Pass on Von Bell. Those write-ups are dead on target. Sometimes he's a missile, sometimes he dogs it all over the field.
http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2016/02/nfl_combine_2016_vonn_bell_the.html
INDIANAPOLIS -- Vonn Bell said he was iffy.
Then he said that happened because he was lazy.
What has happened to the most confident Buckeye from an Ohio State team that was overflowing with confidence?
It seems like the safety got real after a dose of NFL reality, turning some early appraisal from scouts into a reflective admittance at his NFL Combine meeting with reporters Saturday.
The issue? Bell's commitment to run defense during his junior year -
an All-American junior year - in Columbus.
"I saw on film while sitting down with scouts, they were tearing me up a little bit," Bell said. "But it's not hard to fix. I've got to run to the ball a little harder."
It sounds like
this wasn't the first time Bell heard this criticism. Ohio State secondary coach Chris Ash, now the head coach at Rutgers, was pointing it out during the year.
"He was, he was," Bell said. "It happens."
Why?
"Being a young guy, thinking the world or whatever," Bell said.
"It just happens."
Bell has always prided himself on making the plays that can change a game. Projected as a likely second-round pick, the 5-foot-11, 199-pounder has range in the passing game. If he wants to move up draft boards and make a case as a first-round pick, he has to persuade teams he'll go hard all the time.
"It's not just being paid," Bell said. "You've got to show passion. ... You're playing for your livelihood. You gotta get paid. You don't want to be on the streets, now."
So Bell will tell you he's the guy, the top safety in the draft.
Mike Mayock of NFL.com rated Bell as the No. 2 safety coming into the combine, behind Karl Joseph of West Virginia.
"I've been a playmaker. I'm always going to be a playmaker," Bell said. "If you have playmaking ability, it's going to stick with you."
Bell's explanation about his run defense in the first answer of his media session led to several more questions about the "lazy" idea during his seven-minute interview. Despite spurts of confidence, it was atypical of a Bell encounter.
So before he left the podium, I asked the final question as a test to see where he stood. It was about the fictional Vonn Bell Academy, the imaginary school he's been talking about for several years where he teaches others how to play football.
Vonn, in whatever NFL city you wind up, will you open a Vonn Bell Academy there?
"Yes," Bell said. "It will be open. It's coming soon."
OK. He's fine. He just needs to get after it in the run game more.
