ESPN's Newton Revisits Bell Topic: Avoid if you don't want more (Cow) Bell

[gettlemanjack]

As for Bell, he's always been a left tackle, but when he came here, he was asked to switch sides. And while that may not seem like a big deal to some, for him it might have been. All of his muscle memory has been focused on going left, and mentally, he's always seen the field from one angle, and was suddenly asked to change his perspective. That's a recipe for thinking too much and overcompensating. So I can see moving back as being more comfortable for him.

Does that mean I think he is the future at LT? No, I actually think at his core, he is a backup.

Bell played OG in high school. He was 2nd Team Texas 4A All-State at guard as a senior:

http://lubbockonline.com/stories/020207/hig_020207044.shtml

Then, after spending his true freshman season injured, Bell trained as the starting RT for 4 of the next 6 years until now. His bio shows that he only allowed 3 sacks as a soph right tackle at NM, but doesn't say how many he allowed during his next two years at LT (because it wasn't good enough to brag about?)

2006 - OG (high school senior)

2007 - missed most of season with foot injury

2008 - RT - started all 12 games, allowed only 3 sacks and named an honorable mention CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-American.

2009 - LT

2010 - LT (not drafted)

2011 - RT (first year in NFL)

2012 - RT

2013 - RT

[Woodie]

Bell played OG in high school. He was 2nd Team Texas 4A All-State at guard as a senior:

http://lubbockonline.com/stories/020207/hig_020207044.shtml

Then, after spending his true freshman season injured, Bell trained as the starting RT for 4 of the next 6 years until now. His bio shows that he only allowed 3 sacks as a soph right tackle at NM, but doesn't say how many he allowed during his next two years at LT (because it wasn't good enough to brag about?)

2006 - OG (high school senior)

2007 - missed most of season with foot injury

2008 - RT - started all 12 games, allowed only 3 sacks and named an honorable mention CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-American.

2009 - LT

2010 - LT (not drafted)

2011 - RT (first year in NFL)

2012 - RT

2013 - RT

 

Wow, that's some solid background work.  It was my understanding that he was a LT only at NM, glad you cleared that up (and I didn't know anything about G in HS).  That changes my perspective quite a bit.  Assuming he had always been a LT, I understood why he might have had some struggles adjusting to RT.  But since LT hadn't been ingrained in him like I thought, I'm more concerned that the left handed argument truly is a creation for spin and misdirection rather than a legitimate point. 

 

But that also tells me that the team is probably more focused on OT, particularly LT, than they are letting on.  After all, I can't see Rivera nor Gettleman being the type to believe in the plug and hope philosophy.  Bell has been inconsistent at RT, and there is no way that two successful football minds like them wouldn't realize that changing sides probably isn't going to change that much. 

 

So now I'm even more of a mind that we will go OT in the 1st.  If I had to guess, I think we will prefer, in order, Martin, Kouandjio, then Moses at 28 (and I feel comfortable that one of them will be there).  Of course Kouandjio depends on the medical, but I am now believing that will not be an issue. 

 

[Panthers7695]

I'am not a huge Bell fan, in fact I am rather indifferent to the guy. My favorite player on the O line was Gross, but now I'd say it's Kalil. I got faith he can turn it around this season, but if he don't get it done this year it might be time to move him to Guard. Maybe try Chandler at Tackle, I liked how Nate Chandler just slides right into the O line and does a heckuva job,

[DaveThePanther2008]

I have said this a few times.   Gettleman is creating some great competition at the WR and OT position.   The players we have added to the practice squad last year and the others already on the roster are going to battle it out.  Someone has to sit in the LT spot to begin with.  Bell is it, whether he stays there will be whether he can fight off the talent behind him.

 

This preseason will be a great year for watching battles in preseason.

[MHS831]

I have said this a few times.   Gettleman is creating some great competition at the WR and OT position.   The players we have added to the practice squad last year and the others already on the roster are going to battle it out.  Someone has to sit in the LT spot to begin with.  Bell is it, whether he stays there will be whether he can fight off the talent behind him.

 

This preseason will be a great year for watching battles in preseason.

 

I would throw G in that statement and feel comfortable that I have done the right thing. 

 

Who is our RG now?  At least we know Bell is King of the LT hill in April, but RG?  Scott?  Williams?  Bond?  Kugbila?  Chandler?

 

Matsko has his work cut out for him. 

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

I would throw G in that statement and feel comfortable that I have done the right thing. 

 

Who is our RG now?  At least we know Bell is King of the LT hill in April, but RG?  Scott?  Williams?  Bond?  Kugbila?  Chandler?

 

Matsko has his work cut out for him. 

 

 

Let the battle begin.   What I find interesting is these guys know this.  Hopefully they are working on being the best and come into camp ready and fit to take is spot.

 

[intangiblejohnny]

I gotta fevah and only Bell succeeding at LT can cure it.

Seriously though, the left handed hand thing has some merit. He should also be left footed. This could make a huge difference in his play on the left (his dominant) side.

[gettlemanjack]

Very true, however, from what I've seen there has been 0 attempts to replace Gross. If they didn't believe in Bell as at least serviceable, they would have tried.

on the OL, we couldn't afford to upgrade either OT spot or either OG spot. at C we have the 2nd-highest paid center in the NFL who is costing us $7M/$12M/$10M against our cap for the next 3 years. but the 2014 cap cost of the rest of our projected 2014 starting OL is only:

LT Bell - 2, 187 ,000

LG Silatolu - 1, 346 ,483

RG Scott - 730 ,000

RT Chandler - 570 ,000

We couldn't afford to sign a single FA at any position for more than even just what our OT Bell costs. Here is what our new FA additions are costing us against the 2014 cap compared to Bell per spotrac:

OT Bell - 2, 187 ,000

WR Jerricho Cotchery - 1, 700 ,000

S Thomas DeCoud - 1, 343 ,750

S Roman Harper - 1, 250 ,000

QB Derek Anderson - 1, 100 ,000

WR Jason Avant - 1, 050 ,000

WR Tiquan Underwood - 925 ,000

blocking TE Mike McNeill - 710 ,000

CB Antoine Cason - 635 ,000

receiving TE Ed Dickson - 619 ,750

replacing Bell via a 1st R rookie from the draft would only cost us at maximum 2-3 million on the 2014 cap

it is not uncommon teams can't afford to replace weak links due to their cap situation. look at the last team from the NFC South to win it all, the Saints. they won the Super Bowl with all five starting OL having gone to at least one Pro Bowl in their careers. but they have only been able to afford to keep one of them: OG Evans who is costing them $11,000,000 against the cap for each of the next 3 seasons. the rest retired (the RT) or left to make more money: the LT Bushrod (who is costing the Bears $8 million against their cap for the next four years straight), the C Goodwin (who cost the 49ers $3M vs the cap over each of the last 3 years before he just turned 36 after 12 seasons), and the OG Nicks, who will cost the Bucs $10 million vs. the cap for the next three years straight...and the Saints replaced Nicks with a Ravens pro bowl OG the Ravens couldn't afford anymore, Grubbs, who is costing the Saints $9 million vs. the cap the next three years straight)

last year, the Saints were in a similar boat we are in now at LT. they had just lost their pro bowl LT Bushrod from the Super Bowl team (again, he is costing the Bears $8 million against their cap for the next four years straight). So the Saints were stuck with a terrible LT entering his 4th year in the NFL without ever being a regular starter for anybody at any position before named Charles Brown who got beat like a drum regularly when he did get a chance to start just like Bell. Saints had so many needs they weren't able to replace him with their 1st R pick last draft (they went S which was a huge need for them too). Saint's 2nd pick last year wasn't until #75, and they went with the best LT prospect available, a small-school very raw prospect named Armstead (who will only count $679,359 vs their 2014 cap). He wasn't able to beat out their terrible LT Brown (who the Saints have now let go) until Week 16 vs. us, and when he finally did, he looked terrible in his 1st start...but at least they could chalk that up to him being a rookie and lining up vs Hardy (who is costing us $13 million vs. the 2014 cap)...but as Hardy said of Armstead: "He got a lot to learn and a long ways to go." Let's hope the Saints don't upgrade at LT (and, like us, they haven't been able to afford to do so, and they have so many more pressing needs for 2014 it is rare to see anybody projecting the Saints to draft a new LT with the 1st R pick they have just before ours

[PantherAZ]

on the OL, we couldn't afford to upgrade either OT spot or either OG spot. at C we have the 2nd-highest paid center in the NFL who is costing us $7M/$12M/$10M against our cap for the next 3 years. but the 2014 cap cost of the rest of our projected 2014 starting OL is only:

LT Bell - 2, 187 ,000

LG Silatolu - 1, 346 ,483

RG Scott - 730 ,000

RT Chandler - 570 ,000

We couldn't afford to sign a single FA at any position for more than even just what our OT Bell costs. Here is what our new FA additions are costing us against the 2014 cap compared to Bell per spotrac:

OT Bell - 2, 187 ,000

WR Jerricho Cotchery - 1, 700 ,000

S Thomas DeCoud - 1, 343 ,750

S Roman Harper - 1, 250 ,000

QB Derek Anderson - 1, 100 ,000

WR Jason Avant - 1, 050 ,000

WR Tiquan Underwood - 925 ,000

blocking TE Mike McNeill - 710 ,000

CB Antoine Cason - 635 ,000

receiving TE Ed Dickson - 619 ,750

replacing Bell via a 1st R rookie from the draft would only cost us at maximum 2-3 million on the 2014 cap

it is not uncommon teams can't afford to replace weak links due to their cap situation. look at the last team from the NFC South to win it all, the Saints. they won the Super Bowl with all five starting OL having gone to at least one Pro Bowl in their careers. but they have only been able to afford to keep one of them: OG Evans who is costing them $11,000,000 against the cap for each of the next 3 seasons. the rest retired (the RT) or left to make more money: the LT Bushrod (who is costing the Bears $8 million against their cap for the next four years straight), the C Goodwin (who cost the 49ers $3M vs the cap over each of the last 3 years before he just turned 36 after 12 seasons), and the OG Nicks, who will cost the Bucs $10 million vs. the cap for the next three years straight...and the Saints replaced Nicks with a Ravens pro bowl OG the Ravens couldn't afford anymore, Grubbs, who is costing the Saints $9 million vs. the cap the next three years straight)

last year, the Saints were in a similar boat we are in now at LT. they had just lost their pro bowl LT Bushrod from the Super Bowl team (again, he is costing the Bears $8 million against their cap for the next four years straight). So the Saints were stuck with a terrible LT entering his 4th year in the NFL without ever being a regular starter for anybody at any position before named Charles Brown who got beat like a drum regularly when he did get a chance to start just like Bell. Saints had so many needs they weren't able to replace him with their 1st R pick last draft (they went S which was a huge need for them too). Saint's 2nd pick last year wasn't until #75, and they went with the best LT prospect available, a small-school very raw prospect named Armstead (who will only count $679,359 vs their 2014 cap). He wasn't able to beat out their terrible LT Brown (who the Saints have now let go) until Week 16 vs. us, and when he finally did, he looked terrible in his 1st start...but at least they could chalk that up to him being a rookie and lining up vs Hardy (who is costing us $13 million vs. the 2014 cap)...but as Hardy said of Armstead: "He got a lot to learn and a long ways to go." Let's hope the Saints don't upgrade at LT (and, like us, they haven't been able to afford to do so, and they have so many more pressing needs for 2014 it is rare to see anybody projecting the Saints to draft a new LT with the 1st R pick they have just before ours

I understand all that. The salary cap, however, can be manipulated. Restructures just move the problem to any other year, but G-man has restructured in the past. My point was just that the result of the cost benefit analysis was that Bell is serviceable enough to not warrant needing an immediate replacement.

[gettlemanjack]

I understand all that. The salary cap, however, can be manipulated. Restructures just move the problem to any other year, but G-man has restructured in the past. My point was just that the result of the cost benefit analysis was that Bell is serviceable enough to not warrant needing an immediate replacement.

it's more like how Getty himself said:

"You're always going to have holes that you're going to have to plug," said Gettleman on Thursday. "That's just the way it is. You can't avoid it. But if you're drafting well - you'll be fine"