Pat Freiermuth Set for New Expanded Role in Arthur Smith Offense.

Pat Freiermuth Set for New Expanded Role in Arthur Smith Offense.

Arthur Smith’s idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense will most likely differ from his prior stops due to the team’s distinct players.

But is there one commonality? Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers’ tight end, will most likely play a significant role. Smith has previously coached Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, and Delanie Walker, all of whom had successful seasons. Freiermuth predicts minimal change in the tight end’s use from previous Smith offenses.

He watched a lot of Pitts tapes in preparation for his new position. Freiermuth feels the Steelers will use him all over the formation, from out wide to in the slot to in-line, which will highlight his skills.

“See, when Jonnu was in Tennessee, even last year, really, Kyle, all the times that he’s had even Delanie Walker, he started using cool stuff,” Freiermuth said of Smith.” And he’s had a lot of great tight ends. And early on. It’s been two days, and early on, just seeing the flexibility where I can line up. It’s been awesome.”

Freiermuth will be more useful in spots where he is more inexperienced, but his upside as a receiver might usurp that. Injuries held him back in 2023, and he is now expanding his route tree in his fourth season with the team. Freiermuth declared that he is running more in breaking stuff like digs and slants, and on top of that, his deep route tree is far more expansive. The Matt Canada offense sometimes boxed Freiermuth in, but Smith should use him to his full capabilities as a receiver.

“Slants, digs, and all that, I’m running it,” Freiermuth said. “Yeah. Yeah. It’s been awesome to add that, that full route tree to my repertoire. And you know, it’s been great. It’s been fun. Everything’s been great.”

 

Pat Freiermuth has skills that the Steelers can embrace under Smith. With multiple tight ends, Freiermuth still expects to be a significant piece in teh run game. But his downfield game is where he hopes to leap. In years past, the Steelers would run Freiermuth down the seam as a vertical choice, but teams would take away his choice routes with little downfield offering.

 

But with more diverse route trees all around the offense, Freiermuth hopes that the speed on the outside at wide receiver and his new, versatile usage can reveal some hidden part of his game.

“I’m just reading how the safeties and corners are playing obviously, you know, as a tight end, you know, the corners and safeties aren’t really trying to you got to threaten them just because, you know. Usually, we don’t run those deeper routes, but it’s about me adding that into that game,” Freiermuth said. ” You know, making my game deeper. Also, there’s stuff I’m not going to be able to threaten, and in show DBs and stuff that I can get downfield, but then when I’m not getting off it, I can showcase that and then work off that. In years past, I wasn’t doing much downfield except there was a seam, so then people would be able to squat on my breakers, choice routes, and stuff, so it made it harder. But I think you know, me having the download can open up so much.”

 

The way Freiermuth profiles this season is very similar to how Penn State used him. Freiermuth has lined up wide but with little purpose. Now, he can go up against mismatches and spread defenses out. That changes the dynamics for Freiermuth, who is entering a contract season on top of the massive changes in the offense.

“I believe years ago, I was splitting out wide and whatnot,” Freiermuth explained. “It was either for a decoy, or I didn’t feel safe on the rocks out there.” But now that I know I’m going to be out there and work on it, and we’re going to do it every day and know what we’re doing. It reminds me of how I used to spend my time in college.”

Pat Freiermuth appears to be the Steelers’ second-best wide receiver. Roman Wilson will attend, but Freiermuth has prepared by watching Pitts and Drake London tape his role. Some of the adaptation to the role will be sharpening the ends of his game, but Pittsburgh hopes to see Freiermuth rise to the next level of tight ends under Smith.