Friday, July 22, 2016

The Steelers Will Be Fine Without Le'Veon Bell

One of Steeler nation's worst nightmares came true this morning:

It's true, Bell is facing another suspension. This comes as a shock to many, but not to everybody. The idea of Bell facing suspension was tossed around last month when Mark Madden tweeted out that he had heard the news from a source.

Many writers, including myself, didn't believe Madden. Bell himself even disputed the rumors in an interview with Mark Kaboly:
“I don't know what you are talking about... I am fine,” he (Bell) said. “I can't keep talking about the drug test. I probably already said too much about it, so I really can't keep talking about it. People are going to say what they want to say on the Internet. It is people who really have nothing to do. I don't get upset or let it bother me.” - Le'Veon Bell
Unfortunately Madden was right and once again the Steelers will be starting the season without their starting running back. This article isn't about moping over Bell's suspension though. 

 My point is: the Steelers will be fine without Bell, now and in the future.

 The Depth Chart 

 Last season the Steelers lost Bell early and had to continue on with DeAngelo Williams. Nobody expected Williams to play at he level he did. In his limited playing time he managed to rush for 907 yards, catch 40 passes for 367 yards, and tie for first in the league with 11 rushing touchdowns. If you weren't familiar with the team, you may have not even noticed a change at the position. Though he'll be 33 entering the 2015 season and may not be able to replicate his success from 2015, he'll have help this season in Fitzgerald Toussaint. 

 Toussaint was signed to the practice squad in September during the 2015 season and was later activated to the 53 man roster in November 2015. Nobody expected anything for the young running back, but he ultimately played a critical role in the Steelers playoff run. Because of an injury to Williams, Toussaint started in the wild card game, splitting time with Jordan Todman.

 Toussaint displayed the patience, toughness, and vision the Steelers seek in their running backs. The play that comes to mind when I think back to Toussaint's performance is his third down conversion where Toussaint makes a beautiful and gains a first down in overtime. 


Behind the Steel Curtain did an excellent breakdown of Toussaints receiving skills. He proved he has versatility as a running back and receiver; a critical element for Pittsburgh running backs. 

 We have witnessed that the Steelers are capable of producing a formidable rushing attack without an elite running back. It's not solely Bell that led us to rushing success; you also must give credit to our offensive line and coaching staff. I have confidence that players like Williams & Toussaint can lead our rushing attack. 

 The Money

 One of the biggest questions to come from this news is how this situation will effect Bell's future with the team. My prediction is that the Steelers won't resign Bell. 

 The Steelers are an organization pride themselves on their reputation and legacy. They rarely take risks on players with character concerns, and when they do, they often face the consequences. Martavis Bryant, Mike Adams, Alameda T'amu, & Chris Rainey are all players they took risks on and paid the price. Bell is on his way to joining some bad company based on his track record.

 The contract Bell will be demanding certainly hurts his case. Though it is true he deserves to be payed like an elite player based on his play, it is extremely risky giving a premium contract to a player that is on the verge of a year-long suspension. Bell's contract would likely exceed $10 million/season, therefore the Steelers would be wise to let him walk.

 The Future 

 Luckily for the Steelers, the 2017 draft class is loaded with talent at running back. Cameron DaSilva of Fox Sports writes:
"So long as the top prospects stay healthy, there could wind up being as many as five running backs taken in the first round. That would be the most since 2008 when there were also five selected in Round 1, led by Darren McFadden at fourth overall."
In 2017 the Steelers can easily get a running back somewhere in the draft. The devaluation of the running back position has been a hot topic that has gone back and forth over the years. We've seen players taken high like Bell and Todd Gurley (LA) excel, and we've seen players taken later in the draft exceed expectations, such as David Johnson (Ari), Karlos Williams (Buf), and Devonta Freeman (Atl). Regardless of which of these paths the Steelers choose, I am confident they are capable of leaving the 2017 draft with a talented running back. 

 Final Thoughts

 It is to be determined how the organization views Bell's future after this news. They may trade Bell, they may have faith in him and resign him - nobody knows. 

 I predict that Bell will finish his contract with the Steelers and move on.

 I love Bell; I think he is a fantastic player and passionate about football and this organization. However, his repeated mistakes show he isn't as committed to this game as many of us like to think. Whether or not it's his rapping career or his friendship with Snoop Dog having an influence on him, Bell has proven that he still lacks the maturity to be a cornerstone on this team. The Steelers can win without Bell. 

While we have seen players mature over their playing careers and move past prior conflicts, I don't think Bell is worth the gamble. We'll be fine without him. 
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)