Jalen Ramsey suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't seamlessly integrated new players into their defense. The Steelers have allowed 27 points in each of their last two AFC North games. After trading cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, they've added Sean Murphy-Bunting and Terell Smith to the secondary.
Ramsey discussed getting the new cornerbacks up to speed before Pittsburgh's Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts. The eight-time Pro Bowler indicated the new unit isn't in sync yet, hinting at friction between players and the coaching staff. "The coaches have to put them out there with us so that we can all get on the same page," Ramsey said, per WPGH Fox 53's Ashley Wenskoski.
"There’s a little bit of a disconnect here right now, just with what we want to do on the field and how we play as a team and how we play together as a secondary, versus just throwing a playbook in their hands and the coaches saying, 'This is how it has to look.' That’s not how football works. "The best way to get guys acclimated, and the best way for guys to get on the same page, is actually being able to practice with each other and play games with each other." Asked to clarify his disconnect comments, Ramsey noted teammate Aaron Rodgers saying earlier this week that "player-led teams are the best teams. The 11-year pro concurred with the quarterback's sentiment.
"We're the ones on the field," Ramsey said. "We're the ones that see and feel how the game's going and the flow of the game. When we can all be on the same page, that usually brings some success, instead of just some guys going with the flow of the game, some guys going off of experience, and then some guys having a playbook stuck in their locker." As footage of his comments spread, Ramsey offered more context on social media.
"I rock with the coaches," Ramsey wrote. "I have absolutely nothing but respect for them ALWAYS but the best way to getting acclimated with new teammates is being on the field with them. They have to hear the terminology we use ON THE FIELD.
We have to see how they play different techniques within the system. That’s a simple concept to understand." Ramsey's quotes could create a situation worth monitoring if the Steelers don't get on track under new head coach Mike McCarthy. Sunday's game against the Colts starts at 1 p.m.
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