Following the season opener, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced again considered one of their very own in security Terrell Edmunds. The staff’s first spherical choice within the 2018 draft, Edmunds performed his first 5 seasons within the Metal Metropolis, since spending time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
With different groups, defensive alternatives had been far lower than his time with Pittsburgh. Contemplating this, together with Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott within the fold, his possible quick function might be on particular groups. So, I needed to take a look at his profession contributions in that regard.
Listed here are safeties common season snaps and grades on particular groups since 2018, with Edmunds outcomes highlighted:
What jumps out instantly is Edmunds most up-to-date 2023 season, the place he was comfortably above the imply in snaps and grades amongst safeties within the six-year pattern dimension (71.8 grade, 217 snaps). He was a core particular teamer, taking part in on 5 items.
Although his last 2022 season with Pittsburgh was far much less alternative (107 snaps), Edmunds posted his finest profession particular groups grade (75.1). Very encouraging to see, displaying progress the final two seasons and changing into an above common particular teamer.
Previous to this, Edmunds spent far much less time on particular groups as a defensive starter, with properly below-average alternatives, together with beneath the imply grades. His 2018 rookie yr included his most particular groups snaps in a season (222), eerily comparable alternative to final season, however the high quality was much better within the latter.
For instance, Edmunds had three particular groups tackles however two missed tackles in 2018, in comparison with seven whole tackles and no misses in 2023. He additionally earned a strong 80.2 tackling grade on protection in 2023, rating eleventh amongst safeties (min. 450 snaps).
Talking of his protection, an encouraging truth on Edmunds was cross dashing. Listed here are safeties whole cross rush grades, and in true cross units (eliminating performs that assist out the offense, similar to play motion, screens and RPOs.):
Edmunds was a key contributor as a cross rusher in 2023. His 76.1 cross rush grade ranked solidly at tenth, however shined even brighter in true cross units with a wonderful 90.3 grade that ranked fourth-best out of the 55 qualifying safeties. This included three pressures and two sacks in totality on 17 cross rushes. Two pressures and each sacks got here in true cross units, with the latter additionally tying for fourth-most.
That manufacturing just isn’t an outlier both, together with one other two sacks in 2022 with Pittsburgh, making for back-to-back campaigns. Edmunds additionally supplied no less than 4 pressures and one sack in 4 out of 5 years with Pittsburgh with a grand whole of 25 pressures and 7 sacks in his profession.
Whereas it’s a wait-and-see sport on what Edmunds’ function and alternatives will seem like, the findings of Edmunds strengths on protection and particular groups had been encouraging to search out.
With so many particular teamers that Pittsburgh misplaced from final season, and fewer than fascinating ends in 2024 total, the info factors to Edmunds hopefully being a pleasant contributor to a optimistic development for the unit. Pairing this along with his expertise within the Steelers protection, and offering versatile alignments all through his profession (together with deep, field, and slot), the depth within the secondary additionally appears to be like brighter.
If Edmunds seeing the sphere involves fruition, right here’s to hoping the reunion and the findings pan out in addition to it seems on paper.
