Marcus Allen and Terrell Edmunds developing a strong bond both on and off the field

One would think being a safety drafted as a team’s top pick, and another drafted in the fifth round would be anything but close. After all, they are competing against one another, and it would be natural for the later round selection to constantly be looking to best the other in an effort to prove their own worth.

This is the exact scenario going on with the Pittsburgh Steelers safety duo of Terrell Edmunds and Marcus Allen, yet the two are not bitter rivals, but are developing a strong bond both on and off the field.

The two have a lot in common, and one of those things is growing up not too far from one another. Despite attending different universities the two defenders started their bonding experience well before the 2018 NFL Draft.

“We already had a relationship,” Allen told Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review after the first Steelers rookie mini-camp session.

”He’s from Virginia, he went to V-Tech, and (when) he was at the combine, we bonded. So that’s my boy. And we are roommates right now, so it’s real cool.”

Despite the tandem not being around other veterans like Morgan Burnett, Sean Davis and Joe Haden, they used rookie minicamp to show off their ability to communicate in the back half of the secondary. Something which pleased head coach Mike Tomlin.

“I like to hear a lot of pre-snap chatter (and) both guys are providing that,” Tomlin said. “It shows you a lot of things: it shows you 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 we’re presenting them in the classroom and taking it out to the field.

”So… I like what I’m hearing from them prior to the ball being snapped. It’s an indication of it’s been a good weekend for them.”

The coach’s praise is tremendous, but what do the players actually think of each other?

“Baller,” Allen said of Edmunds, “Straight baller.”

“Both of us are making the calls,” Edmunds said. “There’s spot-on communications because we both can be interchangeable.”

There are a ridiculous amount of unknowns in this specific situation especially at this specific position, but the fact the two competitors are becoming tight is good to hear. A good relationship off the field usually helps with on field performances. While most are chalking up the safety duo as nothing more than depth and sub package specialists, maybe there is a future at the position with these two players.

Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes as the Steelers head into Organized Team Activities (OTAs) next week.