Reliable through 1st 2 seasons, Steelers’ Terrell Edmunds aims for more playmaking
In some ways, Terrell Edmunds’ 2020 training camp was a mirror image of his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Edmunds’ best attributes since being taken with the 28th overall pick in 2018? Reliability and durability. But what largely has been missing the most have been big plays and “splash.”
During this coronavirus-shortened camp, Edmunds’s availability has been sparse — he missed part or all of all but the first two and the final practices — but when he’s made it to the Heinz Field turf, the playmaking shined through.
When the season starts, the Steelers have every reason to expect Edmunds’ dependability to resurface. But will they finally see an abundance big plays?
“For T-Edmunds, I think he knows that, and we know that, he is a good football player,” Steelers senior defensive assistant/secondary Teryl Austin said. “We just have to get him a little bit more ball production.
“In terms of catching the ball, getting around the ball, stripping the ball, fumble recoveries, all of those things, we will just continue to practice. And I am sure they will come because the kid works hard, he around the ball, he is always available. He is out there every snap, and those things will come.”
One of the quirkiest stats around the Steelers is the Edmunds brothers are tied in career interceptions. That big bro Trey is an undrafted special-teamer and fourth-string running back while Terrell is a safety and former first-round pick does not reflect well on the latter. Each has one INT with the Steelers (Trey’s was on a failed fake punt).
Edmunds played 96% and 93%, respectively, of the Steelers’ defensive snaps in 2018 and ’19. But he has just one interception, one sack, one fumble recovery and no forced fumbles in 32 games.
Of course, it’s the lack of interceptions on a team that finished second in the NFL in them last season that bother Edmunds most. Despite appearing in the second-most defensive snaps on the team, Edmunds did not have a hand in any the Steelers’ NFL-best 38 takeaways last season.
“Honestly, it’s just like the old saying: You just have to catch the ones that come to you,” Edmunds said. “Last year, I had a few opportunities. I missed those opportunities. But I feel very confident I’ll grab those opportunities this year. I think it will be a different outcome. If I catch the ones that come to me it’ll just take off from there.”
Edmunds spent much of the Heinz Field three-week training camp dealing with a knee injury. According to the official pool reports from those sessions he took part in, Edmunds made plays in the passing game and in the running game early, and during two late practices this past week he was breaking up passes all over the field.
“I think he is getting more and more comfortable back there, doing and working a lot of ball drills,” veteran cornerback Joe Haden said. “He’s been getting to handle the ball a lot during this camp. I can tell he’s been working on it. He has all the physical attributes. I think this year is going to be a really good year for him.”
Defensive coordinator Keith Butler likewise predicts a breakout for Edmunds, calling the 2020 season “huge” for him.
Last season, Edmunds was part of one of the best defenses in the NFL. This season, does he strive for a prominent role?
“Whatever helps the team win,” Edmunds said. “Of course, I want to have the turnovers. But as long as we’re winning, hopefully we get to the Super Bowl. That’s the main goal for the team. Everyone wants to make the play because we’re all competitive. But as long as we’re winning, it’s perfect.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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