Garner hopes to continue ascent with Steelers
Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown comes down with a pass in front of cornerback Montell Garner during a recent practice in Latrobe.
Members of the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers stand on the line of scrimmage during an NFL football scrimmage at the Steelers’ training camp in Latrobe, Pa., on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Jared Wickerham)
PITTSBURGH – A number of the Steelers’ offensive stars will sit out the preseason opener against the Detroit Lions tonight at Heinz Field.
The defense?
You can expect to see nearly everyone on that unit, at least for a while, though not all of the players will be easily recognizable to Steelers fans.
One such player is first-year cornerback Montell Garner.
The former South Alabama star has slowly but surely worked his way up the Steelers’ depth chart. When the team held its final practice at Saint Vincent College in preparation for this game, Garner was on the field with the first team nickel defense.
“I come out here every day and I try to get better every single day,” said Garner. “When we’re in film, I’m just learning from my mistakes and not making the same mistakes.”
Garner (5-11, 188) obviously is doing something right. He has gone from being an afterthought to a guy who stands to get a solid amount of snaps in the preseason.
Staying healthy is crucial.
Senquez Golson, a second-round pick in 2015, was originally slated to be the nickel cornerback. But he suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his foot that required surgery and will likely put him out for the season.
This year’s second-round pick, Sean Davis, was the next man up, but he’s been dealing with a sore left knee that has forced him to leave practices early over the past week. Davis’ knee issues could be from overworking at safety and in the slot as he tries to learn both positions.
That has opened the door for Garner to get more time on the field. After being released by the Rams at the end of training camp last season, Garner is relishing the opportunity.
“It was tough. I knew what I was capable of,” said Garner, who had 115 tackles, five interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 25 starts at South Alabama.
“I feel like I didn’t really get a chance to display my full talent with the Rams. The defense was very different from my playing style and I had to learn a whole new system and it kind of took away from what I already knew. You learn to adapt and stuff like that. I feel like this defense is perfect for me.”
Garner, who hasn’t been afraid to use that physical style, seems to be well suited to play in the slot, where the duties include redirecting some of the smaller receivers who line up there.
The Steelers also have been judicious with who is working as the nickel corner, which is on the field about 70 percent of the time.
“You have to be careful sometimes with the number of people you work in that position, because you can water down the reps to a point where they’re not sufficient for anyone,” Tomlin said. “So we’re being conscious about the number of people we’re asking to work in there.”
Landry Jones is expected to start at quarterback in place of Ben Roethlisberger, who will sit out along with receiver Antonio Brown, center Maurkice Pouncey and running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams.
Jones appears to have the inside track on the No. 2 quarterback job behind Roethlisberger. He’ll be relieved by veteran Bruce Gradkowski, with first-year quarterback Dustin Vaughan also expected to play.
“I’m not looking for anything,” Tomlin said of Jones. “I’m just looking for performance. I think he’s doing nice things. Landry Jones is not new to us. He is who he is. I like to think he’s beyond that, ‘Boy he looks really confident’ stage. I know that I am.”
It’s a stage that Garner would like to be at with the coaching staff someday.
He had already signed a contract to play arena football when the Steelers gave him another shot. He impressed in his tryout at the end of last season and has impressed on the field since.
“However they want me to get it done, I’ll get it done,” Garner said. “If I can’t get it done, they’re going to get somebody else up in here. You have to carry that mindset. You just give it all you’ve got, each and every day.”
Odds and end zones
Reports surfaced that tight end Ladarius Green, the Steelers’ top offseason acquisition, is suffering from recurring headaches, which is hindering his return to the field. Green suffered two concussions last September while a member of the San Diego Chargers. The tight end, who signed a four-year, $20-million deal with the Steelers in the offseason, opened training camp on the PUP list after undergoing an offseason ankle surgery. … Kickoff for today’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. It will be broadcast on KDKA-TV. … The Steelers are 3-2 against Detroit in previous preseason meetings. … Steelers’ first-round draft pick, cornerback Artie Burns (quad), is not expected to play. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree (groin) and nose tackle Roy Philon also are likely to be held out.