Tomlin expects to have Edmunds, Allen see time at ILB

By Brian Deardo

https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/Pittsburgh-Steelers-Mike-Tomlin-expects-to-have-Edmunds-Allen-see-time-at-ILB-119458363/

June 29, 2018

Terrell Edmunds

Technically, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not select an inside linebacker during the 2018 NFL Draft. That obviously came as a surprise, considering the fact that the team lost Ryan Shazier for the 2018 season as he continues to recover from spine stabilization surgery. Tyler Matakevich, who is slated to compete for a starting job alongside Vince Williams, underwent shoulder surgery earlier this offseason. 

While the team's technically draft an inside linebacker, it was quickly realized that part of the reason why the Steelers drafted rookie safeties Terrell Edmunds and Marcus Allen was the versatility each player displayed during their time at Virginia Tech and Penn State, respectively. During a recent interview with Steeler Nation Unite, Tomlin confirmed that he expects both Edmunds and Allen to see time at inside linebacker during the 2018 season. 

"The awesome thing about both of those guys is that I saw them in package play on their college video, particularly Edmunds," Tomlin said. "He played strong safety, free safety. He played linebacker, some subs packages. I saw similar things from Marcus, particularly at the sub package linebacker level. Their physicality, size and athleticism is gonna provide us a lot of flexibility.

"And I think it’s reasonable to expect those guys -- as they get their feet on the ground relative to their first job which is safety — for them to quickly establish themselves at secondary positions that are somewhat situational. That’s gonna be an exciting part of team development to watch that unfold."

Marcus Allen

Tomlin was hoping to see a great deal of communication between Edmunds and Allen during the team's rookie minicamp. That's exactly what he got, as Edmunds and Allen did enough to receive some praise from their new coach after working together throughout the weekend. 

“The way that you stand out at this juncture is just simply communicating, or willingness to communicate," Tomlin said. "I like to hear a lot pre snap chatter. Both (Edmunds and Allen) are providing that. It shows you a lot of things. It shows that they’re into it, they’re situationally aware. The safety is a communicating position, so that’s a job requirement. It also shows that they’re capable of learning things that we’re presenting to them in the classroom and taking it out to them on the field. So, less evaluating in terms of what they’re doing physically. I like what I hear from them prior to the ball being snapped. It’s an indication of this being a good weekend for them.”

Edmunds, who saw time at both safety as well as at linebacker during minicamp, was seemingly in constant communication with Allen throughout camp. 

"There’s a lot of calls being made. Marcus Allen and I were both calling it back and forth," said Edmunds, the 28th overall pick in the draft. "There’s a lot of communication between the two because we both can be interchangeable at the position. So that’s what we’re doing now."

Allen, who said that he had already built a relationship with Edmunds before becoming teammates last month, said that he felt comfortable during his first weekend in an NFL uniform despite learning several new techniques from new defensive backs coach, Tom Bradley. 

“To be honest, I feel comfortable out here," said Allen, a former Penn State standout. "I have a great relationship with a couple of the guys. I’m building relationships. It feels unbelievable."

While the Steelers aren't expected to reinvent the wheel when it comes to their defensive game plan in 2018, Tomlin confirmed that changes will be made this season in order to accommodate the new pieces within Pittsburgh's defense. 

“We’re developing in a lot of ways," Tomlin said. "More than anything, we’ve got some significant young talent that we’re infusing into the group and learning their skill set. Guys like our top draft pick in Edmunds, free agents like Morgan Burnett and others. I think part of us determining what we’re gonna be in ’18 is getting a sense of who and what those guys are. Their strengths and leaning on those things that highlight what they do and stay away from things that maybe minimize the best of their capabilities.

"You can’t get away from the personnel element of it. Who is available to us and how we’re gonna utilize their talent. You know we’re going through a transition at the inside linebacker level obviously, going into a season without Ryan Shazier and his unique talents. So we’ll do some things differently. We’ll plan differently. We’ve done that, and I look forward to watching it unfold inside the stadium."