who hopes to fill the need as a franchise caliber center (which has been vacant since the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey in February of 2021).
After a few practices wearing the Black and Gold, Frazier gave Steelers fans a glimpse into what he hopes to nail during the 2024 organized team activities.
"First and foremost, getting the snap back there good. Focusing on cadence, and then assignment, really everything. Snap, cadence, assignment, technique."
When it comes to new players entering the NFL, it's important to get the fundamentals down and walk before you run. For a team like the Steelers, who will likely place a considerable amount of trust in rookies for this season, it's important to get the little things taken care of before the season starts, rather than during the middle of the season.
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The Steelers reportedly "love" West Virginia's Zach Frazier.
Frazier is one of three rookies currently listed as an opening day starter. The last rookie to be named the starting center was Kendrick Green, who struggled at the position and was shipped off to the Houston Texans. Even though Frazier will likely have a longer leash than Green, the expectation to succeed out of the gate will still remain.
What Can Frazier Be For The Steelers?
The biggest hope the Steelers have for Frazier is to have consistency at center from a guy who is not only physical, but intelligent at the position. Since Pouncey retired, the Steelers have only had one season in which center was not a liability. Several Band-Aids have been put over the wound, but it seems as though the long awaited surgical procedure has been made on the line.
Frazier is a guy that comes with a ton of experience after his time in West Virginia. The 53rd ranked player on Mel Kiper's Big Board, and his second highest rated center, Frazier played in 47 career games, starting 46 of them, playing over 2,600 career snaps and giving up a total of only 5 sacks. The two-time All-American, and three-time team captain is hoping to bring that same level of productiveness to the Steelers in his rookie year.
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Former WVU center Zach Frazier high fives fans at an away game.
Despite this promise, there is concern on the youth of the Steelers line. So much concern that there are individuals who believe the Steelers should bring in a veteran option to allow players like Frazier to grow at his own pace, rather than be thrown into the fire. The other factor in Frazier's case is the season-ending injury he suffered against Baylor in West Virginia's final regular season game of 2023, though he hasn't missed time during OTAs.
The toughness of Frazier is what brought the Steelers to him, highlighted on the final play of his collegiate career where after breaking his leg, he was able to hop his way off the field to conserve a timeout. There is little doubt that Frazier will be able to adjust to the NFL, and make perhaps the biggest impact of any rookie on the Steelers this season, despite the fact he was taken in the second round.
With three of the five projected starters on the offensive line for the Steelers having been drafted within the last two seasons, there is no time to be eased into playing shape during the regular season. Rather, they will be tested early on by a dominant Steelers defense during training camp, to be ready for the gauntlet of a full 18-week season with the aspirations of reaching New Orleans in February.
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