LATROBE, Pa. -- If you sit back and watch Nate Herbig and Zach Frazier during practice at Saint Vincent College, you probably wouldn't see one without the other.
Since the former Mountaineer was picked with the 51st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Herbig and Frazier have become close, as players who play the same position often do. They normally talk on the sideline during practice, with Frazier asking Herbig questions and Herbig answering with tips and pieces of advice. It's a natural relationship for a six-year veteran to have with a rookie who plays the same position.
"He’s helping me out a ton and I’m really thankful for him and his help," Frazier told me after practice Monday.
But that relationship goes beyond the field as well as Herbig told me the two have become pretty good friends away from the game. One would think that battling for the same position may strain a friendship like theirs, but it's quite the opposite. They understand the NFL is business and don't let that affect them off the field.
"Whoever plays or whatever happens, it has nothing to do with my relationship with him," Herbig said. "I’m not going to lie, we’ve built such a strong bond as friends that we just wish nothing but the best for each other. That’s how it is. All is fair in love and war."
Throughout camp, Herbig has had a strong grasp on the center position and was specifically taking first-team reps leading into Friday's preseason opener against the Texans. Then, two fumbled snaps between Herbig and Justin Fields killed the first two drives and ultimately highlighted a "JV" performance, as Mike Tomlin described it.
However, Frazier's performance may be one of the positive takeaways from the game. He played 39 offensive snaps, the second-highest amount of any offensive player from the Steelers, tallied a 72.2 run blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus, and didn't give up any sacks or quarterback pressures. That type of performance, and Tomlin's desire to give a few younger players more practice reps, earned Frazier first-team reps during the past two practices.
"I love when he balls out, like, I’m super excited for him," Herbig said. "He’s been performing great these past couple of weeks and had a great game. He’s a great dude, I’m honestly stoked for him. I’m super happy for him. I know his parents are proud. He’s talked about making his parents proud and I’m just proud of him, honestly."
After practice on Sunday, Tomlin expressed his desire to see the rookies improve as he believes they should be able to build on their first experience in the stadium while preparing for the next one. Frazier has done that the past two days while bouncing back and forth between the first and second teams.
When he's not on the field, he's asking questions, inquiring about different techniques and attempting to make the most of his opportunity.
"Every time I’m out there, I’m giving it everything I have," Frazier said. "For me, those reps are important. I feel like the more reps I get, the more I learn. I just feel like anytime you get reps, you have to take advantage of it. That’s what camp is about, getting reps and learning as much as you can, especially for me as a rookie."
What makes this situation even more interesting is at times when Frazier has played with the first team, Herbig has moved to right guard. That's where he has played for most of his career and it's been the first line the Steelers have gone to the past two days when Frazier steps in at center. It's no secret that Tomlin values versatility and Herbig's ability to play multiple positions will bode well for the Steelers as the makeup of the offensive line continues to shake out.
But as for the center position, the results are still unclear. Herbig said he will play wherever they ask him to and while Frazier has played well, he says he's still working out the kinks.
"There’s nothing that I’m not working on," he told me.
If he turns in another solid performance Saturday at Acrisure Stadium against the Bills, I'm sure he'll take another step toward the starting center position and Herbig will be pushing him along the way.
