PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth has had a quiet start to the season, catching only seven passes for 65 yards. Freiermuth’s slow start is partially due to personnel decisions.
Instead of using Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith in the Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith turned the dial all the way up with massive tight end Darnell Washington and extra offensive lineman Spencer Anderson instead.
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“We have a certain personality, particularly when we play 4-3 teams,” Mike Tomlin explained on Tuesday when asked about the Steelers’ heavy package against Minnesota. “I haven’t been bashful about that. That’s why we drafted Darnell Washington. You can’t play 4-3 teams with 250-pound tight ends. There are weight classes in combat sports for a reason. When the edge people are 300 pounds, you better have somebody out there that looks like that animal.
“That was our intentions in Minnesota. As we move into divisional play in the next couple of weeks and we’re playing two 4-3 teams, chances are you’re going to see more of that. It’s unfair at times to ask guys like pat Freiermuth and Connor [Heyward] to block 4-3 ends. That’s not realistic if you want to have a good real run game day.”
Along with not being utilized often, Freiermuth has not played great when giving an opportunity. He dropped a deep pass in Week 2 and has not been on the same page with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on several occasions. He also missed a block on a field goal attempt against the Minnesota Vikings that resulted in a blocked kick.
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Former Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke believes the team needs to get Freiermuth more involved or things could get ugly in a hurry.
“They’re paying those guys too much money,” Hoke said on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan. “I mean, they’re paying Freiermuth I think $10 million per year, so they’ve got to get him in the game. Him to play what, 15-16 percent of the snaps? Freiermuth’s not gonna be happy, so they’ve got to find a way to get him involved in the offense.”
Freiermuth is on pace to have the worst statistical season of his NFL career.
That’s not anywhere close to the type of production the Steelers are paying him for. Last offseason, the team signed Freiermuth to a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension, which puts him among the league’s top 10 highest-paid tight ends.
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Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
