Payton Wilson Says Steelers Defense Is ‘Really Starting To Figure Out’ Patrick Graham’s Scheme

Payton Wilson is heading into a massive year, his third with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the midst of that, he’s also trying to learn a new scheme under what’s almost an entirely new coaching staff.

It’s a staff that has made a few changes in terms of day-to-day activities, including a lack of live tackling in camp. Players are still getting used to the change. For Wilson, it takes an adjustment.

“It’s a little different. Obviously when you’re facing backs like Jaylen and Rico, it’s hard to kind of meet in the middle at the same place,” Wilson said Thursday via Chris Adamski on X.

While Pittsburgh isn’t being overly physical at practice, there are some benefits that come with less hitting. It may help keep players healthy over the long course of a regular season, according to Rico Dowdle, who played for McCarthy in Dallas.

It also forces players to focus more on the fundamentals. Breaking down and wrapping up sure weren’t things the Steelers did consistently last year, Payton Wilson included. For what it’s worth, while Wilson does see some change, it doesn’t make too much of a difference for some of the Steelers’ older defenders.

The most important thing right now is to learn the new scheme under Patrick Graham. Wilson thinks that process is going well.

“It’s been really great. I think each day, the defense has improved. We’re really starting to figure out PG and his defense and how he wants it played. And I think today we did a really good job all around the board,” Wilson said.

The defense has been making strides this past week. On Monday, the starters came up with a big stop during a two-minute drill to end the practice. The unit also seemed to be giving the offense some problems during Thursday’s practice.

It’s common for a defense to be more cohesive than an offense at this point of the season. But it’s still a good sign that the unit seems to be working well together. If Graham’s history is any evidence, this defense should be more flexible and aggressive than it was under Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin.

Some of that change involves Wilson, who needs to step up in his third year. As Patrick Queen begins the final year of his contract, Wilson needs to start to cement himself as the future at linebacker. If he can, that might result in a nice payday next offseason. If he can’t, things are much more up in the air after the season ends.

For the Steelers to win anything of note this year, the defense has to be better. So far, Payton Wilson likes the progress the Steelers are making.