A member of management referencing an employee as “vicious?” That typically might necessitate the counsel of the human resources department and an attorney.
Not in the NFL — at least not as far as Jalen Ramsey is concerned.
Five days after Pittsburgh Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl called Ramsey “a vicious player,” the veteran defensive back said he liked that label.
“I would hope so,” Ramsey said after Tuesday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I’m playing football, you know, so I would hope that’s an accurate description for anybody.”
Weidl, of course, was complimenting the 30-year-old Ramsey while he was speaking with reporters last week.
“You watch him hit, watch the mentality he plays with — he is aggressive,” Weidl said. “He’s a violent hitter. That mindset becomes contagious. Guys like that, an elite talent like that, elite football IQ in the physicality that he plays with, that becomes contagious. I’ve seen it different places. We have a physical group to begin with, and adding a guy like that is just great. I think it just becomes even more contagious to the room when you bring a guy with that mindset and that ability.”
A three-time AP NFL All-Pro, Ramsey embraces setting a standard with his demeanor as much as he does with his on-field play as a coverage cornerback and sure-tackling safety.
The Steelers acquired Ramsey in a trade announced June 30 that also included tight end Jonnu Smith and a swap of late-round draft picks in addition to the Steelers submitting former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins.
“I think that I’m here for various reasons,” Ramsey said. “I wouldn’t just put myself in a box of being here for one thing or another. I hope (the ‘vicious’ mindset) is contagious. I hope the way that I go out there and go about my business and play the game is contagious on my teammates in a positive way. But I think there’s a bunch of guys out here on this team already who have those intangibles anyway, and we’re just trying to put it together. Put a good product out on the field.”
Weidl referenced Ramsey as “a Hall of Fame player,” and Ramsey’s seven Pro Bowl berths and one Super Bowl ring suggest a worthy resume.
“Not only is he gifted physically — his ability, his speed, his athleticism, his ability to accelerate close, play the ball — but also his mindset,” Weidl said. “He’s an elite football IQ guy. He has a positionless quality to him, where he can line up in different positions on the defense and play at a high level.”
It’s been that latter area where Ramsey has most popped throughout training camp. From the first day at Saint Vincent late last month, Ramsey has alternated lining up at outside cornerback, in the slot/nickel and at free safety.
He’s been used to cover wide receivers and tight ends and even to blitz from the slot.
“When you go from different positions,” Ramsey said, “you have to know different roles, know different alignments, assignments and different techniques. In a couple of those roles, I have to communicate frequently, whereas in just playing outside, I don’t really have to communicate as much. I can just kind of lock in on one specific thing. So I guess that’s what makes it challenging, but it’s fun. It’s cool.”
