Advertisement

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell conjures up great memories

By The Sports Xchange
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs off the field all smiles following the 31-27 win against the Baltimore Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers' win clinched the AFC North for the Steelers. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs off the field all smiles following the 31-27 win against the Baltimore Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers' win clinched the AFC North for the Steelers. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

PITTSBURGH -- Running back Le'Veon Bell has drawn comparisons to Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk because of his ability to run and catch out of the backfield.

After Bell rushed for a franchise playoff-record 167 yards in a 30-12 victory against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger compared Bell to another Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Advertisement

"Well, I think he brings a little bit of everything to the table," Roethlisberger said. "There are times when he is patient. Like I am standing back there and I am watching and I am like, 'Uh, are you going to go any time here?' But he is so patient and then when he needs to put his head down and run someone over, he does that. He is a powerful back.

"If he gets one-on-one with a guy in the hole or just beyond, I get the best view in the house."

Roethlisberger reference one of his former backup quarterbacks to lavish high praise on Bell, who set the franchise record by rushing for 236 yards against Buffalo last month.

Advertisement

"I'll never forget when Charlie Batch was here, he used to always tell me about how he would hand off and just watch Barry Sanders," Roethlisberger said. "I am not trying to put Le'Veon with Barry Sanders yet, you know that is an awesome honor. But, it is fun to sit and watch and just see what he is going to do because he is incredibly talented."

In six of his past seven games, Bell has rushed for 118 yards or more. In the one game that he was held under 100 yards in that span, he posted 93 in a win at Cincinnati.

"The second half of the season, Le'Veon has been on such a tear because people are really trying to make us one-dimensional, whether that is the run or the pass," Roethlisberger said. "They are trying to take away the big play. From what we see on film and stuff, teams try and bleed slow, you know, and give us the run.

"Not trying to give up the big pass play and so we have been able to utilize Le'Veon so much and (Sunday) I think the first two series we came out throwing it and really kind of backed them off, and then that opens up Le'Veon and the guys in the run game."

Advertisement

Latest Headlines