Versatile Sutton takes turn at FB
Rookie drafted as an outside linebacker
While the days of the full-time NFL fullback might be numbered, the reign of the versatile playmaker is here to stay.
And with NFL rosters capped at 53 players per team, the more skills one player has, the better. So it’s not surprising that Steelers 2019 sixth-round draft pick Sutton Smith quickly has become a prime example of the multifaceted player now populating NFL teams.
His trial run at organized team activities and mandatory minicamp this week has come, though, with a specific focus on what the former Northern Illinois outside linebacker can do at fullback.
“They’re really putting [me through] baby steps with the fullback stuff,” Smith said. “Obviously, I’m going to be a specialteams player, but, with the fullback situation, it’s going to be more added. I can handle it.”
Over the past four seasons, Roosevelt Nix has established himself as the Steelers’ preferred choice at fullback.
Nix, 27, was a defensive lineman at Kent State before later converting to linebacker and then fullback. He turned a futures contract signed in January 2015 into a four-year, $6.975 million contract with a nearly $2 million signing bonus in February 2018.
But during his time with the Steelers, Nix’s usage on offense has fluctuated significantly. He played a career-high 182 offensive snaps (16.4 percent of all offensive snaps) in 2017 in Todd Haley’s final season as offensive coordinator, earning a Pro Bowl nod as a replacement for New England’s James Develin. Compare this to last season, when Nix played 110 offensive snaps (less than 10 percent) under the direction of first-year offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner.
Conversely, Nix’s presence on special teams skyrocketed in recent seasons. He played an average of 46 percent of specialteams snaps for the Steelers in 2015 and 2016, while in both 2017 and 2018 he played more than 300 special-teams snaps (a 69 percent average), punctuated by a punt block against Atlanta in Week 5 last season.
As such, Nix is well-versed in what Smith is attempting to do, and he has shown the rookie some tips.
“He’s a good athlete, they’re trying to see what he can do,” Nix said. “It’ll be good, to have some more help.”
But assistance, or perhaps a potential replacement, will only arrive if Smith can juggle all that is asked of him.
“I expected it a little bit, but you know it was a good thing,” Smith said of practicing fullback, defense and special teams. “Just got to learn the playbook and keep going with the baby steps they have me going in with fullback and, hopefully, have an impact one day.”
Smith is no stranger to the backfield, having been an all-state running back during his senior season of high school in Missouri. He’s aware of how Nix has been able to carve out a long-term role with the Steelers, especially as fullback-specific players have become nearly extinct.
“They brought me here to play outside linebacker,” Smith said. “We’ll see what happens. Whatever they got going on up there, I don’t know what it is yet. But I’m sure I’ll find out soon.”
Smith’s total contract value ($2.723 million) is less than half of Nix’s ($6.975 million), but given Nix’s reliable play at fullback, it’s unlikely a change will occur there in the upcoming season.
And even if a change were visible on the distant horizon, Nix said watching another player take snaps at his specialized spot won’t affect his preparation.
“I push myself the same way every time,” Nix said. “So I don’t know if that’s really a factor or not, but you know, it’ll be fun.”