Frazier Island: How Zach Frazier Fits Pittsburgh's Scheme

Breaking down Zach Frazier's pass protection and how it fits in the Pittsburgh Steelers' blocking scheme. #NFL #Steelers #ZachFrazier
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[@DougShauger-ov8pj]

Great breakdown Alex . Frazier was a great pick

[@Alex_Kozora]

Thanks Doug!

[@MarvyG23]

Excited to see how the o-line looks like this upcoming season

[@davido6170]

Good to see you Saturday!

[@Alex_Kozora]

You too man!

[@johnpennington7107]

Only time will tell how great he'll become. Let's revisit this in 4 years.

[@steelermike5219]

If frazier and fautanu both start it’s going to probably take a few weeks to gel for the Oline actually the whole offense but once they all get on the same page they’re going to be tough to be beat💛🖤💛 Great stuff as always Alex

[@algini12]

I've said that myself, but no one else has used that exact word Gel like we do. They're moving left and right tackle, and will have a new Center. Just hope Russell is still young enough to escape back there on the learning curve.

[@jakebaumgart388]

Frazier is my favorite draft pick of the Omar Kahn era so far

[@georgecoull1883]

Honestly I was more excited about Frazier than the new Troy! Either way I'm pretty happy we landed so many studs from one draft. Great breakdown as usual kid 💯

[@Alex_Kozora]

Thanks! I was very happy not to miss out on those top three centers and still get a tackle

[@georgecoull1883]

@@Alex_Kozora hell yeah plus the best linebacker in the draft basically pulling another Pickens move on defense!

[@jwsteelers1]

In the first clip of Frazier that elite wrestling background is on full display

[@pathutchison7688]

I’m a bit concerned about Arthur Smith being all about a zone run scheme. We couldn’t run the ball at all last year until we moved to power with pulling lineman.

[@joel2421]

To me this is the biggest question. Is Arthur going to adapt and keep power with the pulling lineman or are we going back to zone? @Alex_Kozora do you have any leads or ideas in this area?

[@mardjam9279]

With the addition of Fautanu and Frazier, things will look different, I think, though they are still rookies, with 0 downs played in the NFL, they are a fit for zone schemes

[@everettcarson1473]

Zone scheme is always a pull or two anyway,so we'll be fine

[@pathutchison7688]

@@everettcarson1473 it was a total disaster last year. I just hope the line is that much improved.

[@grottyband8052]

@@pathutchison7688all we can hope is that it was a personnel issue and not a scheme issue (or we are all in denial)

[@chenzocosimo3250]

Pre-draft there were “experts” saying not to pick Frazier because he doesn’t fit Arthur Smith’s system. That’s silly. Frazier will be here long after Smith is gone.

[@jameswohler985]

Nice breakdown, his snapping looked smooth and effortless. BuT limited sample size. Did you notice anything?

[@patrickmoney1894]

It would be interested in a video about how Frazier would translate in Arthur Smiths zone run scheme. He's not the typical athlete that he looks for in a center, so I'm a bit worried how he would translate.

[@SteelerNate22]

Great work as usual but I'm curious how you think he will fair in reach or pull blocking scenarios. I remember some film breakdown from last year where that was one area where Cole struggled a lot and I'm hoping Frasier will be an upgrade in that regard. Is there any film on him in those types of situations or do they not run that type of offense at WVU?

[@Dayz671]

I think you should have broken down the falcons since we have Arthur Smith and his scheme is different and I heard that Zach won't be as good in his scheme because of his athleticism. Won't say he won't be good but I wonder if they can use him to his full potential.

[@fred_kamm]

In terms of the the value we got him at in the draft, this is my favorite pick. Easily could've and probably should've been a 1st round pick

[@BesTiCaN1000]

As bad as Cole was, this should have been addressed in season last year. James Daniels should have been told pay extra attention to the A gap. In the first play, Chucks handled clevelands edge perfect he swept/chopped his his hands and dumped him on the perimeter that was pretty AF, we KNOW Chuks can handle that assighnment, We also KNOW Mason Cole cant handle a Big Mans Bull Rush, considering it was Cleveland they should have went into that game with protecting the interior as a priorty ESPECIALLY now that we have Darnell Washington to help on the edges. Just my thought, but i LOVE THE FRAZIER PICK!

[@grottyband8052]

Does Zach fit the offensive scheme of “initial contact” that Pat Meyer preaches? Because Mason Cole seems to fail at that

[@Alex_Kozora]

He does. Frazier has a good punch. Footwork might take some adjusting but that's true of anyone new coming to this system

[@everettcarson1473]

Steelers oline will be so much in charge this season, complete 360

[@WhatIsTime_]

What will be our style you think same power and traps or like 49ers with tosses to use all our athleticism we got

[@Afrekinmazin]

I think the bigger question is, how does Zach Frazier fit into an Arthur Smith offense. Arthur Smiths offense lead, if not were up there in how many wide zone plays were called. A play in which the C needs to be athletic enough to cut off the backside for the cutback lane. As much as I love Zach Frazier, most reports I read and film I've seen him were with about adequate athleticism. I'm curious if he can makes those blocks consistently at the NFL level. Even then I still think this is a great pick but I'm not sure if he'll be the next great Steelers C in this type of offense

[@mardjam9279]

IMHO, he fits very well in wide zone schemes, better than power, of course he's a rookie and will be growing pains, but I belive it's going to be his major strength. The o linemen he played with in WVU didn't do much of a favor when running wide zone, though.

[@chesterpinkney107]

Just average Center play will be a huge plus this year.....he doesn't have to be Webby or Dirt this year imo

[@steelersdynasty]

Overall it’ll be interesting to see

[@davidhidalgo5662]

That first clip gives me the problems. James Daniels should have never turned away completely from Mason Cole and left him on an island. The worst pressure for a QB is up the middle. To many times these things happened last year and then someone would blitz late up middle while Cole was engaged with D-tackle solo or pull a stunt and our QB would get killed. Didnt stop until second half of season but I dont know exactly why because I dont have the tape to study. I think most of the problems are due to the scheme and having guard look and turn out instead of in.

[@Alex_Kozora]

That's what they're taught to do. Help the tackle.

[@Dang026]

You called him a left handed snapper and compared him to Creed Humphrey for partly that reason. I dont see a single clip of him snapping left handed Im wondering where you got that from.

[@bobbybiggs2003]

Frazier is a huge upgrade but it sure did not help that picket was holding the ball for almost four seconds

[@wildboz27]

Next year rd 1 top guard.seriously

[@josephszczerbiak]

We need a liget fullback

[@JJ-52]

?

[@raymondsanchez4580]

We have had the best centers of my generation...great draft...learn in Pittsburgh what it takes... Have to wanna be a Steeler to make it as a Steeler..too bad Kenny (also backyard) didnt have protection...maso wasnt that bad...just no help

[@brianjonker510]

Fraser is a day 1 starter!! But it is not what you think. He is the day one starter because he is our only center and for Sep & Oct football the IOL is going to be dismal

[@valiford2441]

The horrible catch attempt on that dime during the hop-step rep is putting a hurtin' on my eyes.

[@Alex_Kozora]

Haha same

[@nickfoe5477]

What type of leg injury did he have?

[@jaxboro]

Broke it at the end of last season. He’s famous for the clip of him trying to get off the field after to save his team a timeout.

[@nickfoe5477]

I knew that but I wanted to know what type of injury @@jaxboro

[@mardjam9279]

Lot to like in Frazier tape, but I'm still a bit concerned in how much ground he usually gives up, it could be a problem against some NFL vets. Though, he's so athletic he never loses his feet and continues engaged with the opponent, just wish he can do it not so close to the qb.

[@ronchess8813]

Alex good job than you

[@choosecarefully408]

Christ, you know... "Russell Wilson will be great in *Arthur Smith's* system." "Frazier suits The Steelers." Can I ever find real good analysis or only cherry-picked wish-fulfillment fantasies? *Will* Arthur Smith be "OC & make these decisions or not? & Smith calls for lots of in-breaking routes, the kind Russ has proven he can't find. So there goes _that_ assessment. For the past two years his QBs have been almost completely unable to get in synch with their receivers. Even Heinicke whose One Good Trait is guessing where they will be quite well did worse under him than in WAS. Whenever I call anyone out on this they refer back to TN. If you have to cite something someone hasn't done for the past two years, you kind of undermine your own points. Smith is inconsistent in his decision-making within the limited framework of plays he likes to call. He tries to mix up what player he assigns on what plays foolishly thinking he will surprise the opposing D but ends up confusing himself & losing the confidence of his players. He's a proven bust. The end. When he had 1 RB to choose from he chose that one. When he had more than one he got confused even before they got Bijan.

[@Alex_Kozora]

I offered articles and analysis of the good and bad of Smith when he was hired. You can go back and check the website.

[@choosecarefully408]

@@Alex_Kozora I watched the one where you analyzed nine plays before. The problem I see with that is simply Smith doesn't call good plays *consistently.* We don't see these plays every game & he's the play-caller. The _only_ offensive play-caller. So "he _can call_ great plays" doesn't mean he will in his case. When he mixes & matches personnel it feels more like he's doing it for the sake of it, not because it's what's likeliest to work. He benched Bijan a couple of times, didn't use him when he should have other times. Inconsistency seems to be his strongest trait. Anyhow, we'll see how it goes. But this is the team that didn't fire Matt even after he publicly stated "they're not designed to make comeback wins" after Pickett had rallied several. I mean your own OC publicly demoralizes your own players & you don't fire him on the spot. Can you imagine any _player_ saying that & not getting reprimanded then traded?

[@danieladams9154]

First

[@ethant2582]

i miss these comments

[@Alex_Kozora]

Hello!

[@MaritaSanchez-el9tp]

😮 1:47

[@jlamedia744]

Kenny misses Muth in the zone 😂 he sucks I’m so glad he’s gone

[@djj3357]

My thoughts, exactly!