Edmund calls Loveland-Kmet TE duo a "two-headed monster"

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 4 hours ago

CHICAGO - Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is expected to be a big piece in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense this season.

Right now, Edmunds and the defense are going after the offense in training camp, and the defensive playmakers are letting the offense know it.

“That’s what training camp’s about. It’s about chirping. It’s about competing. It’s about defense pushing offense, offense pushing defense, special teams pushing everybody because that’s what you need. These are the dog days in training camp and that’s what (makes) a man out of you and that’s ultimately what brings a team together,” Edmunds said. “I know that I’m a playmaker and that’s what the goal is for me every time I step out there. I see myself making these plays … His whole scheme, it’s going to be good. It’s definitely going to be good. I’m looking forward to it and it’s going. It definitely got me going for sure.”

Allen has been intentional about trying different packages out in training camp to see what players are more versatile and who will fit in each of these different packages. One of those packages is dime where Edmunds is the only linebacker on the field.

While he would prefer to have his teammate, linebacker T.J. Edwards, on the field, Edmunds is also open to trying any package that can help the defense succeed.

“It’s just a different personnel, just something that we have in our belt. If we need to use it, we can use it. I’m pretty sure my guy (T.J. Edwards) want to be out there too. But, it’s football. Obviously, it’s a matchup type of game. So, whatever the coaches think is the best matchup, they’ll put us in position to make the best plays. But, we got a lot of different guys that can play a lot of different positions,” Edmunds said. “I think (it) just gives somebody else an opportunity to come out there and play a position. But, whether it’s dime, whether it’s nickel, I got extreme trust in whoever’s out there. So, whichever our coaches think is best for us, for that particular play or that particular series, I’m all for it. But, it just gives us the flexibility to do different things. Obviously, has different calls and different personnel groupings. But, whatever one that he calls, I’m pretty sure that we got the guys that can get it done.”

Even though the defense may be doing better overall in training camp, head coach Ben Johnson’s offense is still challenging the defense. Johnson is not even halfway through the installation of his offensive scheme.

Thus, the offense should be more competitive against the defense as training camp goes on and challenge the defense even more.

“It’s challenging us as a defense. I think that’s good though that we seeing a lot of that stuff early because it’s going to be a lot of stuff that we going to face as (the) season (goes) along,” Edmunds said. “So, it’s not like we’re going through one thing now and then a couple months from now, we got to prepare for this type of offense. We getting everything now, which is challenging us, keeping us on our toes. But we’re making each other better.”

As a leader on this defense, Edmunds will be part of the group responsible for challenging the offense’s new rookies, including tight end Colston Loveland.

Loveland is finally able to practice in training camp, and he is impressing Edmunds.

“I think he’s obviously a big guy that can move, got a big frame. He’s strong (and) he’s fast and being able to create mismatches on linebackers, being able to create mismatches on the DBs that cover him,” Edmunds said. “I think that’s going to be helpful for us and just having somebody that can do that, somebody that can separate, somebody that can get open and just be a security blanket for the quarterback. A tight end is a quarterback’s best friend. I think with him and Cole, you got a two-headed monster and two guys that can do a lot of extremely good things. So, it’s a lot of good stuff.”