LATROBE, Pa. — The Steelers are deliberately adding size to their secondary, making a point to having a specific build for their defensive backs. Players like Terrell Edmunds, Sean Davis and Joe Haden have given the secondary a good mix of larger defensive backs in comparison to the likes of Mike Hilton and Robert Golden.
Right in this new mix is Kameron Kelly, a defensive back and jack of all trades who was signed after his work with the San Diego Fleet in the AAF. I’ve gone over some of his tape from the AAF and compared it with my notes from his first days at Steelers' training camp:
Kelly is a bigger build, listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds coming into camp. He's a second-year player — he was an undrafted free agent signed by the Cowboys in 2018, before being released before preseason and spending his offseason in the AAF.
Kelly was undrafted because of several factors. His stats at San Diego State — a non-Power Five program in the Mountain Vally Conference — didn't jump off the board: Nine interceptions and 15 passes defended over four seasons. He then had a poor showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. His 4.66 time in the 40-yard dash was the 53rd-best time, or third to last, among defensive backs. He had the 40th-best vertical, 50th-best bench press reps and 36th-best broad jump. His best event was the three cone drill, placing 18th.
What impressed about Kelly in the AAF and in college was his willingness to work in multiple roles. In college he played as a wide receiver, a slot cornerback, an outside-the-numbers cornerback and both safety positions. In the AAF he flashed ball skills with nine passes defended and four interceptions before the season was cut short after eight games because the league folded.
Three of those interceptions came against the Salt Lake Stallions, all in the same game. What's important to note is how he lined up in different positions and still found a way to make a play. Watch how he plays outside the numbers on this receiver's hook route. Kelly has his eyes in the backfield, which isn't always good, but he's able to adjust to the ball better than the receiver coming out of his break and nab the interception:
Kelly's highlights show an ability to find the ball and take advantage of an opportunity where he's in position. Watch how he plays as the slot cornerback in a zone scheme, quickly adjusting to the quarterback's eyes to jump the route and return the interception for a touchdown:
What is interesting about Kelly is how comfortable he looks playing multiple roles in training camp. Often when a defensive back is familiar with playing in the slot or lining up in the box, he’s very aggressive to play against the run and get physical.
But when Kelly switches to being the free safety, he's able to play as the last line of defense, communicating and freely roaming the back of the secondary to protect from deep passes. What's also interesting is that, so far, he's taken the first-team reps in place of Davis instead of Jordan Dangerfield, who next on the depth chart in week 17 of last season.
Why? It's possible that Mike Tomlin, Keith Butler, Tom Bradley and Teryl Austin want bigger defensive backs in the secondary to challenge more tight ends and bigger receivers on jump balls. Dangerfield is at 5-foot-11, 199 pounds coming into camp. That's 3 inches and 6 pounds lighter than Kelly.
If Kelly makes the roster, as I expect him to, it helps that he fills multiple roles. Any player like Matt Feiler, who can play tackle and guard, as he did yesterday in place of Ramon Foster on a veteran's day off, will be welcome as they occupy multiple spots on the depth chart.
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