Tatum Bell is just 23 yards from becoming the sixth different tailback to notch a 1,000-yard season in Mike Shanahan’s 12 seasons as Broncos head coach. He’s found these final yards before hitting the milestone to be the hardest to attain.
“I’ve got to be the slowest back to get to 1,000,” the third-year back said Wednesday.
A year earlier, he went into the season finale at San Diego needing 131 yards for a 1,000-yard season that would have made the ‘05 Broncos the first team in 20 years with a pair of 1,000-yard runners. Bell scored three times but ultimately fell 79 yards short.
Coming close last year has only made this year’s pursuit of a grand that much more frustrating.
“It means a lot, man, because I felt I should have had it last year,” Bell saud. “Right now I’m right around the corner with (about) 20-30 yards. I’ve got to get 30 yards. I don’t care, man. There’s no excuse if I don’t get 30 yards.”
It’s been a roller-coaster season for the 2004 second-round pick, who has started every one of the 12 games in which he’s played this year. At times, he’s been dominant, notching five 100-yard games so far this year, including back-to-back triple-digit tallies against Seattle and San Diego earlier this month. They were his first games back from turf-toe problems that had dogged him since the Week 7 win at Cleveland on Oct. 22, and all signs pointed to a dominant December after his post-injury efforts.
But a pair of fumbles in the last two games has helped send Bell reeling into the season’s final game. The one at Arizona was scooped up and returned for a touchdown; his giveaway against Cincinnati on Christmas Eve led to a Bengals score that gave them a halftime edge over the Broncos.
As he struggled, rookie Mike Bell took up the slack and flourished, gaining 61 yards against Arizona and 69 more against Cincinnati while scoring three times in those two games.
But Tatum Bell knows this: More fumbling and he could be headed for the bench — whether he’s broken 1,000 or not.
“After this game, (Shanahan) told me, ‘It’s all good; put it behind you; you’ve got to learn to get over that stuff,’” Tatum Bell said. “(That’s) stuff I already know. I know if I fumble I won’t be in there for a series or two.
“Especially if I fumble and Mike goes in there and does well — (then) I sure won’t be in there.”
Other notes:
Tags: Mike Bell, Running backs, Tatum Bell
Sweet, more snow, like you guys need any…
As for Tatum Bell, I am getting the feeling he is never going to be more than a third down/change of pace back. He can come in and give a few good series but cannot carry the load. The fumbling is a big problem and they seem to come in bunches.
He’ll get his 1000, though 67 yards per game is nothing to write home about…
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
tatum should get his 23 yards and then sit. i cant believe how bad his foot has effected his game. it really shows. he looked horrible other then the fumble on sunday. i want him to get it. i am a supporter of him but man he hasnt been getting the job done
I’m pulling for Tatum Bell to get those 23 yards. I hope he gets over 100 yrds rushing. That would be good for the team. Denver Broncos winning this game against SF is the most important thing right now. Ball control is always important.
Also, Tatum getting this 1,000 yrds in only 12 games says alot about Denver Broncos style of football. This would be great for our offensive lineman. Go Tatum, get your 1,000 yards. Go Denver Broncos beat SF and capture that 5th seed spot in the playoffs.
I am sure he will do well in this next game or else his play will be diminished .When he is on and running well he looks good ,so dont drop the ball Tatum ,we still believe in you.
First of all, thesportsguru, where do you get 67yards a game. He has only played 12 games. Second he does not get the average amount of carries that most starting running backs get in a game. Shanahan needs to give him 20-25 carries a game. Then you will see his numbers up there with the rushing leaders. Example, I’m in KC and I watch Larry Johnson, the second leading rusher in the league. Throughout the game he will not average but 3 yards a carries except for 2- 3 long runs. He averages over 30 carries a game. Did I mention he is the second leading rusher in the league. You have to give tatum more carries and he will give you the home run runs. He is too explosive to limit his carries to 10-15 carries a game. Maybe its his toes but I would stay with him and give him his 25 carries and watch him soar. Mike Bell is a good change of pace not Tatum.