Troy Fautanu Says He’s Comfortable Playing Anywhere on the Offensive Line
Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round selection Troy Fautanu is expected to play offensive tackle, which side is still to be determined, but he also disclosed at his introductory press conference that he’s capable of playing any position on the offensive line.
Washington cross-trained Fautanu in practice at every position. That includes right tackle, which could be his position if the Steelers kick Broderick Jones to the left side.
“I pretty much played every position in college. I played the left side mainly in games, but our coach did a really good job of cross-training us and making sure that we were ready for any opportunity that presented itself. Yeah, I’m comfortable anywhere, man. I’m just ready to contribute,” https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1783948464830685215″>Fautanu
said.
In the pre-draft process, many thought that Fautanu could be a guard, or even a center, at the next level.
Fautanu does not have the typical height of an NFL tackle, which likely started the questions about whether he’d be able to stick at the position at the next level. Frequently, tackles with concerns about their length are required to move to guard in the NFL.
Fautanu has long arms, however, which gives him an unusual frame. Head coach Mike Tomlin is not concerned about Fautanu’s 6’3 6/8″ height.
“You know, what are we talking about? If he was a quarter of an inch taller you might not be asking that. “He’s got great arm length, and his tape is very, very impressive,” Tomlin said during his post-pick press conference.
Fautanu called the projections that moved him to guard “lazy analysis,” and while he said on Thursday that he is willing to play wherever the Steelers want him to, it’s clear that he sees himself as a tackle.
“I think I’m a tackle. Grouping me in a category with the guards because of how tall I am, I honestly feel like it was a lazy narrative that grew legs for some reason. That’s lazy analysis,” Fautanu said in an April interview with The Draft Network. “Just watch the tape. I played tackle at a high level. Props to my coaches and my teammates that helped get me to that level. I truly feel like I played the tackle position at a legitimately high level. We made it to the biggest game in college football. I feel like I put my best foot forward against the best opponents throughout the entire season.”
“At the end of the day, my mindset has always been to do whatever’s necessary to get on the field though. I want to play. I can’t make my biggest impact if I’m not on the field. For me, I’ll play wherever at this level. I’m willing to play guard or center if that’s what it takes. I took snaps as a center at pro day. I had never done it before. I picked it up pretty quickly. I’m comfortable playing anywhere. My easy answer would be to continue playing tackle. That’s where I’ve played the last three or four years.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting for this story.
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