Who Played Better At RB For Us...

[listopencil]

I missed most of the second and third quarter of the game vs. the Rams. I also didn't get to sit down and watch the first and fourth straight through. I was at work Sunday and got distracted from my Broncos. From what I got to see I thought Mike Bell looked superior to Tatum Bell but I can't really say. Anybody who got to watch the entire game want to chime in or at least vote in a poll?

[listopencil]

Bear in mind that this poll allows multiple choice so you can pick your favorite and still bash Brian Griese.

[ludo21]

Tatum looked good.

Tatum fumbled. Mike whiffed a block(shouldnt of had to do that anyway)

Both ran about the same, but ill give the edge to Tatum.

[Florida_Bronco]

Tatum played better IMO, but both played well save for a couple mistakes.

[WABronco]

Give me Tatum. Tatum seemed to run harder after his fumble, and he came close to busting two runs to the house.

We have a very nice platoon going though...I feel very comfortable with our current situation.

[SureShot]

I'm glad you posted this thread. I say MBell. I thought MBell played better. He has drawn some heat around here for getting blown up by Little, which is not justified. Should he have cut him? Maybe, but we don't know what that called play for. The sack is on him, but not the fumble. Earlier in the game he cut down a blitzer, which opened up a nice passing lane for Flummer. It was good to see him catch the ball well out of the backfield and had some nice YAC. Most importantly he seems automatic on the goal line.

[Florida_Bronco]

Just for the stat side

Tatum: 15 carries for 103 yards 6.9 average long of 39 yards
Mike: 10 carries for 58 yards 5.8 average 1 touchdown long of 36 yards

[Florida_Bronco]

I'm glad you posted this thread. I say MBell. I thought MBell played better. He has drawn some heat around here for getting blown up by Little, which is not justified. Should he have cut him? Maybe, but we don't know what that called play for. The sack is on him, but not the fumble. Earlier in the game he cut down a blitzer, which opened up a nice passing lane for Flummer. It was good to see him catch the ball well out of the backfield and had some nice YAC. Most importantly he seems automatic on the goal line.

They both made a couple mistakes, but Tatum was better.

[SureShot]

They both made a couple mistakes, but Tatum was better.

I think the most important stat is numbers of carries on 4th down with the game on the line.

I liked that Shanny gave him props on still playing with a fractured finger with no fingernail.

How long was Tatum out with that hand injury?

[bpc]

Do we always have to bring up Griese tearing up TD's knee? Ugh. I never want to think about that again.

As for HB play... they were lost in the shuffle with our terrible passing offense. I will say that I thought both ran hard. It was very impressive that Mike Bell, a rookie, dislocates his finger to a point where the bone is popping out and he comes back in and runs hard, picking up a TD with his efforts.

[listopencil]

Do we always have to bring up Griese tearing up TD's knee? Ugh. I never want to think about that again.

As for HB play... they were lost in the shuffle with our terrible passing offense. I will say that I thought both ran hard. It was very impressive that Mike Bell, a rookie, dislocates his finger to a point where the bone is popping out and he comes back in and runs hard, picking up a TD with his efforts.

I forgot about that. Jesus, that's some toughness. Anybody remember when that happened? I mean, how much of the game did he play after the bones of his finger were split and ripped through the flesh of his hand? Damn. That's some serious ****.

[titan]

I Like MBell as the starter. I think he's a better receiver than Tatum, and better in short yardage. Yes, MBell didn't look good in blocking Little but I doubt Tatum would have done any better.

Still like Tatum as a change of pace back - he's great in that role.

[~Crash~]

holy crap that had to realy hurt .

[Kaylore]

Tatum had better runs but fumbled. Mike Bell did well. I'd say it was Mike by a nose but not enough to say he's definitively better. They both played well and that's the good news.

[2KBack]

Just for the stat side

Tatum: 15 carries for 103 yards 6.9 average long of 39 yards
Mike: 10 carries for 58 yards 5.8 average 1 touchdown long of 36 yards

Don't forget Mikes 4 passes for 30 yards

[~Crash~]

Mike is the better all around back and look at it like this he is a Rookie so I would start him I belive he will get better and has way more power !!!

[~Crash~]

Wasn't Clearly Better Than The Other... that is leading and that is a telling stat Mike is the rookie and will only get better and I think will move the chains more by being more consentant

[DBroncos4life]

I can't believe anyone thought Mike Bell played better then Tatum.

[Kaylore]

I can't believe anyone thought Mike Bell played better then Tatum.

Let's see. Tatum Fumbled, Mike Bell didn't. Mike Bell moved the pile, Tatum didn't. Mike Bell can score in goal line plays and Tatum can't. Yeah, I can't believe it either.

[DBroncos4life]

Let's see. Tatum Fumbled, Mike Bell didn't. Mike Bell moved the pile, Tatum didn't. Mike Bell can score in goal line plays and Tatum can't. Yeah, I can't believe it either.

Tatum can score from the goal line he did just fine last year against SD. Mike Bell also got his ASS handed to him while trying to block which lead to a fumble. Mike Bell has 4 first downs this year Tatum Bell has 5. Looks like Tatum is doing something right.

[DBroncos4life]

On that TD drive Mike had 7 carries for 9 yards. Color me impressed. He just seemed to get Plummer on a good series.

[SureShot]

Tatum can score from the goal line he did just fine last year against SD. Mike Bell also got his ASS handed to him while trying to block which lead to a fumble. Mike Bell has 4 first downs this year Tatum Bell has 5. Looks like Tatum is doing something right.

Tatum gets his ass handed to him every time he is in pass protection. Flummer fumbled, MBell is only accountable for the sack. MBell=Automatic on the goal line.

[BroncoBuff]

Tatum would've scored had he been carryiing the ball on the Mike Bell breakaway play. The announcers even said it ...


Same thing happened against (?) in the pre-season. I think it was the play Mike went outta bounds and "angered" Rod Smith. The announcers said then (just as I was thinking then) that Tatum wouldda scored on that play.

Mike is great, sure ... but he's too light and "airy" ... kinda like Gerald Willhite (for you young kids, he was a Bronco back in the 80s who couldn't always stay on his feet.)

[BroncoBuff]

It's not that Shanahan's Mike Bell "fetish" is taking away carries from Tatum, it's that it's taking carries away from Cedric Cobbs. We needed a "thunder" out there yesterday. There were several 2nd and 3rd downs where we made ZERO yards. That's a drive-killer, especially when Jake is having a so-so game.

[Bronco9798]

Broncos | T. Bell will start Week 2
Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:50:38 -0700

The Associated Press reports Denver Broncos RB Tatum Bell will start the Week 2 game. RB Mike Bell will rotate in and whoever is performing better will receive the majority of carries.

[DBroncos4life]

Tatum gets his ass handed to him every time he is in pass protection. Flummer fumbled, MBell is only accountable for the sack. MBell=Automatic on the goal line.

Sorry I didn't see Tatum pulling his head out of his ass after blocking someone. Plummer wouldn't have fumbled had Bell been able to do more then get tossed 6 yards down field.

[BroncoBuff]

Broncos | T. Bell will start Week 2
Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:50:38 -0700

The Associated Press reports Denver Broncos RB Tatum Bell will start the Week 2 game. RB Mike Bell will rotate in and whoever is performing better will receive the majority of carries.

Glad to see sanity seeping in the walls as Dove Valley ....


Now if Cobbs can jump Mike Bell into the #2 spot ....

[SureShot]

If MBell's finger doesn't keep him out, he will have better overall numbers. MBell=Best goaline back, reciever.

[DBroncos4life]

I'm glad Im not the only one that watches Mike Bell run and think man where is this power people keep talking about. Sure the guy can leap over some fat guys on the ground but he doesn't break tackles like people keep talking about. Hell after camp I thought we signed Christian Okoye's clone only to find out we have a slower better handed Tatum.

[wabbit]

Shanahan said today that he doesn't expect Mike Bell to miss any time.

Then again, he said the same thing about Brandon Marshall...what...4 weeks ago.

I heard somewhere that Bell may need surgery to stabilize the finger...maybe I'm being too conservative here, but I've had numerous surgeries & never once did the doctor come into the recovery room & tell me I'm good to go for full-contact athletics.

[BroncoBuff]

I'm glad Im not the only one that watches Mike Bell run and think man where is this power people keep talking about. Sure the guy can leap over some fat guys on the ground but he doesn't break tackles like people keep talking about. Hell after camp I thought we signed Christian Okoye's clone only to find out we have a slower better handed Tatum.

ROFL! You read my mind ... serious.


Shanny's Mike Bell "fetish" .... how long will it last?

I like the kid, but he should be #3 ... and maybe return kicks.

[ludo21]

Wabbit, will Cobbs see time next week with Bell out, or will they keep him de activated, whats ur opinion?

[Bob's your Information Minister]

I really really really really really really really really want to see Mike Bell attempt to block Tamba Hali this week. Really.

[DBroncos4life]

I really really really really really really really really want to see Mike Bell attempt to block Tamba Hali this week. Really.

I really want to see you get out and date but.......

[SureShot]

Sorry I didn't see Tatum pulling his head out of his ass after blocking someone. Plummer wouldn't have fumbled had Bell been able to do more then get tossed 6 yards down field.

Is Tatum ever in pass plays to block? I haven't seen the game again yet, but I seem to remember MBell in that role exclusively.

In the last two games Flummer has looked like Infant Hands Culpepper. MBell is not the reason he fumbled.

[wabbit]

Wabbit, will Cobbs see time next week with Bell out, or will they keep him de activated, whats ur opinion?

If doctors talk some sense with Mike, I have to believe that Cobbs will suit up & get some touches.

C'mon folks, look at this logically...Shanahan hates...& I mean threatens you with your livelihood kind of hates, turn-overs.

How could he expect Bell to maintain possession of a ball, block AND catch passes with a surgical wrap resembling a tree trunk...c'mon.

Hell, no-one expects any of that from Todd Devoe any more, and he's only wearing gloves.

Yes, I think Cobbs will get a shot...and I say that after telling everybody I had a 'hunch' that Cobbs would start the game against the Rams.

Reliable & certain...that's me

[SouthStndJunkie]

My Choice:

One Wasn't Clearly Better Than The Other

The reasons have been covered already.

[BroncoBuff]

I really really really really really really really really want to see Mike Bell attempt to block Tamba Hali this week. Really.

OOOOooooooooooooooooh! Tamba Hali! I'm so S C A R E D . . . !

[Killericon]

Mike Bell gave us our only TD, and he converted the 4th and one.

Nuff said.

[Kaylore]

Sorry I didn't see Tatum pulling his head out of his ass after blocking someone. Plummer wouldn't have fumbled had Bell been able to do more then get tossed 6 yards down field.
Are you joking? How many running backs in the league do you think can make that block? Mike Bell is bigger and stronger than Tatum, I promise you Tatum can't make that block any better. Mike Shanahan and Bobby T know more than you about Running backs and they're feeding Mike Bell the ball. If you want to pretend you know better than them, that's your deal.

[BroncoBuff]

Mike Bell gave us our only TD, and he converted the 4th and one.

Nuff said.

I grant you both points ... but nothing much follows from that. We all agree he's an excellent leaper.

[Killericon]

I really really really really really really really really want to see Mike Bell attempt to block Tamba Hali this week. Really.

Too bad, he won't make it past Foster. ROFL!

[elsid13]

Tatum would've scored had he been carryiing the ball on the Mike Bell breakaway play. The announcers even said it ...


You actually believe this guy???

http://speakers.com/media/317/images/dierdorf_dan_lg.gif



PS The announcers also thought Plummer had wide open TD pass to Devoe.

[Dedhed]

On that TD drive Mike had 7 carries for 9 yards. Color me impressed. He just seemed to get Plummer on a good series.
Did you notice on the prior series that Shanahan didn't trust Tatum enough to hand him the ball on 3rd and a yard+, but gave Mike the ball on 4th down on their own 30. That tells me more than any other stat in the game.

[Dedhed]

If doctors talk some sense with Mike, I have to believe that Cobbs will suit up & get some touches.

C'mon folks, look at this logically...Shanahan hates...& I mean threatens you with your livelihood kind of hates, turn-overs.

How could he expect Bell to maintain possession of a ball, block AND catch passes with a surgical wrap resembling a tree trunk...c'mon.

Hell, no-one expects any of that from Todd Devoe any more, and he's only wearing gloves.

Yes, I think Cobbs will get a shot...and I say that after telling everybody I had a 'hunch' that Cobbs would start the game against the Rams.

Reliable & certain...that's me
I think you're right on this one Wabbit. Given Mike's hand, I think that Cobbs is at least going to be active next week. Frankly, I hope he gets a serious look too. I like what I've seen from MBell so far, but I'm not convinced he's ready. I don't like Tatum in the starting role, and I think that he would be more effective with a set up guy like Cobbs.

I think that people have the impression of Cobbs as a Ron Dayne type back who runs heavy, but isn't going to run away from anyone. The truth is that Cobbs posesses very good speed, especially for a back of his size. Ran a 4.4? at the combine, and the way he broke tackles in the pre-season I'm interested to see what he could do against a real unit.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Neither of the Bells can block my 80 year old mother.

Get used to RBBC. It's here to stay.

[No1BroncoFan]

Are you joking? How many running backs in the league do you think can make that block? Mike Bell is bigger and stronger than Tatum, I promise you Tatum can't make that block any better. Mike Shanahan and Bobby T know more than you about Running backs and they're feeding Mike Bell the ball. If you want to pretend you know better than them, that's your deal.
I don't know what it is with people deciding that one player is better than another, then sticking to that no matter what. Their perfomances on Sunday clearly showed that neither one is clearly better than the other. Shanahan has the track record to trust him to put the 11 guys on the field who give us the best chance of winning. Doesn't matter if it's RB, QB or linemen, the guys on the field are the ones who give us the best chance to win. It should be saying something (like they are basically the same player) if Shanny can't decide which one to give the ball to on a regular basis. If he calls Mike Bell's number, great. If it goes to Tatum Bell, that's fine too.

Ben

[DBroncos4life]

Are you joking? How many running backs in the league do you think can make that block? Mike Bell is bigger and stronger than Tatum, I promise you Tatum can't make that block any better. Mike Shanahan and Bobby T know more than you about Running backs and they're feeding Mike Bell the ball. If you want to pretend you know better than them, that's your deal.

Who started this week and who gets to start next week? Tatum, its not Tatum's fault that Mike got to go in the series where Plummer played like a NFL QB.

[Rock Chalk]

I think the most important stat is numbers of carries on 4th down with the game on the line.

I liked that Shanny gave him props on still playing with a fractured finger with no fingernail.

How long was Tatum out with that hand injury?

Mike got the nod because he was the RB on that particular series.

Had Tatum been the RB, he would have gotten the call.

Mike had more 1 and no yard gains, particularly on one drive where he got over half of his carries in the game. Mike's average is really poor when you subtract his long run, whereas Tatum's average is still 4.6 I believe subtracting his long run.

As it is, I think both backs are going to get plenty of work for us and I think both will get the job done, but I gotta give the edge to Tater to this point.

[Requiem]

Heh. Mike Bell was averaging less than 3 YPC before his long run which bolstered his numbers. Actually, his average was 2.5 before that. That one run didn't mean crap.

Tatum, however had an average of 4.6 even without his big runs, showing more consistency than Mike Bell.

Tatum clearly played better, easily. . .

[Garcia Bronco]

the play was even...but Mike Bell is going to give us more down the road.

[Requiem]

Still not seeing how it was remotely even.

[BroncoInferno]

Still not seeing how it was remotely even.

Well, if you factor in Mike Bell's receiving, he had 88 yards on 14 touches versus 103 yards on 15 touches for Tatum. Mike had a TD, Tatum didn't; Tatum lost a fumble, Mike didn't. I'd say pretty even overall, though if you're looking at strictly how they ran with no consideration to the other phases I would give the edge to Tatum.

[fdf]

Do we always have to bring up Griese tearing up TD's knee? Ugh. I never want to think about that again.

As for HB play... they were lost in the shuffle with our terrible passing offense. I will say that I thought both ran hard. It was very impressive that Mike Bell, a rookie, dislocates his finger to a point where the bone is popping out and he comes back in and runs hard, picking up a TD with his efforts.

What was most impressive is that it was his first pro game and he played about even-steven with a three year vet who's a pretty good running back. I think MB will have won the starting job decisively by the end of the year.

[BlaK-Argentina]

I don't think Mike Bell is anything special...

I'm hoping Tatum turns it up a notch and becomes the back we all wanted him to be when we drafted him... but if not, hopefully Cobbs can turn into a Droughns-like RB. I think we need someone like that.

[Garcia Bronco]

What was most impressive is that it was his first pro game and he played about even-steven with a three year vet who's a pretty good running back. I think MB will have won the starting job decisively by the end of the year.


I agree.