This 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers offense is going to look just a tad different from how they did in the season prior. The obvious changes are to the offensive line group with three out of the five starters last season either retiring following the 2020 season, or finding themselves a new home for the upcoming year and beyond. Fortunately, for the Steelers sake, there are some young additions to this ball club that are set to make a big impact on this offense, even in positions where "help" was not necessarily "needed". It just seems that there were other holes on this football team that possibly needed to be addressed before the tight end position during this off-season.
The Steelers had just signed TE Eric Ebron to a three-year deal prior to the 2020 season and paired his talents with the likes of Vance McDonald amongst others. It didn't take Ebron long to claim that starting tight end position and make it his own, stealing the majority of playing time away from the others at the same position. Ebron finished the year with 56 receptions on 91 targets for 558 yards and 5 touchdowns. The productivity was there, that has never been Ebron’s issue, it’s producing on a consistent level that seems to be his downfall.
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With McDonald announcing his retirement following the 2020 season, the Steelers were left with a minor hole at their tight end position on their depth chart. That hole was filled in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft when the Steelers selected Penn State University standout tight end Pat Freiermuth with the 55th pick. This came as much of a surprise to most being that there were other holes on this team, both offensively and defensively, that most felt needed more attention than our tight end unit got this specific off-season.
With that being said, adding this dynamic young talent to this tight end group can do nothing but benefit this team for not only this season, but for the many seasons to follow. Freiermuth’s talents are ones that compare to the likes of Rob Gronkowski by some, although that comparison and the nickname that came with those comparisons "Baby Gronk” is not something the rookie tight end hopes catches on, instead he prefers we call him “MUTH”. Freiermuth stands at 6’5", 251 pounds with a 31 ½ wingspan. Although he has shown flashes of elite playmaking ability, Freiermuth's game translates into more of a comfort blanket type of receiver quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is looking for in a tight end. He struggles at times to create separation from the new “coverage” type of linebacker assigned to him, which is looked at as a downfall, but he counteracts that particular con with the ability to be a big target that catches the ball at a consistent level -- an area that this team struggled with in 2020.
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The addition of Freiermuth gives this team another dynamic weapon on this offense to throw the ball to. It is believed that Freiermuth and Ebron will be splitting playing time throughout this next season, being put in situations that best fit their skill sets. While Ebron thrives in the open field, being used as more of a playmaker than a comfort blanket for our future Hall of Fame quarterback. Regardless of the situation, there is plenty of excitement regarding the top two options at the tight end position. Both Ebron and Freiermuth are talented options to have as your number one on the depth chart. Having both options on your team splitting time can only be seen as a positive, a feeling that tight end coach Alfredo Roberts seems to share in an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Having those two players, along with (Kevin) Rader back and Zach (Gentry) in making … I made a joke the other day in the room, ‘Man, I might have a best job in football,’ ” Roberts said, “because of the way these guys are progressing and the way the guys are doing the work. No bad body language or anything. And coach Tomlin stresses (the expectations) he is putting on us.”
Do you think this tight end pairing of Ebron/Freiermuth can be one of the best in the league? Comment below!
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