Keith Butler needs players who can erase different kinds of offensive threats in today's NFL. That's why Terrell Edmunds is a key cog in what the Steelers' defense needs to become in 2019.
Here's a quick dive into why Edmunds is vital to how the defense performs:
Edmunds' 966 snaps in 2018 were the second most on the team and were more than 92 percent of all defensive snaps on the season. No rookie had done that for the Steelers, even with players like T.J. Watt and Artie Burns playing more than 70 percent of defensive snaps in their rookie seasons.
I wrote about Edmunds' level-headed approach to his rookie season, despite playing multiple NFL MVP quarterbacks like Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Pat Mahomes and Tom Brady. His calm assessment of offensive schemes and his assignments to counter them on the field showed the potential to be a major leader for the Steelers' defense.
Combine that with the versatility he brings to the field and you have the reason why he saw so much time in 2018, and why he will be a major component to 2019's defense.
Butler felt comfortable assigning Edmunds to different responsibilities because of that versatility. Here Edmunds is in coverage against Tevin Coleman on third down against the Falcons. Coleman is a fast running back lined up in the slot, the type of matchup that has tormented the Steelers for years.
Edmunds doesn't get caught with his eyes in the backfield and doesn't try to do too much and overplay his role. He stays between his man and the line to gain and gets the job done:
In today's NFL that prizes efficiency in short passing with yards after the catch, defenders who can erase problems like that are valuable. But Edmunds does that while also covering a completely different kind of threat, like a big tight end split-wide to get single coverage.
The Ravens thought they had the matchup they wanted when tight end Mark Andrews was motioned out wide and Edmunds lined up with him. If that were a Steelers' safety of the past like Robert Golden or Will Allen, maybe that would've worked.
But Edmunds took on the assignment and displayed cornerback-like technique on the pass. He maintained inside leverage and never took his eyes off Andrews. Once the ball was in the air, he properly beat Andrews to the highest point of the ball by attacking where Andrews hands were, and turning to look for the ball and avoid a penalty:
Edmunds didn't do everything right in 2018, but he showed he could do enough right in several different assignments to get the job done. Butler needs players who can erase multiple problems on the field, and Edmunds does just that.
