Joe Haden Suggests Strategy for Steelers’ Use of Jalen Ramsey

Joe Haden offered a clear plan for Jalen Ramsey on the Deebo & Joe podcast. He suggests moving Ramsey into the slot or to free safety.

Haden’s recommendation and support

Haden said Ramsey’s speed has declined at the outside corner. He argued slot or free safety would better mask that drop.

Former teammate James Harrison agreed with Haden’s view. Ben Roethlisberger also backed the idea during the discussion.

Why the slot or safety makes sense

Roethlisberger stressed Ramsey’s football intelligence. He said that mental sharpness makes Ramsey particularly dangerous in the slot.

In the slot, coaches can deploy more blitzes and assign Ramsey to shadow tight ends. That usage limits athletic mismatches on the boundary.

Ramsey’s recent season and role changes

Ramsey joined the Steelers and made the Pro Bowl last year. He began with slot and boundary duties before shifting full time to safety.

He struggled at times in man coverage outside, notably against Tee Higgins. An injury to DeShon Elliott accelerated Ramsey’s move to safety.

New safety pairing and adjustments

The addition of Kyle Dugger created a new safety tandem. Initially, that pairing strengthened Pittsburgh’s secondary.

Opposing teams later adjusted their game plans. The tandem became more predictable and easier to exploit over time.

Age, snaps and contract considerations

Ramsey turns 32 this season and has shown signs of age. That factor affects trust at outside corner.

From a salary perspective, restricting him to safety or slot has trade-offs. If Pittsburgh obtains roughly 1,100 quality snaps at those spots, his value remains significant.

What comes next for the Steelers

Coaches now must decide how to use Ramsey and limit his weaknesses. An offseason dedicated to the safety role could accelerate his comfort there.

Ultimately, the team will weigh performance, cost, and roster youth. Filmogaz.com will monitor developments as the Steelers finalize their plans.