When it came to their NFL regular season debuts, rookies Payton Wilson and Beanie Bishop weren't eased in by the Steelers' defensive staff, they were thrown into the fire.
The pair combined to play 57 defensive snaps and 23 special teams snaps as both contributed to an exceptional defensive showing that limited the Falcons to 51 total yards in the second half Sunday in Atlanta. However, both players had a lot of help along the way and that's no surprise given the amount of talent the Steelers boast on the defensive side of the ball.
T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen ... must I go on?
The amount of knowledge a rookie can garner upon joining the defensive roster in Pittsburgh is endless and both rookies are aware of, and have taken advantage of, the opportunity they have in front of them.
When I asked Bishop about how playing alongside guys like Fitzpatrick has helped his development, the undrafted rookie out of West Virginia was gushing with excitement as he thought about and described what he's learned so far.
"Minkah, man, sometimes I don’t even ask him questions, I just watch him and see what he does and try and take some things from his game," Bishop said. "This week, I’m just gonna see how he watches film and things like that, just to see what he sees because he’s always around the ball. He’s a ball magnet. I just want that to rub off on me a little bit."
But Sunday in Atlanta, the first time both players stepped on a field during the NFL regular season, was all about communication. Both players emphasized that fact Monday in the Steelers locker room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. If not for the communication they had with the veteran players that surrounded them, they might've just been treading water at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In his 24 defensive snaps, which was one more than Elandon Roberts, Wilson made three tackles, including this one on a screen pass to Bijan Robinson that may have saved a touchdown, even with Fitzpatrick laying in wait:
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPSmedia) September 9, 2024
On this play in particular, Wilson said he needed to make the play for "linebacker culture" as he said a linebacker should never be blocked by a wide receiver. But, Wilson said that throughout the game both Roberts and Queen were putting him in position to make plays because of their communication. He was also just as complimentary of Fitzpatrick.
"Our back end, is so, not old, but just so mature and they have so much experience, I mean I’m out there with the best safety in the game, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and just his communication and the poise that he plays with," Wilson said. "I mean even on those drives that we were just talking about, the poise that he has, the communication, just sometimes telling me what I have rather than giving a call. Just having him back there is a blessing."
It was the same for Bishop. He played 33 snaps, which was 59% of all defensive snaps, and recorded four tackles which included keeping Ray-Ray McCloud in bounds on Atlanta's final drive that forced the Falcons to spike the ball with 14 seconds left. Watt ended the game one play later with a walk-off sack.
Bishop said that throughout the game he was constantly communicating with Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott, Joey Porter Jr., and Donte Jackson and the rest of the secondary because it allowed him to settle into the game and think less.
"When I got out there, I was just telling those guys, ‘Make sure we’re communicating, make sure we’re communicating,’ at least with me," Bishop said. "That way, it’s not a whole lot of stuff I’m trying to think about and being in the moment, so I can just look at the formation and be able to play fast."
As the season carries on, that type of communication with the younger players who are garnering snaps will be crucial to the defense's overall success. Empowering guys like Wilson and Bishop and putting them in a position to play fast and think less will allow this defense to reach its highest potential, even though that potential is high already.
Both players have high expectations for themselves as well. They want to keep growing and learning at the professional level and they'll continue to do so no matter what type of role they are given because, in the end, they want to contribute to the team's success.
"Whatever role I’m handed, whether that’s zero plays or the whole game, I’m going to give it my best effort," Wilson said. "Whatever coach TA (Teryl Austin), coach AC (Aaron Curry) wants out there that’s what I’m going to roll with and I have no problem with it. So however many reps I get, I’m just going to try to make every single one of them count."