Tomlin....on further review

[Legacy User]

Bell is still a great player. A stud. He adds A LOT to this offense.

I don't agree that it's nitpicking though, for a number of reasons.

And this is part of what we do here, talk about things we see.

Bell split out running a 5 yd out route and making the reception looked a little pedestrian to me last game. It's useful and good to have in the arsenal though.

I don't like seeing a 24 year old who relies on his legs for a living already lose something (I'm not saying it's permanent). He went from immortal Superstar to mortal Great Player, IMO (or maybe something in between)

I think Bell is just as fast now as he ever was. He was never fast to begin with - his vision and feet have always been his trump card. His longest scoring play is a 35 yard run vs. Cleveland. He seldom, as a pro, outruns angles by LB's - not to mention DB's. I'm always confident that he's going to make the first defender miss. FWP & Mendy both had much better speed, but their vision, and wiggle are no comparison to Bell's - and neither could catch like him. Bell has proven his value. He's a chain moving, 1st down making machine. He's not likely to score from over 20 yards out, but because of all of the other things he does, I'm ok with that.

[bradshaw2ben]

Franco Harris. Franco is the guy who gets 4 when you need 3 and 2 when you need 1.5 and 15 when you need 14. Franco rarely, rarely had a breakaway run... and yet has some of the most memorable runs in NFL history.

[Legacy User]

why nitpick? the ability to take it to the house on any given play is a bonus

That's the thing. I don't think he can take it to the house. Think of the play from inside the five against the panthers a couple of years ago.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-high ... 1-yard-run

Kuechly shot the wrong gap, and Bell sidestepped and took off down the side lines. Elliot scores on that play, and 2016 Bell goes for 50 instead of 80. Just my observation, but maybe he hasn't had the opportunity this year for long gainers. Steelersdepot did a story on it.

In fact, he has only had three runs the entire season that have gone for at least 15 yards, adding runs of 18 and 16 yards to the 44-yard run that he had earlier. Add in carries of up to 13 yards gained, and that brings his total up to six of 151 carries, meaning that 145 of his carries have picked up 12 yards or fewer.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/11/le ... away-runs/

Don't get me wrong, I think Bell is a phenom. I'd still take him over Elliot, though. Take away Dallas' monster O line, and I wonder if he's still a wonder kid. The holes he runs though would accommodate a mack truck.

I made some of the same points as you. Elliott has great speed, good vision and he can make the first defender miss - This means he would be a beast behind any good offensive line. As for Bell, I think he sees his speed deficiency, and he relies on his shiftiness in the open field. If he had the same read that he had vs. the Panthers again, I would expect him to try juking defenders instead of sprinting as far as he can get.

[Havoc]

Franco Harris. Franco is the guy who gets 4 when you need 3 and 2 when you need 1.5 and 15 when you need 14. Franco rarely, rarely had a breakaway run... and yet has some of the most memorable runs in NFL history.

IMO, 2014 Bell was more talented than Franco (even if only by a little).

Now, I would put them on the same level.

Both great players, of course.

I don't need the breakaway runs. 2014 Bell was quicker in and out of his cuts than he is today.

[chippedhamsandwich]

Franco Harris. Franco is the guy who gets 4 when you need 3 and 2 when you need 1.5 and 15 when you need 14. Franco rarely, rarely had a breakaway run... and yet has some of the most memorable runs in NFL history.

IMO, 2004 Bell was more talented than Franco (even if only by a little).

Now, I would put them on the same level.

Both great players, of course.

I don't need the breakaway runs. 2004 Bell was quicker in and out of his cuts than he is today.

Yes a LEGEND in his POP WARNER days!

[Havoc]

Franco Harris. Franco is the guy who gets 4 when you need 3 and 2 when you need 1.5 and 15 when you need 14. Franco rarely, rarely had a breakaway run... and yet has some of the most memorable runs in NFL history.

IMO, 2004 Bell was more talented than Franco (even if only by a little).

Now, I would put them on the same level.

Both great players, of course.

I don't need the breakaway runs. 2004 Bell was quicker in and out of his cuts than he is today.

Yes a LEGEND in his POP WARNER days!

Care to elaborate?

Edit:

2014, not 2004 Ha!

[chippedhamsandwich]

Come on....

[COR-TEN]

Care to elaborate?

Just re-read your post.

[COR-TEN]

I made some of the same points as you. Elliott has great speed, good vision and he can make the first defender miss - This means he would be a beast behind any good offensive line. As for Bell, I think he sees his speed deficiency, and he relies on his shiftiness in the open field. If he had the same read that he had vs. the Panthers again, I would expect him to try juking defenders instead of sprinting as far as he can get.

I have a question for the training and football experts. Is Bell's training regimen suited to build lateral movement and jump cuts? He also spends a lot of time (from what I can tell) working with the jugs machine developing his receiving skills.

Even people who are natural runners work on their sprinting and speed techniques. Does Bell ignore that or is just not a naturally fast runner? He weighed more in college, so I'd expect him to be faster today than he was 3-4 years ago - sans injury.

Does one sacrifice speed for shiftiness?

[Havoc]

Care to elaborate?

Just re-read your post.

got it

Good one, Chipped Ham!

[chippedhamsandwich]

Care to elaborate?

Just re-read your post.

got it

Good one, Chopped Ham!

Ha! Just jaggin' ya!

[Havoc]

All good!

Chipped, not Chopped.

I'm on a roll... of the jelly variety (obviously)

[Legacy User]

I made some of the same points as you. Elliott has great speed, good vision and he can make the first defender miss - This means he would be a beast behind any good offensive line. As for Bell, I think he sees his speed deficiency, and he relies on his shiftiness in the open field. If he had the same read that he had vs. the Panthers again, I would expect him to try juking defenders instead of sprinting as far as he can get.

I have a question for the training and football experts. Is Bell's training regimen suited to build lateral movement and jump cuts? He also spends a lot of time (from what I can tell) working with the jugs machine developing his receiving skills.

Even people who are natural runners work on their sprinting and speed techniques. Does Bell ignore that or is just not a naturally fast runner? He weighed more in college, so I'd expect him to be faster today than he was 3-4 years ago - sans injury.

Does one sacrifice speed for shiftiness?

I have no doubt that he works on all areas of his game, but when he posts a video, it will be a video of what he does best. His lateral movements are amazing. I'd love to see him and the RB's group run wind sprints. Many of us would be surprised with the straight line speed disparity between Bell and D. Williams. It was reported during OTA's or training camp that DWill and Senquez Golson sprinted with each other. Williams beat him.

Check the video from 2014 at 3:27 - that's a LB chasing Bell down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVqIh4koDHE

[Jobu]

I made some of the same points as you. Elliott has great speed, good vision and he can make the first defender miss - This means he would be a beast behind any good offensive line. As for Bell, I think he sees his speed deficiency, and he relies on his shiftiness in the open field. If he had the same read that he had vs. the Panthers again, I would expect him to try juking defenders instead of sprinting as far as he can get.

I have a question for the training and football experts. Is Bell's training regimen suited to build lateral movement and jump cuts? He also spends a lot of time (from what I can tell) working with the jugs machine developing his receiving skills.

Even people who are natural runners work on their sprinting and speed techniques. Does Bell ignore that or is just not a naturally fast runner? He weighed more in college, so I'd expect him to be faster today than he was 3-4 years ago - sans injury.

Does one sacrifice speed for shiftiness?

I have no doubt that he works on all areas of his game, but when he posts a video, it will be a video of what he does best. His lateral movements are amazing. I'd love to see him and the RB's group run wind sprints. Many of us would be surprised with the straight line speed disparity between Bell and D. Williams. It was reported during OTA's or training camp that DWill and Senquez Golson sprinted with each other. Williams beat him.

Check the video from 2014 at 3:27 - that's a LB chasing Bell down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVqIh4koDHE

You know what I noticed in that video? They were getting him the ball, rushing and throwing, outside the tackle box a lot more than they do now...or so it seemes. He's amazing out in space!

[Kodiak]

Bell is fast for a power back. He's a PUNISHING runner.

He's not otherwise fast for a back, but I think he's a little above average...and his acceleration is almost elite.

Give him a 7 for speed....10 for vision....10 for receiving....8 for blocking...8 for acceleration....9 for breaking tackles....9 for making guys miss....10 for elusiveness.

[Legacy User]

I don't need the breakaway runs. 2014 Bell was quicker in and out of his cuts than he is today.

acknowledged, but he's also averaging 4.6ypc and is top 10 in rushing yards (fourth in yards per game) and second in receiving yards (by a RB) despite missing three games

so, i mean, whaddya want from the man anyway?