Utility, or Under-Utility, That is the Question

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Bell turned some heads this past weekend at the combine. Notably:

Then, there’s this:

Bell likely improved his draft prospects, but it warrants the question…did we effectively utilize Bell, whether we were asking him to be a running back or a receiver? Did we have a Hines Ward in our midst and never realized it?

Don’t forget:

Discuss.

13 thoughts on “Utility, or Under-Utility, That is the Question”

  1. If a team like the 49ers lands Bell, I won’t be surprised if he does well in the league.

    • This. DBell always reminded me of Deebo Samuel.

      Also to note; combine monsters don’t always make good pro football players.

  3. I think we utilized Bell just right. I don’t remember seeing him streak by defenders very often, and he had problems with drops a couple years ago when all of our receivers did. But on the whole, he was a dependable playmaker with a few wow moments every season.

    • Yeah, I think we used him well given our other talents. The streak of drops hurt him and the other receivers but he came back and did well. Like W Cobb says above, if he goes to the right team, he will shine.

  4. If Bell is going to a long-term NFL player, he’s going to have to prove he can be a special teams guy and a reliable back-up receiver. If he can hang on long enough to get to the 2nd contract, he’ll have a productive career.

    On the question at hand, I blame Bobo. 😉

  5. I don’t remember him consistently getting separation from DB’s. It’s not like he wasn’t given an opportunity to showcase. Great team guy just not someone you have to change plans to account for.

  6. When south Texas 86 received the ball, he performed. He has a long NFL future ahead of him.

  7. An OC can call plays that fit the talent or an OC can call plays the talent needs to execute. Monken was the former, Bobo the latter. Same on D.

    • I’m not sure I understand this concept. I think this more had to do with the fact that Bobo didn’t have a healthy Bowers for the 2nd half of the 2023 season.

  9. Hines Ward was really talented, he was a versatile player and he was tough as hell. He had a physicality in the NFL that few other receivers were willing to show. It also helped that Hines played for one of the most stable NFL organizations in the league.

    I love Dillon as a player. He is a DGD. I hope his NFL career is as good as Hines Ward. If he has the same mentality as Ward and stays injury free he can have the same type of career.

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