Byron Bell--the good

[PantherFeez]

[MaineManPanther]

Every year he has manged to make a notable step in perfomance. If you follow his progression he should be about average this year. But that's assumes he hasn't reach his peak.

[panthers55]

In addition to what was said about Bell essentially backpedaling toward the quarterback on pass protection is the idea that it is very easily to see if we are running or passing based on watching the tackle's initial step.  This was pointed out with Gross and Bell last year.  When your initial step is backwards you essentially telegraph the play which alerts the defender as well as the linebackers.  On run plays our initial movement is forwards and almost always backwards on pass plays.  While in a west coast offense where everything is timing and short passes it doesn't matter as much, but in a vertical passing attack it surely does matter and makes it easy to defend.  Sure, tackles will have to step out to cut off a DE lined up wide but the step should be forward or parallel not straight back and that is Bell's biggest weakness.  By the time he engages the defender he is often within a yard or two of the quarterback and is easily bull rushed backwards into the quarterback.

 

In his defense though, it doesn't help him at all when the right guard position is a turnstile and he has to build chemistry with a different guy each week.  Those 2 form a pair and have to work in tandem and that didn't happen that often.

[jarhead]

Bell the good ,bad and ugly

 

[TheNewStandard]

Thanks feez. First game of the year and definitely a correction able technique. Would love to see the game against st. Louis and take a look at Bell's progression against a team with two upper-echelon pass rushers. According to the stats of the St. Louis game, Bell Allowed only 1 QB hit against Quinn.

Bell is a big, big fella. It will be ingesting to see if he can transition to LT.

[jasonluckydog]

Chinese buffets fear him.

[TheNewStandard]

In addition to what was said about Bell essentially backpedaling toward the quarterback on pass protection is the idea that it is very easily to see if we are running or passing based on watching the tackle's initial step. This was pointed out with Gross and Bell last year. When your initial step is backwards you essentially telegraph the play which alerts the defender as well as the linebackers. On run plays our initial movement is forwards and almost always backwards on pass plays. While in a west coast offense where everything is timing and short passes it doesn't matter as much, but in a vertical passing attack it surely does matter and makes it easy to defend. Sure, tackles will have to step out to cut off a DE lined up wide but the step should be forward or parallel not straight back and that is Bell's biggest weakness. By the time he engages the defender he is often within a yard or two of the quarterback and is easily bull rushed backwards into the quarterback.

In his defense though, it doesn't help him at all when the right guard position is a turnstile and he has to build chemistry with a different guy each week. Those 2 form a pair and have to work in tandem and that didn't happen that often.

As the season progressed, Cam got better at stepping up into the pocket instead of drifting further back. These are little things that are hard to get used to doing but are part of a QBs progression. Cam also started to get the ball out quicker once he started standing tall and moving up in the pocket.

Weaknesses can be used to an advantage as allowing an end to get upfield and over pressuring can allow a halfback to get out in the flat for a pass or pitch. Do it enough and the DE stops pressuring and has to stay home or a LB has to step in which opens up the back of a zone for the TE.

What is most important here is that The QB is comfortable and conditioned to reading and anticipating the pressure.