Markel Bell is not hurt

[AUcane]

JUCO kids tend to be really raw when they join P4. For bell to be a part time starter his first year is a testament to his work ethic. Did he struggle at times especially vs speed rushes? Of course but being one year removed from juco, I’d say he fared pretty darn well. He showed a nice trajectory of improvement throughout the year. Assuming that trajectory continues, he’ll be solid.

 

[ben]

Would be the first overall pick if he were in the 2025 draft

 

[JHallCanes]

Would be the first overall pick if he were in the 2025 draft

All I know is none of our current players are as good as the guys in the 2026 class

 

[The U is back to work]

I’ve seen it with Cici especially in run blocking. Bell to me rarely looked that impressive other than just his size on the field.

 

[Hstokes1447]

Bell has all the physical tools and measurable to be drafted in the top two rounds of the 2026 draft, he just has to take a step up and play consistent. He is a non stop worker and kids like that often succeed.

 

[RozayCane]

 

[Calinative]

Why isn’t Cici LT?
Bell bends at the waist.

LT vs RT is irrelevant. All about who is actually better at the side and what gives best starting 5. No point of putting Mauigoa to LT unless Bell or Okunlola was specifically better at RT than LT themselves

 

[Bird4um]

LT vs RT is irrelevant. All about who is actually better at the side and what gives best starting 5. No point of putting Mauigoa to LT unless Bell or Okunlola was specifically better at RT than LT themselves

LT makes tons more money in the pros. Shocked he’s not on the left.

 

[Calinative]

LT makes tons more money in the pros. Shocked he’s not on the left.

You're literally wrong. They USED to, not any more.

There is nothing intrinsically more valuable about being LT than RT. The only reason more LTs make more money is because more of them have been playing that side all their life. And it's slowly been correcting... The two highest paid (and best) OTs in the NFL are RTs.

 

[Bird4um]

You're literally wrong. They USED to, not any more.

There is nothing intrinsically more valuable about being LT than RT. The only reason more LTs make more money is because more of them have been playing that side all their life. And it's slowly been correcting... The two highest paid (and best) OTs in the NFL are RTs.

Figured most QB’s were right handed and needed their blind spot protected.

 

[AUcane]

You're literally wrong. They USED to, not any more.

There is nothing intrinsically more valuable about being LT than RT. The only reason more LTs make more money is because more of them have been playing that side all their life. And it's slowly been correcting... The two highest paid (and best) OTs in the NFL are RTs.

NFL's highest paid offensive linemen for 2024 season: Ranking OL by average annual salary

Who are highest paid offensive linemen in NFL for 2024 season? Look at Top 10 highest paid O-linemen in league, led by Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil.

sports.yahoo.com

Of the top 12 highest paid OL, only 2 are RTs. LT is still a premium stop but not what it used to be. RT and interior are valued today much more than they were years ago.

 

[JHallCanes]

NFL's highest paid offensive linemen for 2024 season: Ranking OL by average annual salary

Who are highest paid offensive linemen in NFL for 2024 season? Look at Top 10 highest paid O-linemen in league, led by Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil.

sports.yahoo.com

Of the top 12 highest paid OL, only 2 are RTs. LT is still a premium stop but not what it used to be. RT and interior are valued today much more than they were years ago.

Also add to it I’d like to see Mauigoa on the left because at the moment it balances out our line better. LG has been a trouble spot and Mauigoa is our best OL by far. Cooper next to Bell…that’s a lot of mass (pause) on the right side plus Cooper could help Bell the way Rivers did

Splitting hairs maybe

 

[Calinative]

NFL's highest paid offensive linemen for 2024 season: Ranking OL by average annual salary

Who are highest paid offensive linemen in NFL for 2024 season? Look at Top 10 highest paid O-linemen in league, led by Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil.

sports.yahoo.com

Of the top 12 highest paid OL, only 2 are RTs. LT is still a premium stop but not what it used to be. RT and interior are valued today much more than they were years ago.

Yes because it’s slowly correcting. Like 15 out of top 50 paid OLinemen are RTs, vs like 18 at LT. The fact that the two highest paid are at RT is also showing my point. Well Wirfs does both now, but still he got his payday after playing RT, and was moved to Left BECAUSE RT I think Goedeke was better at. And that’s the situation we are in. Our RT is our best Olineman. Well if he plays LT to me that should be BECAUSE the other guy we intend to start at OT just is better on the right himself or the line as a whole is made better (like if putting him with Cooper as a tandem made him individually better).

The idea that your blindside automatically is the side opposite your throwing hands just really doesn’t make much sense. obviously If you are looking to pass to the right your blind side is you left. But if you’re looking to throw to the left???. And teams distribute the ball between left and right close enough to 50/50 for that to be irrelevant regardless if 90%+ of the league is righties

And the cherry on top is that NFL defenses were just putting their best pass rushers on the offenses right. So why would your best pass blocker NEED to be on your left if all the best pass rushers can just line up on the right? The trend is obvious for offenses not to prioritize LT at expense of RT any longer.

But again The reason there are more highly paid LTs than RTs id say is mostly due to the misconception. If you have a top OT in HS the coach is automatically just putting him at LT. And then that has downstream effects so that you have a bunch of OTs who have only ever even played LT. And while the VALUE of LT/RT isn’t inherently different, that doesn’t mean a decade of training specifically for LT doesn’t have its Impact, and it isn’t hard to switch sides. Pass rushers and like corners get trained to switch sides all through their life. Olineman don’t. So it should be no surprise when most OTs are better on the left side by the time they reach NFL.

 

[San Amaro Dr]

Figured most QB’s were right handed and needed their blind spot protected.

The passing game has gotten away from long progression 7 step drops as well. Especially in college. It’s a lot of quick game.

 

[chris2183l]

Not sure if this was ever discussed officially but does Bell have any eligibility left after this season? All the sites have him as a Senior? Might be totally rebuilding the OL next season...

 

[Josh]

Not sure if this was ever discussed officially but does Bell have any eligibility left after this season? All the sites have him as a Senior? Might be totally rebuilding the OL next season...

He’s leaning to coming back

 

[NicKane]

Not sure if this was ever discussed officially but does Bell have any eligibility left after this season? All the sites have him as a Senior? Might be totally rebuilding the OL next season...

He can get another year if he applies for it due to the Pavia thing at Vanderbilt. I hope he does.

 

[LuCane]

He’s leaning to coming back

That would be really helpful and result in a domino effect. I’ll believe it when I see it, though. Can you get your sources to tell someone to find a Center who will hold the point of attack if we’re going to keep the same run scheme? Ryan Rodriguez coming back, too, on an exemption?

 

[Memnon]

He’s leaning to coming back

Why would a 1st round draft pick be leaning towards coming back?

 

[112_cane]

Why would a 1st round draft pick be leaning towards coming back?

He's not first round....but can get a very nice NIL and possibly improve his stock for 2027 draft.