The Pittsburgh Steelers shook up their secondary in a significant means this week, sending Minkah Fitzpatrick packing and buying Jalen Ramsey within the course of. With that transfer, issues are going to look a lot completely different, however did the Steelers’ secondary enhance in any respect? Former NFL defensive again Logan Ryan, now an analyst with CBS Sports activities, thinks Pittsburgh has a stellar group.
“It is a robust spot, there’s lots of groups that would have come at 5 right here… Pittsburgh has lots of potential,” Ryan mentioned on CBS Sports HQ on Wednesday. “And it’s scary what they will do. Clearly you add Jalen Ramsey in, you herald Darius Slay…After which you’ve got Joey Porter Jr. and the nook spot…When you’ve got three good corners like this, Jalen Ramsey has performed the nickel, he’ll positively play on the within, and perhaps slide him at security in some units…They’ve Juan Thornhill, who’s been a great free security on this league, with DeShon Elliott coming off a great yr. They’re scary, on paper, however these guys haven’t performed collectively.”
Ryan is excessive on the potential the Steelers’ secondary has. But, he worries about their chemistry, which appears to be the rationale he left them out of the top-four. With a stalwart in Fitzpatrick now gone, and some new faces within the group, it is sensible. Two of Pittsburgh’s prime three corners, an excellent group in itself, are going into their first seasons in Pittsburgh.
Nevertheless, Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. have had each OTAs and minicamp to begin to get a really feel for one another. Pittsburgh is hoping Slay can use his expertise to assist Porter alongside, which seems to be what’s happening to date. And whereas Ramsey is a brand new identify within the combine, he brings versatility as Ryan alludes to. Ramsey has expertise as each an outdoor and nickel nook. That makes it a lot simpler for Pittsburgh to have all three of these corners on the sector on the identical time.
Security is the place issues are extra sophisticated. It’s hard to hide the drop which will include Pittsburgh dropping Fitzpatrick. Nevertheless, DeShon Elliott is coming off an incredible yr, and Juan Thornhill has had success in his profession, though his current stint with the Cleveland Browns was tough.
There’s a great probability Ramsey sees some reps at security. He nonetheless has the quickness and burst to succeed at nook. However with him over the age of 30, how for much longer will that final? Transitioning to security is one thing many cornerbacks attempt to do as they age in an effort to increase their profession. If Ramsey can reach that transition in 2025, it is going to do wonders for the Steelers’ secondary.
Ryan isn’t unsuitable that this unit hasn’t performed collectively a lot. Slay, Ramsey and Thornhill are all new faces. Dropping a core participant in Fitzpatrick will seemingly have it’s drawbacks as effectively. That mentioned, if they will develop that chemistry rapidly, they may find yourself even higher than the fifth-place rating Ryan handed them.
