Bengals defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery and the nose tackle he developed when they were with the Packers, T.J. Slaton Jr., return to Green Bay Sunday (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Local 12) hoping to build off last week's effort against another NFC North power that thrives on the run.
It's no coincidence that the Bengals' best outing against the rush this season, last week against the Lions, coincided with the 6-5, 340-pound Slaton's activity in the middle, where he generated eight tackles, one off his career-high.
Slaton doesn't look at tackles to gauge his performance and neither does Montgomery. But it was good.
"To me, he was just doing his job," Montgomery said after Thursday's walkthrough. "The plays that came to him, he made them. We have to continue to work on his pad level and hands. He's being stout in there. He's being disruptive. He's a big man who moves well … He's always worked hard for me."
When Slaton signed with the Bengals back in March, he said the presence of Montgomery, a new signee himself two months before, was a big reason he became a Bengal.
Montgomery, in the Green Bay trenches for nine years before he moved to New England last year, has kept the tutoring going as Slaton has had to find consistency while re-adjusting back to what Montgomery wants.
"They changed systems," Montgomery said of The Pack. "They were more up the field, having to crack. He got away from playing with hands, and good foundation and base, so now he's getting back to those things."
They both say it's just another game even though it's where Slaton was taken in the fifth round in 2021 with Montgomery running the line.
"It was a hard move for our kids at the ages they were at," said Montgomery, whose son plays for Moeller High School. "That happened last year. Living three places in a year. We've been through it, so no emotions. Just winning and making sure my guys play at a high level."
He thinks they are beginning to show that level with the consistency he seeks, although he's still livid about David Montgomery's 19-yard run that had Coach Montgomery fuming about back-side technique and that 3.6 average for 33 rushes that could have been fewer than three.
"I think they're taking steps," Montgomery said. "I think definitely they're taking steps and definitely improving each week.