8/5/19-Ryan Switzer Will Be Steelers 2019 “X” Factor

By: Mike Pelaia

In the past few years, if I were describing a Steelers receiver and told you they were fast, agile, capable of making impactful plays over the middle and as a return specialist, you’d probably think I was describing Antonio Brown. And if I left the description at just those characteristics, I probably would be.

But now what if I keep all those characteristics and add humble, friendly, a man of family and faith and a great locker room presence?  Who would I be talking about?  Quite simply; Ryan Switzer. 

The Steelers stole Switzer from the Raiders last season right before the regular season when they traded away a 6^th round pick.  The former UNC product had just been drafted out of Dallas in the fourth round a year prior. 

Switzer was a standout at UNC, logging 243 catches for over 2,900 yards and 19 touchdowns in his four year career.  He also logged another 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns as a return man in that same time frame. 

The guy has talent, but more than that, he has a big heart and despite his smaller stature, he may very well be the toughest man on the field every single Sunday. 

Switzer isn’t about his own stats, he’s about winning and helping out his football team.  “I want to have a big year, I want to build on what I did last year, I think the opportunity is there for me to do that. It will be interesting to see how that plays out and to see how much I can help JuJu and to see how much I can be on the same page as Ben.”

Nothing in there about how he should be the Slot receiver (which he should be). Nothing in there about how he can catch 50 balls (which he will do this year). He just wants to help this team win, however he can.

I firmly believe Swtizer is the best option for this team to be the Slot receiver; and even though the Slot is defined as the “Y” receiver, Switzer is the “X” factor for the Steelers this season.

What he can bring to the offense is a burst of speed, toughness and a positive, drama free energy; something that’s been missing the last few seasons. 

In addition to that, he’s going to be a playmaker in the return game.  He’s fearless, he goes after balls where he knows he’s going to get creamed, all to save this team a few yards and he wants to be the best he can be, for his team, not for himself. That’s admirable and that’s what this locker room needs. “The ultimate goal is to be ready when my number is called and that’s what I’m focusing on.”  

Last year when Switzer’s number was called, he pledged donations for every catch he made to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.  That’s a cause I believe in (as you all know by now) and I was happy to pledge an offer for every catch Switzer made as well. 

I don’t know if Swtiz plans to do that this year but I plan on pledging $10 per Switzer catch this season; that will go to the hospital. I have a feeling he’s going to put up the stats that will make me pay.

I’m not going to be the only one paying. He’s going to make opposing teams pay this year too. He’s too fast for a lot of defenders to cover. He’s too tough to be afraid to go over the middle, he’s got good hands and more than anything else, he’s not going to sabotage the offense if he isn’t getting his numbers.

Look for Switzer to be a major player for this 2019 version of the Steelers.  He is, after all, their “X” factor.

8/5/19-Terrell Edmunds Ready To Take Second Year Leap

By: Mike Pelaia

A year ago, a young, 21 year old safety out of Virginia Tech by the name of Terrell Edmunds was drafted in the first round, 28^th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Many thought Edmunds was a second round talent, going too early in the draft. Others thought he may be the next version of Troy Polamalu, something the Steelers have needed since BEFORE Polamalu retired at the end of the 2014 season. 

No matter which side of the fence you fell on, there was never denying the fact that Edmunds comes from a successful football family and was going to be a solid contributor either way. 

 His father, Ferrell Edmunds played seven NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks, making two pro bowls as a tight end during that time.  His brother Tremaine Edmunds played along side Terrell at Virginia Tech and was also a first round pick, of the Buffalo Bills and his older brother Trey Edmunds was signed to the Steelers last season as an unrestricted free agent.

Edmunds launched his rookie campaign with 15 starts, 78 total tackles, an interception, a sack and a fumble recover to go along with four passes defensed. 

Were fans, the Steelers and Edmunds expecting more?  Possibly.  Yet, for comparisons sake, Polamalu had a rookie campaign that didn’t see him log a single start, only post 38 tackles, two sacks, no picks, no fumbles recovered and four passes defensed. 

On paper, Edmunds is off to the better start.  Am I comparing Edmunds to the all time legend, the future Hall of Famer, Polamalu?  Absolutely not!  That’s not fair to anyone.

What I am saying is Edmunds had a great start and like Polamalu, will build off that in year two.  Edmunds is ready to take the leap from rookie to second year player. It’s a pivotal year for both Edmunds and the Steelers organization. 

“Now it’s time to make more positives than negatives (plays). That’s the whole mindset, come out and get better every day. Just keep on working.”

While the team still has Super Bowl aspirations, with Ben Roethlisberger still leading the way, the defense needs to step up this season.  Edmunds can be a guy who leads that charge. 

He’s athletic, quick and smart.  He played at a high level at Virginia Tech and he brought that to the Steelers last season.  We haven’t seen the best of Edmunds, we’ve only seen the beginning. 

Edmunds will make a huge difference to a secondary that desperately needs it.  With another year of experience for Sean Davis, the signing of Steven Nelson, the leadership of Joe Haden and the drafting of Justin Layne, the Steelers secondary should be significantly better than it has been in the recent past.  Yet if Edmunds fails to take the next step, or even takes a step back, the entire secondary could suffer. 

There’s a lot riding on his shoulders but that’s not new for Edmunds I’m sure.  When you grow up in a successful football family, play at high level D1 school for college and get drafted in the first round and your brother does too, you always have something to prove; and Edmunds will continue to do just that in his second season. 

He’ll help a much-improved Steeler defense do that too. “We want to be the best defense. That’s how we feel, so we got to keep on working like we are”.

My predicted stat line for Edmunds this season:  88 tackles, two sacks, 5 interceptions, 10 passes defensed and the leader of a vastly improved Steelers secondary that will surprise a lot of people around the league. Mark it down now.