In a 2013 NFL draft class lacking running back talent deemed first round-worthy by any of the league’s 32 teams, the top four choices at that position all came in the second round and have had regular playing time in their rookie season.
Cincinnati’s Giovanni Bernard (Round 2, Pick 5) has shared playing time with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and has contributed seven total touchdowns and 4.7 yards per carry. He has been a dual-threat out of the first-place Bengals’ backfield, catching four touchdowns and running for a few more.
Next came Le’Veon Bell (Round 2, Pick 16), who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace the departed Rashard Mendenhall in an offense that had the rather inexperienced and unproven duo of Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer set to join newcomers Felix Jones and LaRod Stephens-Howling at the running back position. The latter was hurt in Week One’s loss to Tennessee, Jones and Dwyer have each had minimal carries, and Redman promptly lost his starting job after a ten-carry, 12-yard performance in that first loss. Bell took over starting responsibilities after having missed the first three weeks due to injury, and he has done nothing to deserve losing that spot on the depth chart.
That being said, the Michigan State product has had 174 carries for 589 yards (3.4 yards per carry) in his first ten games as a Steeler. He has five touchdowns, all on the ground, and has contributed 38 receptions for 347 yards. He has ran for more than four yards per carry in four games so far, topping out at 4.9 in the Week 7 victory vs. Baltimore, when he had 93 yards on 19 carries. Bell has yet to top 100 yards in a game and has just three more opportunities to do so this season.
Before too much criticism can be piled on Bell, consider the woes of a battered offensive line, as well as bizarre and inconsistent play-calling by offensive coordinator Todd Haley. In an offense that has traditionally and proudly depended on the running game, the focus has more recently been on Ben Roethlisberger and the air attack. Still, a successful ground game would certainly do wonders for the Steelers offense, so a lot of pressure has been placed on the young shoulders of Bell in what has been a disappointing season for the 5-8 Steelers.
The Steelers took Bell 11 picks after Bernard who, if they had decided they wanted him bad enough, could have been acquired if the Steelers had traded up for him in the draft. Since, of course, that did not happen, there was Bell when Pittsburgh’s turn came around again. Ten picks later, Denver selected Montee Ball (Round 2, Pick 26) and, soon after, Green Bay nabbed Eddie Lacy (Round 2, Pick 29). Ball started out slow in a wildly successful Denver offense, but has hit the gas hard in recent weeks, only adding to the arsenal there in the Mile High City. Lacy, meanwhile, has been the heart and soul of the Green Bay offense since superstar QB Aaron Rodgers was hurt midseason. He is on pace for over 1,000 yards, despite battling some bumps and bruises.
Statistically, Bell has been more productive than Ball, and he definitely is not behind the best offensive line or in the best situation of the four backs taken early in last April’s draft. After just one season, no judgment can be made just yet, but with such a quality crop of running backs taken so closely together on last year’s draft board, it is worth discussing. Bernard looks like a great talent and, unfortunately, is thriving for a division rival. Ball and Lacy, passed on by the Steelers, are power backs that surely would have fit the “old school” Steelers system that seems to be way far back in the rearview mirror. Bell provides solid speed, agility, and, perhaps most notably and importantly, excellent ball protection. He has — knock on wood — not fumbled in 174 carries, a pretty impressive thing to boast for any back, let alone a rookie.
Hindsight is, as the saying goes, 20/20. It very well may be that in four years, Bell was either the perfect fit or an absolute train wreck. Or, he may be just average and eventually replaced by a new young draft choice upon the end of his four-year deal. After watching Le’Veon in ten games, my opinion is that he has displayed a lot of positive attributes and has potential to be an above average back in this league with any semblance of blocking. Aside from a 43-yard carry at Baltimore and a 25-yard burst at New England, his next longest carry has been just for 11 yards. It has been extremely rare for any Steelers RB this season to have any real estate ahead of him. That does not bode well for a speed type like Bell.
If anything good can come of what will likely be three rather meaningless games to end this season, let it be Bell breaking through for a big game and establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. Roethlisberger and Brown could certainly use the help.
