Jason Bridge – USA TODAY Sports
Star Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell enters 2015 with quite the pressure. On the one hand, Bell is coming off of a very impressive sophomore year for a Steelers RB. On the other hand, there is the black cloud that hangs over him as he is facing a three-game suspension — pending an appeal — for receiving a DUI while with former Steelers RB LeGarrette Blount last offseason. If the Steelers are going to compete in their division and expect to make postseason play, they need Bell on the field and to continue his race to stardom since entering the NFL.
Bell is without a doubt one of the most dynamic and versatile backs in the league. The 23-year-old had over 2,400 yards rushing and receiving while hauling in a whopping 83 passes last season. He has the team rookie single-season record and the team single-season record for total yards from scrimmage. He tied a record with Walter Payton last season — three consecutive games with 200 yards from scrimmage. This guy is the real deal and the catalyst of the Steelers’ already high-powered offense. Yes, the Steelers have numerous weapons with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger, but the offense is not the same with Bell out of the lineup. That was apparent as early as his rookie year when Bell went down with a foot injury in the preseason. The Steelers opened up the year 0-4 despite a phenomenal debut against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, but they finished the season 8-8. They’re 19-10 with him as their starter in only his first two seasons.
Maybe he will miss a couple games to start to the season, but the Steelers have somewhat prepared for that by signing former Carolina Panthers backup DeAngelo Williams. It’s nothing to get too excited about, but he’ll only be filling in for a couple games. The hope is the Steelers can start off better in 2015 without Bell than they did in 2013.
It’s hard to imagine Bell having a better season than he did last year, and all the naysayers will be watching intently. However, as long as Bell keeps his focus on football, the sky’s the limit for him every time he steps on the field. And while the 2014 DUI is only a blip on a so-far squeaky clean record for him, Bell will learn from his mistakes.
In the meantime, he needs to come into the season ready, whether that is Week 1 or Week 4. This guy seems to thrive off the pressure, and the statistics show the team goes as he goes. If the Steelers are looking to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2016, Bell has to carry them there.
