Watts ran first team, Adams second at NT
Battle for defensive line positions became more intense Tuesday
For the first three weeks of training camp, Montravius Adams lined up at nose tackle with the first-team defense. But on Tuesday afternoon, Armon Watts was the starting nose tackle and Adams took reps with the second-team defense.
Watts, who signed a oneyear, $1.2 million deal in free agency, played for the Vikings from 2019-21 and with the Bears last season. Watts has 22 career starts, and 12 of those came with the Bears in 2022.
“Coach mixed me in there a little bit today,” Watts said after practice. “I accepted the challenge. I came out here and had a clear mind.”
The competition for spots along the defensive line is fierce. Adams was signed by the Steelers late in the 2021 season and has started 13 games the past two seasons. The Steelers also signed nose tackle Breiden Fehoko in free agency. Fehoko played the past three seasons for the Chargers.
Watts set career-highs in tackles (46) and sacks (5) with the Vikings in 2021. With the Bears last season, he had 35 tackles and one sack.
“He’s an NFL player,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “You can tell he’s been in an NFL environment. He’ll be given an opportunity to state a case for himself.”
In addition to playing nose tackle, Watts can also play other positions along the defensive line. That versatility could help him earn one of the final roster spots among a deep group of linemen.
“The more you can do to help a team, the more valuable you are,” Watts said. “As long as I can go out and show my athleticism, I’ll do it.”
Tomlin stokes competition
The offense and defense were tied 3-3 following the first six snaps of the seven shots drill to open practice. Then Tomlin did something he hadn’t done all training camp. He called the first-team offense and first-team defense back onto the field to compete for the win.
The starters usually take the first four snaps in seven shots and the backups take the final three snaps.
So why did Tomlin deviate from the script?
“To stoke the competition, let them compete and be leaders,” he said. “You hate to have the drill riding with the pups.”
Kenny Pickett threw a touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson to break the tie.
The defense would get the last laugh though. On the final snap of practice, cornerback Levi Wallace broke up a pass intended for Johnson, prompting the defense to celebrate at Johnson’s expense.
Tomlin also made sure he watched the 1-on-1 pass protection drills between the offensive and defensive line again.
Some of the highlights:
• Right guard James Daniels won his first reps against Watts, but Watts showed some wiggle and beat Daniels easily on the final two reps.
• Broderick Jones won two of three (or all three) reps, depending on who was keeping track of the stats. Outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin thought Nick Herbig won one of the first two reps and called for a rubber match, but Tomlin disagreed and had Jones winning the first two. Jones won the final rep to erase all doubt.
• When it was time for Kendrick Green to go against Jonathan Marshall, Tomlin said: “Get that day job, KG.” Green won two of three reps against Marshall and later won both reps against Isaiahh Loudermilk. Green didn’t play well Friday night, but he bounced back and had a solid practice Tuesday.
Anderson at center
With Nate Herbig out with a shoulder injury, rookie Spencer Anderson took reps at center for the first time in camp. Anderson has made an impression on the coaching staff with his versatility and physical style of play. He played right and left guard and right tackle against the Buccaneers.
“He did all of those things in college,” Tomlin said. “If you show versatility, it helps his cause and ours. He appears intellectually capable of being able to handle it. The more we give him reps, we’ll see if he’s physically capable of handling it.”
Anderson had one mistake at center when he did not know the snap count but otherwise did not look out of place. The majority of Anderson’s reps have come at right tackle this summer.
In addition to Anderson’s gaffe, right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor had a false start and was replaced for a play during a team period. When the defensive line was getting too much pressure against the first-team offensive line during a team passing period, Tomlin yelled, “Clean up the damn pocket.”
“At times a little bit sloppy on both sides,” Tomlin said of Tuesday’s practice. “When that happens, I’m looking at our ability to rally in the midst of it. If things aren’t going our way, what is our ability to flip it in a stadium? It’s good to challenge them in those ways.”
Ogunjobi on the mend
Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi remained in a walking boot and did not practice, but Tomlin said after practice Ogunjobi is “moving closer” to a return.
• Rookie nose tackle Keeanu Benton, who injured his ankle in the preseason game against the Buccaneers, was limited in practice.
• Rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. returned to practice after missing the past week with an ankle injury.
• Inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski also missed with a shoulder injury.