The top player to watch in Steelers preseason opener vs. Texans

When you last heard from me, I was dying on the hill of defense being the key to a successful Steelers preseason. While making that point, I proposed the idea of highlighting particular players that could lead the way to the success in question.

Though the criteria behind each selection will, of course, vary depending on both opponent and week, what goes into picking the star for Pittsburgh’s opener against the Houston Texans needs little explanation, and that should become especially clear when you read his name: Payton Wilson.

By managing to stand out so well despite his troublesome injury history, the NC State linebacker presented himself as a triumphant intimidator worthy of not just using a third-round pick on, but also being Pittsburgh’s first grab for the defensive side of the ball—well, maybe that doesn’t fall SOLELY on universal skill.

The moment Wilson’s name was called, Steelers articles were popping up left and right, all saying the same thing: He’s a perfect addition to their defense.

Don’t get me wrong, by being on the faster end of linebackers, fitting well into coverage, and shining on special teams, it would be difficult for a player of Wilson’s versatility to not fit in somewhere, but with the Steelers having already had higher expectations due to increased LB depth at the time of taking him, they make for a match that is all the more ideal.

Okay, so the pieces are there for Payton Wilson to be a must-watch on Pittsburgh’s end: He’s a much-needed, yet flawed athlete that the franchise liked more than any other defensive talent on the board. But what is it about the opener against Houston in particular that makes it the best preseason game to watch him in?

Well, similarly to all that we’ve touched on up to this point, the answer is rather straightforward.

The opener against Houston is the perfect stage for someone in Wilson’s shoes

Let’s set the tone for this game, shall we?

The Houston Texans are entering it soon after unleashing one of the nation’s harshest offensive regimes onto the rest of the NFL, and what made it so harsh? How it could hit you in the mouth with a variety of attacks perfected by a deep offensive arsenal.

Now sure, that same offense won’t be present in this game, but with the same minds that helped bring it to life being on the sidelines, it’ll nonetheless make for a daunting challenge (especially if you’re a newbie).

So, when holding Payton Wilson next to that, what do you get? Pittsburgh’s first defensive selection, with do-all capabilities, in Pittsburgh’s first preseason battle, against a do-all offense. It’s almost poetic, isn’t it?

This obviously won’t be some huge statement game that’ll tell us everything there is to know about Wilson (heck, we don’t even have confirmation that he’ll play in it yet). However, if he does, it should at least be a terrific opportunity for us to get a better idea of what he’s all about, and if what we’ve seen from him so far is any implication, that’d be a shame to miss.