Pittsburgh Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick is probably not creating splash performs on the similar stage the previous couple of years than when he was first acquired by the staff, however he’s nonetheless one of many league’s greatest safeties and his function goes past what he’s doing on the sphere. Chatting with the media this week through the staff’s obligatory minicamp, Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth mentioned that Fitzpatrick has been an excellent useful resource for the staff’s quarterbacks by enjoying in opposition to him and with the ability to decide his mind.
“With the ability to play in opposition to Minkah each single day is so academic. It’s sort of like having a man like Aaron [Rodgers] on our facet. You could have a man like Minkah who’s such a cerebral participant, such an elite participant on this league, and you realize, decide his mind and see how he sees the sport from his perspective of a security, what he’s taking a look at, how he’s trying on the quarterback’s demeanor, eyes, all these issues is superior. And he’ll ask our guys and me as many questions as we’re attempting to ask him,” Arth mentioned through Put up-Gazette Sports activities on YouTube.
Arth mentioned Fitzpatrick comes down throughout particular person drills and catches balls and tries to get ideas from the angle of a quarterback, and mentioned having Fitzpatrick round is “nice for our staff.”
Fitzpatrick has at all times tried to search out methods to get higher and enhance his recreation, so it’s no shock that he’s attempting to choose the mind of quarterbacks and see what they’re in search of and the way they’re viewing the sport. His offering his experience on the opposite finish to assist the quarterbacks perceive what he’s in search of at security and understanding how a protection could also be attempting to learn them is barely going to assist that complete room get higher.
It’s not usually {that a} quarterback coach talks up a security for serving to make his room higher, nevertheless it reveals the distinctiveness of a participant like Fitzpatrick. Not solely is he a frontrunner and a mentor for Pittsburgh’s protection, however he will help on the offensive facet of the ball. He’s a participant that quarterbacks have prevented previously few years which is one trigger for his lack of splash performs and interceptions, however the Steelers offense has to go in opposition to him on daily basis in observe. Going up in opposition to a participant of his caliber makes the unit higher, and studying what he’s considering and what he’s in search of will assist the quarterbacks more practical assault defenses.
The Steelers nonetheless place confidence in Minkah Fitzpatrick, and with the additional work he’s placing in to be taught from the quarterbacks and in addition assist them out, 2025 may very well be a return to kind for the previous All-Professional.
