Watching Some Tape - Le'Veon Bell

I know it's really hard to find time to track down game tape and sit and watch it, and as a result we forge opinions based on other people's opinions or a couple of highlight reels. I thought compiling real game film here might make it easier for people, as well as give us a thread to discuss each player. Hopefully by looking at these instead of highlight reels, we can get a more accurate picture of what these guys bring to the table. I love highlights, but only when I want to get pumped about a player, not when I want to really learn. Anyway, it's another thing to do to help last us through the summer.

I hope you find the time to watch some and let us know what you think!

Le'Veon Bell

Northwestern:
[video=youtube;xFZ1V4fvveA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZ1V4fvveA[/video]

Iowa:
[video=youtube;iOzugH8lNxA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzugH8lNxA[/video]

Wisconson (2011):
[video=youtube;ceZo8Vf7fnc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceZo8Vf7fnc[/video]

 

My thoughts:

-His power is no joke. He's definitely the guy you want trying to get that yard you need. See a lot of Redman in him in his desire to push, twist and turn to get those last yards. His OL doesn't look that great, so he might fit in well here.

-His blocking is weaker than I expected based on reports. He's got all the tools, but just doesn't put the same effort into it that he does when he has the ball in his hands. Twice against Wisconsin he was used as a lead blocker on a running play, and both times he made amazing blocks, but then was satisfied and stopped early, letting his guy go. On one of those times his man made the tackle and they missed out on a bunch of yards.

-He really is slow, so we are definitely sacrificing big plays in exchange for the hope that he grinds out more yards on a regular basis. I know he lost weight since these games so he might be faster, but if he's not then he might as well put the weight back on, because he's not running away from anyone.

-He definitely flashes good agility and quickness from time to time 30 and 3:50 into the Iowa tape), but not as much as I expected based on reports I'd read. Perhaps this is where losing weight will help him? He's not some big lumbering oaf or anything, but he rarely truly fakes anyone out. Mostly it's just powering through whatever's there.

-He flashes good route running ability out of the backfield, but he was useless as a receiver for the entire Iowa game.

Overall what I like about him is I know for absolute certainty what we'll get from him: a great power back. Whether that back can become complete at the NFL level remains to be seen, but I think he's capable... hopefully.

 

Jerome Bettis wasn't exactly fast, but he sure was effective.

 

I think he comes exactly as advertised, except, that maybe he doesn`t catch the ball as well as we`ve been led to believe.
To me, that`s a minor issue. It would be a bonus, in Haley`s offense, if this kid could catch the ball in the flat, then knock some people over.
As is, he is an old school Steeler Back... He ain`t the Bus, but, nobody else is, either...
He will take the ball and move it forward, more often than not.
Sometimes in big chunks, but rarely to the house, unless he`s close, or you set him up with good playcalling.
What I hope we don`t do, is rotate the other backs in, TOO much, when he becomes our starter...
He pretty much WAS the Spartan`s offense...
The kid is used to being a workhorse, and seems to get better the more you feed him the ball.
I really think we got what we needed here, more than any other position in the draft.
Not sure how good Jarvis Jones is, he might be a better linebacker, than Bell is a Runningback, but IMHO, we needed a true feature rb, more.
And this kid seems to have that potential.
Yes, I saw the missed blocks, that got his qb killed on a couple plays, but I`m sure he will learn better, or he will be on the bench.
Overall, This might be our best pick in the draft.
I`m not 100 percent sold, because he did get stuffed, when the defense knew he was coming, which is pretty much what we have now.
But, he is younger, and hopefully a bit stronger/healthier than Redman/Dwyer...
Basically, he seems to be the same as them, but with a little more success, at the college level he was at.
Like I said, unless I`m mistaken, he pretty much carried the Spartans. Defenses weren`t worried about anyone except him, and he still found a way to get it done, more often than than not.
That should tell you a lot about what kind of competitor he is.
I welcome him, with open arms, and hope our O-line welcomes him, by giving him room to run!
GO STEELERS!

 

Haha, that name crossed my mind, but I didn't dare type it. But that's kind of my point. Jerome Bettis is a Hall of Famer. In order to get away with being slow, you better be damn special at everything else. If a normal running back had Bettis' speed, he wouldn't even get a tryout. Bell's got a lot of power going for him, and some other interesting tools. I can't wait to see how it all translates to the NFL.

 

I love that you've got the positive Bell tweets from a play at OTAs lined up in a separate window, just ready to pounce!

But I really shouldn't tease you, because I've definitely had my guys that I push, and I crave any little crumb of information I can find. And I don't disagree with you. You're right that we have a small sample size. I thought he looked like not much of a receiver in one of the games, but in another he put a shake on a guy that was really impressive. I'd describe him as inconsistent so far, but I'm really not worried about that part of his game. I also think his pass blocking is inconsistent, but that's another thing that should easily improve with time and practice and coaching. The only real concern I have is that he'll be one dimensional as a runner. That his power won't get him far enough to be a starter (Redman), and/or that it won't last long enough and he'll peter out. But I'm not predicting that. Just a tad worried.

 

Thanks snack for posting the videos...especially the Iowa game! I watched this kid for a couple of years and I knew I liked him coming into the draft. It is funny, the things that I like about this kid the critics and some casual fans don't. Usually, I'm a little more in line with the majority. Anyhow this is how I see Bell:

Good- his vision is better than the critics claim. To me, he is quick and, actually, a little faster than I thought he was (I think some will be surprised by his speed). His legs are always moving and he always seems to go forward. As snack said, you can see why he had the highest yac in college. What I know, that wasn't displayed on the videos, is that he has decent hands and they are as advertised. WHat else I know, not on video, is that he doesn't seem to get winded...just goes and goes.

Bad- If you watch close, often, he gives away where he is running to out of his stance. At times, he runs a little to up-right for me, however, see yac...lol. He is not going to burn the turf with his blazing speed. Again, as stated before, he has the skills to read and block but, I believe, he will have to be motivated to have the desire to do so.

I really think you guys are going to like this kid and I'm really hoping he doesn't turn into a Limas for me. I'm not sure I can emotionally handle two Limas' in one lifetime!(it is well documented that I thought Limas was going to be the second-coming of Swann)

 

Well, I will say, I am in NO WAY trying to imply that Bell will be the next Bettis or even be anywhere near what Bettis was as a player, I was trying to point out 1 thing and 1 thing only: SPEED isn't what defines an effective runner in the NFL. Bell can be effective almost no matter what his speed or lack thereof is as long as he works hard, sees the hole and exploits it.

 

i read somewhere that his only problem was he is late too reach the line of scrimmage

 

There's quite a few plays in there that remind me of Mendenhall getting pasted 3 yards behind the line because the OL gets him no time. I heard his OL was bad before.

The play that I really loved was the 0:13 mark of the Wisconsin tape. To me he looked like a ZBS runner there which I wasn't so sure about when reading the scouting report. He sets up the defense and makes a cut on a dime up field... Loved the patience, decisiveness, and the cutting ability there.

 

you can see some of our UDFA from Northwestern in the first vid. #91 bryan arnfelt also. 6=5 305 runs a 4.84 40. 38 reps. he's quick off the line and makes things happen inside. he's usually lined up on at the left defensive tackle spot on the video. so we get a two fer one here. i don't mean to pirate your thread snack.

 

Absolutely he can still be effective. But being slow at certain positions means that you have to make up for it in other ways, and RB is one of those. WR is another. All the great but slow WRs out there are outstanding in other parts of their game. You have to have better vision than a faster back, and make fewer mistakes. And of course, it means on the runs where our OL actually does its job and gets him through the front 7, we'll have to settle for less, so you have to get more yards on those runs that don't give you a big hole. I hope Bell can do it and I'm starting to think he will, but I won't be sold until preseason at the earliest.

 

Well that's just stupid. Those analysts must be the same ones that think Rashard Mendenhall is soft. I don't have any issue with his decision making when it comes to powering through vs. avoiding contact, I'm just worried he'll have a hard time avoiding contact in the NFL.

 

i think he's more a cross between redman and dwyer. a little of both worlds. will johnson should have improved from last year too, so it will help bell with a good FB in front of him. my only concern is heath being out before we see what the kid can do with our full compliment of blockers.

 

Jerome had fast feet, which gave him great balance, he could always position his feet in stride after a hit and stay upright, if he wasn't wrapped up low JB just kept on rolling along...

 

Yeah that has been a problem with the way we design our run game. Lets hope that changes because it will be hard for anyone to look effective that way. I really hope this zone blocking scheme is everything they are saying it is. I would also like to see Will Johnson used more frequently and effectively.

 

I don`t think that`s stupid, at all....
There is a time and place for spinning, and hurdling, but when a runningback relies on those tactics for 75% of his running game,
He is going to get KILLED at the NFL level...
JMO...l
At the same time, I only saw Bell rely on those tactics 75% of the time, on the "Highlight reel", not so much, in the footage that was posted in this thread...(Which I assume is more indicitave of how he usuallly plays the game...

 

You think it's a better idea for a running back to seek contact rather than avoid it? You take hits when you have to, not when you want to, and Bell does an awesome job at delivering. I don't remember Bettis ever hitting a guy for the hell of it. He avoided contact any time he could. Hurdling is a separate thing because that can be dangerous, but I'm not worried about that.

 

NO. I just think there are better ways to avoid it...
Maybe a "juke" move, or God forbid, going out of bounds(Like Franco gets roundly criticized for, in the later stages of his career), or something.
And, actually, I think Bettis DID seek contact "just for the hell of it" a lot of the time.
Remember him running over Urlacher in the snow?...
It just sends a message that the rb is every bit as tough as the defender, if not, moreso...
Also, tends to make defenders more "timid" about initiating contact, and bringing him down, later in the game.
Not sure how that new rule about "leading with the head", for a rb will play out in all this, but it is a time honored tradition, for a runningback, to "wear down the defense", and make them tired of tackling him come the fourth qtr.
Esp, around here...
All that said, No, I don`t think that will lead to a long career for a runningback.
However, I do know that they are easily susceptible to injury, when they leave their feet(hurdle), or turn their back(spin), not to mention the increased likelyhood of turnovers in those situations.
Again, I`m not saying they should never do it, just pick and choose their places.
Not make it a constant habit.
That`s all I have to say about that.. Hahaha...