LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – There was probably a time when Chuck Noll wanted to set a physical tone he probably called on Joe Greene or Jack Lambert. Bill Cowher it was likely Greg Lloyd or Hines Ward. Currently for Mike Tomlin, it's Jaylen Warren.
The undrafted running back who seems to feed off of contact. When the team puts on pads for the first day, Tomlin likes to set a tone with a drill called backs on backers. It's running backs and tight ends against linebackers. Essentially, it's a pass protection drill for the offense.
The MVP, or maybe better said, heartbeat of this drill for the Steelers is Jaylen Warren. Coaches, including Tomlin, use him to set the tone or if there is a linebacker they want to challenge, he is set up against Warren.
It happened on the first day with free agent signing Patrick Queen and Warren won both reps.
"It shows that there is some level of respect there and that I'm doing the right thing," Warren said.
An undrafted running back out of Oklahoma State, Warren last year welcomed anyone who wanted to try it against him. It wasn't in a cocky way, rather he would be ready for any challenge, no matter who.
"It's you versus another man," Warren said. "If you lose, it's on you. You can't blame anyone else. I love the physical part of it. I love everything about it."
"I love Jaylen, he's a dog," said nine-year veteran guard Isaac Seumalo. "Everybody knows how he runs, all respect to him. The coaches and the people around kind of hype it up probably more than the players actually enjoy it. He probably enjoys it."
If there is a second player who defenders want to measure themselves against, it's 6'7", 264-pound tight end Darnell Washington. He said he's been working with former college teammate Broderick Jones about improving his technique and is getting better.
"That drill is very important," Washington said. "The head coach is right there every time. All eyes on you, it's very important."
To end the first backs on backers drill of the season, Tomlin brought rookie Payton Wilson into the ring to face Warren. Wilson used a spin move to beat Warren much to the delight of the defense on the first opportunity.
"Physical, he brought it," Warren said of the rookie from NC State. "I knew he was going to bring it, so I had to bring it. He's a strong dude and I've been through that."
It was just the first opportunity, there was one more to close the period. Wilson was going to come right at the running back this time and Warren put him on his back as Warren shouted and his offensive teammates jumped up and down yelling.
"I had to bring my best."
He does every time and that's part of the reason he's so valuable to this team.
