WESTFIELD, Ind. – Not only has Tyler Warren seamlessly fit into the Colts' offense, he's assimilated himself into his new team's culture in a way that's impressed coaches and teammates.
"He really has just been a great rookie," left guard Quenton Nelson said. "Each day he comes to work and just has his head down and he just grinds."
Something that stood out to Nelson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, was Warren showing up in the Colts' weight room after his first training camp practice, knocking out bicep curls and other exercises. But that's who Warren has been since arriving in Indianapolis in May; head coach Shane Steichen said the first-round pick "just lived in the building" after being drafted.
"Him and Riley (Leonard) were there all the time," Steichen said. "They were walking through, doing all the little things that you want to see in a veteran. And he's been doing that since he's been here, and he'll continue to do that."
That sort of dedication to his craft, and the details that go with it, showed up in the Colts' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens last week. Specifically: On an out-breaking route toward the sideline, Warren flattened his route off and caught a pass from quarterback Daniel Jones moving slightly toward the line of scrimmage – shielding the pass from a defensive back who could've knocked it away had Warren rounded his route and drifted upfield.
Those little details can sometimes be the difference between a win and a loss; it's notable when a rookie already shows an understanding of them.
Warren's physicality showed up against the Ravens, too, as did his feel for space and ability to generate yards after the catch.
"I think what we saw on tape is pretty good," Steichen said. "I think his physicalness that he brings, obviously watching him in live action last week was phenomenal. And just the way he lowers his shoulder in the open field to get those extra tough yards. The physicality he brings to our football team is going to be phenomenal."
Warren's impressive preseason debut, just like his impressive training camp, hasn't happened by accident.
"He's been really consistent," Nelson said. "Tough. He's already shown a lot of toughness and consistency every day. I feel like you don't see the kid have a bad day, but you talk to him and he's always like, 'I could do better.' You just love to see that, someone who is humble and wants to get better each day."
Warren, true to form, said his focus is on refining some technique stuff, especially as a run blocker. And the Colts expect Warren to continue having an impressive training camp and, come Sept. 7, have a significant role in their offense when the result of their games starts to matter.
"It's just learning, finding little things in the tape and trying to improve that week to week because it's coming quick with the season coming up," Warren said. "Just finding little things and trying to get better with those."
