Handling of Le'Veon Bell

[phillyesq]

Does anybody else question the way that Bell was managed this year? At the end of the KC game, he was gassed. In the 4th quarter, there were carries where it looked like he could barely run. He almost jogged a few routes. And I don't think it's a conditioning problem - after 25 carries and 150+ yards, I think it's natural to wear down a bit. He also looked a bit cooked at the end of the Miami game.

Closing out the season, here were his carries:

28
23
29
38
23

and in the playoffs:

29
30

And that was just the carries. During that time, he also had a bunch of receptions.

I get the Bell is one of the best backs in the NFL, if not the best. But that workload is crazy and unsustainable. And, sure enough, Bell broke down, unfortunately during the AFCCG.

Meanwhile, DeAngelo Williams barely touched the ball at all. He was hurt during part of that stretch, but didn't get much involvement when he was healthy, either. Not only is he a change of pace and a different running style, it also gives Bell a breather.

I really think that Bell was overworked down the stretch, and eventually the wheels fell off.

[Ernie]

I absolutely questioned it... and took some heat for it on here. You are spot on with your analysis, by the way. D Williams should have seen the field once he was healthy.

[squidkid]

F him. he had 1/5 of the season off to rest.
im sure his groin injury wasnt because he carried the ball a half dozen times more than usual toward the end.
i have a feeling he will hold out and maybe demand a trade. use him while we can.

[Ernie]

It's a 2 back league squid.

[squidkid]

It's a 2 back league squid.

yup, i agree. problem is if we lose with bell on the sidelines, tomlin is a moron. if we run the wheels off him, tomlin is moron. now i agree that tomlin is a moron for numerous reasons and that is one of them. i just dont think tomlim and haley are smart enough to figure out how to reduce his touches and still win. i mean they were still giving the ball to him late in blowout games against browns, giants and colts for gods sake.

[Ernie]

If they can't figure out how to work D Williams into the ballgame effectively...they'd be the only 2 coaches in the league who couldn't...

and you are right about giving him meaningless touches late in games that were already in hand.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

i think he was gimpy going into last night

missing two days of practice was a little strange

[BURGH86STEEL]

No one thought about any of this heading into the NE game. Bell had 4 games of rest to begin the season. They rested him the final game of the season. RB is probably the most often injured position in the league regardless of the amount of touches they receive. Coaches have to use the guys they have. The stuff people come up with sometimes to be critical of coaches makes me SMH.

[Ernie]

BURGH86STEEL... so you are in favor of the way Bell was handled, or no? Not trying to be a smart a$$.. just trying to understand your position.

[D Rock]

Good chance the groin injury happened near the end of the KC game and that was why he looked so gassed - because he had no burst.

[BURGH86STEEL]

BURGH86STEEL... so you are in favor of the way Bell was handled, or no? Not trying to be a smart a$$.. just trying to understand your position.

I don't see the point being critical or analyzing the way the coaches used Bell. There's no way to bubble wrap players to protect them. Coaches use the players they have. Oh and Williams was injured a good part of the season too.

[feltdizz]

I didn't see any injury in the KC game. No one spoke of seeing an injury in the KC game all week.

[phillyesq]

I don't see the point being critical or analyzing the way the coaches used Bell. There's no way to bubble wrap players to protect them. Coaches use the players they have. Oh and Williams was injured a good part of the season too.

I'm not saying that you bubble wrap guys. I had no problem with Ben being in taking handoffs at the end of the Miami game.

However, I think you do have to be smart in managing the guys that you have. You can't expect a running back to average 30ish touches per game. When you have a backup the caliber of Deangelo Williams, at a minimum, you should use him in garbage time. But it also makes sense to use him periodically during the game to keep Bell fresh.

[phillyesq]

I didn't see any injury in the KC game. No one spoke of seeing an injury in the KC game all week.

I don't know if he was injured, but he was clearly out of gas in the 4th quarter.

[Mr.wizard]

He was managed just fine, not much you do about a muscle pull.