The Pittsburgh Steelers are making strategic moves in their defense, particularly with the recent transition of Jalen Ramsey to the safety position. This change has been made possible through the impressive performance of Brandin Echols, a cornerback the Steelers signed this offseason. Echols has quickly established himself as a key player, developing into their primary nickel defender and enabling the coaching staff to reassign Ramsey as needed.
Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin praised Echols for his competitiveness and consistent effort in practice, expressing confidence in his ability to take on a full-time role. “We had the utmost confidence being able to put him in full-time and moving Jalen back,” Austin commented, highlighting Echols’ attributes such as toughness and speed that have made him an invaluable asset to the team.
The Steelers were already rotating Echols to replace Darius Slay when they made the decision to move Ramsey to safety. The urgency for this shift increased following the likely season-ending injury to DeShon Elliott and the challenges presented by injuries and illnesses affecting other defensive backs like Jabrill Peppers and Chuck Clark. As a result, it became clear that Ramsey could be their solution at safety.
Since joining the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent, Echols has played eight games, logging 277 snaps, 25 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. His effectiveness was particularly notable in the game against the Indianapolis Colts, where he played almost three-quarters of the snaps, making six tackles and registering a pass defensed and quarterback hit.
The trade that brought Ramsey to the Steelers was significant and was seen as a major shift, especially as it also involved Minkah Fitzpatrick. Initially, it was unclear how Ramsey would fit into the safety role, but he has made a seamless transition. In his first game at safety, he accumulated five tackles, contributing to a solid defensive performance.
Looking ahead, the Steelers are poised to field a robust secondary with Ramsey and Kyle Dugger at safety and Echols, Joey Porter Jr., and Darius Slay at cornerback. They have also explored using James Pierre and potential rotations with Chuck Clark or Juan Thornhill at safety. The successful integration of Echols has proven crucial; without his ability to step in, the defense’s restructuring might have faltered. This strategic adaptability bodes well for the Steelers as they continue to navigate the season, aiming for a strong defensive presence on the field.