"Focal Point": Steelers' Mike McCarthy Has Strong Words About Significant Playmaker

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent two weeks trying to manufacture an offensive identity through protection adjustments, personnel rotations and a playbook that occasionally seemed to have more answers than the players could comfortably execute. Sunday required something much simpler. With one member of Pittsburgh's backfield unavailable and another entering the game at less than 100 percent, Mike McCarthy finally had to lean heavily on one runner. The result may have settled a debate that had been getting louder by the week.

Jaylen Warren became exactly what Head Coach Mike McCarthy needed in Pittsburgh's 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. With Rico Dowdle inactive because of a toe injury, Warren handled the largest role in the backfield and responded with 176 yards from scrimmage.

McCarthy did not hide how central Warren had been to Pittsburgh finally producing the type of offensive afternoon it expected when the season began. During his postgame press conference, he pointed out that Warren had spent the week limited by a shoulder injury before delivering when the Steelers needed him.

“Huge. I mean he was the focal point,” McCarthy said. “Guys are at practice and he was limited, but he came up big and was huge today for us.”

Warren finished with 127 rushing yards on only 17 attempts while adding another 49 yards on three catches. His 7.5 yards per carry were impressive enough without considering that an 87-yard fourth-quarter run disappeared because of a holding penalty. Even the erased play told Pittsburgh something useful: when Warren had space, Cincinnati had serious problems getting him on the ground.

That became even more obvious moments later. Pittsburgh responded to the penalty instead of allowing the possession to collapse, and Warren eventually ripped off a 26-yard run that helped set up the field goal giving the Steelers their final 30-27 advantage.

For two weeks, Pittsburgh had been trying to decide how Warren and Dowdle should coexist. The backs frequently rotated by series, creating a system designed to keep both involved but occasionally making it difficult for either to establish much rhythm.

Sunday removed the rotation from McCarthy's options.

Warren responded by making the choice look considerably easier.

That is what makes McCarthy calling him the focal point so important. Warren was not simply the runner who happened to receive more carries because Dowdle was unavailable. Pittsburgh built significant portions of the afternoon around what Warren could provide, and his versatility allowed McCarthy to do it without turning the offense predictable.

Warren could take a handoff, remain in protection or become an option underneath for Aaron Rodgers. His three receptions produced 49 yards, including a 30-yard catch-and-run that demonstrated how quickly a safe throw can become an explosive play when Warren gets into space.

That versatility helped an offense that desperately needed somebody capable of producing when the original design did not deliver a perfect picture.

It also validated the push for Warren to receive more opportunities before the Bengals game. Through two weeks, Warren had consistently looked like Pittsburgh's more productive runner even while sharing the backfield. Dowdle's injury finally forced the Steelers to see what a more concentrated workload might produce.

The answer was Pittsburgh's best rushing performance of the season.

The offensive line deserves its share of the credit. Warren had actual lanes to attack against Cincinnati instead of spending another afternoon dodging defenders near the handoff point. The group created movement against a defensive front that entered Sunday looking like one of the Bengals' biggest strengths, and Warren made sure those blocks became more than modest gains.

Still, good blocking does not automatically produce 176 yards from scrimmage. Warren supplied the acceleration, contact balance and decisiveness that turned the improved work up front into an offense Cincinnati had to respect throughout the afternoon.

Steelers Now Have A Hard Backfield Decision

Dowdle's return should not eliminate his role.

Pittsburgh signed him because he gives McCarthy another proven runner, offers value in pass protection and prevents Warren from having to absorb every hit across a 17-game season. One excellent afternoon does not require turning the backfield into a one-man operation.

It should change who sits at the top of the hierarchy.

The Steelers no longer need to treat their backs like interchangeable options assigned alternating possessions. Warren has been the more productive player through the opening weeks, and Sunday provided the first extended look at what happens when Pittsburgh allows that production to dictate the workload.

McCarthy called Warren the focal point after the game because that is exactly how the Steelers used him.

The result was not subtle.

Pittsburgh scored 30 points after managing 23 combined through its first two games. Rodgers threw three touchdowns, the offensive line responded after an ugly performance in New England and Warren gave the Steelers a ground threat capable of changing how Cincinnati defended everything around him.

The circumstances created the opportunity. Dowdle could not play, and Warren himself was limited during the practice week with a shoulder injury.

Then Sunday arrived, and the limited player became the centerpiece.

Pittsburgh wanted to learn what its offense could look like when somebody finally seized a larger role instead of waiting for the rotation to provide an answer.

Warren just gave McCarthy 176 reasons not to forget what happened.

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