Montravius Adams evolves into leader on Steelers d-line, but can he keep prominent on-field role?

During his first training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, Montravius Adams discovered a Latrobe pizzeria that left such an impression he was craving it over the past 49 weeks between camps.

“It’s so good,” Adams said after a walkthrough at Saint Vincent on Saturday. “Honestly, I had stopped eating pizza. I didn’t even really like pizza anymore — but that crust is crazy, it’s sweet. I definitely eat that pizza.”

But when Adams ordered a pie on the day of the first practice of camp earlier this week, the delicious taste evoked some nostalgia in him. He’d remembered last year eating meals with Tyson Alualu, who no longer is with the Steelers and at age 36 is likely headed to retirement.

“For me, ‘T-Al’ was my boy,” Adams said of fellow defensive tackle who spent six seasons with the Steelers. “He was the older guy. I spent a lot of my time with him.

“When I was talking to him the other day about the pizza, I told him I appreciate him for his leadership and his guidance and what he did for me. I am just trying to continue the legacy.”

The departures of Alualu and the 29-year-old Chris Wormley have moved the Steelers’ defensive line unit to skew a little younger in 2023. That leaves Adams — who turned 28 earlier this week — as one of the position groups’ elder statesmen behind the starting duo of the seemingly-ageless Cameron Heyward (34) and the 29-year-old Larry Ogunjobi.

“It’s crazy, Year 7,” Adams said, referencing his NFL tenure. “They go by fast. Real fast.

“I try not to think about it too much and just take it one day at a time. But I am aware I have to be one setting an example.”

But will the 6-foot-4, 304-pound Adams be doing so from the perspective as a starter? Or will he see a diminished role this season?

After surpassing Alualu on the depth chart as the Steelers’ No. 1 nose tackle early last season, Adams appeared in just over a quarter of the defensive snaps while appearing in all 17 games as the top option on the interior line and as one of many who at times spelled Heyward and Ogunjobi.

But the Steelers added plenty of bodies to their d-line over the past eight months, drafting Keeanu Benton in the second round, signing Armon Watts and Breiden Fehoko in free agency as well as adding players with scant NFL experience in Jonathan Marshall and Manny Jones, plus undrafted rookie James Nyanwaya.

To varying degrees, all have skillsets that could eat into Adams’ playing time — or, perhaps, even make him obsolete.

“At the end of the day, that’s got to happen,” Adams said of adding depth. “The wheel of the team turns. Just speaking from the perspective of the d-line, if we want the d-line to be better, then the first guy got to be better, the second guy has to push the first guy, the third guy has to push the second guy. You want to get it to the point of no drop-off no matter who’s in.”

“Montravius is a guy who’s come in and come to work every day,” veteran defensive lineman Chris Wormley said, “and loves being part of the group, and he’s done a great job for us.”https://t.co/gJw0KNSuIK

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) January 18, 2023

Adams has started 13 of the 22 games he’s played since the Steelers signed him in late November 2021, missing a game only once because of covid-19 protocol. Re-signed to a two-year, $5 million contract the following spring, Adams found a home in Pittsburgh after the Steelers were one of four teams he was part of during calendar year 2021.

He’s added a steady element to the interior of their defensive line — but he’s learned how fleeting a role like that can be.

“Definitely feel like I found my home,” Adams said, “but at the end of the day we understand it is a business and you are just trying to go out here and prove what I can bring to the team and help the younger guys up who are behind me. And that’s all I can do.”

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