PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – New Steelers tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts believes he has a situation like he had in Indy. Where the Steelers now have multiple tight ends who can do multiple things now that Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth has joined veteran Eric Ebron.
“Having some experience in Indianapolis with Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen,” Roberts said. “It kind of fits like that for me with guys that have the opportunity to take advantage of defenses. We can run the football with those guys and we can get them out in space and throw the football with those guys.”
In 2014, Fleener and Allen combined for 80 catches, 1161 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Obviously the first year Steelers coach is excited about the 6’5” Freiermuth, who set the Penn State career record for touchdowns by a tight end with 16. He believes Freiermuth can line up tight, wide or in the backfield and will only get better.
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Before then, there is some work to do. There are some blocking techniques to improve and he needs to get stronger and more efficient. Roberts believes Freiermuth has better than average ability to get downfield.
“The things that we will ask him to do,” Roberts said. “He will have the opportunity to get vertical. He will have the opportunity to run the intermediate route tree. He really catches the ball with ease and does some nice after the catch. I think he has a lot of potential and upside.”
Roberts was at the Penn State Pro day and believes Freiermuth is more accomplished than to just be a project.
“He’s a serious, but fun guy,” Roberts said. “He has some position flexibility. He’s going to be a throwback tight end. He can play the position. He can do multiple things. You can flex him out. He can do a lot of different things in a lot of different sets.”
With the adds of Freiermuth and first round running back Najee Harris, Roberts believes it will be fun, game-planning this year.