Pittsburgh Steelers filled the defensive void, we just needed to wait
We all had our doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers missed the biggest void on their roster, but they didn’t.
Terrell Edmunds is a gift from Virginia Tech handed to the City of Champions. Not only does this man possess great skills as a safety, but from what we’ve seen during rookie mini camp, he’s also an inside linebacker.
Many questioned the pick of Edmunds so early in the draft. People believed they could’ve found him during the second-round if they waited. But Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert had a plan, and they executed it perfectly.
Without any real first-round inside linebacker left on the board, the Steelers draft room started thinking multiple holes. The defense had two positions to fill, neither of which needed to be a starter. So, when Edmunds was around, they decided they draft a safety and inside linebacker in one.
Working on play calling with Marcus Allen, the two defensive rookies appear to be taking on significant roles in their first year in the league.
Allen, a fifth-round pick out of Penn State, is considered one of the best steals of Day 3. He may not play as much inside linebacker as Edmunds this season, but he’ll quickly become one of the primary role players in the secondary.
He’ll work both free and strong safety behind Morgan Burnett and Sean Davis. While Edmunds also works at safety, Allen provides extra comfort for times that Edmunds is needed at linebacker and the defense needs a backup defensive back in as well.
"“Any position that you go, you gotta make a play,” Edmunds told 247sports. “The coaches putting you in a position to make a play. Regardless of where they put you, they believe in you. So I’m just gonna go out there, give it all I got and make a play for them.”"
It’s true. This team doesn’t stick with guys who aren’t producing something they can believe in. Pittsburgh saw something in Edmunds and that’s why they took him 28th instead of taking their chances and waiting.
His role on this team is exactly what people thought it would be. Yes, the hesitation from outsiders was there, because this is the NFL and not many players come in expected to change positions. Especially not many first-rounders.
Tomlin and Colbert are two of the most trust-worthy draft coordinators in the league, though. Their resumes speak for themselves on the level of success they bring to this team. Edmunds may be taking on two roles, but from day one he’s already proving to handle it well.
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The defense is complete if this works out. Edmunds is the perfect fit for what Pittsburgh needed. Now, he’s just got to blend with the starters. Something few people see many issues with.