Is it Tatum's ball now?

[Big Ernie McCracken]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4392196

 

I've got both Bell's so either as the #1 would be nice, but Tatum is a constant home run threat.

[Hat Trick]

 

paging Bronco Billy I'm sure he's not too happy about his prediction and the fatcs he put together to back up his reasoning, but hey I can't say I didn't agree with him.......at least the team is winning.

[Bronco Billy]

From one of numerous DEN RB threads floating on the board this morning (I imagine with say 4-5 threads already addressing the DEN RB situation, we can expect, what, only another 5-6 before the day is over?)

 

Quoting myself:

 

Well, I was certainly fooled by Shanahan. I was wrong about Shanahan's intentions with T Bell & M Bell. The only time I can compare this to is Clinton Portis' rookie year, when Shanahan started Olandis Gary the first 4 games, and that was due to 3 fumbles in a preseason game by Portis that shook Shanahan's confidence and postponed his #1 RB status, but even then everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before Portis started.

 

That said, I still have great concerns about DEN's ability to run the ball inside with T Bell running the football, and running inside sets the table for the rest of the offense, including getting Plummer on the run in rollouts, where he is most effective. If other teams don't respect the inside run, they'll overload the edges, which will reduce T Bell's effectiveness & hem in Plummer. The only possible excuse I can think of is that Shanahan knew before the game started that he wouldn't be able to run the ball effectively inside with NE's massive D-line and their running the 3-4 as part of their D package, so he decided to concede that part of the offensive game plan - though he did run T Bell inside early (which was repeatedly stuffed for little to no gain).

 

As far as M Bell is concerned, I think he is still worth holding on a FF roster. He showed in camp that he can compete for the #1 RB spot, and T Bell already has an extensive injury resume despite his short time in the league. T Bell was cramping up and struggling physically in the second half at times - and his stamina was part of the reason that he was considered a CoP RB right up until last night.

 

Props to T Bell for his performance last night. He did well and sustained enough of a running game to allow the D to get rest and set up the pass by keeping Harrison looking for the run. I was fooled for sure about how much work he'd get, but IMNHSO the jury is still out as to whether T Bell is the full-time answer at RB. DEN has to establish an inside running game, and T Bell did not impress me much, just like he hasn't shown in the past, in his ability to run the 1 to 4 hole and navigate effectively through trash.

 

AS a DEN fan, though, I am relieved to see Shanahan settle on one RB. The rotating RBs wasn't working.

[Big Ernie McCracken]

I'm always curious about BB's spin

Edited September 25, 2006 by Big Ernie McCracken

[kraftykraft]

With the proviso that this is Shanannigans with his "running back du jour" philosophy and Tatum Bell with his history of injuries and a spotty work ethic--yes, it's Tatum Bell's job for now.

 

Denver hasn't had a feature back since Clinton Portis put in his 1 and 1/2 seasons of work there. Arguably they haven't had a feature back since Terrel Davis' knees went bad on him.

[mphtrilogy]

I'm done with Mike Bell at this point, i'd rather have Ron Dayne

[PaulOttCarruth]

I'm done with Mike Bell at this point, i'd rather have Ron Dayne

 

 

I think maybe Mike Shanahan would too.

[Jackass]

I'm always curious about BB's spin

 

 

 

So you can do the opposite?

[Bronco Billy]

I'm always curious about BB's spin

 

 

Actually I'll be very interested to see how the situation works out against BAL in week 5 after DEN's bye week.

 

I have the impression that you attack BAL's run D almost exactly the opposite that you would attack NE's run D. NE has three 300+ very strong players on the D line, and with DEN's lighter O-linemen, it would seem easier to establish running lanes by going around those guys rather than right at them. That also plays directly at T Bell's strongest part of his game - his ability to get to the edge quickly & get to the second level before LBs can scrape into position. T Bell certainly didn't have success running inside.

 

On the other hand, BAL's D is built for speed, and from what I have seen of them, the more you extend the running play laterally, the more time the run D has to speed to the point of attack. It would seem to me the best way to attack BAL's D is to use quick hitters running right at them, and spending as little time as possible trying to create a seam by extending to the sideline. Running inside through trash is a decided weakness of T Bell.

 

That being the case (as I see it), the situation would seem condusive to M Bell getting more time vs BAL. IF T Bell is getting the lion's share of the carries against BAL, I'd say the experiment is over & T Bell is the guy for the rest of the season unless he gets hurt.

 

That being said, DEN depending predominantly on a outside runner is probably going to really limit Plummer & the entire DEN O as a consequence, and we will probably see some poorer O numbers from DEN than we have gotten used to in the past (which will most probably give more fuel to the idiots here who insist that Plummer be replaced by Cutler ASAP).