Drafting Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft addressed the Steelers' need at center, and the former Mountaineer has lived up to every expectation thus far.
Frazier's career is off to a good start, as he was voted the winner of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as the Steelers' Rookie of the Year by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
"It's flown by," Frazier said Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex regarding his rookie season. "It's gone by fast. I feel like I've learned a lot. Just tried to build week by week, get a little bit better every week."
Frazier went into training camp as the No. 2 center, backing up Nate Herbig. However, when Herbig sustained a season-ending shoulder injury right at the end of training camp, Frazier was thrust into the starting role.
Throughout his rookie season, Frazier has taken on the role of being the leader and anchor on the offensive line. Outside of two missed games in the middle of the season with an ankle injury, Frazier's been right there as the main communicator up front. And, he's played above a rookie level throughout. He's committed just five penalties thus far, only 12 centers that have played at least 50% of 1,112 snaps this season have been flagged less often. And, he's allowed just one sack. Only four centers, under the same qualifier, were perfect in that category. So, yeah, the center position seems to have been figured out.
"Just focus on how I can get better, how I can make our team better," Frazier said. "Just overall, being more comfortable with the playbook, making calls, seeing and reading defense. At first, I had to kind of think, and now I feel like I'm out there just playing football again."
The Pittsburgh chapter of the PFWA votes on two awards annually. In addition to Frazier being named the team's Rookie of the Year, Alex Highsmith was voted as the winner of The Chief Award, which was established in honor of team founder Art Rooney, Sr., and is presented annually to the Steeler that best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media.
"It's an honor," Highsmith said. "Thank you guys for voting on this award. It's an honor to be included with a bunch of great names that have won this award in the past. Just truly an honor, and I know how much this award means to the Rooney family. It means a lot to them, it means a lot to me, it means a lot to this organization as a whole. Once again, I'm grateful to help you guys do your job. It's an honor."
Highsmith has consistently been a go-to in the locker room in just about any situation. Whether it's a one-on-one interview, a group setting or the Monday after a hard-fought win or tough loss, Highsmith has never turned away an interview.
In addition, his answers helped guide the media through the recent three-game losing streak with some insightful answers, which makes the reporter's job much easier.
"I just think it is important, you can really show who you are during those times of adversity," Highsmith said. "I know we've had a lot of adversity over these last couple weeks. We've just gotta stick together and continue to get better and work harder. That's just really the message that I've been saying in interviews. We've just gotta continue to stick together and work hard. But I think it's important to do that when times are good and when times are bad."
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
4:39 pm - 12.31.2024South SideFrazier's top rookie, Highsmith's Chief
Drafting Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft addressed the Steelers' need at center, and the former Mountaineer has lived up to every expectation thus far.
Frazier's career is off to a good start, as he was voted the winner of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as the Steelers' Rookie of the Year by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
"It's flown by," Frazier said Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex regarding his rookie season. "It's gone by fast. I feel like I've learned a lot. Just tried to build week by week, get a little bit better every week."
Frazier went into training camp as the No. 2 center, backing up Nate Herbig. However, when Herbig sustained a season-ending shoulder injury right at the end of training camp, Frazier was thrust into the starting role.
Throughout his rookie season, Frazier has taken on the role of being the leader and anchor on the offensive line. Outside of two missed games in the middle of the season with an ankle injury, Frazier's been right there as the main communicator up front. And, he's played above a rookie level throughout. He's committed just five penalties thus far, only 12 centers that have played at least 50% of 1,112 snaps this season have been flagged less often. And, he's allowed just one sack. Only four centers, under the same qualifier, were perfect in that category. So, yeah, the center position seems to have been figured out.
"Just focus on how I can get better, how I can make our team better," Frazier said. "Just overall, being more comfortable with the playbook, making calls, seeing and reading defense. At first, I had to kind of think, and now I feel like I'm out there just playing football again."
The Pittsburgh chapter of the PFWA votes on two awards annually. In addition to Frazier being named the team's Rookie of the Year, Alex Highsmith was voted as the winner of The Chief Award, which was established in honor of team founder Art Rooney, Sr., and is presented annually to the Steeler that best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media.
"It's an honor," Highsmith said. "Thank you guys for voting on this award. It's an honor to be included with a bunch of great names that have won this award in the past. Just truly an honor, and I know how much this award means to the Rooney family. It means a lot to them, it means a lot to me, it means a lot to this organization as a whole. Once again, I'm grateful to help you guys do your job. It's an honor."
Highsmith has consistently been a go-to in the locker room in just about any situation. Whether it's a one-on-one interview, a group setting or the Monday after a hard-fought win or tough loss, Highsmith has never turned away an interview.
In addition, his answers helped guide the media through the recent three-game losing streak with some insightful answers, which makes the reporter's job much easier.
"I just think it is important, you can really show who you are during those times of adversity," Highsmith said. "I know we've had a lot of adversity over these last couple weeks. We've just gotta stick together and continue to get better and work harder. That's just really the message that I've been saying in interviews. We've just gotta continue to stick together and work hard. But I think it's important to do that when times are good and when times are bad."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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