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Kowalski on WDFN: Bell has edge as backup RB
by Philip Zaroo | MLive.com
Monday August 25, 2008, 4:15 PM
Because he's run with some real intensity this preseason and because of he can contribute on special teams, many are assuming Artose Pinner will win the Detroit Lions' backup running back position over Tatum Bell.
Not so fast, says MLive Lions Insider Tom Kowalski. There's an argument to be made for keeping Bell, most noteworthy being his experience with the Denver Broncos, where he ran behind a line using a zone-blocking scheme very similar to the one the Lions are incorporating this year.
If rookie Kevin Smith, who appears to be running away as the starting running back, gets injured, head coach Rod Marinelli may feel more comfortable having someone with Bell's experience running behind his offensive line.
"The other day," Killer says on WDFN's The Stoney and Wojo Show, "talking to (Rod) Marinelli, I said 'Does that No. 2 running back have to give you a lot on special teams?' and he said, 'Not necessarily.' That kind of led me to believe Tatum Bell might have the edge in that department."
Listen to the whole interview to hear Killer talk about which veteran is most in danger of losing their spot on the roster:
Click here to download this file
that 1000 yard season with Denver was no fluke...I say keep him maybe he'll run better when the line gets more experience
Restore the Roar
I believe in now
Bell has looked horrible in the preseason...he has no business being on this team when they play sept7th.
cant believe this i cut bell last week face it he stinks-take pinner he earned it!! i supported bell early on-he gives us nothing!!
He must have the same photos Millen has to keep his job. What does he show that the others don't? And I don't want to hear about him being different than the other backs, being a crappy player regardless of style is still crap.
If this comes down to Bell vs. Pinner; it should be Pinner hands down.
Bell has played flat and goes down at first contact. Pinner bounces off people, collides into people, and runs over people.
He plays with heart and tenacity and should be the #2.
If Cason is NOT the return man, I can see Bell or Calhoun being in that 3 spot.
For all the crazy conspiracies out there, I have never seen Pinner play a FB role, and I do not see the Lions keeping 4 backs or only keeping 4 wide receivers.
Even though there is more emphasis on running the ball, this is a very good passing team and they will need 5 bodies with one return man coming from that group. If Cason is kept as the returner, that may open a door for Standeford, but I don't see either Cason or Standeford staying. Ellis and Middleton have been loyal to the Lions, even coming back to the Den after being cut (Middleton).
I think that means something to Rod.
This is a joke right Killer?
Bell, besides his inability to do anything in the preseason games, also has his historty from Denver! No Killer I'm not talking about 1000 yard season, I'm talking about him putting the ball on the ground.
He can't break tackles, he's too small to block, he can catch check down passes and he can fumble.
Bye Bye Tater!
i think
most agree-what the hell!! goodbye tatum bell-keep joe or blue theyre much better!!felton can back up smith and i hope cason is not hurt-if he is by by to you too!!
bell is better than pinner or cason or calhoun. i know it sucks, but its true. he's proven that he is capable of an entire good season. the others have proven that they are not, due to talent, injury, whatever....
it was nice to hear killer LAUGH at the prospect of the lions trading mcD, if you were in our last post.....
damn, we're going to be cutting some good players.
"The other day," Killer says on WDFN's The Stoney and Wojo Show, "talking to (Rod) Marinelli, I said 'Does that No. 2 running back have to give you a lot on special teams?' and he said, 'Not necessarily.' That kind of led me to believe Tatum Bell might have the edge in that department."
Now we know who his 'source' is.
He 'kind of is led to believe'.
huh?
nobs, i totally agree.
i also think they've got to keep 5 wr, because we will still pass more than run.
Bad question.
Yes. A #2 tailback doesn't have to necessarily contribute on special teams...if that #2 is Michael Turner, Marion Barber, Dominic Rhodes, etc. But is Tatum Bell good enough to NOT contribute on special teams when you have a Cason or Pinner ? (That is more a indictement of Bell than an endorsement of Cason or Pinner btw.)
They need to cut that guy, flat out. He's done nothing to EARN that spot. He's been playing like his spot is assured which is the antithesis of what the Lions are trying to do. Bell needs to go. Calhoun and Pinner beat him out.
Killer said:
"The other day," Killer says on WDFN's The Stoney and Wojo Show, "talking to (Rod) Marinelli, I said 'Does that No. 2 running back have to give you a lot on special teams?' and he said, 'Not necessarily.' That kind of led me to believe Tatum Bell might have the edge in that department."
That leads us to the headline "Bell has edge as backup RB"???????
He made this whole story up!! Not saying one way or the other on how this will go, but if that’s all Marinelli said, it in no way leads to Killers assumption (which he conveniently states as fact).
downintheburg,
I said that exact same thing ten posts ago.
He 'kind of is led to believe'. ???
I didn't see much from Bell in the 1st 2 games, but y'all must not have watched the Cleveland game. Maybe it's because they were up against a 3-4 defense (I don't think that's the case), but Bell ran pretty well last game. You could see him looking for the lanes where they are supposed to be, even pushing his lineman in the direction where the holes are supposed to be opening up. He looked patient, waiting for things to develop, though they rarely did, and taking what was given when it was obvious nothing would be opening up.
I don't like how everyone seems to have accepted that Cason is a lock because of his return ability. I have seen nothing in his preseason performances that make him a valuable asset in the return game.
At this point I'd keep Smith, Pinner and Bell, but that's based 100% on preseason games. You never know what these guys are doing in practice, on film, and what they contribute leadership-wise.
Bell has been terrible.
I could get 1000 yards behind the line Bell had in Denver.
I'm pulling for him. But he is RUNNING out of chances.
DONT YOU EVEN FEED US THIS CRAP KILLER!
You assume because Rod say's "the #2 back does not neccesarily have to contribute on special team
You assume that its Tatum Bell??? The guy hasn't showed anything since he arrived to this organization. He certainly can't run better than Calhoun, Pinner, or Cason "judged by this preseason" which I thought was tryouts to make a team, not "that guy in the stands knows the system let's throw him in there, give em a roster spot over the others."
IF Bell makes this team it'll be hard to believe it's because he used this system before. But you never know, if this is true, I only hope they make the right choice.
Just get rid of that Ding Dong and pickup the scraps from either Denver or Houston in regards to the RB situation. This team is putting a premium on Bell's knowing zone blocking when other RB's will become available.
The only reason Rod say's "the #2 back does not necessarily have to contribute on special teams” is because if he didn't he would be tipping his hand towards Pinner since he is the special teams player (if he answered yes he would know he’s saying right there Bell is gone) .With one more pre-season game and a week of practice and left before the cuts; he wanted to leave the competition wide open for the last spot. All the RB’s did ok against Cleveland’s 3-4 ,yes even Bell but 1 good game and 1 good year in Denver a while back is not being consistent. You all might laugh but I would put Calhoun ahead of Bell he has never really had a chance till this year either , and he seems like he will only get better over time as Bell’s time has come and gone.
You guys who question Killer's reporting unquestionably have too much time on your hands.
Most of sports writing is speculation or analysis. When speculating the writer has to guess at another party's intentions. Little clues can be revealing, Killer is remarkably transparent about the process by letting us know why he is speculating and people pounce on him accusing incompetence.
Worry about the fact that Lions suck, and have sucked for 7, going on 8 years.
bell has the slight edge over kevin smith? what has bell done to be even on the team? he looks slow,like maybe he's hurt! bell is a 1000 yard running back behind a great O-line in denver! with the lions he has to run for his life because the O-line needs help! Kevin smith is the best RB the lions have! smith looks like a man on a mission to be the lions starting RB! Pinner looks good good! last time I watch him play,he was running over the lions for 3 TDs with the vikings! coach marinelli has built this team into a blue collar football team! I hope matt millen doesn't get credit for the team marinelli has built,he shouldn't even have a job with the lions! thanks mr ford!
That's the kiss of death for Bell. Sorry it didn't work out Tatum.
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