It took some time for Jalen Ramsey to settle in last season, but his ultimate value to the Pittsburgh Steelers defense proved to be his versatility. While he may not have been the elite cover corner the Steelers thought they were acquiring last season, Ramsey played a key role at safety after injuries mounted at the position.
Now, under a new coaching staff, Ramsey is drawing comparisons to a Hall of Famer for his ability to play all over the field.
“You know, his skill set lends himself to doing that,” defensive backs coach Joe Whitt Jr. said of Ramsey’s versatility via video from the team’s YouTube. “I’m not going to really compare him to a guy that I coached, but the way we used Charles Woodson in Green Bay, he played the star, he played corner, he played safety, he played the money. Charles could do it all in one game. He’s one of the rare guys that could do it. Jalen has a similar skill set, similar size, similar speed. So, just excited to see how we work with him and the way that we use him.”
Whitt explained that the “star” is the defense’s term for the nickel position and “money” is the third down-type Will linebacker. Ramsey has experience moving around the defense and playing those positions and more for Pittsburgh.
The comparison to Woodson is an easy one to make but a hard one to live up to. After playing 14 seasons as a cornerback for the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers, Woodson moved to safety to finish his career. It’s similar to the transition that Ramsey has undergone. While his speed and athleticism might not be what they used to be, his football IQ and physicality make him a valued chess piece.
Last season, the Steelers tried to bolster their cornerback position by trading for Ramsey and signing Darius Slay. By the end of the season, neither was playing outside corner and Slay had been released in December. Through all of the changes at the position, Joey Porter Jr. showed his worth, and the addition of Jamel Dean along with the return of Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandin Echols will allow Ramsey to play slot corner when the matchup dictates it.
With a healthy DeShon Elliott and the addition of free agent Jaquan Brisker, the safety position also has enough depth, at least on paper, for Ramsey to contribute wherever he is needed.
It’s a lot to ask, but Ramsey’s play last season earned him an eighth Pro Bowl nod and demonstrated that he is capable of being that movable piece that many modern defenses need. Ramsey’s versatility will be one key ingredient in a defense that, despite its big-money potential, has a long way to go in improving from last season.
If there’s one takeaway we have from the offseason, don’t get used to seeing Jalen Ramsey line up in the same spot too often.