When the Pittsburgh Steelers need a game-changing play on defense, they often turn to their secondary. In Sunday’s overtime victory against Tampa Bay, star defensive back Jalen Ramsey delivered a stat-sheet stuffing performance that illustrated exactly why Pittsburgh relies on his versatile skill set near the line of scrimmage.
Rather than remaining strictly outside in traditional perimeter coverage, Ramsey spent significant snaps in the box and lining up as an edge rusher. The tactical alignment paid massive dividends. Ramsey compiled a jaw-dropping stat line: 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks, continually disrupting play designs in the backfield and setting up long-yardage situations.
On the latest episode of the “Deebo and Joe” podcast, former Steelers legends James Harrison and Joe Haden broke down film of Ramsey’s dominant outing. Harrison highlighted how Ramsey’s pre-snap positioning made him a constant menace for Tampa Bay's protection schemes early and late in the game.
"You know that man Jalen Ramsay, he blitzes a lot. He's around that line of scrimmage. Still a defense looking like still a defense. Sack quick," Harrison explained, describing how Ramsey set the tone on Tampa’s opening possession.
Later in the breakdown, Harrison reflected on the sheer volume of Ramsey’s physical production across four quarters and overtime. "What's his last name? Jalen. What? Ramsey. I just call him, hey, I'm just going to call him Mr. Ramsey. You know what I'm saying? Two sacks, 10 tackles, four tackles for a loss."
By moving Ramsey into the box, Pittsburgh unlocked a dynamic pass rusher and run defender without compromising their downfield structure. Ramsey’s ability to tackle in space and blow up backfield plays gave the defense the precise edge it needed to secure the hard-fought road win.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: James Harrison praises Jalen Ramsey's stat-sheet explosion