PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s an eventful first weekend in Pittsburgh for second round pick Pat Freiermuth. Meeting his rookie teammates, studying the playbook and has dinner plans with Ben Roethlisberger.
“He’s an awesome guy,” Freiermuth said. “He’s taking me, Najee and Kendrick out to dinner Saturday night.”
Imagine the ears listening in on that conversation. It’s the first of several Freiermuth has had with his quarterback via text. He’ll have others.
“It’s pretty cool seeing him when I was a young kid,” Freiermuth said. “’Oh, that’s Ben Roethlisberger’ and now my locker is right next to him. It’s pretty cool and definitely surreal.”
It doesn’t appear Freiermuth will ask Ben immediately for passes his way, the Penn Stater says he plans to start his career with physicality.
“Wanted to bring back the mentality I had my freshman year just go in there and block for him as hard as I can, make some plays in the run game,” Freiermuth said. “The plays in the pass game are going to come. I’m not going to push for that. I’m here to make an impact blocking right away.”
He made a huge impact in State College, the all-time leader in touchdown catches by a tight end in PSU history. He also says he never dropped a pass in the red zone during his entire college career.
“That’s where plays are there for the taking,” Freiermuth said. “You get very limited opportunities down there so when I got my number called I wanted to make the most of it. The red zone is time to focus in, score some points and make touchdowns.”
The Steelers hired a new offensive coordinator to do just that. Along with improving the run game. The rookie has a first peak at the Matt Canada offense.
“It’s complex, but it’s simple in the same way,” Freiermuth said. “I think Coach Canada puts guys on the field where they can create mismatches. I think he does a good job understanding and figuring out what the defensive weaknesses are.”
“I can see that with the looks that he gave out there today and what he’s put together in camp so far. I really like the offense and enjoy being in it so far.”
There is one thing he doesn’t like. It has nothing to do with the Steelers offense, uniform number, traffic on the Parkway. It has to do with his nickname, Baby Gronk (named obviously after Tampa Bay TE Rob Gronkowski, a Woodland Hills grad)
“I guess it came about because I’m from that area,” Freiermuth said of the origin of the nickname. “Wore 87, obviously Gronk played for the Patriots a long time. Kind of grew up watching him.”
But if you see him on the streets or message him on social media, please don’t use that nickname.
“I hate it because I think it’s pretty annoying being called Baby Gronk. I’m trying to get away from that nickname. Don’t want to be called that.”
He didn’t explain any further, but the awkward laugh when saying it during the Zoom call showed his annoyance. Maybe it’s a way to distance himself from his Patriots fandom now that he’s a Steeler?
No doubt he will get a new nickname.
Does anything not think when he catches his first pass at Heinz Field that however many fans are allowed in won’t yell.
“Muuuuth!”