He performed simply 55 snaps final season earlier than lacking virtually all of his rookie season with a knee damage, however forward of Yr 2 within the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers proper deal with Troy Fautanu is producing fairly a little bit of buzz.
After being believed to be the perfect offensive lineman final summer time in coaching camp and having loads of hype coming into his rookie season, issues got here crashing down rapidly. Fautanu injured his knee in his preseason debut towards the Houston Texans after which missed simply over a month, returning in Week 2 to make his first NFL begin towards the Denver Broncos.
Fautanu was fairly good in his debut, however the next week in observe, Fautanu injured his knee once more, placing him on the shelf for the season. He’s largely an unknown at this level coming into Yr 2, however that hasn’t stopped loads of Steelers reporters from talking extremely of the previous first-round choose.
That features 93.7 The Fan Steelers reporter Jeff Hathhorn. Throughout an look on The Fan’s Morning Present Thursday, Hathhorn stated Fautanu has the potential to be an excellent NFL offensive lineman.
“While you see his footwork, we noticed it somewhat bit within the preseason and a little or no bit in a recreation. The man, he can get to the second degree, like most tackles can’t. His skill to go laterally, go up the sphere, it truly is spectacular,” Hathhorn stated of Fautanu when requested if he’s the perfect offensive lineman the Steelers have, in keeping with audio through 93.7 The Fan. “I do assume he’s the perfect deal with, possibly the perfect of the guards, however man, Zach Frazier’s fairly particular. I don’t know if I might go so far as saying that he’s higher than Frazier, however man, they do love his potential if you watch him in these situations.
“Now, it’s about doing it persistently towards the perfect within the league and, and the way you maintain up towards that type of bodily take a look at. However man, if you watch him in area, particularly in OTAs, minicamp and issues like that, the man simply wows you.”
That definitely must be music to the ears of Steelers followers.
After the Steelers chosen Fautanu No. 20 general within the 2024 NFL Draft, expectations had been sky-high for the Washington product. He was anticipated to be a linchpin for the Steelers’ offensive line because it accelerated its rebuild with him within the first spherical, adopted by Frazier within the second spherical and Mason McCormick within the fourth spherical.
Although the preliminary knee damage was a troublesome blow for the Steelers, Fautanu was capable of return for Week 2 and regarded fairly good towards the Broncos. In 55 snaps, Fautanu was named Professional Soccer Focus’ Participant of the Recreation within the 13-6 in over the Broncos. That day, Fautanu graded out at a 64.4 general, together with a 69.3 pass-blocking grade, permitting simply two pressures.
Issues had been actually trying up after that recreation, so when he was misplaced for the season, it was an enormous blow. He’s wholesome now and is drawing the reward of his teammates for the way he’s regarded this offseason. With Broderick Jones flipping over to the left facet, Fautanu is sliding again into the beginning function at proper deal with beneath offensive line coach Pat Meyer. He has fairly a bit to show in Yr 2.
Hopefully he’s capable of keep wholesome and assist the remainder of the offensive line maintain Aaron Rodgers upright at QB, whereas opening up speeding lanes for the three-headed backfield in rookie Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. It could be nice to see Fautanu wow individuals on the sphere in actual video games, quite than simply offseason exercises for now.
