4 Steelers that need to see less playing time going forward

Terrell Edmunds

The Steelers secondary has been a mess this season, and while all of it can’t be blamed on Terrell Edmunds, he has certainly been a weak point on this team. While he has all the physical traits and athleticism that you need to be successful, he has lacking instincts and ball skills which have caused him to be picked on in coverage. With the upcoming passing offenses that the Steelers are poised to face, finding a fix here will be needed.

Like Nelson, the goal isn’t to completely bench Edmunds. He has been a great run defender and sure tackler, but the further from the line of scrimmage he plays, the more his issues are exposed. While Sean Davis isn’t a superior player, he has some more coverage skills than Edmunds. Perhaps on obvious passing downs, Edmunds gets subbed out for Davis in order for a more competent coverage player deep.

Or, like the Steelers were toying with early in the Eagles game, allow Hilton to play more of a safety role and allow Edmunds to move closer to the line of scrimmage. Again, maximizing what he is good at and covering up his deficiencies should be key for the Steelers. Edmunds has always had good size and tackling traits, which makes him moving closer to the line an intriguing change of pace option for this defense. If it helps the Steelers secondary improve, the Steelers should be all over it.

While three of the players above shouldn’t be benched, it is time to explore some new options with them. Whether it involves subbing in some backup players or changing their role in some circumstances, these players are primed to see a change in the coming weeks. As long as it works to improve the Steelers and better the secondary, the team should be considering it.