Bell needs to deliver to make Broncos' risk worth it

[PatsWin2002]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/11800206.htm

Posted on Thu, Jun. 02, 2005

Bell needs to deliver to make Broncos' risk worth it

BY DAVID RAMSEY

The Gazette

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - (KRT) - Tatum Bell offered plenty of promise last season with his outlandish speed, his can't-touch-me dance moves and his ability to thrill teammates - and terrify opponents - with the threat of scoring each time he touched the ball.

This season we'll see if he can keep those promises.

The Denver Broncos declined to take an earth mover to their offense in the offseason, choosing to stick with an attack that barely sneaked into the playoffs and then did little to help in the horrific season-ending surrender at Indianapolis.

The Broncos did wave goodbye to their leading rusher, Reuben Droughns, in an apparent handoff of the starting job to Bell.

If Bell delivers, Coach Mike Shanahan will resemble a, well, Mastermind.

If Bell stumbles, the Broncos' offense will fizzle and it could be a long, long football season on the Front Range.

Quarterback Jake Plummer requires a dazzling sidekick. He must get help from Bell's fleet feet or you can count on Jake the Snake making big additions to his mountain of career interceptions.

Bell, a second-year player from Oklahoma State, shrugged his shoulders Thursday as he considered the weight of expectations.

He rushed for 396 yards last season, averaged 5.3 yards per carry, scored three touchdowns, but he knows it was a mere cameo appearance.

This year, the ball could be in his hands all the time.

That's just where he wants it.

"I want to be the man," he said after a workout at the Broncos' practice field. "They didn't get me to come here and sit on the bench. I want to play.

"I want to establish myself as a household name. I'm just focused on being the man."

He could shine in the role. Bell blazes with the ball in his hand, running an honest 4.3-second 40, and he's the kind of runner who keeps his eyes on the end zone.

He always has a chance to bust one for 80 yards.

"I know I can be a home-run threat on any play," Bell said. "I can break a big one on running plays. I can break a big one on passes."

If Bell is beginning to sound a bit too much like Clinton Portis, who always seemed ready to hug himself, don't worry. He talks in a hushed voice, as if he's just stating the facts, and he knows he still has much to prove.

"In my mind," he said, "I still haven't done nothing."

He offered flashes last season, but that's all. He was often careless with the ball, and showed a troubling habit of suffering injury. He stumbled around with hamstring, rib and shoulder troubles.

Serving as the man in the Broncos' backfield is a perilous job. Shanahan isn't the kind of coach who worries about overworking his runners. Bell might lack the size and durability for the task.

He spent the offseason, he said, diligently eating and lifting weights. He ate a tasty array of fried pork chops, smothered pork chops and thick steaks. He punished himself in the weight room.

He added 12 pounds to his 5-foot-11-inch frame and weighs 217 pounds.

"It's in between fat and muscle," he said, laughing as he considered his weight gain. "Really, it's pretty much good weight. I'm holding it pretty good."

---

© 2005, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.).

[MajikMan7]

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

DAVID RAMSEY
If Bell stumbles, the Broncos' offense will fizzle and it could be a long, long football season on the Front Range.

What a moron this David Ramsey guy is, does he even know the Broncos have Ron Dayne, Mike Anderson, and Maurice Clarett on the team? If Bell does stumble the Broncos offense wont fizzle.

[2KBack]

How idiotic, I can't believe people get paid for articles like this. I mean come on, it is a running joke that Denver churns out 1000 yard runners. How many back-ups were turned into superstars for a season? Olandis, Anderson, Droughns, Denver will get it's rushing yards.

[DariusGoingDeep]

i believe bell will have a great year...you can probably count on him missing 2-4 games, but he will still have a great year. the twelve extra pounds will help him stay healthy, and if any of that is fat...he will lose it in training camp...leaving solid muscle

[SoCalBronco]

Go Tatum Go!

And, as always, the article is much appreciated, thanks PatsWin.

[sirhcyennek81]

well that is kinda a well, duh. Broncos will run the ball, be it clarett or be it bell. someone will get 1300 yards.

[Cito Pelon]

What stands out is Bell said last year over and over, "I want to be the man. I want to be the no-question TB." And he said it again. He's not particularly loud about it, he doesn't seem to answer any questions about anybody else other than himself.

Bell has all the tools. There's one question in my mind. He tripped over his own feet twice last year under the spotlight, is that going to happen again?

[Atlas]

I'm not worried about Bell at all. He is going to be great.

[Play2win]

Tatum will lead the league in Rushing.

Is there even a Doubt?!?

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by DAVID RAMSEY

Quarterback Jake Plummer requires a dazzling sidekick. He must get help from Bell's fleet feet or you can count on Jake the Snake making big additions to his mountain of career interceptions.

Man I sure hope that Jake can get it together this year...

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Man I sure hope that Jake can get it together this year...

Either way, I think, in next year's draft you'll get your wish Taco and Jake will have the type of competition there that you always wanted.

He definitely needs to get his game in gear though. He has struggled without Sharpe/Portis but a lot of his mistakes are his own fault.

He threw half of his ints (10) on first down when there wasn't a blitz on, with just 4 DL. A standard defense in other words and 10 of his overall ints came from short passes (less than 10 yards) so his arm strength, pass rush doesn't come into it. He has tons of room for improvement, and yes, bell/rice and our young players will help him out but ultimately Jake biggest improvement has to come from within.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by 2KBack

How idiotic, I can't believe people get paid for articles like this. I mean come on, it is a running joke that Denver churns out 1000 yard runners. How many back-ups were turned into superstars for a season? Olandis, Anderson, Droughns, Denver will get it's rushing yards.

A 1000 yard back isn't a superstar. It just means he averaged 63 yards a game. A superstar can gain you tough yards against a good defense in a game that really counts and then do it all over again next week. We've only really had one of those guys in recent history and his initials were TD.

I tend to agree with the notion that our season largely depends on Bell (or possibly Clarett) developing into a big time back.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by 2KBack

How idiotic, I can't believe people get paid for articles like this. I mean come on, it is a running joke that Denver churns out 1000 yard runners. How many back-ups were turned into superstars for a season? Olandis, Anderson, Droughns, Denver will get it's rushing yards.

Yeah, Denver does churn out 1000 yard backs. True enough, but of those 1000 yard backs, there have been three that would be 1000 yard backs anywhere in the league. TD, CP and TB.

[clarker]

Originally Posted by fontaine

Either way, I think, in next year's draft you'll get your wish Taco and Jake will have the type of competition there that you always wanted.

He definitely needs to get his game in gear though. He has struggled without Sharpe/Portis but a lot of his mistakes are his own fault.

He threw half of his ints (10) on first down when there wasn't a blitz on, with just 4 DL. A standard defense in other words and 10 of his overall ints came from short passes (less than 10 yards) so his arm strength, pass rush doesn't come into it. He has tons of room for improvement, and yes, bell/rice and our young players will help him out but ultimately Jake biggest improvement has to come from within.

How many of those 20 were balls hitting recievers right in the hands, them tipping them right into a defender's hands.

Don't get me wrong, we all know Jake makes more than of share of bonehead plays but those recievers have to improve on their focus as well.

Example in the second Chargers game we all know that the throw to Rod in the endzone was on Jake. He should have thrown that either out of the endzone when it wasn't as wide open as they thought it would be or throw it in a better spot, where Rod would be the only one with a shot at it.

But at least 2 or 3 of his other INT's were balls in that game, hit his recievers in the hands and should have been easy catches.

I would be if you were to be fair and look at that at least 5-6 of his picks were like that. Say it was only 5, that gives him a 27-15 TD to INT ratio. Before the season if you asked most reasonable fans of any QB if they would have taken it. And with the 15 picks, the Jake bashers (which I can be one of at times) should still be happy.

Now if the recievers have a better year(I mean they went and got Rice for a reason) and Jake cuts out those 5-7 picks that were a result of him being a dumb a**, he should have a good season.

But even if he still throws it up for grabs 2-3 times a game, if his recievers have better hands his INT's should go down.

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by clarker

How many of those 20 were balls hitting recievers right in the hands, them tipping them right into a defender's hands.

Don't get me wrong, we all know Jake makes more than of share of bonehead plays but those recievers have to improve on their focus as well.

Example in the second Chargers game we all know that the throw to Rod in the endzone was on Jake. He should have thrown that either out of the endzone when it wasn't as wide open as they thought it would be or throw it in a better spot, where Rod would be the only one with a shot at it.

But at least 2 or 3 of his other INT's were balls in that game, hit his recievers in the hands and should have been easy catches.

I would be if you were to be fair and look at that at least 5-6 of his picks were like that. Say it was only 5, that gives him a 27-15 TD to INT ratio. Before the season if you asked most reasonable fans of any QB if they would have taken it. And with the 15 picks, the Jake bashers (which I can be one of at times) should still be happy.

Now if the recievers have a better year(I mean they went and got Rice for a reason) and Jake cuts out those 5-7 picks that were a result of him being a dumb a**, he should have a good season.

But even if he still throws it up for grabs 2-3 times a game, if his recievers have better hands his INT's should go down.

I hear you but man, that's the name of the game isn't it?

For every tipped ball by a WR that led to an int there were also errant passes that Watts/Rod made great catches on.

You gotta take the good with the bad if you don't have a guy like Moss who'll catch anything thrown in his general vicinity.

I agree with your point though, our young WRs will have to improve but Jake threw too many damn ints on first down and in short passes (less than 10) yards and that's bread and butter west coast offense.

[clarker]

As for Bell needing to come up big or the offense would suck and the season would lost, well that is what they said about Griffen last year.

After 10 years of trotting 1,000 rusher after 1,000 rusher, people would learn that the Broncos are pretty good at running the ball. Hell only two of those backs, IMO have had blue chip talent(Terrell Davis and Clinton Portis).

I am more worried about a endzone threat that we can count on than if Bell works out or not. The Broncos can move the ball between the 20's as good as any team in the NFL. What makes them a notch below the Chiefs and Colts on offense in their terrible red zone production. To many FG's for Elam and not enough TD's.

[ozomulsion]

Originally Posted by sirhcyennek81

well that is kinda a well, duh. Broncos will run the ball, be it clarett or be it bell. someone will get 1300 yards.

What a homer you are to think a guy can be out of football for two years and rush for 1300 yards. In his rookie season no less. If Bell goes down we are in trouble.

[watermock]

Thats why Jerry Rice was brought in. If passes bounce of his hands, then we know to move to a high draft choice.

[clarker]

Originally Posted by ozomulsion

What a homer you are to think a guy can be out of football for two years and rush for 1300 yards. In his rookie season no less. If Bell goes down we are in trouble.

I don't think it is being a homer to say that if Bell doesn't have a good year, then Clarett will. I will add on that if Bell and Clarett don't turn out or get hurt, Denver will get their rushing yards. History backs me up.

Going into last season, no team, had rushed more times, for more yards and for a better YARDS PER CARRY, than the Broncos, since 1995 when Shanny took over as head coach. I don't think they did anything last season to drop very far, if at all in those stats.

One way or the other the Broncos will rush the ball this year, they always do.

[clarker]

Originally Posted by watermock

Thats why Jerry Rice was brought in. If passes bounce of his hands, then we know to move to a high draft choice.

Youl lost me on that one, sorry.

[Garcia Bronco]

"The Denver Broncos declined to take an earth mover to their offense in the offseason, choosing to stick with an attack that barely sneaked into the playoffs and then did little to help in the horrific season-ending surrender at Indianapolis."

Huh...."sneaked into..."

LMAO

[clarker]

This guy who wrote this makes it sound like trading Droughns is on the same level, as say trading Walter Payton in his prime.

I think he is putting to much value on Droughns. Not only do I think Shanny thought Bell would be better than Droughns, I think Shanny saw his hold out comming. If Shanny would put up the cash for Clinton Portis, who has light years more talent, then he sure as hell wasn't going to deal with a RB who hadn't did anything in his 5 year career until he got a luck break to run for the Broncos.

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by clarker

This guy who wrote this makes it sound like trading Droughns is on the same level, as say trading Walter Payton in his prime.

I think he is putting to much value on Droughns. Not only do I think Shanny thought Bell would be better than Droughns, I think Shanny saw his hold out comming. If Shanny would put up the cash for Clinton Portis, who has light years more talent, then he sure as hell wasn't going to deal with a RB who hadn't did anything in his 5 year career until he got a luck break to run for the Broncos.

Let's differentiate what exactly Droughns did as the primary back.

Yes he had great holes to run through. That's on our system. Yes, Turner and co molded him into a good cut back runner.

BUT, after he hit the hole he gained momentum going downhill, and dragging tacklers and bouncing off the first hit was ALL ON HIM. There were plenty of times a 7 yard gain should have been a 4-5 yard one but Droughns made it happen by keeping his legs pumping at all times. This is backed up by the fact that with Q back there, he got stopped for no gain or a loss more times per run than Droughns did.

Yes, it would have been a lot tougher for Droughns to get that 1k someplace else but he ran hard and I have no doubt that if the Cleveland line does their part then he'll gain at least 1k there as well if he's the primary back.

[Sodak]

Clinton Who?

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Sodak

Clinton Who?

I don't know who they are talking about. I think he used to be President or something.