NFL rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers may limit Le’Veon Bell’s usage?
By Bryan Rose
The Pittsburgh Steelers are determined to run the ball this season and their bell cow will be Le’Veon Bell. But how many carries will the Steelers give the former Michigan State Spartan out of the backfield, especially given the addition of LeGarrette Blount?
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Maybe less than you think as ESPN’s Scott Brown believes Bell will see upwards of 300 carries this season, though, probably not much more than that given Pittsburgh’s backup options.
"I think Le’Veon Bell could get 300-plus carries this season but not much more than that even if he plays every game. The Steelers say they are committed to running the ball this season, and I don’t think that’s just lip service from offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. However, I doubt that the Steelers lean as heavily on Bell as they did last season because of the additions of LeGarrette Blount and Dri Archer."
Bell only played 13-games during the 2013 season and amassed 244 carries, though was used much more frequently out of the backfield come the final weeks of the season where he put up games that included 24 and 26 rushing attempts. Early in the season, recovering from his foot injury, Bell only surpassed 16 carries once in his first five games.
While the 300-total might seem low, the picture Brown paints seems to suggest that the Pittsburgh Steelers will attempt to keep their young running back fresh and likely use the powerful rushing of Blount to mix-and-match on offense.
It probably isn’t what those who are heavy into fantasy football want to hear as many believe Bell could be a massive star, but for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s likely best for the franchise moving forward.