PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s really the play that ended the game Sunday. Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth grabbed a short pass at the Detroit 40 and as he headed to the sideline, he fumbled with 15 seconds left in overtime.
Freiermuth started to explain on Wednesday the conditions played a factor and then stopped his train of thought.
“I just messed up,” Freiermuth said. “I didn’t secure the ball, wasn’t fundamental with it. I have to be better in those critical situations.”
The conditions were a factor, but Freiermuth wasn’t going to use it as an excuse. It’s the first time in his career he said he had a ‘hiccup’, at least to this magnitude. He didn’t have a situation like this at Penn State and believes it was bound to happen.
Now it’s in the past.
“24-hour rule, it sucked when it happened and after the game,” Freiermuth said. “My parents have been great. Everyone in my support corner has been great. Guys on the team, they were awesome after the game in the locker room and coming up to me and making sure everything was ok. I just got to flush it, learn from it and move on.”
“Come into this week with an emphasis in ball security.”
Mason Building
While they throw the football differently, Freiermuth agreed with Mike Tomlin’s assessment that it’s essentially the same game plan with Ben Roethlisberger or Mason Rudolph at quarterback. The rookie has had a number of reps with Rudolph.
“We have great chemistry,” Freiermuth said. “When Ben takes his vet days, Mason is the quarterback. We have developed that through practice and camp. Overall we have a great chemistry, we have a great feel for what we see and how we feed off that.”
Freiermuth said its tough without Chase Claypool and it affects so many in the offense. It doesn’t really affect his role.
“Whatever I fit into the game plan,” Freiermuth said. “Chase and I play different positions, he’s predominantly outside. I’m probably asked to do a little bit more, but nothing too crazy.”
First Tie
The Penn Stater joked that unlike Najee Harris, he knew the overtime rules in professional football. Not that it makes it any easier to accept the outcome.
“It definitely feels like a loss,” Freiermuth said. “It’s a feeling like what could we have done to win that game.”
Would Freiermuth like to see an overtime like college? To where you would eventually trade two-point conversion attempts to decide the game?
“Like the Penn State-Illinois game, no,” Freiermuth said of the nine-overtime Nittany Lions loss. “That was ridiculous. We don’t need to talk about that.”
He likely hears enough about the Nittany Lions-he has teammates from Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan.
“All the time, everyone does,” Freiermuth said. “They need to start winning, so I can defend (them). Hopefully they will get back on track this week.”