Fansided

Le’Veon Bell must leave Gotham City immediately to be fantasy relevant

By Matthew Catalano

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 29: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets runs the ball during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 29: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets runs the ball during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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Le'Veon Bell
Head Coach Adam Gase of the New York Jets looks on during the first quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 29, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

The true crux to this issue falls more heavily on the Gase than the o-line. Having a bad o-line is one thing, but a bad coach is even worse. Allow me to explain if you will. If Gase would have been more willing to design plays that were geared towards Bell’s strengths like say, I don’t know, throw the ball to him out of the backfield, then maybe his production would have been a little higher.

Instead, Gase decided to stick to one thing and that was to run Bell right up the middle most of the time into a brick wall. That right there is a recipe for disaster. Gase also wasn’t using Bell as often as he should have. His opportunity share percentage significantly dropped from 89.3% in 2017 to 76.8% in 2019. Why would Gase not use his best offensive weapon more? It just doesn’t make sense.

Gase did reveal how he didn’t agree with the move to spend that much money on Bell in the offseason, but to go to such lengths like this is completely unfair. What particularly upsets me is how a coach at a professional level would go to the trouble to prove a point rather than to embrace the talent around him instead.

Have the Johnson’s learned from their mistake about hiring Gase after an abysmal production on offense that saw a dropoff in most categories from the year before? Sadly they haven’t at all. They have decided to stay committed to Gase for another year. This spells trouble for Bell. A player that I adored in the Steel City has now disappeared in the Big Apple.

Bell is a pass-catching type of back and the Steelers made sure to cater to this extra element he possessed. In 2017, he racked up 85 catches for 655 receiving yards on 106 targets during his final year for the Steelers. The same couldn’t have been said in 2019 with the Jets as he was only targeted 78 times for 66 catches and 461 receiving yards.

Especially in an offense where the line couldn’t provide the gaps necessary for his patient style of running, you think they would have gotten him more involved in the passing game.

Bell even stated to Gase how he wanted to receive more usage towards the end of the season, but his coach refused to bend. Bell’s fantasy production suffered as a result and was virtually non-existent throughout the year. He only rushed for 789 yards while averaging a dismal 3.21 yards per carry for only four total touchdowns in 15 games played. This was by far the worst season of his career statistically and it doesn’t come close.

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