Pittsburgh Steelers heart and second-round choose Zach Frazier will make his first begin Sunday afternoon. However for Mike Tomlin, it seems like Frazier’s been within the lineup for years. Sitting down with Steelers.com’s Missi Matthews throughout this week’s Mike Tomlin Present, Tomlin praised Frazier for being something however a rookie.
“Actually happy with Zach Frazier and his progress all through this course of and actually have little or no reservations about him as a rookie first-time starter going into this factor,” Tomlin informed Matthews. “So far as worrying about rookie first-time starters go as a result of he’s simply proven a constant degree of maturity.”
Frazier’s beginning spot got here into focus partially due to Nate Herbig’s coaching camp rotator cuff tear, knocking him out for the season. However even had Herbig stayed wholesome, Frazier would’ve been sizzling on his heels for the beginning job and was already chopping into his first-team snaps.
Pittsburgh jumped on the likelihood to draft Frazier largely as a result of his expertise. Some of the skilled offensive lineman on this yr’s class, he made 46 begins in his Mountaineers’ profession, together with 37 at heart. A powerful technician whose elite highschool wrestling background aids him, Frazier was among the many most Day One prepared gamers on the board. Now, he’ll start the yr within the beginning lineup.
Nonetheless, Frazier’s NFL debut will include challenges. He and the offense are on the highway in Atlanta, although Steelers’ Nation is anticipated to have a loud presence as they did in 2022. He’ll be working in tandem with LG Spencer Anderson, a second-year participant making his first begin. Collectively, they’ll restrict the harm veteran DT Grady Jarrett can do within the center.
The Steelers are hoping Zach Frazier can do what Maurkice Pouncey did as a rookie, beginning out of the gate and by no means wanting again. Although lofty and on the horizon, Pittsburgh may also attempt to do what they didn’t with Pouncey and win a Tremendous Bowl in some unspecified time in the future in Frazier’s profession.
