I "have been" one of the biggest Tatum Bell supporters (1 Viewer)

[Big Daddy Kane]

I drafted Tatum Bell a few years ago in my dynasty league rookie draft. With his blazing speed and the Clinton Portis trade leaving an empty backfield in Denver, I knew he was gold. It took a few years, and but I continued to believe in the guy (though I had some doubt at times), and he finally earned the starting job. I've watched him run...and he'll have some nice games. But I just don't see the cutback ability in him. It's not something that can even be taught, it's instinctual. Some guys have it; some guys don't. Tatum Bell does not. Mike Bell does. Reuben Droughns does. Mike Anderson does. Clinton Portis does. Olandis Gary does. Terrell Davis did.

I no longer support Tatum Bell as the starting running back in Denver and believe that the job should go hands-down to Mike Bell. Mike Bell can be the Denver running back we've all become accustomed to...the back that carries 25 times a game and puts up 130+ regularly. The coming week will beinteresting in Denver, but I believe Mike Bell must be given the starting gig.

 

[protoslacker]

MBell is a free agent in my league. Since TBell screwed me this week I may have a chance to get him. TBell goes to trash heap.

 

[One]

it's one game man.

 

[Big Daddy Kane]

On Mike Bell's 45+ yard run today, Mike Bell made a crucial cut around the 8-12 yard point of the run that allowed him to extend it to the 45+ yard point. I don't believe Tatum Bell would have made that cut and, while it still would have been a nice run, Tatum Bell would have kept running straight and probably would have ended up with a 15-16 yard gain. That's the difference in the runners...cutback ability and vision.

Vision is underrated. Speed is overrated.

 

[Big Daddy Kane]

it's one game man.

No. That excuse no longer works. People having been saying that about runners that outshine Tatum Bell for years.

 

[JuniorNB]

Mike Bell looked awseome today. No doubt about. But let's not pretend that he's the obvious number one guy now.

Shanahan will probably give him the bulk of the wprk, but if he has a bad start to a game, whether it be a fumble or two or he just looks sluggish, Tatum will get another chance.

I think Shanny loves pressuring the guys with the presence of the backup. He won't come out and say that Mike is the guy. He likes to keep them both on their toes.

 

[T Bell]

Eff the haters!

 

[Hellfire Snail]

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

 

[Ninersfan]

And on the bright side, as a T. Bell owner I at least got some satisfaction that Denver lost. Thanks Mike Shanny.

 

[packersfan]

If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so.

Maybe, maybe not. I think Tatum earned the starting job because he was by far the better RB in the first two games of the season. But today Mike Bell's performance was the best game I've seen from a Denver RB this season. As good as Tatum has looked he hasn't looked that good. So if Tatum could claim the starting job on th basis of outperforming Mike Bell, perhaps Mike Bell will now win the starting job on the basis of outperforming Tatum Bell. For Tatum's sake I hope this was a case of his toe injury flaring up because he looked pathetic out there today. Not only did he go nowhere most of the time but his effort was sorely lacking as well.

 

[JuniorNB]

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

Wow, man. If you really did watch the game, then you can't be serious.The difference between Mike and Tatum in weeks one and two was minimal, at best. The difference today was ten to one. Mike would carry for seven, six, and ten. He'd take a break and tatum would either get no gain or lose five yards.

If he was coming out due to injury, I highly doubt that Shanahan would have used him to spell Mike. He would have sat him down.

 

[elpasotexan]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

 

[Hellfire Snail]

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

Wow, man. If you really did watch the game, then you can't be serious.The difference between Mike and Tatum in weeks one and two was minimal, at best. The difference today was ten to one. Mike would carry for seven, six, and ten. He'd take a break and tatum would either get no gain or lose five yards.

If he was coming out due to injury, I highly doubt that Shanahan would have used him to spell Mike. He would have sat him down.

Uh, yeah man, I really did watch the game. If the difference between the two was minimal, why did Shannahan implement Tatem as the full time starter and even come out and say that he deserves the full load? If you watched the first two weeks you could see VERY clearly that Tatem was the better back. I saw Tatem wincing on at least two occasions today, and his burst did not look normal. Mike looked fresh and he had some GAPING holes while facing a worn down Indy defense.

 

[JuniorNB]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

 

[Hellfire Snail]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

Since when did turf toe start healing in one week?

 

[JuniorNB]

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

Wow, man. If you really did watch the game, then you can't be serious.The difference between Mike and Tatum in weeks one and two was minimal, at best. The difference today was ten to one. Mike would carry for seven, six, and ten. He'd take a break and tatum would either get no gain or lose five yards.

If he was coming out due to injury, I highly doubt that Shanahan would have used him to spell Mike. He would have sat him down.

Uh, yeah man, I really did watch the game. If the difference between the two was minimal, why did Shannahan implement Tatem as the full time starter and even come out and say that he deserves the full load? If you watched the first two weeks you could see VERY clearly that Tatem was the better back. I saw Tatem wincing on at least two occasions today, and his burst did not look normal. Mike looked fresh and he had some GAPING holes while facing a worn down Indy defense.

The GAPING holes are there most of the time with Denver's blocking schemes. Some backs have the vision to perform the correct cutback and some just have sprinters speed. I'll let you decide which is which.

 

[Hellfire Snail]

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

Wow, man. If you really did watch the game, then you can't be serious.The difference between Mike and Tatum in weeks one and two was minimal, at best. The difference today was ten to one. Mike would carry for seven, six, and ten. He'd take a break and tatum would either get no gain or lose five yards.

If he was coming out due to injury, I highly doubt that Shanahan would have used him to spell Mike. He would have sat him down.

Uh, yeah man, I really did watch the game. If the difference between the two was minimal, why did Shannahan implement Tatem as the full time starter and even come out and say that he deserves the full load? If you watched the first two weeks you could see VERY clearly that Tatem was the better back. I saw Tatem wincing on at least two occasions today, and his burst did not look normal. Mike looked fresh and he had some GAPING holes while facing a worn down Indy defense.

The GAPING holes are there most of the time with Denver's blocking schemes. Some backs have the vision to perform the correct cutback and some just have sprinters speed. I'll let you decide which is which.

High comedy.

 

[JuniorNB]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

 

[Hellfire Snail]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

If Tatem is hurt, congratulations. But to act like Mike Bell is better is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

 

[Futility]

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

Wow, man. If you really did watch the game, then you can't be serious.The difference between Mike and Tatum in weeks one and two was minimal, at best. The difference today was ten to one. Mike would carry for seven, six, and ten. He'd take a break and tatum would either get no gain or lose five yards.

If he was coming out due to injury, I highly doubt that Shanahan would have used him to spell Mike. He would have sat him down.

On the two carries you're referencing, Tatum slipped (no gain) and got the ball on a pitch with horrible blocking (-5 yards). I'm not making excuses for Tatum, but I thought I'd get the details in here among all this opinion & speculation. Bottom line, Tatum didn't get the job done when he had his chances today. The reason for that and the ramifications it will have in the future are still mostly unknown.

 

[Futility]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

If Tatem is hurt, congratulations. But to act like Mike Bell is better is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

No, it's a strong opinion. Calling that opinion stupid is, however, stupid.

 

[JuniorNB]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

If Tatem is hurt, congratulations. But to act like Mike Bell is better is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

We'll see.I have never, in three years, seen Tatum run as well as Mike did today.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

I wish we had a rule that only people who owned *neither* Tatum nor Mike could post in a Bell thread.

Reading Denver RB threads is like the Spin Room after a Presidential debate.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Cecil Sapp ran better than both, actually...

 

[T Bell]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

If Tatem is hurt, congratulations. But to act like Mike Bell is better is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

Preach on, brotha!

 

[T Bell]

I wish we had a rule that only people who owned *neither* Tatum nor Mike could post in a Bell thread. Reading Denver RB threads is like the Spin Room after a Presidential debate.

If you want info, go to the source.

 

[T Bell]

Cecil Sapp ran better than both, actually...

He, like Mike, benefitted from me softening up the Indy defense with body blows in the first half. You don't give the kill to the coroner - he's just the dude cleaning up the body.

 

[SSOG]

MBell is a free agent in my league. Since TBell screwed me this week I may have a chance to get him. TBell goes to trash heap.

Sending Tatum to the scrap heap would be just as stupid as sending Mike to the scrap heap was.Do you have a bench in your fantasy league? Like, any bench at all? Are you able to have reserve players beyond those who start? Because if you answered yes, either Mike or Tatum Bell belongs on it. Don't be the idiot who thinks that if you're not starting, you hold no value.

it's one game man.

I agree with this statement. Tatem's last four weeks down?Pretty clear to me that Tatem wasn't healthy. If he remains dinged Bell will get carries. If he heals, he is still the guy, and rightfully so. Mike Bell did nothing in the first two weeks when he was splitting carries to warrant the starting job. He had a good game today, though.

Wasn't that clear to me. Just looked like Mike Bell had a better game.Seriously, I didn't see Tatum limping. I didn't see him running slower than he usually does, or avoiding contact. I didn't see any blessed indication that his poor performance was a result of lingering injury and wasn't just a poor performance. I don't think he's as bad as he played today, but sometimes even the best players in the league have a bad game (didn't Tomlinson carry 17 times for 7 yards last year against Philly?).

 

[Couch Potato]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

If Tatem is hurt, congratulations. But to act like Mike Bell is better is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

Tell you what. Tatum's name has been posted on this board, oh, maybe a million times the last three years. Want some credibility trying to prop him up? Stop calling people stupid and try learning how to spell his name instead of calling him "Tatem" as you have in every post in this thread.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

This is gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnng week in the Shark Pool.

 

[RBM]

He led the AFC in rushing coming into this week

Holy crap

 

[JohnnyU]

This is gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnng week in the Shark Pool.

That's an uderstatement. I'm just going to make sure not to get caught up in it. Like I said in another thread, it's pretty obvous to me that it will be hit and miss with these two backs on any given week. I hear each side calling the other stupid, you don't know what you're talking about, etc. etc., but what seems stupid to me now is anyone who thinks either back will keep the starting job every week. Look at it this way, if you own one of them, the good news is you have a 50/50 chance at being right. Of course the bad news is that you have a 50/50 chance at being wrong, lol.

 

[Papa Georgio]

If Tater is hurt maybe it gives more credibility to limiting his carries and that he can't take the workload?

 

[Judge Smails]

This is gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnng week in the Shark Pool.

That's an uderstatement. I'm just going to make sure not to get caught up in it. Like I said in another thread, it's pretty obvous to me that it will be hit and miss with these two backs on any given week. I hear each side calling the other stupid, you don't know what you're talking about, etc. etc., but what seems stupid to me now is anyone who thinks either back will keep the starting job every week. Look at it this way, if you own one of them, the good news is you have a 50/50 chance at being right. Of course the bad news is that you have a 50/50 chance at being wrong, lol.

I own neither. Tatum's toe was hurt and affected him, so Shanny went with Mike. If TBell's 100% healthy he's the guy. Question is when that will be.

 

[noneother]

If Tater is hurt maybe it gives more credibility to limiting his carries and that he can't take the workload?

was quoted this week saying that 25 carries is enough.. i need to move him

 

[Big Score]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

Since when did turf toe start healing in one week?

 

[TinHat]

I own both.

I think Mike better suits Denver's system. Tatum started half the year and got what 1 TD? c'mon.

TIA

 

[TinHat]

This is gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnng week in the Shark Pool.

between the Bell and LJ threads, this is going to be a fuuuuuuuuuuuuuun week

 

[fsufan]

other than todays game, I have seen no reason T. Bell should lose his job. He was the #3 RB in rush yards coming into today game.

 

[packersfan]

I'm having a tough time buying the idea that Bell's toe injury is the reason why he got benched. If he was hurting and couldn't cut why was he getting carries in the second half when Mike Bell needed a break? Cobbs was active today; why not give him the backup carries rather than risk further injury to your starting RB? Maybe he really was hurt but that one doesn't jibe with me. It sure seems pretty stupid to put Tatum out there if he was hurting and ineffective. He sure didn't look hurt in the first half; he just looked like crap.

 

[TinHat]

Cecil Sapp ran better than both, actually...

He, like Mike, benefitted from me softening up the Indy defense with body blows in the first half. You don't give the kill to the coroner - he's just the dude cleaning up the body.

 

[protoslacker]

MBell is a free agent in my league. Since TBell screwed me this week I may have a chance to get him. TBell goes to trash heap.

Sending Tatum to the scrap heap would be just as stupid as sending Mike to the scrap heap was.Do you have a bench in your fantasy league? Like, any bench at all? Are you able to have reserve players beyond those who start? Because if you answered yes, either Mike or Tatum Bell belongs on it. Don't be the idiot who thinks that if you're not starting, you hold no value.

I got a bench. Foster CARR. Bush NOL. Maroney NEF. Gore SFJ. Lewis Bal (flex)I like M. Bell after what I saw and TBell gets gone.

 

[Wheelhouse]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

You think that Shanahan is going to just ignore the fact that Mike Bell turned in the best Denver backfield performance in two years?

No offense, I can see pretty easily you own Mike Bell, but you're in dreamland right now.

Yes, I do own Mike Bell, and I had to sit around for four weeks and read post after post about how Tatum is a legit top five back now and how he was clearly better than Mike Bell.It is now your turn.

If Tatem is hurt, congratulations. But to act like Mike Bell is better is, for lack of a better word, stupid.

No, it's a strong opinion. Calling that opinion stupid is, however, stupid.

 

[jonessed]

In Shannys conference, he said Tatum told him at halftime his toe wasn't allowing him to cut. I'm a Bell owner (both) so I don't really think this changes the rotation much unless Tater is hurt for an extended period of time.

Since when did turf toe start healing in one week?

Turf toe lingers. If Tatum's lackluster play was due to turf toe then M. Bell is going to put up some great games going forward.

 

[tommyGunZ]

I'm having a tough time buying the idea that Bell's toe injury is the reason why he got benched. If he was hurting and couldn't cut why was he getting carries in the second half when Mike Bell needed a break? Cobbs was active today; why not give him the backup carries rather than risk further injury to your starting RB? Maybe he really was hurt but that one doesn't jibe with me. It sure seems pretty stupid to put Tatum out there if he was hurting and ineffective. He sure didn't look hurt in the first half; he just looked like crap.

Tatum won the job after showing his toughness in a preseason game in which he was dinged up. I think Tatum was playing hurt - trying to give everything he had despite not being 100%. He was battling turf toe coming into the week, didn't look healthy when he got the ball, and was seen wincing on multiple occasions.I don't know what this means regarding the future Denver RB situation (b/c turf toe lingers and only gets better with extended rest), but IMO the turf toe is the reason the leading rusher in the AFC was limited today.

 

[SSOG]

This is gonna be a looooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnng week in the Shark Pool.

That's an uderstatement. I'm just going to make sure not to get caught up in it. Like I said in another thread, it's pretty obvous to me that it will be hit and miss with these two backs on any given week. I hear each side calling the other stupid, you don't know what you're talking about, etc. etc., but what seems stupid to me now is anyone who thinks either back will keep the starting job every week. Look at it this way, if you own one of them, the good news is you have a 50/50 chance at being right. Of course the bad news is that you have a 50/50 chance at being wrong, lol.

I own neither. Tatum's toe was hurt and affected him, so Shanny went with Mike. If TBell's 100% healthy he's the guy. Question is when that will be.

Week 1- 15/103, 6.87 ypcWeek 2- 16/69, 4.31 ypcWeek 3- 27/123, 4.56 ypcWeek 4- ByeWeek 5- 19/92, 4.84 ypcWeek 6- 23/83, 3.61 ypcWeek 7- 24/115, 4.79 ypcWeek 8- 13/27, 2.08 ypcThat's 6 straight games with a sub-5.0 ypc, after averaging 5.3 ypc in both of his first two seasons. He's averaging a 20+ yarder per every 45.7 carries this season, after averaging one per 17.3 last season. I don't know whether it's the turf toe, or the workload, or the fact that Mike Anderson isn't there to motivate him anymore ( ), but Tatum Bell has been very clearly a different runner than he was last season.I don't think Shanahan went to Mike Bell because Tatum was hurt, I think he went to Mike Bell because Tatum was ineffective. If Tatum was too hurt to be the primary ballcarrier, the way Mike Shanahan used him made no sense whatsoever. Shanny used him as if he were the change of pace back, not an injured featured back.It remains to be seen whether Mike Bell is the new starter, but blaming this on Tatum's injury is a bit shortsighted.