LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – We’ve seen some hybrid players over the years, but as Mike Tomlin describes it, the final two additions to the roster won’t have locked in positions.
Tomlin described defensive back Jalen Ramsey as a football player first and positional player second. He said the same about tight end Jonnu Smith.
When he came out in the draft, Tomlin said Ramsey was the top safety and top corner on their board. Even though they likely had no shot of drafting him, they still went out to dinner and Tomlin remembers the quality of questions Ramsey asked and believes that tells why he’s successful in the NFL.
He said what Ramsey has done in the NFL has only proven he’s great at both. The Steelers head coach said Ramsey can play inside and out, man-to-man coverage or run support, he has an appetite for it all.
Whatever we want to call him, Tomlin said Jalen Ramsey will be on the field. He is going to be one of a trio of players assigned with coverage.
“We are going to start him regardless,” Tomlin said. “Where we move him around and things really depend on what offenses are doing. Make no mistake, those top three corners, Jalen Ramsey, Slay and Joey Porter, Junior, they are going to be on the field. I don’t care what offenses come out in.”
“This is a coverage league. You need unbelievable depth and talent at the cornerback position because people have it in their receiver corps. We use a variety of schematics in an effort to minimize passing offenses.”
“You have to be able to play matchup football. You have to be able to play man-to-man, particularly against the elite and deep groups. The talent that we’ve acquired at that position, particularly the cornerback position, allows us to do that in all circumstances.”
Tomlin then added free agent corner Brandin Echols from the Jets as part of that group. Echols likely would be a slot corner, but can also play on the outside.
It goes the same on offense with the addition of Jonnu Smith. Last year with Miami, Smith led all tight ends in the NFL with 88 receptions and the Steelers are looking for playmakers outside of DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth and the plan is for Smith to be a part of that, regardless of being a tight end.
“The intentions were the same and we really view it through the same lens,” Tomlin said. “Forget how you describe him, a Y, an H, a Z, or what have you. The bottom line is, man, he's a dynamic guy with the ball in his hands. He's a matchup issue. I think he led the quote unquote tight end group in the NFL last year in terms of yards after catch. He had 800 plus yards and eight touchdowns.”
“That's an eligible that's capable of making some splash plays for us and doing it in a variety of ways. Who has firsthand experience with our offensive play caller. And so we're really excited about that.”
Injury
Tomlin said everyone is present and accounted for, but there is one player who is slowed up by a soft tissue injury. Ten-year veteran guard Isaac Seumalu will be out an unknown amount of time. Third-year versatile offensive lineman Spencer Anderson will fill in for Seumalu with the first team. He’s played 25 games in two seasons.
Limiting Rodgers
Asked about the balance of having a 41-year-old quarterback trying to get to know his new team and how much he will work at practice. Tomlin said he doesn’t have a lot of reservations about it, calling Aaron Rodgers a ‘workaholic’.
“I think he's hardened himself over the course of his career with his attitude toward work,” Tomlin said. “Certainly, I'm gonna limit him in some instances, but when I do, it's gonna be more about elevating opportunities for guys like Will Howard and less about preserving him, to be quite honest with you.”
Conditioning
It was last year in the conditioning test when quarterback Russell Wilson injured his Achilles pushing a blocking sled. No injuries this year. Is that because they changed the drills?
“I don't know that we made any adjustments,” Tomlin said. “I just did what I thought was appropriate for this group this year. The group was highly conditioned in the spring and displayed that at weigh-ins. I think the weights reflected their overall readiness. And so from my perspective, it was just a box to check. And now we're on to football.”