Can Byron Bell really play left tackle and Cam survive?

[Toundra]

The kid can, i am sure.

[Servant of Cthululelei]

I really don't understand how some of you folks make it through the offseason when it seems like even a single perceived weak spot on our roster is described as a "nightmare".

 

Bell at LT is not optimal, for sure.  But we'll live.  Change ALWAYS gives a player the opportunity to improve, whether it's moving to a new team, switching to a new position. or adopting a new offensive scheme.  Maybe Bell will improve with the move to LT too.  Or maybe he won't, who knows.  

 

But Cam is a sturdy dude.  As long as he doesn't show a tendency to fumble when hit from behind (which I don't think he does), it could actually be better for his pressure to come from that side more often.  The best QBs in the game have that sixth sense to feel and evade blind side pressure, and it usually results in a big play when they do.  Because blitzers from the blind side are almost always going full speed and possibly even diving to get to the QB as fast as possible, so when you make them miss, it's usually a clean miss.  Contrast that to one of Cam's greatest weaknesses this past season, which was getting pressure in his face from the Right side (due to poor RG play too, not just Bell's fault) and then he'd try to do too much.  Oftentimes, he ended up taking a much bigger sack than he would have if he had just gone down, which is exactly what would happen if he doesn't avoid blind side pressure.  Those huge sacks were absolute drive killers for us, especially against the best defenses in the League (SF, Sea).

 

I'm not trying to say Bell is a great solution at LT and everyone should be happy about it.  I'm just saying there are so many variables in a game of football, that we can't accurately predict the impact of having a less skilled player at LT this year than we did last year.  Maybe you all are right and it will be catastrophic, but I'm not buying it.  But no matter how that roster spot ends up come September, I'm still gonna let it play out before I make my judgements, rather than despairing over the unknown.

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Still love how fans think they know more about evaluating and developing talent that professionals who do this for a living....and one who was very successful at it in NY.

Have you watched how terrible byron bell is? He was our worst starting olineman last year and we had a freaking dt at guard...

[davos]

Have you watched how terrible byron bell is? He was our worst starting olineman last year and we had a freaking dt at guard...

 

The DT at guard was an OT before being a DT in college.  Not to mention our legit backup LT last year and played some in preseason.  Bell isn't as terrible as people make him out to be.  Our staff apparently sees something in him and he's just really average at this point imo.    

[CRA]

Still love how fans think they know more about evaluating and developing talent that professionals who do this for a living....and one who was very successful at it in NY.

 

when you got nothing....you gotta spin sometimes and also hope.

 

Anyone who watches Bell knows he struggles w/ speed rushers.  Even if he is more of a natural left side lineman.....his physical ablity isn't able to hang w/ speed rushers and they live on matching up w/ LTs.

[pepaw]

I'm pretty sure anyone who watched him in the preseason play LT knows this is the worse idea ever.  

 

The only thing more awkward to watch would be Alice trying to talk to a girl.  

[0115]

[HoFBound59]

Still love how fans think they know more about evaluating and developing talent that professionals who do this for a living....and one who was very successful at it in NY.

 

This. It's very sad how many huddle gm's think they know more than a guy who has made a career evaluating talent or think their sarcastic, non funny comments on a forum make a difference.

 

 

 

I'm sure there is more to the situation then we know. Let's wait and see what happens before we all freak out.

[ThunderKatt]

I guess that's why every players that has been on the team had been a home run hit.  We hit every ball out of the park with that sort of logic.  So look in 20 years the entire 2013 team will be in the HoF.

 

I guess I need to rush and get a Kenyon Jersey signed asap.

Still love how fans think they know more about evaluating and developing talent that professionals who do this for a living....and one who was very successful at it in NY.

 

[jarhead]

This. It's very sad how many huddle gm's think they know more than a guy who has made a career evaluating talent or think their sarcastic, non funny comments on a forum make a difference.

 

 

 

I'm sure there is more to the situation then we know. Let's wait and see what happens before we all freak out.

I am basing my opinion based on what I saw at RT. The guy does not have the feet to block speed rushers. Gman may have done this because we are broke....not an evaluation of talent. 

 

It is not like you can pick up a good LT for Vet minimum

[HoFBound59]

I am basing my opinion based on what I saw at RT. The guy does not have the feet to block speed rushers. Gman may have done this because we are broke....not an evaluation of talent. 

 

It is not like you can pick up a good LT for Vet minimum

 

I respect that. Perhaps it is the best DG thinks we can do for now, or at least until the draft. Like you say, he is working with what he has.

 

If Bell doesn't pan out, his faults can be fixed/compensated for by play calling, extra blockers, etc etc.

 

I was more so talking about others peoples comments than yours.

[Cpt slay a ho]

Bell sucks we saw that last year, some of that was on cam but bell sucks,shouldn't be a starter it's like the munneryln thing,were not putting bell in a position to succeed

[jarhead]

I respect that. Perhaps it is the best DG thinks we can do for now, or at least until the draft. Like you say, he is working with what he has.

 

If Bell doesn't pan out, his faults can be fixed/compensated for by play calling, extra blockers, etc etc.

 

I was more so talking about others peoples comments than yours.

Yea I can see more 2 TE sets with one being used as an additional blocker. My biggest fear is  keeping Cam upright and healthy. I would also hate to see him get frustrated if we cannot provide some level of protection.

 

Regardless of the draft I do not seeing our offense improving much this year.This is definitely a process and make take another year to right the ship

[KillerKat]

What I wanna know is why was Nate Chandler the backup to Gross last season at LT, before being put in at RG because of injuries, if we are really going to try Bell at LT.