Watt believes instincts will serve him well in NFL

INDIANAPOLIS - Glenbard West's Chris Watt proved his toughness last season at Notre Dame when he played through a torn PCL, or posterior cruciate ligament, in his right knee.

"I'm a physical finisher," Watt said. "If you're going to talk to anyone, they're going to tell you that. I'm tough, and I think I bring a great mindset and work ethic to the game. I'll bring a work ethic to whatever team (drafts) me."

The three-year starter at left guard has only recently been cleared for a full return to training, so he's waiting until Notre Dame's March 20 pro day to do on-field position drills, but he did bang out 29 bench-press reps of 225 pounds at the Scouting Combine late last week.

The 6-foot-2½, 310-pound Watt is considered a mid-to-late-round pick, and he also gets high marks for awareness, which he explains isn't as simple as it might sound.

"One of the strengths that I have is that I know how to block," he said. "I know how that might sound like everyone can do that, but I know the angles to take to block the right guys. I know when (line)backers are moving, I know I need to change my angle subtlety to get the 'backer."

Watt grew up spending parts of his summers at Bears training camps, and especially a meeting with Brian Urlacher.

"I got a picture with him his rookie year up in Platteville (Wis.), and the next year when I had the picture blown up, I wanted to get it autographed by him. He said, 'Wow, I look pretty (teed) off in this picture. I'm looking pretty sad. It must have been the end of camp.' That was something that kind of stuck with me."

Getting started:

The Bears made a start toward corralling their large herd of free agents Monday when they signed center Taylor Boggs and safety Derrick Martin to one-year contracts.

The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Boggs, an exclusive rights free agent, last season appeared in one game, the first of his three-year NFL career. He spent most of the previous two seasons with the Jets, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Humboldt State in 2011. With 34-year-old starting center Roberto Garza eligible for free agency next month, Boggs provides some depth at the position.

Martin was signed midway through November last season and played almost exclusively on special teams in seven games, where he tied for sixth on the team with 6 tackles.

The 5-foot-10, 198-pound eight-year veteran from Wyoming has played in 73 NFL games, including four starts.