Le'Veon Bell

[feltdizz]

No, I'm talking about DeAngelo Williams, a free agent signed for cheap who had over 1,000 total yards here and average much better than the slug like Bell vs the pass, and pretty close to his best prime year as a runner. There you have it the next man up behind Bell at the tail end of his career, doing nearly a well as a runner and better as pass catch. So What was Bell's value to team? Well--maybe Belll wasn't slow but he was one of the slowest starting back in the league.

ehh that was 2015. Williams averaged 4.5 ypc and 9.2 ypr

in 2016 Bell averaged 4.9 ypc and 8.2 ypr and had 1900 total yards and broke playoff rushing records vs Miami and KC.

Yards per touch for Williams in 2015 was 5.2 and Bell’s was 5.6 in 2016. Not really seeing the huge difference in yards but Williams did have more TD’s on the ground.

DeAngelo was a very good RB. He was the rushing leader for the Panthers franchise when he was released.

Bell still averaged 4.0 yards a pop in limited duty last year in KC. I think he can have a Gore type career with solid numbers if a team is willing to feed him the rock.

I thought it was weird how Andy Reid and Bienemy abandoned the run and didnt use Bell in the SB when their OL was getting man handled in the passing game.

[Northern_Blitz]

No, I'm talking about DeAngelo Williams, a free agent signed for cheap who had over 1,000 total yards here and average much better than the slug like Bell vs the pass, and pretty close to his best prime year as a runner. There you have it the next man up behind Bell at the tail end of his career, doing nearly a well as a runner and better as pass catch. So What was Bell's value to team? Well--maybe Belll wasn't slow but he was one of the slowest starting back in the league.

Points to last successful playoff run:

Wildcard win over Miami: 29 carries / 167 yards / 2 TDs
Divisional win over KC: 30 carries / 170 yards / 0 TDs
AFCC loss Pats: 6 carries / 20 yards <-- gets hurt. Team folds.

I get that people may have felt betrayed or whatever when he left.

But Bell was an elite back when he was in his prime.

And if he didn't get hurt in the playoffs fairly regularly and / or we had better load management on our RBs (and then didn't turn Blount into a malcontent), maybe we would have had another SB.

No way to know though.

My guess is that he could still be a reasonably good complementary / 3rd down back (pass pro and receiving). But the price tag on a role like that probably won't suit Bell. So he'll probably hang in the wind unless he's willing to play on the cheap.

It was the right time for him to go, and as Cap said he saved us from ourselves by turning the contract down. But let's not revise history to pretend that he was not a good RB in his prime.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

ehh that was 2015. Williams averaged 4.5 ypc and 9.2 ypr

in 2016 Bell averaged 4.9 ypc and 8.2 ypr and had 1900 total yards and broke playoff rushing records vs Miami and KC.

Yards per touch for Williams in 2015 was 5.2 and Bell’s was 5.6 in 2016. Not really seeing the huge difference in yards but Williams did have more TD’s on the ground.

DeAngelo was a very good RB. He was the rushing leader for the Panthers franchise when he was released.

Bell still averaged 4.0 yards a pop in limited duty last year in KC. I think he can have a Gore type career with solid numbers if a team is willing to feed him the rock.

I thought it was weird how Andy Reid and Bienemy abandoned the run and didnt use Bell in the SB when their OL was getting man handled in the passing game.

Cherry picking here? In his last season as a Steeler ( 2016 ) Bell Averaged 4.0 yards a carry which is poor. In his rookie year his yards per carry was 3.5, which is awful. We are talking about his prime years here.

They guy had 3 good seasons, that's all, and was shown to be worth little more than his backup when Bell got hurt for the season.

Bell carrier rushing average is just 4.1 yards a carry. Known for secure hands early on he fumbled 7 times in his last two years as a Steelers. This guy was over rated. I don't think he has a good year left in him.

The burst he had is gone. He's DONE on the field, but maybe not off it.

[Northern_Blitz]

Cherry picking here? In his last season as a Steeler ( 2016 ) Bell Averaged 4.0 yards a carry which is poor. In his rookie year his yards per carry was 3.5, which is awful. We are talking about his prime years here.

They guy had 3 good seasons, that's all, and was shown to be worth little more than his backup when Bell got hurt for the season.

Bell carrier rushing average is just 4.1 yards a carry. Known for secure hands early on he fumbled 7 times in his last two years as a Steelers. This guy was over rated. I don't think he has a good year left in him.

The burst he had is gone. He's DONE on the field, but maybe not off it.

I think that you arguing that Bell was never good (incorrect IMO) diminishes your argument that he declined in his last year with us and beyond (which I think is correct).

Because denying the clear fact that Bell was a very good (probably elite) back for 2 - 3 years makes it look like you're over-reacting to the "pain" of him leaving IMO.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens to HoF nominations for RBs. Because I think a career like Bell's (or Gurley's) might be the best that you can basically have in the current era. Come in, be great for a few years, decline hard.

Bell's career has certainly better than Gurley's so far. Both in conversation to be the best in the league at points, but Bell for longer. Both look to be declining now.


Henry is the current best RB in the league IMO, but you'd link that his decline is coming too after years with 321 and 397 touches. Looks a bit like 2016 to 2017 with Bell where he had 336 then 406 touches. But Bell had 3 seasons of > 1850 yards from scrimmage before that...Henry has 1 (but another at just under 1750). I'm glad I'm drafting in the back half of round 1 in the FF league where I know my draft position. Because Henry will have to go early, but I think he's a big injury / decline risk after the last 2 seasons.

If that's the case, I think it will be hard for current RBs to equal a career like Bettis's. And I think that Bettis is probably a good benchmark for what will make it into the Hall because he's probably close to the border of not making it. I just don't think current RBs will be able to have that kind of sustained production.

It's kind of the opposite of what's happening to WRs.

I'm not arguing that Bell should be in the Hall. But it I think it will be interesting to see how the bar is set for RBs over the next 5 years or so.

I also think that Bell's performance in his rookie year should temper our expectations for Najee. People are talking about him like he's going to get 2000 yards in his rookie year. But even Bell only had 1259 (although he did only pay 13 games...injury, right?).

[Northern_Blitz]

I think that you arguing that Bell was never good (incorrect IMO) diminishes your argument that he declined in his last year with us and beyond (which I think is correct).

Because denying the clear fact that Bell was a very good (probably elite) back for 2 - 3 years makes it look like you're over-reacting to the "pain" of him leaving IMO.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens to HoF nominations for RBs. Because I think a career like Bell's (or Gurley's) might be the best that you can basically have in the current era. Come in, be great for a few years, decline hard.

Bell's career has certainly better than Gurley's so far. Both in conversation to be the best in the league at points, but Bell for longer. Both look to be declining now.


Henry is the current best RB in the league IMO, but you'd link that his decline is coming too after years with 321 and 397 touches. Looks a bit like 2016 to 2017 with Bell where he had 336 then 406 touches. But Bell had 3 seasons of > 1850 yards from scrimmage before that...Henry has 1 (but another at just under 1750). I'm glad I'm drafting in the back half of round 1 in the FF league where I know my draft position. Because Henry will have to go early, but I think he's a big injury / decline risk after the last 2 seasons.

If that's the case, I think it will be hard for current RBs to equal a career like Bettis's. And I think that Bettis is probably a good benchmark for what will make it into the Hall because he's probably close to the border of not making it. I just don't think current RBs will be able to have that kind of sustained production.

It's kind of the opposite of what's happening to WRs.

I'm not arguing that Bell should be in the Hall. But it I think it will be interesting to see how the bar is set for RBs over the next 5 years or so.

I also think that Bell's performance in his rookie year should temper our expectations for Najee. People are talking about him like he's going to get 2000 yards in his rookie year. But even Bell only had 1259 (although he did only pay 13 games...injury, right?).

Here's an interesting link re: Rookie RB years.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_best_rookie_seasons_from_nfl_running_backs/s1__33027221#slide_30

Here are the ones they list from the last 10 years.

Barkly (201: 2,028 yards total, 15 TDs <-- I guess this is what we're hoping for with Harris.
Kamara (2017): 1,554 yards, 13 TDs
Hunt (2017): 1,782, 11 TDs
Elliot (2016): 1,994, 15
Martin (2012): 1,926, 12
Morris (2012): 1,690, 13

[Northern_Blitz]

There's a list of 1st round RBs since 2000 here:

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/gallery/pittsburgh-steelers-2021-nfl-draft-running-backs/

Certainly some good ones here (Barkley, Eliot, Jacobs, etc.)

Most look like they are probably at least decent. Although there are misses or apparent misses (Penny, Richardson, Wilson, Matthews). If it matters, most of those misses seemed like they came fairly early in the 2010s. Maybe this is part of why RBs were devalued and the guys that have been drafted early recently have been better?

[feltdizz]

Cherry picking here? In his last season as a Steeler ( 2016 ) Bell Averaged 4.0 yards a carry which is poor. In his rookie year his yards per carry was 3.5, which is awful. We are talking about his prime years here.

They guy had 3 good seasons, that's all, and was shown to be worth little more than his backup when Bell got hurt for the season.

Bell carrier rushing average is just 4.1 yards a carry. Known for secure hands early on he fumbled 7 times in his last two years as a Steelers. This guy was over rated. I don't think he has a good year left in him.

The burst he had is gone. He's DONE on the field, but maybe not off it.

its not cherry picking. You pointed to Williams in 2015 as proof Bell was a slug and much worse in the passing game.

Which is why I used 2016 to show Bell wasn’t some bum like you suggested.

would you like me to use 2017 where he had over 1900 total yards?

Franco Harris also averaged 4.1 ypc for his career. I think folks who still discuss Bell or go at him on social media show how much they miss him and how well he worked for us with Ben and AB.

[feltdizz]

Here's an interesting link re: Rookie RB years.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_best_rookie_seasons_from_nfl_running_backs/s1__33027221#slide_30

Here are the ones they list from the last 10 years.

Barkly (201: 2,028 yards total, 15 TDs <-- I guess this is what we're hoping for with Harris.
Kamara (2017): 1,554 yards, 13 TDs
Hunt (2017): 1,782, 11 TDs
Elliot (2016): 1,994, 15
Martin (2012): 1,926, 12
Morris (2012): 1,690, 13

I’m hoping for at least 1500 total yards from Najee this year. I want efficiency over total yards tho.

[feltdizz]

I think that you arguing that Bell was never good (incorrect IMO) diminishes your argument that he declined in his last year with us and beyond (which I think is correct).

Because denying the clear fact that Bell was a very good (probably elite) back for 2 - 3 years makes it look like you're over-reacting to the "pain" of him leaving IMO.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens to HoF nominations for RBs. Because I think a career like Bell's (or Gurley's) might be the best that you can basically have in the current era. Come in, be great for a few years, decline hard.

Bell's career has certainly better than Gurley's so far. Both in conversation to be the best in the league at points, but Bell for longer. Both look to be declining now.


Henry is the current best RB in the league IMO, but you'd link that his decline is coming too after years with 321 and 397 touches. Looks a bit like 2016 to 2017 with Bell where he had 336 then 406 touches. But Bell had 3 seasons of > 1850 yards from scrimmage before that...Henry has 1 (but another at just under 1750). I'm glad I'm drafting in the back half of round 1 in the FF league where I know my draft position. Because Henry will have to go early, but I think he's a big injury / decline risk after the last 2 seasons.

If that's the case, I think it will be hard for current RBs to equal a career like Bettis's. And I think that Bettis is probably a good benchmark for what will make it into the Hall because he's probably close to the border of not making it. I just don't think current RBs will be able to have that kind of sustained production.

It's kind of the opposite of what's happening to WRs.

I'm not arguing that Bell should be in the Hall. But it I think it will be interesting to see how the bar is set for RBs over the next 5 years or so.

I also think that Bell's performance in his rookie year should temper our expectations for Najee. People are talking about him like he's going to get 2000 yards in his rookie year. But even Bell only had 1259 (although he did only pay 13 games...injury, right?).

not sure how it will work with the new crop of RB’s. I think receiving yards will het guys like McCaffery and Kamara into the HOF if they have enough years in the league.

[Northern_Blitz]

not sure how it will work with the new crop of RB’s. I think receiving yards will het guys like McCaffery and Kamara into the HOF if they have enough years in the league.

I agree with you, but think it will be difficult for RBs to have long careers moving forward.

Or at least that seems to be the trend.

Maybe you're right that it could be different for guys that have their touches skewed more toward receptions. Or just guys that have sub-300 touches per year like Kamara (who's always been < 275)?

McCafery had just over 400 touches in 2019 before going down in 2020. My guess is that teams need better load management than that on RBs if they want them around for the playoffs / future years.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

1-on-1 with Missi Matthews: Dan Moore Jr.

An impressive young man who is in shape. Now beat out Chucks and give us some push as a run blocker!

Ben has been impressing me as a teammate and leader lately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHCPfLxxNN8

[NorthCoast]

An impressive young man who is in shape. Now beat out Chucks and give us some push as a run blocker!

Ben has been impressing me as a teammate and leader lately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHCPfLxxNN8

Cool T-shirt anyway...

[hawaiiansteel]

[NorthCoast]

Add Andy Reid to the list of HCs Bell will never play for again;

Le’Veon Bell: I’ll never play for Andy Reid again, I’d retire first

Michael David Smith

Sat, June 12, 2021, 5:57 PM·1 min read

Andy Reid

Le'Veon Bell apparently did not enjoy his brief tenure with the Chiefs.

Bell, who signed with the Chiefs in Week Six last year, played sparingly for them during the regular season and didn’t play at all in the Super Bowl, wrote in an Instagram comment that he will never play for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid again.

“I’ll never play for Andy Reid again,” Bell wrote. “I’d retire first.”

Bell’s comments came on, of all things, an Instagram post about someone spending $700 at McDonald’s. Bell posted a comment about the post, and then several people who thought it was interesting that a well-known NFL player was posting in the comments using his verified Instagram account started asking him questions.

It’s unclear what Bell has against Reid, but Bell does claim he will keep playing in the NFL. At this point, it may be tough for Bell to find any coach who would want him. Reid surely wouldn’t.

[Buzz]

more and more showing his true colors