Although he had an amazing rookie season and the longer term seems exceptionally shiny for him, Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year heart Zach Frazier discovered himself on the skin wanting in Saturday morning.
In ESPN.com’s nameless NFL executives, scouts, and coaches survey rating one of the best gamers at every place group, Frazier wasn’t ranked among the many finest inside offensive linemen. He didn’t even get an honorable point out, both.
Nonetheless, Frazier was listed amongst these receiving votes. It’s unclear what number of votes he obtained, however there have been two facilities within the high 10, and two further facilities within the honorable point out. Kansas Metropolis’s Creed Humphrey was ranked No. 1, whereas Baltimore’s Tyler Linderbaum landed at No. 10.
New Orleans’ Erik McCoy and Philadelphia’s Cam Jurgens have been highlighted within the honorable point out part. Frazier was joined by Los Angeles’ Steve Avila, Minnesota’s Ryan Kelly, and Chicago’s Drew Dalman as facilities within the others receiving votes.
Frazier began straight away final season with the Steelers and went on to be the most effective facilities in soccer.
A second-round pick of West Virginia, Frazier hit the bottom working and was a big impression piece for the Black and Gold. He graded out at a 77.9 general from Professional Soccer Focus, enjoying 1,021 snaps together with playoffs. On the yr, Frazier allowed simply 12 pressures and one sack, and was at his finest as a run blocker, incomes an 80.5 grade in that division.
The lone sack Frazier allowed in his rookie season got here in Week 12 on Thursday Night time Soccer towards the Cleveland Browns on the street, the place the Browns had All-Professional cross rusher Myles Garrett stunt inside to matchup towards him. Giving up just one sack on the yr, and it being to a man of Garrett’s stature, is spectacular.
Because of his nice rookie season, Frazier received the Steelers’ Joe Greene Award because the staff’s finest rookie. He additionally added to his private accolades with a first-team All-Rookie honor from the Professional Soccer Writers of America.
Now, coming into Yr 2, Frazier is taking over a much bigger management function for the Steelers’ younger offensive line. He’s the important thing man within the center and the principle constructing block round which every little thing revolves within the trenches.
Longtime beat author Mark Kaboly believes Frazier may very well be an “8-to-10-time Professional Bowler” with the Steelers, and will earn a variety of All-Execs. Although the middle place is loaded with expertise like Humphrey, Linderbaum, McCoy, Jurgens, and extra, proper across the identical age as Frazier, that’s how excessive expectations are for the second-year professional.
Hopefully, he can put collectively one other sturdy season and work his method increased up the rankings into the dialogue of not solely one of the best heart within the NFL but in addition among the many finest inside offensive linemen in soccer.
