Could Steelers RB Jaylen Warren be the next Maurice Jones-Drew?
· Yahoo Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers' identity under center and in the trenches has taken a physical turn, and running back Jaylen Warren is driving that transformation. Standing squatty with relentless contact balance and an explosive burst, Warren has become the engine of Pittsburgh’s offense.
His style is drawing high praise from national and team analysts, as well as former players. That includes two-time Super Bowl champions Charlie Batch, Trai Essex and Max Starks. Recently, Starks joined Batch and Essex on their podcast, “The Snap Count,” and spoke about Warren, who Essex likened to a Jacksonville Jaguars legend.
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"You know who he reminds me of? And this is a name that I haven't actually thought about playing football in a while because he's in media," Essex shared. "He reminds me of a Maurice Jones-Drew when he was having his good years in Jacksonville, how much of a dual threat he was, how effective he was in the run game."
Like Jones-Drew during his prime, Warren uses his low center of gravity to absorb hits and break initial tackle attempts effortlessly. Essex pointed out that Warren’s physical composition and determination make him an immediate threat on every down.
Starks agreed and added, "Jaylen Warren's nickname for us in the booth is always 'falling forward,' AFF, because he never goes backwards. Like even when he's tackled for a loss, he's still falling forward."
Beyond pure power, Essex highlighted Warren's evolving patience behind Rookie center Zach Frazier and the offensive line's double-team blocks. Warren's ability to hug the double team, make a decisive cut, and burst into the secondary has elevated Pittsburgh's ground game into a steady force.
As the Steelers push through the heart of their schedule, Warren’s dual-threat versatility and punishing running style provide the physical edge Pittsburgh needs to dominate control of the line of scrimmage.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Could Steelers RB Jaylen Warren be the next Maurice Jones-Drew?