NFL Free Agency: Looking At OT Demetrius Bell

by cdeveau on Jan 25, 2012 1:00 PM MST in NFL Offseason/Free Agency

The 2011 season is over, save for a repeat of Super Bowl XLII featuring Eli Manning and Tom Brady. What I note most about these two QBs is how clean their uniforms are. Clean uniforms? Yes, meaning they didn't get sacked as often as other QBs of note, perhaps Kevin Kolb or John Skelton rings bells?

To keep a QB upright, a solid offensive line is in order. With that in mind, let's take a look at Demetrius Bell. Hit the jump to see what he is about.

First I'd like to point out that the RBs for Buffalo averaged 5.08 yards per carry, and that the offensive line gave up a league leading 23 sacks on the season. The Arizona Cardinals gave up 54, which placed them twenty-seventh in the league.

At 6'5" and 317 pounds, Demetrius Bell played a factor in this success, holding down the blind side at LT. His pass protection is above average, and his run scheme is even stronger. He's also a younger player, turning 28 later this year. With quick feet, he is able to move with defenders and seal off the edge.

The knock on him is that in three seasons he has suffered two separate knee injuries and a shoulder injury that sidelined him for a majority of those games. Linemen get hurt, that's the nature of manning the trenches. But knees and shoulders are concerns for big men who need to move and hit other big men.

Another point to note in the sack number is that the Bills favored a quick passing attack, which left very little time for defenders to get to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Does Bell look better because of the passing attack style, or is he truly a capable left OT?

The free agency market for OT is shallow this year. The OTs capable of playing the left side tail off after Matt Kalil and Riley Reiff come off the board. I still think Jonathan Martin's feet are too slow, and he will be the second coming of Levi Brown.

What do you think folks, should the Cards pursue Bell and offer him a performance based contract?

Poll

Should the Arizona Cardinals target OT Demetrius Bell in free agency?

Yes!

144 votes

No!

47 votes

Who?

16 votes

Mmmm. Funions!

21 votes

228 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

absolutely u said it best (performance based)

It would be a good move assuming he stays healthy

by tucson cards fan on Jan 25, 2012 1:25 PM MST via mobile reply actions

Yes...

I signed him in Madden 2012 and he’s a bull :)

by NickyPinks on Jan 25, 2012 1:51 PM MST reply actions

No

We need a piece of granite at LT, not sandstone.

by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 25, 2012 1:53 PM MST reply actions 2 recs

I agree

three separate injuries in three seasons is not a good sign.

by Jester1 on Jan 25, 2012 2:13 PM MST up reply actions

This

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 25, 2012 5:47 PM MST up reply actions

I do like funions

But i like the idea of getting a competent LT even more

Follow me on Twitter at @AlexDavidson68

by GreaZzy on Jan 25, 2012 2:28 PM MST reply actions

He is proven

and has some injury concerns. But he is better then we have now, and i really would hate to see us miss on another 1st rounder. If 1 of the 2 studs fall grab em but dont reach because of need unless absolutly sure. If studs are gone we need to draft based on talent, less chance of a miss.

by J Steezy on Jan 25, 2012 2:42 PM MST reply actions

Mike Jurecki pointed out

the last time we grabbed a Bills OT it was Mike Gandy. React appropriately.

Like the Cardinals? Revenge of the Birds is where to go.
Like Arizona Sports in general? SB Nation Arizona is where you'll get it all.
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by Jess Root on Jan 25, 2012 3:30 PM MST reply actions

Wasn't Gandy a guard before he came here?

by tw3kr on Jan 25, 2012 3:58 PM MST up reply actions

First, I have no idea if this cat is a capable LT, I don't watch Bills football if I don't have too

But a quick search of the Bills SB Nation site doesn’t sound like they really care if he’s back. They pretty much describe him as capable but certainly not great when he is healthy but as mentioned above his health is the biggest question mark.

It would be cool if you sent a couple quick questions to whoever runs those other teams blogs and asked them about certain players. I always like seeing that first hand persective on free agents. No one knows them like the passionate fan who watches them week in and week out.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 25, 2012 3:31 PM MST reply actions

See my comment below…your thoughts are pretty much spot on.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 5:45 AM MST up reply actions

Thanks

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 26, 2012 8:21 AM MST up reply actions

Levi Brown is scheduled to count ~$18 mm against the cap

If you could sign Bell to a Gandy like contract $5 mm or even a bit more the O-line would be way ahead. If you get the opportunity to get a LT in the draft just move Bell over to the RT.

by waysouth on Jan 25, 2012 3:52 PM MST reply actions

Yes

Sign him, try to re-sign Levi at RT, draft at least one as well. Start Bell and Levi. If Bell gets hurt, either play a rookie or move Levi back to LT and put the rookie at RT.

Either way, since we’re unlikely to get a premier LT in the draft, we need a solid player there until we can try to develop one.

by CardsFan1976 on Jan 25, 2012 4:06 PM MST reply actions

Bell won't be resigned by Buffalo for a reason; they're looking to upgrade.

He’s had too many injuries the last three years and missed too many games. I think he’s only played 8 games in a season once in the last 4 yrs.

The real tragedy is not picking up Gaithers when KC let him go. During the last few SD games he allowed exactly 0 sacks. Oh, that was against Balt, Det, & Oak too.

by RamsFan1979 on Jan 25, 2012 4:23 PM MST reply actions

Bell will provide more of an impact,

than any of the OT’s in the draft class, and at 28 is just entering the prime of his career.

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Jan 25, 2012 5:16 PM MST reply actions

28 is too old for an OL on free agency, unless they are in the pro bowl every year.

by Winter Trabex on Jan 26, 2012 5:25 AM MST reply actions

I saw this linked on Buffalo Rumblings so I thought I would come over and give my two cents. I want the Bills to keep him because I don’t want them relying on a 2nd year 5th rounder at left tackle, but at the same time, they had to do that last year b/c Bell was injured. I want them to keep him, but I don’t want them overpaying (whatever that means in the crazy first days of UFA). If the Bills (or anyone else) signs him without a plan B, then they are looking for trouble. He has missed 17 games in three seasons. In 2010, he played all 16, but in 2009 and 2011, he missed at least 1/2 of the games. If you have no other options, he’s been developing nicely when he’s healthy.

However, I would like the Bills to sign him to a performance based contract so my question for you guys is: If the Bills and Cards (or another team) both offer performance based contracts, do you think he leaves Buffalo where he is already the starter at LT (one must assume)?

In conclusion: He is a solid (if unspectacular) player when healthy who makes me nervous b/c they could make a big commitment to him and have him not see the field.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 5:44 AM MST reply actions

What would you consider his strengths and weaknesses, ignoring of course the 800lb elephant known as injury prone?

And which term best describes him (IF healthy) – future Pro Bowler, Above Average starter, Average starter or something less than that?

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 26, 2012 8:21 AM MST up reply actions

I would say he is an above average starter. He has some inconsistency in his game. There will be games where you feel he has regressed, but overall I would describe him as starter and solid when healthy. If he had been healthy all year and the Bills decided they weren’t going to attempt to sign anyone else at LT, I would be satisfied. However, if the Bills sign him and just assume they’ll be OK b/c he’ll be healthy, I’d be disappointed. Hairston (rookie who played OK when called upon this year) MAY be the future there, but to assume that makes me nervous. I think the Bills will low-ball him and then attempt to sign an affordable veteran or draft a mid-round player to compete with Hairston. If you have a backup that you’d be OK w/ if he’s pressed into action, then I think Bell is a guy to target and keep your fingers crossed.

As far as strengths and weaknesses, I’m not a break down the O-line guy, but I can look back at some of the break downs that one of the writers on Rumblings did of the O-line and get back to you on that one.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 9:39 AM MST reply actions

Fail

Meant to reply to Steamin’ Beamin’

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 9:39 AM MST up reply actions

still got the point across, thanks.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 26, 2012 9:58 AM MST up reply actions

Actually, here is a good write up of the first 4 games by Ron from NM who does a great job writing up the O-line. I believe that game 4 is the first time Bell was hurt (I think), but it was toward the end….I’m not entirely sure of the timing of the injury, but I think so. So you have 4 of his six games summarized here.

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011/10/4/2465059/notes-from-the-buffalo-bills-o-line-first-quarter-grades

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 10:11 AM MST up reply actions

That's a great stuff

If there’s one thing that stands out to me from that writeup its that it looks like Bell is a better run blocker than pass protector, although he won’t get you killed in either department. Sounds about like he’s been advertised, solid yet unspetacular.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 26, 2012 10:59 AM MST up reply actions

And off the top of my head I would have said that I don’t notice miscues in the running game (which to the untrained eye like mine are harder to notice) but you’ll notice him get beat occasionally on in the passing game. Those numbers do indeed seem to reflect that.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 11:14 AM MST up reply actions

Thanks Bluecollarbuffalo

For your insight.

As for Bell’s performance, he is a better run blocker than pass protector, but in both aspects he would be better than Levi Brown. That’s why I profiled him as possible free agent acquisition. He is better than what the Cards have…If he stays healthy.

Just a guy, because I was born that way.

by cdeveau on Jan 26, 2012 11:45 AM MST up reply actions

Absolutely….and notice I really have nothing bad to say about his game (unless you count “some inconsistency”) except the injury part. High risk, high reward unless the contract is structured like you seem to suggest.

And with that, I really don’t think I have anything else to say about Demetrius Bell so best of luck Cards fans!

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Jan 26, 2012 12:00 PM MST up reply actions