Steelers turn to Montravius Adams at nose tackle while remaining status quo on offense

With the Pittsburgh Steelers trying to snap a two-game losing streak, coach Mike Tomlin is making a change to his starting lineup in advance of their game Sunday against the New York Jets.

It’s just not the change most fans have been anticipating.

In fact, it doesn’t even involve the offensive side of the ball.

While Tomlin will continue to ride with Mitch Trubisky as his starting quarterback for another week, he has made a switch at nose tackle. Montravius Adams, signed last season off the New Orleans Saints practice squad, has moved past Tyson Alualu on the depth chart.

“He’s been playing better than Tyson,” Tomlin said. “We just thought that was appropriate.”

That the switch at nose tackle was the only one made on the depth chart won’t whet the appetite of a fan base that has been waiting impatiently for first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett to get the call to lead an offense that ranks No. 18 in points, No. 31 in yards and last in time of possession.

Tomlin, though, continued to throw his support behind Trubisky, who has completed 60.2% of his passes for 569 yards with two touchdowns and one interception through the 1-2 start to the season.

Tomlin said he has seen improvement from Trubisky “in all areas.”

“Decision-making and where he is going with the ball, the time with which he’s making decisions,” Tomlin said. “The prudent use of mobility, whether it’s by schematics or by ad-lib. Just generally all areas.”

Still, Tomlin admitted he and his players are “hacked off” by what has transpired in the past two weeks: a 17-14 loss at home to New England and a 29-17 loss at Cleveland. He isn’t averse to making other changes, but he’s not going to make a knee-jerk reaction three weeks into the season.

“We’re going to do what is required to handle this week’s business, which is to win,” he said. “I’m open to whatever that entails, but at the same time we’re not going to be blowing in the wind. That’s the sentiment I want to relay to you guys.

“The last couple games have not unfolded the way we’ve liked, but we’re in a no-blink business, particularly if we believe in the things we do and the people we’re doing it with. Sometimes you’ve just got to show steely resolve and smile in the face of adversity.”

Tomlin has faith in an offense that scored on back-to-back possessions in the first half at Cleveland after having one touchdown in each of the previous two games. The running game also showed improvement, as did the offensive line.

“We’ve been better with every outing,” Tomlin said. “It’s reasonable to expect those improvements to continue. We haven’t done enough to win the past two games, so there is reason for alarm as it pertains to that. But largely I’ve seen improvements in all areas, whether it’s individual or the collective.

“It’s our job to tune out the noise and to remain committed to the path that we are on and work to get better in an effort to change the outcome of these games. I expect our guys not to blink and to continue to work, so I have to display that as a leader, and I intend to.”

Asked to clarify what he meant by “noise,” Tomlin said it was questions presented by the media regarding the offense’s play in the first month of the season. Tomlin said he has no issue with the fans making their feelings known about the slow start in general and the offense’s struggles in particular.

“Our fans are not an issue,” he said. “We love our fans and the enthusiasm they bring. We’re not going to make that a negative. They care, and that’s an awesome thing.”

Adams will replace Alualu for the second year in a row. He was among players used at nose tackle last year when Alualu missed the final 15 games with a fractured ankle. Signed Nov. 30, Adams appeared in five games, starting four.

An ankle injury suffered early in camp kept Adams out for all three preseason games.

“He’s capable of doing things he’s asked to do,” Tomlin said. “He’s played a lot of football for us. He missed some time in team development. That probably slowed his progress. Since he’s been back from injury, we’ve seen an uptick in his consistency and performance.”