PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was never a question about Jaylen Warren finishing drills, bringing intensity to every practice, but this year he said he’s been taking his offseason seriously too, and he looks different.
Warren is taking part in voluntary OTAs and said he’s weighing 208 pounds, which is down anywhere from eight to 20 pounds depending on the season. That was by design.
“We’re going into year five, I know the ins and outs of everything and moving up,” Warren said after OTA on Thursday.
The goal is to be quicker, as Warren called it ‘explosive muscle’. Asked if it will affect his willingness, better said passion, for blocking and contact?
“That’s always going to be there,” Warren said.
New running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung said he’s watched the tape of those backs on backers drills in training camp over the last four years.
“I watched Jaylen, I mean, lay the hat,” Chinyoung said. “So I’m definitely excited about it.”
With last year’s team MVP Kenneth Gainwell leaving in free agency, Steelers signed running back Rick Dowdle to a two-year deal, $12.25 million deal. He’s coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, last year with Carolina and the previous season with Mike McCarthy at Dallas.
Warren isn’t sure how the snaps are going to be divided between the two.
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The game will define it, Chinyoung said, adding he would defer to McCarthy in terms of playing time, but what he does know about the first-year Steelers head coach is that he wants two fresh backs at all time.
“We’ll find ways to make sure that we get them on the field and they have ample amount of equal time on the field,” Chinyoung said. “It will define itself by scheme, by game plan.”
“I mean, yeah, all of us guys, different skill sets,” Warren said. “I'm excited to work with Rico. We both were undrafted, so we both got that chip on our shoulder, and we're gonna give it our all every day, so I'm excited.
In terms of experience with the Steelers at running back, no one has been there as long as Warren, and it’s not close. Dowdle, Travis Hunter and Eli Heidenreich are first year and Lew Nichols and Kaleb Johnson are second year.
“I reflect every now and then, like it’s crazy,” Warren said. “I’m running year five, you know time does fly.”
Last year injury slowed Warren down, now with another veteran tailback in, Warren is taking steps to earn his role in the offense.
5th year Steelers RB on Rick Dowdle, new RB coach
5th year Steelers RB on Rick Dowdle, new RB coach
