Why Pittsburgh's RB rotation is harming Jaylen Warren

In the Pittsburgh Steelers' 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the ground game struggled to gain traction. A behind-the-scenes factor contributing to this issue was the team's strict, alternating series rotation for their running backs. On the "North Shore Drive" podcast, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters Ray Fittipaldo and Christopher Carter voiced their dissatisfaction with this approach.

Fittipaldo pointed out that the team's adherence to a strict rotation prevented Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle from finding their footing. He recalled Warren's impressive 73 yards from scrimmage, 37 of which came in the final quarter, but argued that Warren should have been given more opportunities with the ball. Carter concurred, noting that Warren hadn't had enough time to get into a rhythm and suggested that the current setup was reminiscent of past Pittsburgh offenses where featured backs had the chance to build momentum over multiple drives.

While evenly distributing the workload makes financial sense, establishing a dynamic rushing attack in a still-unsettled offensive line requires flexibility and the ability to ride the hot hand. Fittipaldo and Carter urged the coaching staff to abandon predetermined running back rotations and instead focus on giving the player who is performing best an opportunity to shine.