The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the past couple of offseasons rebuilding their offensive line. The unit certainly needed the upgrade after it went from one of the best in the league during the 2010s, to one of the worst in the 2020s as players retired or left Pittsburgh. In the past two NFL Drafts, the team selected tackles in the first round, Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, to expedite their efforts upfront once again.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers rookie offensive linemen, Troy Fautanu (76) and Zach Frazier (54).
While the entire line had been weak, the center position was especially problematic. The Steelers had been struggling there ever since Maurkice Pouncey retired at the end of the 2020 season. Some failed experiments only highlighted the importance of finding a solid anchor for the offensive line.
That led to the selection of Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Frazier had been a standout at the University of West Virginia and was largely predicted to go in the first round by many pundits. However, Pittsburgh managed to snag him 51st overall. The Steelers don't rush their rookies into the starting lineup, so it wasn't a surprise when it was announced that backup lineman Nate Herbig would start at center on the team's initial depth chart for the year, much to the dismay of fans.
#Steelers rookie C Zach Frazier has already been impressive in pass pro. He's given up zero pressures in 42 opportunities, good for an 80.7 pass-blocking grade.
— Bradley Locker (@Bradley_Locker) August 19, 2024
Grip strength and leverage have been pluses so far pic.twitter.com/BazpuaCNf
Football has always been a game that makes someone else's tragedy another's dream come true. That's what appears to be happening for Frazier. Unfortunately, Herbig suffered a torn rotator cuff. That presumably moves Frazier up the depth chart to starter, which is good news for many, including former Steelers offensive guard Trai Essex, who joined Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson on the 93.7 The Fan Morning Show. The hosts asked Essex how he felt about Frazier's performance against the Buffalo Bills in the second preseason game.
"I like it," exclaimed Essex. "I like Zach. That is the one positive, man. He is coming off the ball, he seems very definitive in his cause, and that's what you want. As a rookie, especially as a center, you are the leader of the offensive line. You got to be decisive. Even if you make the wrong call, make the wrong call going 100%. It looks like he's off the ball hard, he looks like he's meshing well with both his guards on either side as far the combo blocks and stuffs are concerned, and he looks like he's holding up well in pass protection. So I'm very excited about him. I think we found the right one in the second round in Zach."
Essex isn't the only one pleased with what he saw from Frazier; Head Coach Mike Tomlin praised his performance as well, saying he was "largely satisfied." That is a glowing report from Tomlin, who tends to play his cards very close to his vest when assessing his younger players.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Troy Fautanu (left) and Zach Frazier (right) during offseason drills in 2024.
As of now, it appears that Frazier will get the start in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Hopefully, the consistency at the center position helps to get the rest of the offensive line playing at a higher level.
Steelers' Arthur Smith Receives High Praise
The Steelers hired new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith to replace the much-maligned Matt Canada this season, and while there are some early concerns, there are also high hopes.
Smith spent time with the Tennessee Titans successfully running their offense as OC. Former Titans running back Derrick Henry had the best season of his career under Smith during that time. Smith's success led to an offer to be the head coach of the Falcons, but unfortunately, Smith did not fare as well in that role. This has given some fans worry that Smith might not be cut out for the OC job in the Steel City.
AP
Steelers' Russell Wilson (3) with Arthur Smith.
However, recently, Smith received a solid endorsement from one of the best coaches in NFL history, Bill Belichick. The former New England Patriots coach said that Smith is a good coach who is a "good fit" and that he will "get a lot out of this team." He thinks that Smith and Tomlin are a perfect match for one another.
Do you think Frazier is ready and able to start at center on a winning offense? Click to comment below.
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