Yeremiah Bell to sign with "mystery team"

[EKnight]

Great for last year. We all know you love the mediocre D. The previous 3 years when he led the team in tackles the run D was 10th, 18th, and 7th. That's not overwhelming support for your argument. During those same three years the pass defense was in the top ten (8th I believe?) one year, so maybe- just maybe, Bell was a pretty good player. -EK

[tubba marxxx]

Great for last year. We all know you live the mediocre D. The previous 3 years when he led the team in tackles the run D was 10th, 18th, and 7th. That's not overwhelming support for your argument. During those same three years the pass defense was in the top ten (8th I believe?) one year, so maybe- just maybe, Bell was a pretty good player. -EK

"Was" being the key word in there

[EKnight]

I'm ok with that argument, but it's just flat wrong to imply, as Mike did, that the only reason he led the team in tackles for four straight years is because the run defense was so good, Bell couldn't cover anybody, etc. We all know how it is with Mike: of you're not one of "his guys" (ie, you're Henne, Marshall, or now apparently Bell), there is not middle ground. You can make the Pro Bowl, lead the team in tackles for years and it doesn't matter. The guy makes up his mind that he dislikes a player and that player sucks in his view no matter what the team or the player actually does on the field. This is just a new verse of the same song. -EK

[Spider-Dan]

The other thing to consider is that the SS has a great deal to do with run support.  Bell isn't getting all of his tackles on receivers in the flat.

[MikeO]

The other thing to consider is that the SS has a great deal to do with run support.  Bell isn't getting all of his tackles on receivers in the flat.

Correct. And he is a "BOX SAFETY" at this point in his career who can't cover a lick. In a league where you got three QB's throwing for over 5,000 yards and a league where its all pass, pass, pass a "BOX SAFETY" who is a one-trick pony in playing the run is essentially useless to most teams!

[MikeO]

NY media not thrilled with this signing. From the NY Post  talking about the Jets signing Bell and Laundry this offseason and letting Jim Leonhard go without giving him a chance to recover from injury. Because the Jets don't have a true free safety now and they expect Bell to share time there and compete at that position.

“Neither guy is a true free safety,” a league source said. “At end of the day, for me, you pay big money to a safety who can cover well and make plays on the football. Bell is a solid tackler and run supporter, but part of his issues in Miami were liabilities in coverage and he doesn’t produce much ball disruption.”

[Landshark]

NY media not thrilled with this signing. From the NY Post  talking about the Jets signing Bell and Laundry this offseason and letting Jim Leonhard go without giving him a chance to recover from injury. Because the Jets don't have a true free safety now and they expect Bell to share time there and compete at that position.

“Neither guy is a true free safety,” a league source said. “At end of the day, for me, you pay big money to a safety who can cover well and make plays on the football. Bell is a solid tackler and run supporter, but part of his issues in Miami were liabilities in coverage and he doesn’t produce much ball disruption.”

This hits it right on the head.  He was a force against the run but a liability in pass coverage.  And it's a passing league.

[MikeO]

This hits it right on the head.  He was a force against the run but a liability in pass coverage.  And it's a passing league.

Report last night that the Jets expect Bell and Landry to both start for them. Ouch! That's a poor pair of starting safety's.  Teams will throw on them all day long. Avoid Revis but just pick apart the middle of the field.

[EKnight]

Willing to bet he not only starts and has a good year, but also has a better year than any of Miami's safeties. I hated seeing him go. -EK

[Brian Fein]

As stated, I was (and am) sad to see him go, but he was often a liability in pass coverage against tight ends.  And in a division where New England routinely picks teams apart with their two behemoth tight ends, its not trivial.

However, is Bell still better than whoever the bums are now?  Probably.  I like Reshad Jones, but he's still untested.  I hope he does well.

If they're trying to insert Bell as a free safety, they're going to see realize that mistake.  He's a strong safety, and that's all.  He's needed in the box, not roaming center field.  That's where his strengths are, and he's good to lay a lick on a guy.

That all said, he was our veteran presence in a relatively young defensive backfield, and I'm not sure that's so easily replaced.

[MikeO]

As stated, I was (and am) sad to see him go, but he was often a liability in pass coverage against tight ends.  And in a division where New England routinely picks teams apart with their two behemoth tight ends, its not trivial.

However, is Bell still better than whoever the bums are now?  Probably.  I like Reshad Jones, but he's still untested.  I hope he does well.

If they're trying to insert Bell as a free safety, they're going to see realize that mistake.  He's a strong safety, and that's all.  He's needed in the box, not roaming center field.  That's where his strengths are, and he's good to lay a lick on a guy.

That all said, he was our veteran presence in a relatively young defensive backfield, and I'm not sure that's so easily replaced.

Addition by subtraction by letting Bell go. It's a passing league and he can't cover anyone! Period! That vet leadership thing is overrated. Everyone (players and media alike) said  Channing Crowder was the heart and soul of the Fins defense. He was the leader and the guy everyone rallied around. Miami sent him to the curb and the Fins had its best defensive year in a long time last year. They didn't miss his play (obviously) nor his leadership! 6th in points against, 3rd against the run. That vet presence/leadership thing is vastly overrated.

Jones has been playing out of position because of Bell. Jones is a natural SS and he will be there this year and he will be fine. With Clemons, Johnson, and Marshall mixed in FS won't be an issue. But in reality, in Kevin Coyle's defense the SAFETY spots are interchangeable anyway. Making Bell outdated since he doesn't have the physical tools to play anything like a FREE SAFETY. Bell was worthless to Miami with Coyle's new schemes. He had to go.