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METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints' defense has played remarkably well so far this preseason -- and throughout all of training camp, really. But Friday night’s preseason date with the Pittsburgh Steelers will provide the best test by far to show just how much New Orleans’ embattled defense has improved since last season. For one thing, it’s the third preseason game, when teams typically play their starters the most -- and actually do a little bit of game-planning. For another thing, the Steelers' offense is really, really good. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell all are expected to make their preseason debuts tonight in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. “Oh, man, we always say [preseason games] don’t count, but they matter. And Pittsburgh’s offense is ... a huge challenge for us,” said Saints middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who faced the Steelers last season when he was with the St. Louis Rams. The last time New Orleans and Pittsburgh faced each other was in 2014, when the Saints won 35-32. “A receiving corps that’s gonna challenge ya. When Le'Veon Bell's in there, it’s a whole other matchup. Big Ben is, goodness, one of the best,” Laurinaitis explained. “Their scheme is different, with the way they run the ball, gap scheme ... try to overwhelm you with all these pull plays and everything. “You’ve just gotta have really good keys, good communication. What a challenge for us. I’m excited for it. It’s gonna be a good measuring stick for where we are defensively.” The Steelers’ diversity is as challenging as anything else. Roethlisberger is a load to bring down at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, so he’s able to extend plays after shrugging off hits. Saints coach Sean Payton said Bell presents a unique challenge because he "can do a lot of things a receiver can out of the backfield." And Brown (5-10, 181) makes plays all over the field, from short range to deep, which is why he has averaged 125 catches per year over the past three seasons. “I’m pretty excited just because it’s Antonio Brown. Who wouldn’t want to go up against that guy?” said the Saints’ No. 1 cornerback, Delvin Breaux, who held tough against another one of the NFL’s top receivers last week: Houston's DeAndre Hopkins. “I think it’s awesome, because he’s one of the elite receivers in the league,” Breaux said of Brown. “[They use him] in every situation. He’s great, man. It’s great to go up against guys of that pedigree, just to see where I’m at. It gives me an opportunity to see what I can work on, where I can get better.” Payton was quick to complement the Steelers’ defense as well. And when asked what he is looking for most in this third preseason game, Payton’s first response was, “I want to see our first offense be better.” The Saints have some good excuses for their sluggish start on offense this preseason. Left tackle Terron Armstead didn’t play in the opener. Receivers Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead sat out last week. QB Drew Brees’ snaps have been limited. Still, that didn’t make the games any easier to watch, as the Saints scuttled themselves with too many turnovers, poor offensive-line play and a nonexistent run game. Their backs are averaging 2.4 yards per carry this preseason (not counting QB scrambles). The Saints’ starters are expected to play about one half Friday night. It’s unclear whether Brees will stick around for the entire half. But he no doubt wants to get into a good rhythm in this final dress rehearsal before likely skipping next Thursday's preseason finale against Baltimore. “We want to look sharp,” Brees said. “We have not game-planned at all for New England or Houston. ... The third game is a time where, OK, you’re watching more film, you’re able to fine-tune a little more of what you’re doing based upon how they’re going to defend you. “We prepare in a very short amount of time to play this game as if it were a regular-season game.”
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