Steelers-Bucs Joint Practice: The secondary’s first real test and Payton Wilson’s inexperience highlight 3 things to watch on defense
It’s time for the Steelers’ defense to prove their worth.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten out of character the last couple of years. Hopping on the trend of joint practices, Pittsburgh will welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town on Thursday for an important day of scrimmages.
To prepare for what will be the biggest test of the preseason for the Steelers, given they are unlikely to play veterans like Aaron Rodgers in the actual games, Evan Winter of A to Z Sports Tampa Bay and I have prepared an in-depth preview for the joint practice.
We already featured our biggest questions for the Steelers’ offense, and now we highlight three things of note on the other side of the ball.
A new-look Steelers secondary against an established Bucs passing attack
Rob: No position group in Pittsburgh has seen the turnover that the secondary has. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Donte Jackson, and Damontae Kazee, all of whom played key roles in the defensive backfield, are gone.
Insert Brandin Echols, Juan Thornhill, Darius Slay, and, of course, Jalen Ramsey, and this unit looks entirely different. We have already seen more multiplicity across the board. Many moving parts come together to form a whole in Pittsburgh’s secondary. Ramsey has played slot corner, outside corner, and safety. Brandin Echols has played every corner spot.
But none of them have been tested, as a group, against one of the best offenses in the league. That all changes on Thursday. Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, and Baker Mayfield are going to throw the rock. It’s the DNA of their offense.
It’s time to see if the revitalized Steelers’ secondary can hold up.
Evan: It’s interesting to hear about the variety in the Steelers’ secondary because the Bucs receivers have the same trait in terms of playing multiple positions on offense. Especially Egbuka, who’s been moving around formations since OTAs and minicamp.
Chris Godwin is still on PUP, so he won’t be involved in Thursday’s joint practice. There are still the two guys Rob mentioned, plus Jalen McMillan, to deal with, however, and based on how versatile both position groups are, I expect some big-time matchups and plays to be made on both sides.
Steelers’ up-and-coming pass rush can test the Bucs’ tackles
Rob: As of publication, Alex Highsmith is still being held out of practice while recovering from a recent groin injury. Given that said groin has been a thorn in the side of Highsmith for years now, I doubt the Steelers will rush him back for a joint practice.
And while T.J. Watt will certainly mix in, the spotlight will be on the young duo of Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. Herbig could well be a starter on 31 other teams. He’s just behind one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league
With Sawyer, he got the start against the Jaguars, but their quick passing game mitigated any real chance to collapse the pocket, meaning he has a shot to show what he’s made of against Luke Goedeke and Charlie Heck.
Evan: Goedeke is one of the league’s fastest-rising tackles, but he doesn’t — and won’t — have his bookend running mate in Tristan Wirfs. Reports stated Heck held his own against the Tennessee Titans in last week’s joint practice, and he looked serviceable during the 10 reps he received in the preseason game.
He faces a tougher test against the Steelers, however, in Herbig and Sawyer (potentially Watt, too). Heck’s run blocking is certainly his strength, but his pass blocking can use improvement. Believe it or not, a rough outing from Heck can trickle down to Goedeke if the Steelers can get him on his heels. An offensive line is only as strong as its weakest link.
Can Payton Wilson hold up in the middle against Baker Mayfield?
Rob: Payton Wilson is one of the most exciting players on a team that is filled with explosive and tenacious defenders. He plays with his hair on fire, and he only knows one speed, whether it’s practice, preseason, or an actual game.
Playing fast at inside linebacker is key, but so is being in the right place at the right time, especially in coverage. With so many veterans and proven playmakers in the back seven of the defense, Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will attack the middle of the field. When he does, he will target the one unproven piece in the unit: Payton Wilson.
It will be interesting to see if Wilson can hold his own against a veteran signal caller of Mayfield’s credentials.
Evan: The Bucs just got starting tight end Cade Otton back from an injury that’s basically held him out of the entirety of training camp. I’d think he practices Thursday, meaning the Bucs’ tight end room should be at full health, and that’s a big deal.
Not only do the Bucs have the horses at receiver to dominate the middle, they have the tight ends, too. Otton and Payne Durham are your traditional Y tight ends that also serve as effective red zone threats, and then there’s Devin Culp: A “move” tight end that runs a 4.4 and can absolutely burn a defense down the seam. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the second-year player, and Otton, as well as Durham, are looking to make 2025 their best years yet.
Wilson — and anyone else in the middle of the Steelers defense — will certainly have his hands full on Thursday.
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