The Steelers need Payton Wilson to step up this season

Last season Jonnu Smith was my most disappointing Steelers player, I would say Payton was number two he was losing snaps to Holcomb and Harrison.

 

He really did struggle with his read and recognition, so he was late or out of posotion a lot. I hope he is better this year but we will have to see because now he has a new defense to learn.

 

For a LB that was supposed to be good in coverage he was awful. I mean, 0, zero passes defensed last season. Allowing 91% completion?! Ooof.

He could end up another Kahn bust if he doesn't step up.

 

huh? he had 2 passes defended and an interception last year.

in two years of playing part time he has had 2 interceptions, 4 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks and 9 tackles for loss, not to mention 204 tackles and 6 QB hits.

 

He was a bit of a disappointment, especially in the run game defense.
But I think he has a higher ceiling than what we saw, the first year is difficult for some.
I think our LB's are a very interesting group. Like Wilson, Sawyer is another one that I think has a higher ceiling and might need a year or two of 'seasoning.'
I feel like that already this new defensive staff is tapping more out of that group.
But there's still a ways to go to make that determination.

Wilson is slotted behind Patrick Queen, who also looks to have better assignments.
Wilson is a bigger LB than Queen, and ~240 or so, is quicker reacting.
I think Austin's system had too many decisions/assignments and put those inside LB's into some bad positions.
I think Graham is going to go more with simple instincts off reads and along with some actual designed attacks on the offense.
Hopefully, this rings true and we get the production expected from the defense.

 

i agree karl. MT's defense put a lot of pressure on the ILB'ers because of how the OLB'ers were used as basically DE's. two down linemen created the ILB'ers into being exposed if the pass rush didn't get there. the OLB'ers crashed down leaving the edges open. it left the inside guys having to cover the run on the outside and inside as well as RB's out of the backfield. that is a lot to process and cover and then they had them covering deep as well, as we saw numerous times. how many times a play action swing pass went for big gains. they suckerd them out of position knowing the OLB'ers would be crashing inside. there were times nobody was covering the flats. that was by design and a flaw in the scheme.

 

Guess it depends upon who you ask. SIS had him at 0 PDs, 0 FF, but as a positive 8 TFL and 2 sacks in 2025. That's on 480 pass snaps btw.

 

There is no such thing a a scheme without a flaw. Every single D put out onto the field at every single moment has a weakness. It's can you figure it out, and can the Qb see it in time.

 

He definitely had a int. I seen it.

 

He is one of two X Factors for the 2026 Season for me. He has the talent but has been way too inconsistent. He needs to put it together to net that contract extension.


If not, Pittsburgh is going to have to dive into the ILB well in 2027. As it currently stands, not a whole lot of options currently in the upcoming class and the FA ILB Class is not much better.

 

This is the year most players make a jump. We shall see.

 

I was just going to post this

Now I can go back to doing nothing

 

True.


Really want Wilson to put it all together though. Payton Wilson working out aides Pittsburgh a great deal as far as their ILB Room goes.

 

Thanks for nothing.

 

Had him for 1 INT... it was a good one.

 

Looking at his splits, Wilson really struggles in the second half of games. Is this him tiring out? Are QBs seeing something to exploit?

 

I am excited to see how ALL of our defensive players are this year with a new coach and no input from the head coach.

This is the first time in our history that we have an offensive coach and a defensive coordinator that can run the defense.

Wilson is just one of the players I expect to be a lot better.

 

i agree and we had the same weakness game after game taken advantage of. that swing pass out of the backfield burnt the steelers often.

then there was the pass he tipped that sawyer intercepted.

 

2025 peyton wilson.

 

Not to be a stick in the mud but like the video title says “Best of”

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