What Le’Veon Bell’s return means for the running back and the Steelers
PITTSBURGH 鈥� When the Steelers host Kansas City next week they won鈥檛 have their full complement of offensive weapons 鈥� Ladarius Green is still out for some time 鈥� but they will have the biggest piece they鈥檝e been missing so far.
Le鈥橵eon Bell returns this week after serving his three-game suspension for violating the NFL鈥檚 substance abuse policy.
The return of Bell, arguably the best all-around running back in the league, is clearly welcome news for a Steelers team that is coming off a humbling 34-3 loss at Philadelphia. While the Steelers offense has done plenty of good things in Bell鈥檚 absence 鈥� save for Sunday鈥檚 dismal showing against the Eagles 鈥� they haven鈥檛 done them consistently. That should change with Bell back in the lineup.
鈥淚 am ready to move forward,鈥� Bell said Monday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big week for me. I am excited to get back on the field. I am healthy. I am ready to move forward.鈥�
Times Steelers Writer Chris Bradford explains what Bell鈥檚 return means for the 2-1 Steelers:
AIR IT OUT
Bell is arguably the Steelers鈥� second-best receiver. His presence alone should open up the passing game for Ben Roethlisberger and move coverages away from Antonio Brown. The Steelers view Bell as a de facto receiver, often lining him up out wide or using him out of the backfield on screens and checkdowns.
Bell has averaged 4.3 receptions for 39.7 yards per game in his three-year career. Through three games, DeAngelo Williams鈥� 21 targets were second to only Brown鈥檚 40. By comparison, Jesse James had 16 targets, followed by Eli Rogers with 15 and Sammie Coates with 12. It鈥檚 safe to assume that Bell will be getting even more balls thrown his way.
鈥淚 want to take care of the football, make plays in situational downs, get in the end zone and help the offense move the ball and win games,鈥� Bell said.
WHERE THERE鈥橲 A D-WILL 鈥�
With respect to DeAngelo Williams, Bell is the Steelers鈥� best option at running back. But it鈥檚 hard to think the Steelers will get much more production from Bell, at least in terms of rushing yards, than they had been getting from Williams.
The 33-year-old can still be a valuable contributor, as if the past two seasons weren鈥檛 evidence enough of that. Williams is the NFL鈥檚 sixth-leading rusher this season with 258 yards (86 yards per game). You can鈥檛 just leave that kind of production on the bench.Todd Haley will have to find a way to incorporate Williams into the game plan in some fashion.
鈥淭here is always enough room,鈥� Bell said of Williams. 鈥淚 am going to let the coaches put us in situations. DeAngelo and myself are unselfish guys. We want to do whatever it takes for us to win a Super Bowl. That is the biggest goal.鈥�
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Before Bell鈥檚 latest suspension, there had been speculation that the Steelers would try to extend his contract this summer. Obviously, that never happened and Bell remains a pending free agent at season鈥檚 end.
The Steelers still have control over Bell if they choose to place the franchise tag on him next season. That amount for this season would have been $11.79 million. This season, Bell鈥檚 contract 鈥� the final year of his four-year rookie deal 鈥� carries a cap hit of $1.197 million, or a pittance of his worth on the open market.
Between his injury issues 鈥� he鈥檚 coming off major knee surgery and has yet to play in a postseason game 鈥� and his off-field problems, Bell is in an audition year. If he can stay healthy and avoid further league discipline, Bell will get paid big whether in Pittsburgh or elsewhere. Clearly, the Steelers are counting on a motivated Bell being a productive Bell.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think about it,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淚 just want to get through the season and let that stuff handle itself.鈥�
RUSH鈥橬 ATTACK
With Minnesota鈥檚 Adrian Peterson on the shelf with a torn meniscus, the NFL鈥檚 rushing title is very much up for grabs. New England鈥檚 LeGarrette Blount is the current leader with 298 yards, followed by Dallas rookie Ezekiel Elliott and Cleveland鈥檚 Isaiah Crowell with 274 each. If Bell returns to his 2014 form, the rushing title is still within reach for him. Bell rushed for over 100 yards in eight games in 2014.
鈥淚 am a better player now than two years ago. I want to keep moving forward. I am a lot smarter. I look back on my second year film and think what was I doing on this play or that play? It鈥檚 just growth,鈥� Bell said. If you鈥檙e wondering, Bell ran for 121 yards on just 17 carries last year against Kansas City, the Steelers鈥� opponent on Sunday night.