Jaquan Brisker has been a Pittsburgh Steeler for about two months, or long enough to see how different his new job is from his old one in Chicago.
“Way different,” said Brisker, who sees himself being a more versatile safety here. “They’re allowing me to play anywhere I want, learn any position, move me around, let me play to the best of my abilities and let me play free. So I love it.”
Brisker arrived as a free agent in March after playing four seasons with the Bears. The 27-year-old has participated consistently in voluntary workouts this spring at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Signing with the Steelers marked a homecoming for the Gateway High School graduate and former Penn State standout.
“I love being in my hometown,” he said. “Walking through the building every single day, seeing those trophies (and) the tradition of the guys who came before me. Actually being here in the black and gold, it’s amazing.”
The 6-foot-1, 204-pound defensive back made 52 starts while calling Soldier Field home for the past four seasons. He largely split time last year between free safety (508 snaps) and box safety (421) but envisions adding new options with the Steelers.
“I see myself playing everywhere in the secondary,” Brisker said. “And sometimes linebacker, too.”
Throughout this spring, versatility has emerged as a key element of coordinator Patrick Graham’s defensive schemes. How players are used might change weekly, said secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr., the team’s assistant head coach.
“The skillsets that we have … (give coaches) an opportunity to put people in the best spots to give us a chance to win that individual game that we’re facing that week,” Whitt said. “And then the next week you might see a different grouping of guys because we’re just trying to win that game.”
The Steelers have a three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday-Thursday. The team’s final OTAs are June 8, 9, 11 and 12.
The team added Brisker on a one-year, $5.5 million deal to shore up an obvious position of need. Six different safeties started games last year because of injury or ineffectiveness.
They, presumably, will have Brisker team up with eighth-year pro DeShon Elliott, who is back for this third season in Pittsburgh. The team lost Elliott for the season after a knee injury in Week 5 last year.
Brisker spent time with Elliott at OTAs this month and said he discovered they share a similar mindset.
“He’s definitely about his business, and that’s where we both agree,” Brisker said. “I’m very serious, too, about football, and I love it. Sometimes professionals aren’t very serious out here on the football field. I’m not saying here (in Pittsburgh), but I’m saying guys collect a paycheck. I could just tell with him that we both care about football.”
Jalen Ramsey is another variable piece in the secondary. The former All-Pro cornerback shifted to safety a year ago when the team was shorthanded, but his defensive role for this season isn’t fully defined.
Whitt compared Ramsey to hall of famer Charles Woodson, who played multiple roles when Whitt coached for the Packers. Brisker said Ramsey brings “playmaking ability, his leadership, his communication and, obviously, his explosiveness.”
Rather than assigning traditional free and strong safety roles, the team has hinted about incorporating more two-deep formations with left- and right-side responsibilities. Before his injury, Elliott played 113 snaps at free safety and 109 at box safety.
“We’re all versatile, so I can play left or right,” Brisker said. “Or I can drop down and play linebacker, just depending on what coach needs. Whatever coach needs, I’m going to do.”