Did Pittsburgh Steelers Pat Freiermuth Takeover The Starting Tight End Spot

I think they will both be used, but there is no question of who will be the #1 TE at some point. Let's just win football games.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ij-ECzNPQ

Is water wet?

Nah, TE's never contribute in their rookie year. Wasted draft pick.

Ebron was born for the TE2 position!

I'm on the Kevin Rader train! :chuckle:

It makes you wonder how much they'll use 2-TE sets.

88 is going to be hard to keep off the field.

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Originally Posted by tube517

I'm on the Kevin Rader train! :chuckle:

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I like his game. I think he has a chance to get the #3 spot.

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Originally Posted by tube517

I'm on the Kevin Rader train! :chuckle:

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dah RRrrRRAAAADER

How do we know this is not just one of those 'Training Camp Heroes"? :sarcasm2::sarcasm:

Have you watched the Najee Harris post game interview.

Q:What did you think of PF…..
NH: Have ya’ll interviewed him….? Y’all need to interview him.

Later on…..

Q:What did you think of PF’s second TD……
NH: didn’t you see me, I jumped on his back.

He is a great interview. If I weren’t so pitiful at copying and pasting with an IPad, I would share it with you.

Oh I forget…..

NH: Pat will say he wasn’t nervous in the tunnel…..but he was. I didn’t know what I was doing but he made me feel like…I don’t know”. I think Harris might be a little self conscious, but man I like him in front of a camera.

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

I like his game. I think he has a chance to get the #3 spot.

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Agreed, that was my feeling back in July, if he can stay healthy.

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Originally Posted by Shoes

Agreed, that was my feeling back in July, if he can stay healthy.

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I admit, I was no fan of Gentry. But I read that he’s stronger than last year and has been enthusiastically working on his blocking. I wouldn’t write him off as having the inside track to the TE3 spot yet.

How many TEs do we usually keep on the active roster?

I was liking the way Gentry was playing as well. If Freiermuth takes over in all the running formations, which I assume he will, then you might as well call Ebron a WR.

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Originally Posted by HollywoodSteel

I admit, I was no fan of Gentry. But I read that he’s stronger than last year and has been enthusiastically working on his blocking. I wouldn’t write him off as having the inside track to the TE3 spot yet.

How many TEs do we usually keep on the active roster?

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I believe 3 on the roster & 1 on the PS is the norm. My vote for Rader is his ability to play ST, which he is pretty good at. I also think he has better hands and blocking ability. TE’s@ 6’8” & 6’9” just seem to lose overall athletic ability, IMO.
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Originally Posted by Shoes

I believe 3 on the roster & 1 on the PS is the norm. My vote for Rader is his ability to play ST, which he is pretty good at. I also think he has better hands and blocking ability. TE’s@ 6’8” & 6’9” just seem to lose overall athletic ability, IMO.
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It probably doesn’t ultimately matter which one is active and which one is on the PS until one of our top two gets injured. That being the case, if Rader is good enough on ST to get a hat on game day then I can certainly see the argument for him being the one on the active roster.

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Originally Posted by HollywoodSteel

It probably doesn’t ultimately matter which one is active and which one is on the PS until one of our top two gets injured. That being the case, if Rader is good enough on ST to get a hat on game day then I can certainly see the argument for him being the one on the active roster.

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I just hope #1 & 2 stay healthy.

Wait. I thought a blocking TE to spur the run game was the big goal. Haven't seen any discussion of actual blocks.

The catches are very nice. But I thought the goal was to limit the passing game.

I get more optimistic about PF each week. But has he blocked anyone yet? I honestly haven't seen anything one way or the other.

he can't be worse than ebron at blocking so it'll be an improvement :chuckle:

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Wait. I thought a blocking TE to spur the run game was the big goal. Haven't seen any discussion of actual blocks.

The catches are very nice. But I thought the goal was to limit the passing game.

I get more optimistic about PF each week. But has he blocked anyone yet? I honestly haven't seen anything one way or the other.

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I think the goal of the TE end is to be complete as possible, but you are not going to see that after two preseason games. Yes, I've seen his blocking improve. Alex had a video of this on SD, but I can't find it at the moment. Does he need work? Yes, but all rookies do.

Here is a set of about 7 clips from the lions game. They have his pass plays at the beginning and the blocking in the second half of the article, is he Miller yet? No, but he will get there. Is he a mauler? No but Heath wasn't either. Also clips from school (he is #87 there). I have no concerns about his blocking ability, I think he will prove to be at least as good as Heath in blocking ability. Since we give early drafted rookie players 3-4 years to develop, I think its a bit early to expect every part of PF game to be complete after only playing in two partially played preseason games. He has the tools and desire to become a complete TE.

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/08/fi...aturday-night/


https://steelersdepot.com/2021/05/fi...lers-run-game/

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Wait. I thought a blocking TE to spur the run game was the big goal. Haven't seen any discussion of actual blocks.

The catches are very nice. But I thought the goal was to limit the passing game.

I get more optimistic about PF each week. But has he blocked anyone yet? I honestly haven't seen anything one way or the other.

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He blocked well in college. Is there a reason that his blocking would degrade drastically in the NFL?

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Originally Posted by Shoes

I think the goal of the TE end is to be complete as possible, but you are not going to see that after two preseason games. Yes, I've seen his blocking improve. Alex had a video of this on SD, but I can't find it at the moment. Does he need work? Yes, but all rookies do.

Here is a set of about 7 clips from the lions game. They have his pass plays at the beginning and the blocking in the second half of the article, is he Miller yet? No, but he will get there. Is he a mauler? No but Heath wasn't either. Also clips from school (he is #87 there). I have no concerns about his blocking ability, I think he will prove to be at least as good as Heath in blocking ability. Since we give early drafted rookie players 3-4 years to develop, I think its a bit early to expect every part of PF game to be complete after only playing in two partially played preseason games. He has the tools and desire to become a complete TE.

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/08/fi...aturday-night/


https://steelersdepot.com/2021/05/fi...lers-run-game/

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He makes a nice block to seal the LB a couple times on pulls. On others he seems unsure, but also noticed that he leads with his left shoulder where possible. I bet its because the Shoulder Surgery was on the Right Shoulder.

Looking good so far. Adds a player with good route running skills and great hands to the mix and has shown to be a willing blocker. Looks like TE1 to me.

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

He makes a nice block to seal the LB a couple times on pulls. On others he seems unsure, but also noticed that he leads with his left shoulder where possible. I bet its because the Shoulder Surgery was on the Right Shoulder.

Looking good so far. Adds a player with good route running skills and great hands to the mix and has shown to be a willing blocker. Looks like TE1 to me.

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Good point on his shoulder. I'm sure he is consciously or subconsciously still trying to protect himself. Here is the link I mentioned above against the eagles.

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/08/fi...early-mistake/

Thanks for the info! I'm totally excited about this dude and think he will b3 really good! I figure a red zone and short area weapon at first and the total package by next season.

Muth has got to be the TE1. If not immediately, within 6 weeks. He's the deal. Draft him now all you fantasy players.

I think perhaps the most important factor in elevating him to TE1, in practice if not in name, is that Ben obviously trusts him already. Perhaps more so than Ebron at this point.

I mean what is Ebron better at? Okay, I’m sure he’s the more polished route runner of the two, but the perfect route is meaningless if you can’t be counted on to actually catch it.

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Originally Posted by HollywoodSteel

I mean what is Ebron better at? Okay, I’m sure he’s the more polished route runner of the two, but the perfect route is meaningless if you can’t be counted on to actually catch it.

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Actually, I think that Muth gets in and out of breaks better than Ebron. Ebron is larger and probably a bigger catch radius, but he seems to run high and round off his routes more, where Friermuth breaks down, sinks hips and makes better cuts.

I basically see this. Better hands?...Freiermuth. Better Route Runner?....PatFry. Better blocker? Lets say even at this point, because havent seen enough NFL blocks from the rookie. Catch radius? Ebron has a bit longer arms and maybe a better vertical. I agree with you....what is Ebron actually better at, other then being a veteran.

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Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

Actually, I think that Muth gets in and out of breaks better than Ebron. Ebron is larger and probably a bigger catch radius, but he seems to run high and round off his routes more, where Friermuth breaks down, sinks hips and makes better cuts.

I basically see this. Better hands?...Freiermuth. Better Route Runner?....PatFry. Better blocker? Lets say even at this point, because havent seen enough NFL blocks from the rookie. Catch radius? Ebron has a bit longer arms and maybe a better vertical. I agree with you....what is Ebron actually better at, other then being a veteran.

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Match up issue? Ebron has a size speed ratio thing on most DBs. I guess we gotta see that yet for Friar Catch.

Freiermuth made two great catches. Ebron dropped a ball in his bread basket. Nothing more needs to be said.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Match up issue? Ebron has a size speed ratio thing on most DBs. I guess we gotta see that yet for Friar Catch.

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OK, lets give him something like that as an advantage over PatFry. Ebron ran a 4.60 at his combine. Good long speed, but really nothing that any CB cant run, but he should be a mismatch against most LB's.

Still, I think the former #10 overall pick in 2014, Ebron has shown he really isnt anything more than a #2 TE in the league. So either the Steelers have found their new #1 TE, or they have a couple #2TE's in reality.

I have no problem with that.