Markel Bell is not hurt

[DTP]

I wasn’t crazy about Markell Bell early last year. He looked stiff. I don’t think he’ll ever be a pass blocking specialist but as the year went on, he got a lot better. To the point where our most effective line featured him at tackle and Jalen Rivers (who I have always really liked) at LG.

Obviously the dude is massive but he does have good feet and balance for such a tall guy. He needs to bend with his legs and not with his waist so much.

 

[JHallCanes]

I wasn’t crazy about Markell Bell early last year. He looked stiff. I don’t think he’ll ever be a pass blocking specialist but as the year went on, he got a lot better. To the point where our most effective line featured him at tackle and Jalen Rivers (who I have always really liked) at LG.

Obviously the dude is massive but he does have good feet and balance for such a tall guy. He needs to bend with his legs and not with his waist so much.

Imagine just saying this instead of saying he’s a potential top 10 pick based off of a workout in shorts

 

[htownkidd]

Here is why I’m bullish on Bell and not writing him off yet like many on CIS have and already declared him trash. Ya’ll may disagree, and that’s fine. I welcome the discussion. We have seen this exact same story before with Rivers. What many of you are saying now, is the exact same thing many said about Rivers prior to the 2023 season, myself included. Well, we were all wrong. “He doesn’t have the feet for Tackle”. “I don’t like him on the outside and he isn’t an LT”. We saw Rivers playing LT in the spring game and thought that 2023 would be a disaster with him protecting TVD. He got beat like a drum against our own guys in the Spring game, even some backups and guys who have done nothing here. I can literally go back and pull posts from each of you mimicking that we are in trouble at LT following the Spring game and all summer leading up to Miami-OH, again myself included. But what happened? He not only had a tremendous 2023 season that NOBODY on CIS predicted, but he was our best and most consistent OL that year along with Lee. OL is the ONE position that this staff has shown the ability to mold some clay and develop someone and make them better YoY. Not edge, not LB, not S, none of that. Francis took a huge step this year after being a liability at times his FR season with the holding penalties and was by far our best OL this season and will be a R1 pick if his play sustains. Anez had a rough year compared to Y1 and Y2, but overall look what they have done with that kid after signing him as an overweight low 3*. Why is it hard to fathom that this kid can take a step as well from Y1 to Y2? He had some really good moments this year, and some not so good moments this year. That can be built upon. Also, the difference between Bell and Rivers is Bell actually has a **** ton of valuable experience now after playing LT this season compared to Rivers, who NEVER played LT at UM before we threw him out there against Miami OH in September of 2023. He had only played LG here at UM. I just think maybe, just maybe we should see if Mirabal can get the kid better over a full off season that includes Spring and Fall practices against our group, no? Who knows, maybe the kid does work to improve on his own to get stronger in his lower half and a bit more agile too. Again, it’s just too early to write him off after one season at the one position I actually trust this staff to coach kids up at, JMO. I’m not saying he will be a R1 pick, I just think it’s premature to write him off after we literally did the same thing 2 years ago with Rivers was our best LT since who, Flowers?

 

[COCane4Life]

It’s pretty simple he’s 6’9 340 with good to great feet. 1 good year and he’s first round without question.

 

[JHallCanes]

Here is why I’m bullish on Bell and not writing him off yet like many on CIS have and already declared him trash. Ya’ll may disagree, and that’s fine. I welcome the discussion. We have seen this exact same story before with Rivers. What many of you are saying now, is the exact same thing many said about Rivers prior to the 2023 season, myself included. Well, we were all wrong. “He doesn’t have the feet for Tackle”. “I don’t like him on the outside and he isn’t an LT”. We saw Rivers playing LT in the spring game and thought that 2023 would be a disaster with him protecting TVD. He got beat like a drum against our own guys in the Spring game, even some backups and guys who have done nothing here. I can literally go back and pull posts from each of you mimicking that we are in trouble at LT following the Spring game and all summer leading up to Miami-OH, again myself included. But what happened? He not only had a tremendous 2023 season that NOBODY on CIS predicted, but he was our best and most consistent OL that year along with Lee. OL is the ONE position that this staff has shown the ability to mold some clay and develop someone and make them better YoY. Not edge, not LB, not S, none of that. Francis took a huge step this year after being a liability at times his FR season with the holding penalties and was by far our best OL this season and will be a R1 pick if his play sustains. Anez had a rough year compared to Y1 and Y2, but overall look what they have done with that kid after signing him as an overweight low 3*. Why is it hard to fathom that this kid can take a step as well from Y1 to Y2? He had some really good moments this year, and some not so good moments this year. That can be built upon. Also, the difference between Bell and Rivers is Bell actually has a **** ton of valuable experience now after playing LT this season compared to Rivers, who NEVER played LT at UM before we threw him out there against Miami OH in September of 2023. He had only played LG here at UM. I just think maybe, just maybe we should see if Mirabal can get the kid better over a full off season that includes Spring and Fall practices against our group, no? Who knows, maybe the kid does work to improve on his own to get stronger in his lower half and a bit more agile too. Again, it’s just too early to write him off after one season at the one position I actually trust this staff to coach kids up at, JMO. I’m not saying he will be a R1 pick, I just think it’s premature to write him off after we literally did the same thing 2 years ago with Rivers was our best LT since who, Flowers?

Do you remember who the really prominent OL coach was that commented about him? I can’t find it

They were basically saying he won’t be ready this year (2024) but had big upside when he gets caught up

So yeah anyone writing him off would be pretty crazy. Maybe we could just like wait until the season gets going to start penciling in draft slots though I dunno maybe I’m asking too much

 

[ST26]

I’m not hinting

I’m flat out saying you’re delusional

Cant wait for you @cway313 to cry when he gets drafted in rounds 1-3. I swear you two would have more enjoyment if our team went 2-10 than if we won the ACC championship

 

[San Amaro Dr]

Only real thing you can take from OL in these type of clips are 1. I am happy they are working on their own over SB and not just hanging on SOBE and 2. Kinda cool that Rivers is still around the team working out and training with the guys, shows there was some genuine comradery out there and not just coach speak. It is crazy how much taller Bell looks though compared to the rest and the rest aint small.

They have been working with 2 different groups which is even more impressive. Some clips have been with Pete Bommarito over in Aventura who is a big name in the offseason/Combine prep space and also working with Torrian Wilson who runs an OL training Program. He's a former UCF player and was the OL coach at STA for a bit. Unless I missed it, I don't believe Wilson works with/for Bommarito which shows these guys are moving around to get work in.

 

[San Amaro Dr]

If Bell puts it all together, he is a top 10 draft pick. There are a few humans on Earth that big that have that potential.

I just don't think it is that simple. If Bell continues on his trajectory, he's likely getting drafted similar to Rivers this year. A top 10 pick is unrealistic imo.

 

[cway313]

Cant wait for you @cway313 to cry when he gets drafted in rounds 1-3. I swear you two would have more enjoyment if our team went 2-10 than if we won the ACC championship

I bet you **** sitting down.

 

[San Amaro Dr]

I wasn’t crazy about Markell Bell early last year. He looked stiff. I don’t think he’ll ever be a pass blocking specialist but as the year went on, he got a lot better. To the point where our most effective line featured him at tackle and Jalen Rivers (who I have always really liked) at LG.

Obviously the dude is massive but he does have good feet and balance for such a tall guy. He needs to bend with his legs and not with his waist so much.

This. He improved quite a bit because


A. It was baptism by fire (see VT film)
B. He grasps the mental part of the game quicker than he did physically (Mirabal is developing him)
C. He got away with bad reps because of sheer size (Miss me with that lame *** *** joke). He shows some physicality in the run game and you have to assume the offseason will improve some of the bend/strength issues.

 

[JHallCanes]

Cant wait for you @cway313 to cry when he gets drafted in rounds 1-3. I swear you two would have more enjoyment if our team went 2-10 than if we won the ACC championship

That’s the thing about being delusional is you don’t realize it

 

[JHallCanes]

This. He improved quite a bit because


A. It was baptism by fire (see VT film)
B. He grasps the mental part of the game quicker than he did physically (Mirabal is developing him)
C. He got away with bad reps because of sheer size (Miss me with that lame *** *** joke). He shows some physicality in the run game and you have to assume the offseason will improve some of the bend/strength issues.

Agreed. Also **** if he goes take the leap here we hope for, our OL is gonna maul people. I think Cooper bounces back that ankle injury clearly didn’t help

 

[DTP]

Imagine just saying this instead of saying he’s a potential top 10 pick based off of a workout in shorts

Surefire #1 overall pick

 

[DTP]

C. He got away with bad reps because of sheer size (Miss me with that lame *** *** joke). He shows some physicality in the run game and you have to assume the offseason will improve some of the bend/strength issues.

That’s why I’d rather take project tackles who are absolutely massive over 6’2” guys who should be playing center. At the very least, just get in the way on pass plays. You don’t have to stonewall a dude but being huge means it’s going to take that extra half second for the defender to get around you. Half a second in the pocket is significant.

 

[JHallCanes]

Surefire #1 overall pick

Good case study for Mario and Mirabal as well. I know they’ve turned a huge weakness into a strength the last few years but some of these projects they’ve brought in are still question marks

If they can mold him into a high draft pick that’s a nice feather in the cap

 

[Odysseus]

His quickness and length covers so much dam ground it's just wild. He can completely erase speed rushers out of the game

 

[DC3]

Bell is 6'9/350+ and can move. Even if he plays average, his size a lone will put him in a position to get drafted at a good spot

define “can move” cuz I disagree. He missed multiple assignments in the screen game last year when he couldn’t get to his guy.

 

[DC3]

He just needs to get good enough to be an average ACC tackle, anything more is a bonus.

I have enough faith in the coaches to make that happen.

 

[IndayArtHauz]

Here is why I’m bullish on Bell and not writing him off yet like many on CIS have and already declared him trash. Ya’ll may disagree, and that’s fine. I welcome the discussion. We have seen this exact same story before with Rivers. What many of you are saying now, is the exact same thing many said about Rivers prior to the 2023 season, myself included. Well, we were all wrong. “He doesn’t have the feet for Tackle”. “I don’t like him on the outside and he isn’t an LT”. We saw Rivers playing LT in the spring game and thought that 2023 would be a disaster with him protecting TVD. He got beat like a drum against our own guys in the Spring game, even some backups and guys who have done nothing here. I can literally go back and pull posts from each of you mimicking that we are in trouble at LT following the Spring game and all summer leading up to Miami-OH, again myself included. But what happened? He not only had a tremendous 2023 season that NOBODY on CIS predicted, but he was our best and most consistent OL that year along with Lee. OL is the ONE position that this staff has shown the ability to mold some clay and develop someone and make them better YoY. Not edge, not LB, not S, none of that. Francis took a huge step this year after being a liability at times his FR season with the holding penalties and was by far our best OL this season and will be a R1 pick if his play sustains. Anez had a rough year compared to Y1 and Y2, but overall look what they have done with that kid after signing him as an overweight low 3*. Why is it hard to fathom that this kid can take a step as well from Y1 to Y2? He had some really good moments this year, and some not so good moments this year. That can be built upon. Also, the difference between Bell and Rivers is Bell actually has a **** ton of valuable experience now after playing LT this season compared to Rivers, who NEVER played LT at UM before we threw him out there against Miami OH in September of 2023. He had only played LG here at UM. I just think maybe, just maybe we should see if Mirabal can get the kid better over a full off season that includes Spring and Fall practices against our group, no? Who knows, maybe the kid does work to improve on his own to get stronger in his lower half and a bit more agile too. Again, it’s just too early to write him off after one season at the one position I actually trust this staff to coach kids up at, JMO. I’m not saying he will be a R1 pick, I just think it’s premature to write him off after we literally did the same thing 2 years ago with Rivers was our best LT since who, Flowers?

bruh this paragraph is 6’9” lol did not reed did not he could be ok tho frfr

 

[Bird4um]

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