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LeVeon Bell is a "generational" player.

wig

wig

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It has been said often and loudly that LeVeon Bell is a unique type of back. Indeed, he's been called "generational" and we all know he tried to reset the RB market because of his unique skillset. It didn't exactly work, but nobody can deny he's a good back.

Jerome Bettis, on the other hand was a consistent powerhorse. He was almost never spectacular. His averages per gain and game were never anywhere near top of the league. He could neither pass nor catch the ball well at all.

And yet, If the choice came down to Jerome Bettis or LeVeon Bell, I don't think anyone with any common sense at all even considers that a remotely fair comparison. I assume (I guess I could be wrong...) that virtually everyone takes healthy, young, in-his-prime Jerome over healthy, young in-his-prime LeVeon and doesn't even think about it.

And hey, they BOTH bowl!
 
wig said:
It has been said often and loudly that LeVeon Bell is a unique type of back. Indeed, he's been called "generational" and we all know he tried to reset the RB market because of his unique skillset. It didn't exactly work, but nobody can deny he's a good back.

Jerome Bettis, on the other hand was a consistent powerhorse. He was almost never spectacular. His averages per gain and game were never anywhere near top of the league. He could neither pass nor catch the ball well at all.

And yet, If the choice came down to Jerome Bettis or LeVeon Bell, I don't think anyone with any common sense at all even considers that a remotely fair comparison. I assume (I guess I could be wrong...) that virtually everyone takes healthy, young, in-his-prime Jerome over healthy, young in-his-prime LeVeon and doesn't even think about it.

And hey, they BOTH bowl!
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Amazing what happens when Bell leaves that loser Ben Roethlisberger and this offensive line and he can't even hit 80 yards in a game on the year. They took for granted what they had to try and maximize their income and ego and now look like absolute fools for doing so. Yes I am including a certain #84 in this topic.

I'd take Bettis over Bell in their prime. Bell was a little too injury prone with that knee while Bettis was just a straight battering ram. Even in today's NFL, a back like Bettis would still be a force to try and bring down.
 
I wouldn't call Bell a generational player. He could get there just like he could get to the HOF some day. But, right now, he isn't sniffing the HOF and therefore isn't a generational type player. He still needs at least a few more seasons doing what he did for a few seasons with the Steelers but, as we are seeing, he is nothing without a great offensive line that learned how to block for his style of running.
 
Bettis never played with a QB that was a threat to really throw the ball, Bettis in his prime with a QB like Ben would be huge, spread teams out, get them in the Nickel/Dime, then hand the ball off.
 
Bell was good in the situation he was in here in Pittsburgh. He is in a different situation now. He doesn't look so hot anymore.
 
Bell is a decent back anymore. He wasted a year and now looks just average, esp when the OL talent is crap. While his yardage is down, as is YPC, his "big play" ability is the same as his long of the season is 19yds. Rec is also the same as his long there is 23. I am not sure he'll ever be more than a good utility back since no one is going to want to give this dude 25-30 touches a games anymore. Just like another former Steeler "great" this dude ruined his own legacy.
 
Coryea said:
Bettis never played with a QB that was a threat to really throw the ball, Bettis in his prime with a QB like Ben would be huge, spread teams out, get them in the Nickel/Dime, then hand the ball off.
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Of course the opposite can be said. With so many weapons,everyone wanting the ball,egotistical players screaming for the ball,he would not get the touches. A shittier QB than Ben, definitely would rely on Jerome more.
 
Steelmann said:
Of course the opposite can be said. With so many weapons,everyone wanting the ball,egotistical players screaming for the ball,he would not get the touches. A shittier QB than Ben, definitely would rely on Jerome more.
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Bell got a pile of touches, Bettis wasn't a threat to line up at slot, but he could catch check downs and screens, I think he'd still get plenty of touches. Don't forget Tomlin uses the **** out of his lead RB's.
 
Coryea said:
Bettis never played with a QB that was a threat to really throw the ball, Bettis in his prime with a QB like Ben would be huge, spread teams out, get them in the Nickel/Dime, then hand the ball off.
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it would be great having him in goal line situations with Ben. Do you stack the line to stop Bettis or try to cover the receivers in their routes???

Plus having a guy to just pick up yards late in the 4th quarter to just kill the clock....
 
CoolieMan said:
it would be great having him in goal line situations with Ben. Do you stack the line to stop Bettis or try to cover the receivers in their routes???

Plus having a guy to just pick up yards late in the 4th quarter to just kill the clock....
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Yes indeed, Bettis may have been the best closer ever in the NFL, minus one game. ;)
 
It’ll be interesting to see what Bell can do with his career, but after taking a year off and averaging 3.2 ypc this year, I don’t know why anyone would be optimistic about his future. I’m thinking he’s out of football by 2021 either by his choice or not.
 
I'm just glad all these great players Ben had around him to make him the QB he is, get the chance to go spread their greatness else where, Darnold is a HOF'er now that he has Bell, Wallace made Tannehill a great QB, Holmes will be presenting Sanchez at the HOF soon.
 
Bell is just stuck in a ****** situation with a horrible line, **** playcalling, and a bad QB. Similar to Saquan Barkley.
Say what you want about Bell, just remember when he was in Black and gold he had the most scrimmage yards per game by a RB in league history.
 
bigben said:
Bell is just stuck in a ****** situation with a horrible line, **** playcalling, and a bad QB.
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Bell isn't stuck in that situation. He made that situation happen knowing full well what he was getting into (or damn well should have). **** him and his current mediocre play.
 
bigben said:
Bell is just stuck in a ****** situation with a horrible line, **** playcalling, and a bad QB. Similar to Saquan Barkley.
Say what you want about Bell, just remember when he was in Black and gold he had the most scrimmage yards per game by a RB in league history.
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yeah and he let his ego get the best of him so now he can rot in a jets uniform
 
I loved when Bettis would come in during the 4th qtr and just hammer a defense. A lot of guys wanted no part of that ****. That was awesome watching them tap out. It was beautiful .
 
Bell got a ton of touches with Ben. Most NFL backs would have put up similar numbers with the amount of touches he received. His running style especially needed a quality line which we had. He would be going nowhere with the way our line is playing this year. He is also not a homerun threat . I just dont see how people think he is a generational talent? Id say AP in his prime, Barry Sanders, Faulk, Bettis, etc etc....Bell does not sniff their jock straps in my opinion.
 
I apologize for not jumping on the let's slam Bell bandwagon, but using some of the same criteria we use to rip Bell in comparison to Conner, Bell's career YPC average is better than Jerome. That's assuming the numbers I'm looking at are accurate, which also take into account the not so great season he's having this year.
 
Stainless said:
I apologize for not jumping on the let's slam Bell bandwagon, but using some of the same criteria we use to rip Bell in comparison to Conner, Bell's career YPC average is better than Jerome. That's assuming the numbers I'm looking at are accurate, which also take into account the not so great season he's having this year.
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Well, you also have to take into account that The Bus was used mainly for short yardage and goal-line in his last couple years in the 'Burgh.
 
Troglodyte said:
It’ll be interesting to see what Bell can do with his career, but after taking a year off and averaging 3.2 ypc this year, I don’t know why anyone would be optimistic about his future. I’m thinking he’s out of football by 2021 either by his choice or not.
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He's just in it for the paycheck, he doesn't really want to play anymore. He checked out mentally last year. Bam Morris v2.0.
 
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