"Dude, this is it. This is what I've been waiting for. So, so stoked."
Uh-huh. It sure shows.
That was Pat Freiermuth, and I was the dude in the scenario following the Steelers' opening of OTAs on this searing Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. He couldn't wait to talk upon finally reaching his stall after a few extra drills with his fellow tight ends, so much that he didn't peel off the first pad before blurting out what's above while absolutely beaming.
So hey, I know how to take a cue ...
• I asked about the opportunity he'll have with a new coordinator in Arthur Smith, a new quarterback in Russell Wilson, and a whole new offense which, from what I was picking up here throughout the day, will have a whole lot of No. 88 in it: "It's just a dream. This is what I was drafted to do. This is the player I've always been."
• I asked if he's prepared, given the current composition of the wide receiver corps, to maybe be a secondary target after George Pickens: "I'm ready for anything they throw my way. And they know that. But yeah, it's exciting."
• I asked about the Smith offense, in general: “Here's what I'll say: It’s going to benefit us a lot. Moving us around, showcasing our best abilities of what we’re capable of, but also not giving tells. I think he does a great job with formations, adjustments, shifts and stuff. That’s going to be really good for us to execute. But so far I’m seeing it, understanding the offense. It’s been great so far."
• I asked about "not giving tells," and he just smiled. Oh, Matt Canada. Still missed in this place.
NFL
• I asked how big he's thinking and, within that, to what extent he's motivated by not having put up the expected receiving numbers in his NFL career to date, as seen above: “I’m going to be a part of this offense, and I can’t wait. I’m excited to finally be able to showcase my abilities.”
• I asked if, entering a contract year, he might use that as extra motivation: "That's not me. They know that here."
• I asked what he'd do to ensure he'd stay on the field more than in 2023: "Going into this offseason, I just wanted to look at my routine. Obviously, I had soft-tissue injuries last year and just wanted to see if I could change anything up. I met with a dietitian. I met with my trainer back home. I met with a speed coach. Kind of changed how I was approaching things on a workout basis in the offseason."
• I asked for greater detail, since something looked different about him but I couldn't quite pin it down: "Physically, I just feel like I’m more explosive, especially off the line. I think last year, I was more trying to figure out where to go, trying to figure out my body, my stance, all of that, even in Year 3. It’s just evolving. I think, this year, I feel comfortable with my body the way it moves, working with the speed coach, understanding how it moves. A little twitch work, some triple-extension, my technique and my get-off ... every little thing like that, just refining it."
• I asked if he'd gained/lost weight in the process: "It’s more of a redistribution, understanding my body, understanding the way it moves, how it processes things. I just refined things.”
• Finally, I asked him to confirm what Calvin Austin had shared with me from a nearby stall, that he had, in fact, made two sensational catches on this afternoon, both of those on routes he normally wouldn't have been running in the past: "Ha! Yeah, but that's part of the fun. I'm going all over. I'm lining up all over. And from there, I'm just working to make the plays I know I've got to make."
At which point, from that nearby stall, Austin chimed in, "It's the Year of Pat Freiermuth!"
All I'll add: We'll see. I've trusted the kid from Day 1, I've respected his work ethic and, at times, I've been as moved by his talent as anyone. But he's 25, and prospect status begins to fade in the rear-view mirror at that age, and the potential's got to blossom into production. It just does.
Smith loves his tight ends. Not just because they're part of the power game but also because they can bring that bonus element of skill and speed if applied properly. In Atlanta this past season, the Falcons targeted wide receiver Drake London 110 times, and the next two in that line were tight ends, Kyle Pitts at 90 and Jonnu Smith at 70. Next-highest wide receiver was Mack Collins with 30.
See where this might be headed?
I brought that up with Freiermuth. All I got back was another big smile.
TAYLOR OLLASON / STEELERS
Defensive players prepare for drills Tuesday on the South Side.
• I've got much to say about the offensive line, which, left to right, had a first unit of Dan Moore, Isaac Seumalo, Nate Herbig, James Daniels and, yeah, Broderick Jones. I've got so much to say, in fact, that I'll write an extra column.
• In fact, I'll write an additional extra column covering the quarterbacks since I came away impressed by Justin Fields here.
• Mike Tomlin didn't steer clear of a couple subjects he tends to avoid in these settings, which surprised me a little. Specifically, he fully addressed Cam Heyward's absence, Najee Harris' late arrival, Harris' fifth-year option not being exercised and even Cole Holcomb's recovery from injury. All of that, in the past, would've been either off-limits or off-putting. Just saying.
• Tomlin on Heyward: “I’m not overly concerned to be honest with you. This is a guy with over 10,000 snaps in this league." He added that they spoke by phone the previous day, with Tomlin keeping him informed of team affairs because of his role as defensive captain. Nothing to see here, my friends. Like, at all. Tomlin wouldn't have wanted Heyward eating up reps the coaches could be using to see new players, anyway.
• Tomlin on Harris not being around in the morning: “It was personal business we were aware of on the front end. He was excused by me and got here ASAP.” Nothing to see here, either.
• Tomlin on not exercising Harris' fifth-year option and whether that had to do with the running back market: “It could reflect a lot of things, but there's probably some depth to those waters. Sometimes it’s position-related and things of that nature. There's a business component to this, to all the decisions we make. There are layers to it. I’m not going to characterize it in simplicity. That probably would be inappropriate.” Hm. Might be something to see here. Time will tell.
• Harris didn't do interviews. He was asked.
• Only other on-field moving parts Tomlin would mention: Donte Jackson and Joey Porter Jr. did some "flipping" through drills, meaning they occasionally rotated. He suggested that's something that's continue for both through the summer, allowing for further flexibility.
• Sights and sounds, courtesy of our staff:
• Most uplifting sight on the afternoon: Cory Trice in full uniform and participating, and Cole Holcomb not participating but walking about with no brace, no visible issues. Of the latter, Tomlin would say, "He's working to get back to us and doing a heck of a job of it."
• I had a good talk with Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts about the new set of inside linebackers, with Payton Wilson sitting silently nearby as a proper rookie will do. They're loving what they've got. Imagine if they'll have a healthy Holcomb, as well.
• Second-most uplifting sight was Troy Polamalu and a slew of other former Steelers on hand for his Resilience Bowl charity event at Acrisure Stadium later in the evening, notably: Half of Casey Hampton, one-fourth of Mike Adams (seriously, nobody recognized the guy), Bryant McFadden, Byron Leftwich, Arthur Moats, Ryan Shazier, Will Allen, Carnell Lake, Chris Hoke and Ike Taylor. They took a team photo afterward:
TAYLOR OLLASON / STEELERS
• So hot here. Upper 80s. Players were sprinting toward the water through the whole thing. They really felt this, even without pads.
• Thanks for reading my football coverage.
• And for listening:
