Fittipaldo Questions Steelers’ Plans At Security, Expects Bumpy Street For Jalen Ramsey Match

The Steelers have a gap at security after buying and selling Minkah Fitzpatrick, however is Jalen Ramsey their plan to fill it? The crew additionally signed Juan Thornhill this offseason, however not with intentions to begin. They’ve time to determine issues out, however determine issues out they need to. And Ray Fittipaldo isn’t satisfied, based mostly on their present roster, they’ve a straightforward reply.

“I don’t know if [Juan Thornhill] is a starting-caliber free security at this level in his profession”, the Steelers reporter stated on 93.7 The Fan. “I feel that’s why there’s a number of discuss Jalen Ramsey finally becoming into that position. That’s a giant transition. You go from taking part in one place your complete life to taking part in one other, there’s gonna be some bumps in that street. If that’s certainly what’s gonna occur, this coaching camp and early within the season is gonna be essential”.

Whereas Ramsey hasn’t ever “formally” performed security, the Steelers are possible conscious he’s open to taking part in there. Or a minimum of, previously, he has expressed a willingness to maneuver there later in his profession. Thornhill, in the meantime, has many dozens of NFL begins, all at security, as just lately as final yr.

However there’s a motive a “beginning” security was accessible for the Steelers to signal for $3 million. Over two seasons with the Browns, he struggled by means of harm, amongst different points. At one level, he earned the derogatory nickname “Jog” Thornhill, which he took to coronary heart.

Even with declining efficiency, the Steelers had a real, dependable free security in Minkah Fitzpatrick. Nonetheless 28, he additionally has each alternative to return to his All-Professional standing. Pittsburgh strikes on with out, from the surface, a transparent plan.

Given what they’re paying all people, although, the Steelers might make use of Thornhill as a nickel security and simply Ramsey because the “base” security. Final season, the Steelers had been solely in a “base” protection barely 25 % of the time. All advised, they performed beneath 300 snaps with fewer than 5 defensive backs on the sector.

If this development continues, the Steelers might see Ramsey as a nickel 75 % of the time, security 25 %. Roughly, after all, give or take a couple of proportion factors. That may even be a number of snaps for Thornhill, although, and what occurs if he’s injured? He has missed 12 video games over the previous two seasons, and the Steelers simply torpedoed their security depth.

“Even when they do view Thornhill as a man that may begin, you most likely wish to get anyone behind him who might push him or be a reasonably good backup”, Fittipaldo stated concerning the Steelers’ potential imaginative and prescient for the protection place. There are some names they might herald, like Justin Simmons, for instance. And so they do have money and cap area they will spend. However on the finish of the day, how do you retain Darius Slay, Joey Porter Jr., and Jalen Ramsey on the sector?