LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – It's one of the big questions of training camp and as defensive back Jalen Ramsey put it as he arrived at St. Vincent College for the first time on Wednesday, we may not know the answer for a while as to where Ramsey will play.
"I play football," Ramsey said outside of Rooney Hall as he was moving in for training camp. "We are going to see that together."
Ramsey said he's had some conversations with the coaches about his role. He's been the corner to follow the other team's best receiver. He's played left and right side and in the slot. What asked about the potential of playing safety, he said again he just wants to play football. He said he's getting paid to make an impact on the game and you usually do that from certain positions on the field.
The 30-year-old has had multiple interceptions each of the last four seasons with five in 27 games his last two seasons with the Dolphins. Ramsey has been more active around the line of scrimmage in the last few years, a career high four quarterback hits and six tackles for loss last season.
Ramsey said he was not surprised by the trade, he was kept very much in the loop. He said he was excited about the opportunity to join the Steelers defense. Ramsey said he has respect for Mike Tomlin and remembers going out to dinner with him while in college.
"You look at the defense from the D-line, probably the best D-line in the NFL," Ramsey said of the Steelers. "Then you have PQ (Patrick Queen) leading the linebackers. In the secondary, me and Slay have had a relationship for a while. Me and Joey (Porter), we got some family ties going on. You can add me in there. Obviously, me and DeShon (Elliott) have played on the same team. There is a lot of excitement around the defense, not just the defense, but the offense too."
Ramsey had his battles with DK Metcalf being in the same division and Aaron Rodgers and believes they will be impact teammates.
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen has never played with Ramsey, but knows enough about him to believe he's a difference-maker.
"My type of guy," Queen said. "My type of football player. Everything that you could want from somebody in the secondary. Somebody that is going to be physical. Somebody that is going to talk trash. Somebody that is going to be able to come down and make tackles."
The Steelers traded Minkah Fitzpatrick because he wasn't making enough splash plays. That's why Ramsey is here.
