When the Steelers selected tight end Zach Gentry in the 5th round of the 2019 draft you knew he was a project. Heck, he was project at Michigan where was a quarterback before switching to tight end his final two seasons, catching 49 passes for 847 yards and 4 touchdowns in 21 games.
After dressing for just four games his rookie season and only two in 2020, it appeared Gentry might be headed for the dreaded “draft bust” heap. That was before the Steelers drafted Pat Freiermuth.
But instead of thinking his Pittsburgh days might be numbered, Gentry dug in. Knowing that Eric Ebron and Freiermuth are more the pass-catching types he bulked up to make him a better blocker. Not only that, he also worked on his receiving skills and Gentry - the project - is developing into a viable member of an improving Steelers offense.
Gentry says he didn’t really blink when they used a high pick on Freiermuth. “The Steelers are typically a team that plays with multiple tight ends,” he reasoned. “I knew there wasn’t one tight end who’s going to play every snap. All us kind have our different roles in the offense and it’s been good for us to complement one another.”
Gentry played a season-high 22 snaps in the win over Denver so maybe it’s no coincidence that Najee Harris ran for 122 yards, his first 100-yard game in the NFL. “Yeah, I think I was definitely a part of it.
Everybody on the interior O-line and tight ends were part of it but I thought I did a pretty good job blocking last game and I think we did as a unit as well.”
Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada always talks about matchups dictating his line-up and strategy so Gentry knows there is no guarantee that his playing time will continue to increase. But he will enjoy it while it lasts.
“I’m just kind of taking it as it comes,” he shrugs. “I’m preparing every day during the week trying to make the most of my opportunities but it’s been a lot of fun. It’s definitely more fun when I’m getting a lot of run and being able to showcase the things I can do.”
That now includes catching a pass here and there. He had a 10 yard catch in Green Bay then a 13-yarder last Sunday. Both went for first downs. The one against Denver involved some slight trickeration.
“It was a little set-up screen,” Gentry explains. “I made (the defender) think that I was pass blocking so I shoved him off and he thought I was committed to the pass-block. It perfectly worked out and I was able to get a little bit of run after. Coach Canada did a good job with that call because a lot of times I am in pass protection in those sets so it kind of caught them off-guard.”
Gentry and his fellow tight ends may see a few more balls come their way now that JuJu Smith-Schuster is out for the season. “Yeah, I think we’re ready to step up if they need us to step up,” he says. “We have three guys every week that can go in and make plays whether it’s the run game or pass receiving. I’m not sure exactly how that’s going to shake out. We also have some receivers who are going to step up and do some good things but I wouldn’t be opposed to getting more balls in the tight end room, that’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, it turns out that the rookie who may have threatened Gentry’s job is actually cut from the same cloth. “Pat and I get along really well,” he says. “When they drafted him a couple guys in the building had told me they thought that we would be really close; that we’re pretty similar personality-wise. He’s one of my good buddies to be sure.”
But a Penn State guy and a Michigan man? In an NFL locker room full of Big Ten players? “There’s definitely a lot of talk, between him and the Watts and everybody,” Gentry laughs.
What about Cam Heyward? Doesn’t Gentry talk Big Ten football with him?
“Not really. Until we play Ohio State and he wants to put money on it.”