Give Yourself Props

[SidSmythe]

How weird is it that it seems like Kendrell Bell was a Steeler two lifetimes ago (for some reason, it seems like Bell came several years before Casey Hampton, not one round after the Big Snack), but Bell was drafted FIVE YEARS AFTER Ray Lewis, and Ray is still playing today (well, he's on I.R., but may be returning soon via the DeCastro loophole). For some perspective, we took Jamain #&@%ing Stephens 3 picks after the Ravens took Ray Lewis. Maybe Kendrell's short career is throwing me off, though. Consider Mike Vrabel...he had a long NFL career, right? Four years in Pittsburgh, eight years in New England, two years in Kansas City, and he's now in his second year coaching at his alma mater Ohio State...We drafted Vrabel THE YEAR AFTER Ray Lewis was drafted. Joey Porter also had a long NFL career too. Eight years in Pittsburgh, three years in Miami, and two years in Arizona. We drafted Porter THREE YEARS AFTER Ray Lewis was drafted. For all we know, Ray Lewis may be around long enough to play with his son like the Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., because Ray Lewis III has already committed to play at the University of Miami next year.

Kendrell Bell might be the greatest ILB to ever play for the Steelers since the 70s.
He did some of the most amazing things i've seen a 3-4 LB do in just his Rookie Season.
He had strength like James Harrison, the onfield presence of James Farrior and ran like Lawrence Timmons but healthwise he was even worse than Chad Pennington!!

[flippy]

I do all my best thinking when I'm all by myself

I do my best thinking on the crapper too.

[BigRob]

Kendrell Bell might be the greatest ILB to ever play for the Steelers since the 70s.
He did some of the most amazing things i've seen a 3-4 LB do in just his Rookie Season.
He had strength like James Harrison, the onfield presence of James Farrior and ran like Lawrence Timmons but healthwise he was even worse than Chad Pennington!!

Was he really that good, or were we just fooled? The only thing outstanding he did was blitz. He didn't get a lot of tackles or make plays in the passing game.

For all the grief he gets, Timmons is a much better MLB than Bell. Why all of the love for Bell?

[flippy]

How weird is it that it seems like Kendrell Bell was a Steeler two lifetimes ago (for some reason, it seems like Bell came several years before Casey Hampton, not one round after the Big Snack), but Bell was drafted FIVE YEARS AFTER Ray Lewis, and Ray is still playing today (well, he's on I.R., but may be returning soon via the DeCastro loophole). For some perspective, we took Jamain #&@%ing Stephens 3 picks after the Ravens took Ray Lewis. Maybe Kendrell's short career is throwing me off, though. Consider Mike Vrabel...he had a long NFL career, right? Four years in Pittsburgh, eight years in New England, two years in Kansas City, and he's now in his second year coaching at his alma mater Ohio State...We drafted Vrabel THE YEAR AFTER Ray Lewis was drafted. Joey Porter also had a long NFL career too. Eight years in Pittsburgh, three years in Miami, and two years in Arizona. We drafted Porter THREE YEARS AFTER Ray Lewis was drafted. For all we know, Ray Lewis may be around long enough to play with his son like the Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., because Ray Lewis III has already committed to play at the University of Miami next year.

This is one of the strangest posts I've read in a while. I trust its all true, but gosh it does't seem to be.

At this rate, maybe Ray can play with his grandson.

[focosteeler]

JaMarcus Russell was going to be All-Pro simply because of his arm. Thought Sepulveda was going to consistently destroy kick returners as well as be a pro bowl punter. Aaron Maybin was going to be a beast in the NFL

Reading this over makes me very sick....

[flippy]

Was he really that good, or were we just fooled? The only thing outstanding he did was blitz. He didn't get a lot of tackles or make plays in the passing game.

For all the grief he gets, Timmons is a much better MLB than Bell. Why all of the love for Bell?

Bell was like a missile. He could go straight through and destroy anything in his path. He combined the JH power with the LT explosiveness.

I definitely think Timmy's the better all around LB. But Bell was a better finisher and I don't remember him getting as easily rerouted like Timmy sometimes.

[fezziwig]

1. The first time we lost to the Patricheats in the playoffs. I thought we had nothing to worry about. Does that fact they were cheating erase my mistake ?

2. I thought McFadden was going to be our lights out corner for years to come.

3. I thought Mendenhall was going to be the next NFL running back sensation.

4. I thought Goodell was going to be a cool dude.

5. I thought Bruce Arians would be a cancer to our team, hold us back, not be able to handle all the talent he had on the offense, keep us from reaching more Super Bowls.
That our team would somehow succeed despite his stupid coaching and inability to adjust with team talents, team weaknesses and not be able to adjust during the course of
a game. Oh yeah, I did get that one right.

[BigRob]

Bell was like a missile. He could go straight through and destroy anything in his path. He combined the JH power with the LT explosiveness.

I definitely think Timmy's the better all around LB. But Bell was a better finisher and I don't remember him getting as easily rerouted like Timmy sometimes.

I agree he was a missile and explosive, but I don't think his hype matched his actual performance.

[jj28west]

Not in a particular order but

1) Bruce Davis = Jason Taylor (not)
2) Limas Sweed = Burress (not gonna happen)
3) Frank Summers = Bettis (next)
4) Thad Gibson = Patrick Willis II (not even close)
5) Dennis Dixon = RG III before ther was a RG III (not in this lifetime)

Thats just in the last 5 or so years. Thank you Youtube for all of those player highlight reels.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I agree he was a missile and explosive, but I don't think his hype matched his actual performance.

Kendrell Bell started 44 games for us from 2001-2003. Then he got hurt and was never the same player again.

In those 3 seasons in Pittsburgh as a starter, though, he had 232 total tackles, 187 solo tackles, 45 assists, 18 sacks, 6 passes defensed, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.

Lawrence Timmons did not have the immediate impact as a rookie like Bell. But once he was named a full time starter at the beginning of the 2009 season, he also started 44 games in his first 3 seasons as a starter from 2009-2011.

In those 3 seasons in Pittsburgh as a starter, though, he had 306 total tackles, 220 solo tackles, 86 assists, 12 sacks, 18 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.

Bell is remembered as a seek-and-destroy missile based on his 3 seasons as a starter in Pittsburgh before he got hurt, while Timmons is thought of as somewhat of a disappointment by many Steeler fans. And yet, Timmons leads in every one of those statistical categories except for having 6 fewer sacks (which is certainaly offset by having 74 more total tackles, 12 more PD's, 2 more INT's, and 1 more FF in this 3 season sample).

[jj28west]

I agree he was a missile and explosive, but I don't think his hype matched his actual performance.

Remember the Kelly Holcomb game where he threw for all sorts of yards with Bruce Arians?

In that game there was a goalline stand where maybe Earnest Byner? tried to do a goal line leap and Bell hit him in midair and stonewalled him. Incredible play stopping airborne momentum like that.

[flippy]

I agree he was a missile and explosive, but I don't think his hype matched his actual performance.

His career was so short, we just got a taste of the potential. And I think we overvalued him a little like we did early on with Timmy. Folks got frustrated with Timmy because he never took that huge leap many thought he could. We never got to see if Bell could make the jump, so I think we just assumed he woulda if healthy.

It's hard to remember back 2 weeks sometimes let alone many seasons. Everyone seems better the longer ago they played. We don't hear everything about these older players like we do the current roster. If we knew as much then, we probably would have completely different perceptions of past players.

The thing I would add is Bell seemed to start out faster than Timmy and so the expectations were even higher.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Remember the Kelly Holcomb game where he threw for all sorts of yards with Bruce Arians?

In that game there was a goalline stand where maybe Earnest Byner? tried to do a goal line leap and Bell hit him in midair and stonewalled him. Incredible play stopping airborne momentum like that.

Stonewalling Bettis in a live goalline drill during his rookie training camp is what spawned the Bell Legend in the first place.

[BigRob]

Kendrell Bell started 44 games for us from 2001-2003. Then he got hurt and was never the same player again.

In those 3 seasons in Pittsburgh as a starter, though, he had 232 total tackles, 187 solo tackles, 45 assists, 18 sacks, 6 passes defensed, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.

Lawrence Timmons did not have the immediate impact as a rookie like Bell. But once he was named a full time starter at the beginning of the 2009 season, he also started 44 games in his first 3 seasons as a starter from 2009-2011.

In those 3 seasons in Pittsburgh as a starter, though, he had 306 total tackles, 220 solo tackles, 86 assists, 12 sacks, 18 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles.

Bell is remembered as a seek-and-destroy missile based on his 3 seasons as a starter in Pittsburgh before he got hurt, while Timmons is thought of as somewhat of a disappointment by many Steeler fans. And yet, Timmons leads in every one of those statistical categories except for having 6 fewer sacks (which is certainaly offset by having 74 more total tackles, 12 more PD's, 2 more INT's, and 1 more FF in this 3 season sample).

Agree 100%

[eniparadoxgma]

I was also cool with Spaeth and thought that Sep was going to be a great pick for us.

On the other side, since I was right about something recently does that mean I get to start my own thread and buy a huge foam hand so I can pat myself on the back with it?