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Shanahan, Cutler: New RB Bell knows Broncos offense

By Pat Rooney, Special to the Rocky

Published November 12, 2008 at 1:35 p.m.
Updated November 12, 2008 at 1:35 p.m.

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Tatum Bell is back. Whether he helps revive the Broncos’ injury-ravaged running game remains to be seen.

After selling phones for a few months at the Aurora Mall, Bell was back in the Broncos’ locker room on Wednesday, ready to practice with the team that traded him to Detroit in 2007. With season-ending injuries to Andre Hall, Michael Pittman, and Ryan Torain, in addition to the ongoing groin troubles of Selvin Young, Bell could make an immediate splash when the Broncos visit Atlanta on Sunday.

“Tatum is an explosive back with a lot of speed,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “He understands the offense, is familiar with our lingo and our terminology. He should be able to step in and be an immediate impact, hopefully.”

Bell rushed for 921 yards for the Broncos in 2005 and gained a career-best 1,025 yards in 2006, notching five 100-yard games that season.

But with a glut of running backs on the roster, Bell was traded to Detroit on March 2, 2007. He never caught on with the Lions, gaining 182 yards in five games last season before getting released at the end of training camp in September.

“He was the only one left,” joked Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. “Tatum has played well when he’s played here. I think he’s averaged around five yards . . . obviously we needed someone who is familiar with our system and terminology. I don’t think he’s in great football shape yet, but hopefully in a short time he will be.”

Comments

  • November 12, 2008

    6:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dano writes:

    What a joke! If we had someone other than Shanahan calling the draft we wouldn't be in this situation. See Maurice Clarett.

    Shanahan needs to go bye-bye. Take Tatum with you. Watch what a bad move this is.

  • November 12, 2008

    6:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nmbronco1 writes:

    What happens if this turns out to be a good move? Will the Shanahan haters then have to eat crow? Cutler's got it - Tatum Bell knows the terminolgy and was a decent back during his previous 3 years here. Give the guy a chance and - either root for your home team, or else be a tRaider, a Chef, or a Dolt.

  • November 12, 2008

    7:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bythereever writes:

    Hey, he's a body and he's healthy, not many choices out there. Also, bust on shanny's draft picks all you want, I do too, but you can't fault his run game success (with his picks) over the years.

  • November 12, 2008

    7:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BigRedCelt writes:

    Geez will the morons never cease? It's a huge reach to blame the current RB situation on Shanny. Kinda stupid actually. Anyway, Bell was a solid back. When he gets into football shape he's got speed.

    Many of these fans who jumped on the wagon during the SB years need to get a clue.

  • November 12, 2008

    7:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    dano, God, it will be so sweet to see you disappear from the blog after Tatum makes you eat crow. You have it all figured out, huh? You have a crystal ball? Bad choices are made in football, all the time. Shanahan knows his offense. He has some talented WR's And until the injuries, had some talented RB's, and he has some talented lineman and TE's. And a talented QB. Defense needs work but you only see the bad. Yeah, you know it all. Wow, thanks for enlightening all of us... Not about the Broncos, but rather, about your psychic ability.

  • November 12, 2008

    7:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jubei writes:

    dano:

    And your suggestion for a RB is whom?

    I seem to remember starting the season with a whole stable of backs. But in football, injuries can and will happen. Look at the IR list, almost half of them are running backs. And somehow it's Shanahan's fault that they are all injured?

    A lot of folks on here were calling for Rashard Mendenhall in the draft. Where is he now? Oh yeah, he's on IR.

    When you are forced to look at free agents past the midpoint of the season, there isn't a whole lot to choose from. Am I jumping for joy that we have Bell back? No, but we need bodies, and bodies that are familiar with the system are an added bonus.

    Personally, I like the idea of Hillis running behind Haynes/Larsen.

  • November 12, 2008

    8:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    joggle writes:

    I think being it great shape helps them prevent injuring themselves. My worry now is that Bell is going to push himself a bit too hard in the next game or the one after that and injure himself in the process so we'll be back to square one again.

  • November 12, 2008

    8:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kerrdawg writes:

    Bell was our best option, we needed someone who can step in and play this week. He has break-away speed and is very familiar with the run scheme. I don't expect Bell to come in and carry the load, but if he can get about 10 carries a game, he can be effective. He's a threat to hit the crease and take it to the house on any play. Even if all our backs were healthy, Bell is faster than them all except maybe Alridge. If Bell has his head on right this time around, he might even stick on the roster as a change of pace back.

  • November 12, 2008

    8:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    FTR writes:

    I concur with Dave d and Jubie. Oh dano that means I agree with them.
    GO BRONCOS
    FTR

  • November 12, 2008

    8:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    kerrdog, I agree. He may not be in football shape, yet, but he passed his physical and I'm sure he's been working out. He knows the system and I think he will do enough to get some of the load off Cutlers back.
    Jubei, although Hillis is good, he's a FB, not a RB. He's good because we utilize him at what he's good at, short yardage when needed and passes out of the backfield. Catches underneath, etc. We have Bell, Haynes, Pope. We will be ok. Dano is just one of those type who likes to hear himself whine.

  • November 12, 2008

    8:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    FTR, what's up, man? Don't hear from you nearly enough, lately? We need some fans to help to stifle some of the whiners, naggers and crybabies that have been poisoning the blogs. Oh, and those are just the ones who call themselves "fans". Funny, huh?

  • November 12, 2008

    8:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jubei writes:

    Dynamicdave:

    I see your point, and I really don't have any deep convictions as to who totes the rock, but I liked what I saw from Peyton in the Browns game. And he was a tailback at Arkansas before McFadden and Jones showed up. His performance deserves a second look, especially with extra practice time this week. Besides, next season, he's back at FB regardless.

    Bell is not quite in shape yet, and he left Denver as a change-of-pace back. Haynes is more of a prototypical FB, and Pope is fresh off the practice squad. Frankly, Hillis has more game snaps for the Broncos than all of them at this point. And I'll admit that I favor big, punishing backs.

    Regardless, all we need is SOME semblance of a run game to keep Abraham from teeing off on Jay. Anything else from whoever gets the carries will be gravy.

  • November 12, 2008

    9:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Jubei, Hillis is a bruising back, but not a 'break-away" back. He could still make some plays, of course, but I like to see someone who has some speed in there. It keeps the defenses honest. Larson is also a FB. I think if we can get 7-10 carries from Tatum and the same from Pope, we're good. I think Haynes will be in to spell, as he is still learning the offense. Pope knows it and Tatum knows much of it. He just needs to get up to speed (pun intended). I predict an upset this weekend. But, then, I'm always the optimist. So, will we see you for the Raiders game the following week at the bar? A 2 hour drive is 4 hours round trip. A lot of hauling. But, then, it's the RAIDERS!!!!

  • November 12, 2008

    9:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jubei writes:

    Dynamicdave:

    So you like speed and I like power. I can see that this is going to be like arguing blondes vs. brunettes. The only way to truly be happy is to have both!

    I just like seeing a big back beat the hell out of a defense. The G-Men kind of use Jacobs to soften up the D and then let Bradshaw run right past all of them.

    I will admit that I enjoyed watching Tatum bust a long one back in the day. He just didn't seem to do much inside the tackles.

    I just want some kind of productivity to keep the D honest. If the Falcons sit back wit two deep safeties, we have to make them pay.

    Regarding the Duhs game: I'm going to try to work some moves to make that happen. It's no fun swearing at the TV by myself. It's even worse if I'm sober.

  • November 12, 2008

    9:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RockyMts69 writes:

    dano....after this Sunday the joke will be on you! Fact: Tatum Bell was the last RB to run for over a 1,000 yards in Denver. Fact: he's probabaly in better shape than you are.

  • November 12, 2008

    10:19 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Jubei, actually, blonde's, brunettes, redheads, it don't matter. As far as RB's I like a combination of both. The fast back and a bruising FB will keep the defense on edge. When they start packing the line, then Cutler will bust them up with downfield passes. I really am wishing the best for Tatum. I would like to see him do well. If you go to the Traiters game, I sit up front in my Cutler jersey. Hope you can make it. Beware, though, every touchdown Denver gets, we get a free shot of Schnapps. When they score 30 points, it makes for a drunk day with the beer and all. Pitchers are $4.75 during gametime. Some of my friends don't like Schnapps so they give me theirs. It's one of the few times I drink (Sundays during the game).
    RockyMts69, tell him like it is.

  • November 12, 2008

    10:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bronkinnev writes:

    Isn't alexander out there somewhere? Or maybe play with some heart.

  • November 12, 2008

    10:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    joggle writes:

    Oh, this isn't wining. If you want to see some wining, check this out (St Louis newspaper forum): http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spor...

    They deserve some leniency on griping though given their team's complete inability to compete in any way.

    However, some of their posts had me laughing so hard it brought tears to my eyes. One particular gem:

    "The Rams s_ck. And...they do it better than anyone else!"

  • November 12, 2008

    10:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    joggle writes:

    Sigh, whining not wining (one of these days it would be nice if the RMN updated their comment section to allow editing of posts).

  • November 13, 2008

    12:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Swick writes:

    Lot's of good points on this topic Dave, especially about the whining fans and multiple backs. In today's game you hear over and over how it's better to have a power and speed back(unless you're lucky enough to get all in one). Gives the defense more to prepare for and keeps them on there heels. Didn't miss Tatum when we got rid of him, but his style is exactly what our depleted backfield needs right now. If our D gets healthy, we might make it past a round or two of the playoffs. Jay needs some playoff experience and then in the next couple years maybe we'll be ready for a SB run.

  • November 13, 2008

    6:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Swick, I say make a SB run, every year, including this year. I'm sure the coaches and players alike, think they have a chance (especially when they are in 1st place). Not one of them says, "Well, we're young and won't go far this year, but in a couple of year"... They all feel this is the year. It's part of being competitive and optimistic. Now, if Denver were, say, 1-8, then, yes, look to next year. Denver is in 1st and they will not bow down to the injuries and fade away. They will fight and claw and scratch to a W. They won't give up, neither will I.