During the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers encountered significant challenges on offense, notably at the center position. Starting center Mason Cole struggled with consistent snapping, which became a persistent issue throughout the year, ultimately leading to his release after the season concluded.
Looking to address this crucial position, the Steelers drafted Zach Frazier from West Virginia in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Frazier, renowned for his standout collegiate career, carries immense potential to become a cornerstone at center for the Steelers. Despite high expectations of potentially starting as a rookie, Frazier has been practicing with the second-team unit early in training camp, limiting his opportunities to showcase his skills to the coaching staff.
Frazier's pivotal moment arrives with the upcoming introduction of pads on Tuesday, marking his first significant opportunity to prove his readiness for the starting role from the outset of the season. Evaluating the Steelers' training camp developments, analysts Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo recently dissected the team's progress on the North Shore Drive podcast. Carter emphasized that Frazier must seize this upcoming padded practice to close the gap on Nate Herbig, the veteran center currently leading the first-team offense during camp.
"We haven’t had a chance to see much of Zach Frazier yet. He had a bad snap early in camp. I haven’t noted too many big mistakes from him since," Carter said. "This is going to be his real chance to show out a little more."
Evaluating tackles without pads is easier to do, but the center position is more challenging to assess in that context. According to Carter, the only effective way to judge centers without pads is by ensuring they make correct call-outs and deliver accurate snaps.
However, Carter believes that once the pads are on, Frazier will have a real opportunity to challenge Herbig for the starting center position.
"So far, Zach Frazier has just been working with the second team. When the pads go on, these are the days he needs to make up ground on Nate Herbig if he wants to earn a starting spot by Week 1."
As the Steelers gear up for the new season, all eyes are on Frazier, with hopes that he can transition his impressive college performance into a successful NFL debut and secure the starting center position right from the start. Herbig, the current candidate for the role, brings five seasons of NFL experience but has started only 30 games, and has never been a starting center despite playing the position.
Herbig’s NFL experience includes 12 starts as a right guard for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020, 11 starts in the same position for the New York Jets in 2022, and two starts as a guard for the Steelers in 2023. While Herbig’s versatility is valuable, the prospect of him starting at center is somewhat concerning given his limited experience in that role. It’s likely that, regardless of camp performance, Herbig’s time as the starting center might be short-lived.
The Steelers may prefer to gradually integrate Frazier into the starting lineup. If this is the approach, Herbig could serve as a temporary solution until the coaching staff feels confident in Frazier’s readiness. A strong showing from Frazier in the remainder of camp and preseason games would significantly increase his chances of starting as the 2024 season begins.
Steelers' Zach Frazier Ready To Win The Starting Center Job
Frazier, a highly regarded center from the draft, has generated considerable excitement among Steelers fans, who are eager to see how his potential translates into professional play.
Although Frazier has had limited opportunities thus far, the upcoming padded practices will provide him with a crucial chance to demonstrate his abilities. There is considerable pressure on Frazier to secure the starting role as a rookie, and fans are enthusiastic to see him step up and showcase his talent when the pads come on.
