Jalen Ramsey was acquired in a blockbuster June 30 trade largely to cover people like Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. Sunday, he’ll likely see him a lot less. Moving from cornerback to free safety since an Oct. 16 game in Cincinnati, Mike Tomlin noted that the Pittsburgh Steelers will stay the course with Ramsey as a last line of defense this weekend. Coming up with a plan to stop Chase remains a work-in-progress.
“I think we’re still very much in development,” Tomlin said during his Tuesday press conference via the team website of his plan for Chase. “Jalen is not the issue, man. He’s got flexibility. It’s about the flexibility of those around him and the talents of those around him.
“But certainly over the last two weeks, man, just his presence consistently at free safety has been a stabilizing force on the back end. I’d imagine that’s not gonna change.”
Ramsey moved to free safety ahead of the Steelers’ Week 10 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Largely due to injuries at the position after losing DeShon Elliott for at least a month and Chuck Clark to an illness. Juan Thornhill’s subpar play removed him from the lineup and, yesterday, from the roster. Making the switch many great cornerbacks have done, Ramsey has been a natural at the position and admitted the move invigorated him.
In two games with Ramsey at safety, the Steelers’ defense has responded. Pittsburgh held Indianapolis’ high-powered offense to just 20 points. Los Angeles’ offense didn’t turn it over but struggled to produce points, held to 10 by halftime and 23 by game’s end despite the Steelers’ repeated offensive and special teams errors.
None of that makes covering Chase easier. He went off for a franchise-record 16 receptions, 161 yards, and one touchdown in the Bengals’ Week 7 upset win over the Steelers. Ramsey and company struggled to cover him and Tee Higgins, who chipped in 96 yards and a score. With CB Darius Slay going through concussion protocol, the Steelers have three other available cornerbacks: Joey Porter Jr., Brandin Echols, and James Pierre. Porter’s play has run hot and cold, Echols is a slot corner coming off a rough outing, and Pierre is having a strong season. All three will have their hands full Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
“I do,” Tomlin said when asked if he feels Pittsburgh has enough cornerback depth sans Ramsey, adding that “all those guys have played quality ball.”
Even at safety, Ramsey can still have a coverage role. The good news of having a cornerback-turned-safety means having essentially four cornerbacks on the field in sub-packages. Against the Colts, Ramsey played a big role in minimizing rookie sensation TE Tyler Warren. And Ramsey spun down to cover one-on-one against the Chargers’ talented group of receivers.
It’ll require a team effort to slow down Chase so he doesn’t write the same headlines he did last month.
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