He hasn’t labored with him simply but, however Pittsburgh Steelers veteran tight finish Pat Freiermuth can’t wait to get to work with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers and get down the nuances of the sport between quarterback and tight finish.
Showing on Cameron Heyward’s Not Simply Soccer with Cam Heyward podcast, Freiermuth said that being on the identical web page with Rodgers and understanding what each are on the lookout for in conditions, how Freiermuth breaks out of his cuts, and the place Rodgers likes to place the soccer in the midst of the sphere are key, and issues he desires to work on instantly with Rodgers.
That may begin Tuesday throughout necessary minicamp on the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated on the South Aspect.
“I’d most likely go over like the way in which I run my selection routes or my in cuts. Simply sort of seeing what depth and the way he’s seeing indicator steps, simply all of the little nuances of these routes,” Freiermuth mentioned of what he’d prefer to work with Rodgers on instantly, in line with video by way of the present’s YouTube web page. “‘Trigger, I believe, that’s what I’m good at proper now. So simply sort of determining how you can get on the identical web page on that method.”
Freiermuth is coming off a robust fourth NFL season, ending with 65 receptions for 653 yards and 7 touchdowns and tying his profession excessive in touchdowns courting again to his rookie season when he was catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger.
Since that nice rookie season, Freiermuth has needed to work with 5 completely different beginning quarterbacks in Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. That’s a whole lot of names and faces to be accustomed to and attempt to set up chemistry and rapport with.
To Freiermuth’s credit score, he was in a position to do it final season with Fields and Wilson, turning into an enormous a part of the offense within the first 12 months beneath coordinator Arthur Smith. Now, coming into 12 months 2 beneath Smith, Freiermuth might want to set up chemistry with a brand new quarterback in Rodgers.
Rodgers lacking offseason time earlier than signing final week places the pass-catching mixture behind only a bit, however Freiermuth isn’t too anxious about that. He’s simply thrilled to get to work with a quarterback the caliber of Rodgers, one who sees the center of the sphere very effectively and will give Freiermuth an opportunity to supply in that space of the sphere as soon as once more.
These middle-of-the-field routes are those Freiermuth is most excited to run this season along with his new quarterback.
“Most likely just like the seam routes or in cuts or like deeper digs. I believe I’m excited for that,” Freiermuth mentioned. “I believe he sees the sphere very effectively within the center portion of it, so I’m very excited to sort of get working with him and speaking with him by that stuff.”
Final season Freiermuth had some success in the midst of the sphere, even when it was a location that the Steelers didn’t assault a lot within the passing sport. Based on Professional Soccer Focus, 32 of Freiermuth’s 65 receptions got here between the numbers on 38 targets, good for 390 yards and 4 touchdowns. One goal to Freiermuth was intercepted, whereas he had three drops in the midst of the sphere.
Rodgers had some success in the midst of the sphere final season with the Jets, too, throwing for two,077 yards between the numbers with 187 completions on 261 makes an attempt (71.6% completion), with 16 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, in line with PFF. Fairly strong numbers total.
Now, the Steelers simply have to belief Rodgers to throw the soccer there this season, one thing they averted with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson final season. In the event that they belief Rodgers to focus on the center of the sphere constantly, that may bode effectively for Freiermuth, who might have an enormous 12 months with the longer term Corridor of Fame quarterback beneath heart.
Placing within the work now and studying one another and getting on the identical web page will do wonders for that main into the season. Higher late than by no means.
Take a look at the total episode of Not Simply Soccer with Cam Heyward under.
