The Pittsburgh Steelers have many issues with their big-name defense in 2025. They are the 30th ranked unit the NFL, and it seems like neither coaches nor players have any answer for what's been going on for that side of the ball. Their schedule does not get any easier either, so they will continue to get humiliated if something does not change now. There is no time left to just see what works anymore. Action has to be taken, or they could easily end the season with 10 losses for the first time since 2003.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on as his team loses another playoff game at the end of the 2024 season.
There are way too many issues defensively, but Ben Roethlisberger has one idea to help solve part of the problem. On his show, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, he spoke about an option that seems so obvious that it's shocking no one in Pittsburgh thought of it first.
"When Coach [Mike Tomlin] wanted to stop [Rob Gronkowski], he's like, 'I need to find a safety, I need to find someone that's a big safety that can just run with that tight end. That's his job.' You got a guy in [Jalen] Ramsey that I think can do that," Roethlisberger said. "Put him in the slot and let him cover the tight end if you've got a valuable weapon tight end. I think you're wasting him on the outside corner position to try and 'lock down' one of their best receivers."
Jalen Ramsey was acquired in the first place to be a versatile player that could benefit from becoming a slot/safety type of player that the Steelers love using with these aging cornerbacks. A lot of times, the slot corner and/or the safety will be the one to follow the tight ends in man coverage anyways, especially in two-tight end sets. This makes perfect sense.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey speaks with Mike Tomlin on the sideline during a home game in 2025.
Playing Ramsey as the outside cornerback just forces one of the other starters to ride the bench for a while until the offense substitutes, allowing the defense to do the same. Clearly, this strategy has not worked, but neither has lining him up against a slot receiver. At this point, why not try lining him up against a tight end and having him play tight, physical coverage?
The Steelers have gotten absolutely abused by tight ends at certain points in the 2025 season. The most recent time was Tucker Kraft going off with seven receptions, 143 yards, and two touchdowns. He has been one of the most dynamic tight ends in the NFL so far, and Pittsburgh could not find a way to slow him down. Hunter Henry also had a monster game with two touchdowns against the Black and Gold back in Week 3.
Steelers Have A Gauntlet Of Tight Ends Coming Up
The Steelers' next game will be against Tyler Warren and the Indianapolis Colts. He has been absolutely electric for Indianapolis as a rookie, as he already has almost 500 yards on the season in just eight games, with six starts. If Pittsburgh continues to just let tight ends run wild on them and not at least try putting Ramsey in man to man on him, he will likely also have two touchdowns in a high-powered offensive showcase.
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Steelers coaches Mike Tomlin (left), Karl Dunbar (middle) and Teryl Austin (right) stand on the sideline during a home game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Steelers will also face Mark Andrews twice, who they know very well. Between those matchups, they will have to try and slow down Sam LaPorta, who has established himself as one of the best at his position. Dalton Kincaid has been on an absolute heater in his third year when healthy, and there are plenty of other tight ends that will be excited to face off against Pittsburgh, especially if Ramsey stays on the outside.
What do you think about Roethlisberger saying Ramsey should be lined up against tight ends? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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