Le'veon Bell Is Emerging As The Best Back In The 2013 Nfl Draft

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http://m.nfl.com/news/0ap1000000146225/leveon-bell-emerging-as-best-running-back-in-2013-nfl-draft/

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By Bucky Brooks

Published: March 1, 2013 at 8:27 AM

Modified: March 1, 2013 at 10:42 AM

Shhhh!

I'm about to let you in on a little secret that is circulating through scouting circles following the NFL Scouting Combine: Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell is the best running back in the 2013 NFL Draft, and it's not even close.

Now, I know that statement certainly will cause some consternation among the legions of Eddie Lacy, Montee Ball and Giovani Bernard supporters, but there is not a more complete back in this draft than Bell. Checking in at 6-foot-1 3/8 and 230 pounds, Bell is an old-school runner with the size and strength to grind between the tackles, yet he's quick enough to get to the edge on perimeter runs. Moreover, he is a dependable workhorse capable of shouldering a heavy workload as the primary runner.

As a junior, Bell was the Michigan State offense, rushing for 1,793 yards and 12 touchdowns. He accomplished those totals on 382 rushing attempts, with seven games of at least 30 carries. Some evaluators will view the heavy workload as a concern, due to the short shelf life of running backs. But I believe the fact that Bell carried the ball extensively without incident suggests he is not only durable, but also possesses the hard-nosed mentality to be a feature back as a pro.

Bell is also a dependable receiver out of the backfield, possessing the hands and receiving skills to be an integral part of a complex passing game. Over the past two seasons, he snagged 67 receptions, showing the capacity to run basic routes from his tailback spot. Although he is not a matchup nightmare in space, the fact that he is functional as a receiver will allow an offensive coordinator to keep him on the field in every situation, preventing opponents from honing in on the running game when Bell is in the huddle.

When I broke down the game tape, I came away viewing Bell as a Steven Jackson clone. Bell not only runs with a similar gait, but he displays the patience and vision to excel in a zone-based scheme. Bell's ability to read and set up his blocks at the line of scrimmage routinely leads to big gains when plays are executed properly. Additionally, Bell displays the ability to put together a sequence of cuts beyond the line of scrimmage. From multiple jump cuts to crafty spin moves in the open field, Bell's ability to make defenders miss at his size is quite rare. With Bell more than capable of running through contact, gaining 951 yards after contact in 2012, it is not surprising he has become a favorite of scouts and coaches around the league.

Now, that's not to say Bell is without flaws. He doesn't show explosive first-step quickness, and some scouts worry about his overall toughness, despite the remarkable production. In fact, one AFC official told me he wonders if Bell views himself as a "dancer," rather than a pounder with the ball in his hands. Regardless, I believe Bell is an impact runner with the skills to make a difference in the right offensive system.

Here are five teams that are perfect fits for Bell, in my opinion:

DENVER BRONCOS

The Broncos were terrific in Peyton Manning's debut season, but the offensive potency certainly diminished when injuries to Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno weakened the running game. To alleviate the problem in the future, Denver could consider adding Bell to the mix. The Spartan star is a terrific fit in the team's zone-running scheme. Most importantly, he is an outstanding pass catcher with the potential to develop into a lethal weapon out of the backfield. Some of Manning's best years came with Edgerrin James behind him in Indianapolis. The Broncos could give their franchise quarterback another explosive playmate.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Despite Aaron Rodgers' unquestioned greatness, he can't continue to single-handedly carry the Packers' offense without some semblance of a running game. Opponents have tormented Green Bay with a variety of two-man concepts, eliminating some of the open windows in the passing game. The addition of Bell would force opponents to respect the ground attack and offset those tactics. Consequently, the Packers would see more eight-man fronts with single coverage on the outside, leading to big plays off play-action. Green Bay relied on a similar formula when Ryan Grant was at his best; Mike McCarthy could dust off the blueprint with Bell in the backfield.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Dirk Koetter has transformed the Falcons into a pass-first offense, but the team still needs a rugged presence in the backfield to close out games in the fourth quarter -- especially now that the Michael Turner era has officially come to a close. Bell is a classic throwback runner who can pound the ball between the tackles. Additionally, he is effective in the screen game, which would make him a dangerous weapon in the Falcons' lineup. With Julio Jones and Roddy White attracting the defense's attention, Bell could offer Koetter a nice diversion as a dynamic running back.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Darren McFadden is one of the top runners in the NFL, but he is at his best when playing as part of a rotation that features another workhorse. Michael Bush thrived in that role in the past, but he departed via free agency in 2012, and McFadden was incapable of shouldering the load on his own. By adding Bell to the lineup, the Raiders would alleviate some of the pressure on McFadden, while also adding some variety to the running game. Bell would provide the Raiders with some toughness, allowing the team to play power football under Dennis Allen. With both Super Bowl teams adhering to that principle, the Raiders might be wise to follow suit.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

New offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton will continue to build the Colts' offense around the talents of Andrew Luck, but he also will rely on some of the principles utilized at Stanford to make the second-year pro comfortable. One of those tactics will be the implementation of a hard-nosed running game, fueled by the power. With his unique combination of size, strength and quickness, Bell is ideally suited to play in a scheme that mixes the power with inside and outside zones. Additionally, Bell is a natural pass catcher with the ability to run most of the routes on the route tree. Given Hamilton's vision of a balanced and diverse offense that attacks the opponent's weakness, Bell could be an explosive chess piece to utilize in key moments.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.

[muskokas finest ©]

Don't let freebird310 hear you say that.

[Eye of the Falcon]

Brought up his name months ago. He is exactly what Atlanta needs to pair up with Quizz. Don't know where he is on the boards but I will envy the team that drafts him if it's not the Falcons!

[xSICKxWITHxITx]

Don't let freebird310 hear you say that.

Lol I hear ya. It's not me anyways I haven't watched to much if any college player.

[NOVAFalconFan]

He's not in Mayock's top 5 RBs....

[dmo_dlo]

I like Bell, but this is a whole lot of hype. He may go in the second but I won't want him till 3rd.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Well yall boys already know I don't know much about NCAA rookie players outside of the Georgia state line, but so far from what I've seen I got Lacy and Bell at the top of my list. I would take either one of em early.

[delaigle]

less than a month ago Brooks himself had them as

Bernard UNC

Lacy ALA

Bell MichS

Ball Wisc

Ellington Clem

followed by (no order) Randle(Oka S) Taylor(Stanford) Latimore(SC) Franklin(Ucla)

Edited March 3, 2013 by delaigle

[Creative]

Lol no. Slower than Turner.

[Call Me "Julio"]

looks like i was right

[Andre5000]

Just say "No" to Big 10 backs..

Edited March 3, 2013 by SkiFalcon

[Andre5000]

wow,, he looks slow to me but he did hurdle some dudes..

[Call Me "Julio"]

besides AP and Cj2k most elite running back are not real fast

[mumblesjr]

love him....

[mrobinson3803]

wow,, he looks slow to me but he did hurdle some dudes..

1:29 wow..I think he spins a lot and that might get him a knee injury. He had some pretty impressive runs and looked like he had good game speed. I could see him in the 2nd or 3rd

[Wjcorner]

homie gonna spin into a career ender as much as he uses that move

[Osiruz]

he reminds me so much of turner,

IMO he's the best rb, and second best is lacy. I hope he doesnt get taken in the first or second. Gonna be a great pro.

[Hustle Up]

Nah man I just ain't feelin no Le'veon Bell. I'd much rather have Lacy.

[Flying Falcon]

He's all right. I've watched him play and he's ok.

[falconsd56]

I know is funny to say but I think quiz can actually be our power back I know you short but he runs with a lot of aggression and he has a low center of gravity and finishes his runs very well...., what we really need is a guy would blow the top of the dome speed... A guy who can take a quick pitch and turn into a 70 yarde in the blink of an eye that is what we need..... We basically need a healthy version of Jerious Norwood... That is what we have been missing since he left

[Knight of God]

I'd be very much down with this move.

[citsalp]

Lol no. Slower than Turner.

slower than Turner...I can out run Turner

[citsalp]

I know is funny to say but I think quiz can actually be our power back I know you short but he runs with a lot of aggression and he has a low center of gravity and finishes his runs very well...., what we really need is a guy would blow the top of the dome speed... A guy who can take a quick pitch and turn into a 70 yarde in the blink of an eye that is what we need..... We basically need a healthy version of Jerious Norwood... That is what we have been missing since he left

What RB do see in this draft similar to Norwood? I see quiz for what he is, he's just lacking Dunn speed. Ellington? Davis?

[Falcon Man™]

He did run a 4.6 forty...not bad

[isproab]

He is a good player. I don't know what the "Emerging" tag is about at this point. Big conference, big boy football for 3 years. 5.7, 5.2 and 4.7 yards a carry. 1793 yards last year after 948 as a soph. Good freshman year at 605 yards. He catches the ball well too, 32 receptions last year and 35 as a soph.

Throw all that production in with the fact the he is a big 230 pound RB. 4.6 flat is not bad for a guy that size, especially when you look at the fact that his 3 cone time was 3rd fastest among RBs. When pulling in WR, TEs and DB's his 3 cone time was still tied for 17th and better than a lot of really notable athletes. I think he is a quality 2nd round pick. If a guy like Ellington can't get healthy and put up some better times, Bell becomes the #3 RB in my book. The size and ability between the tackles may have him pretty high on a lot of boards already.