Kovacevic: Watt 'feeling like myself again' ... Herbig's boundless breakout ... Apologies in order?

ATLANTA -- T.J. Watt wasn't about to be denied.

He knew he didn't have much time to partake in the Steelers' preseason finale, since, as he'd recall for me following the 24-0 shutout of the Falcons on his Thursday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, "Maybe one series, and that's it. No way they'd leave me out there long." Meaning Mike Tomlin and the coaches.

So even though Watt had pursued Atlanta's quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, to the point of almost sacking him on the home team's first snap from scrimmage, it was Elandon Roberts who first put down running back Godwin Igwebuike for a 4-yard loss.

Who knew what was coming next?

"I definitely knew," Nick Herbig, the rookie in the edge rusher room, would tell me. “I knew he was getting a sack. I could tell just by the look on his face that he was going to get a sack, for sure.”

Who else knew?

"Oh, I was coming."

Oh, he came:

Check out poor No. 73 in that scene. He's the one blocking oxygen. Atlanta's backup right tackle, name of Tyler Vrabel. 

I couldn't care less that the Falcons' coach chose to sit his starters, although it's at least amusing that he thinks that much of a group that's going nowhere again this fall. All Watt can conquer is the challenge in front of him, and he did that, apparently, to his satisfaction.

Same with another, far more significant challenge.

“I feel great. I really do. It feels good to be back to 100 percent and feeling like myself again, being able to fly around and just have fun," he'd tell me. "That’s the root of this game. To have fun."

Love it. And be sure the Steelers love it that much more.

Watt did, in fact, get pulled after that series, Tomlin taking no further chances. But there's another, albeit indirect, reassurance at hand these days in that both Herbig and Markus Golden have been absolute bulldogs off the edge as backups to Watt and Alex Highsmith. And since the Steelers' scheme -- and Watt's preference -- has always involved regular rotations at the position, it's highly likely, as Watt's told me several times this summer, that he'll be able to use being spelled to sustain the energy he's always needed to keep that ridiculous motor of his fully revved.

"They're doing a great job. It's a great room," he'd say. "Just having them around and doing what they're doing, it's been a big help for me and, really, for the whole defense."

• More of my talk with Mr. DPOY:

Catch that amazing " ... and as young Nick Herbig walks by" line?

Press play. It's worth it.

• Herbig had a sack, a tackle for loss and the springing block on Calvin Austin's 21-yard punt return in the first quarter. And go right ahead and take a guess at which one this terrific kid cited as his top priority:

“It’s just the preseason," he replied when I asked how he felt about his preseason, even if that's been patently obvious. "It’s just good momentum to build off of going into the season. My main focus was special teams, trying to make sure my technique, my form and everything is good on special teams because that’s going to be a big role for me this year. I’m trying to perfect my craft in that.”

• Patrick Peterson was the starter who stuck around the longest in this one, all the way into the second quarter, which was ... kinda odd for a 32-year-old of his stature. But the clear goal was to get him bouncing inside and outside with as much comfort as possible, which he did along with Joey Porter Jr., when the latter would take the field at right outside corner.

• Dan Moore started at left tackle, which shouldn't be surprising anyone at this stage. But it was at least a little interesting to see him slide to right tackle once the rest of the first-teamers were out and Broderick Jones had entered at left tackle. Moore's had lots of camp/practice reps at right tackle, and it's clearly important to management that he's ready if needed there.

Tomlin would assess that he felt good about Jones' preseason, adding, "I felt really good about the number of reps we were able to get him, and that was our intention. He's a talented young guy, and he's a first-year guy, and those guys need as many reps as they can get. And thankfully, we were able to get him a lot.”

• Couldn't have been more obvious that Chandon Sullivan will start over Elijah Riley at slot corner. He opened there and added another pass breakup with a tipped ball. Game, set, match.

• Anytime George Pickens' maturity arises, at least from my direction, please understand it's not a criticism. Some grow up faster than others. Some don't grow up at all. And it's not necessarily some defect when they don't. They just come with child-like personalities.

Take this as a fun example: I went to Pickens as soon as the locker room opened to ask about his latest acrobatic catch, and he promised he'd be back to talk after a shower. No problem. He emerged from the shower, had a tough time navigating a sea of equipment bags in this cramped space, eventually hopped through there like it was a minefield, approached me and asked, "How'd I do?" This wasn't time to talk, either. "I'll be back." He then went out into the hallway, where, as I passed him on the way to someone else, I joked about it again. And he ran -- full-speed -- into the family lounge area, never to be seen again.

How does one get mad about that?

• Shed not a single tear for the Falcons because of Arthur Smith's call to rest his starters. The Steelers sure didn't. They soared ahead, 24-0, and at the time, had a 220-8 advantage in yards.

Kinda how that should go, right?

Peterson put it best: "That's their fault that they didn't have their guys out there."

• The local head coach is quite the character ...

... but never more than when he starts sensing swagger within his group. And he does right now. Correctly.

• Three authoritative touchdowns by three different running backs? Don't they all need to be numbered first? Or is it OK to have that many contributing?

• Matt Canada for mayor, baby.

Oh, come on, I'm not the only one considering everything I've ever spoken -- or written -- about the man.

Which is fine. There are greater challenges ahead. If he rises up, right along with the offense he's coordinating, good for him. Full credit lies ahead.

• New rule: No one apologizes to Canada until they first address Pickett's small hands.

• Apropos of nothing football-based, there were four total Pittsburgh reporters from independent media outlets who made the trip. Just us, the Post-Gazette, the Tribune-Review and Steelers Now. That's a staggeringly low total compared to any point at all in franchise history. And yet, no reflection at all on the franchise itself or its following. Just the state of the industry.

• Trust me, I'm not complaining. One-on-ones galore.

• Don't miss my main column, by the way. It's about the Steelers' general perfection 'n' at.

• Thanks so much for reading my football coverage. Flying home Friday.