Tight finish Pat Freiermuth has functioned because the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 2 goal all through the season. He’s been accessible in all 10 video games whereas well being has been a difficulty prior to now. And but, his numbers aren’t blowing anybody away. Arthur Smith downplayed Freiermuth’s stat line, noting that he’s nonetheless been an asset to the offense.
“Typically we name issues, and perhaps protection or strain doesn’t do precisely,” Smith stated through a team-issued transcript of the protection altering the offensive intent. “Protection has a say. That’s why you’ve bought to construct in reads and progressions. I feel Pat’s had a superb season.”
Particularly early within the season, Pittsburgh confronted loads of single-high protection that discouraged the Steelers from throwing over the center of the sector. As a substitute, they threw down the sidelines. That decreased the variety of possibilities for Freiermuth, and it remained true with Russell Wilson inserted at quarterback.
By way of 9 video games, Freiermuth has 29 catches, 281 yards, and three touchdowns. These numbers rank first or second on the Steelers, however not fairly the record-setting season that was seemingly doable heading into the 12 months.
The excellent news is that Freiermuth has capitalized on his alternatives, and Smith is actively designing issues up for him.
“That’s why we scheme him up within the crimson zone. We belief him. Made that good play in there. Bought that DPI. We tried to get him the ball early, bought the DPI. That doesn’t depend as a goal, however he touched the ball. We’ve bought a whole lot of guys that may make performs.”
Freiermuth noticed an early goal on a submit route, remoted on the bottom as a stand-up receiver, a place he’s been used extra underneath Smith than the earlier regime. Formally, the field rating reveals a “no play,” Freiermuth not getting credit score for the goal or yards, but it surely was an affect second and chunk pickup. Pittsburgh bought him the ball later within the sport, scoring a landing within the low crimson zone on a designed decide play to beat the Commanders’ man protection.
Freiermuth continues to be on tempo for respectable numbers, a 54-catch, 530-yard, five-touchdown season. The fact is he’s taking part in in a run-heavy offense. It’s an offense that ranks second in dashing makes an attempt and thirtieth in passing makes an attempt. That merely reduces the variety of possibilities to place up large numbers. The actual fact Freiermuth’s manufacturing continues to be pacing much like his first two years when the Steelers threw much more reveals that Smith has him top-of-mind in his weekly sport plan.
