‘Don’t care what analytics says’ – Ex-NFL star says ‘X Factor’ duo have started new era for pass-heavy league
The days of running backs leading teams to glory were supposed to be over.
Rule changes ushered in a new pass-heavy era for the NFL as quarterbacks took center stage.
The last non-QB to be crowned MVP was Minnesota Vikings legend Adrian Peterson, who rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2012.
But defenses have adapted and the popular two-high safety formation has helped shut down explosive passing attacks.
Many teams have sought to save at the running back position, with contracts tumbling for all but an elite group.
But Jason Bell thinks the tides are turning – and Sunday’s clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles is a perfect example.
Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were both discarded by their former teams last season only to sign for contenders and prove why they deserve the big bucks.
Both have already topped 1,300 yards this season and Barkley has risen to third in the bookies’ odds for MVP behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
“This is absolutely the way the NFL is headed. What I love about this is not only how they’re performing, showing that I don’t care what your position is. If you’re an X-factor player, you should be treated differently and looked at differently. I don’t care what the analytics say,” Bell told talkSPORT.
“Both of these people (Henry and Barkley) are X-factor players. Now, the game we’ve seen is all about throwing the ball and all that kind of stuff. Defenses have adjusted. Guess what teams are having success?
“The teams that have went back to the norm and run the football can take over the game, running the ball. And these two players do that.
“The reason these two teams are having the success they are is they can wear you down in the beginning with the run game and close out the game with the run game. And both their runners can crack explosive plays down the field.
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“If you want to take away the pass, like most teams are doing, and it’s a numbers game, we got a guy that can take advantage of that. And these two players can. If you’re going to have success, when you look at 49ers, what they did last year, it was Christian McCaffrey and what he was able to do and accomplish. When you look at the Super Bowl champions, Isaiah Pacheco and his explosive run ability, the running back position matters.
“If you don’t have one, you are at a disadvantage as an offense. And these guys are showing that. They get stronger as the game progresses. That’s what I love about them.”
Bell played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and New York Giants.
He thinks that plays like Barkley’s gravity-defying backwards hurdle impact defenses in a way the numbers just won’t show.
“When your running back is making explosive plays, running guys over, breaking tackles, jumping over people backwards, do you know what that does? That ignites your sideline. Because ever since we were kids, guess who the best person really was on the field? The running back,” he added.
“Because when you’re young, the quarterbacks aren’t that polished. It’s the running back. And so when you got one of those players, it does something different. And they are having success because of that.
“I’m telling you, the Dallas Cowboys wish they would have had Derrick Henry. It would be a completely different team early on in the season.
“But now with him teamed up with Lamar Jackson, you’re looking at the Baltimore Ravens thinking this team could be in the Super Bowl and win it.”
Bell thinks it is time for superstar running backs to get the credit they deserve.
“It’s because of the priority put on the position of the quarterback. And all you gotta look at is gambling and casinos, they rate positions by value. Quarterback’s always up there,” he added.
“If the quarterback’s out, you look at your team and you think, man, they don’t have a chance unless you have a Superman X factor at the position.
“It’s like when Adrian Peterson won. He was so dominant in what he did. I do think it needs to be looked at differently and the voters need to do that.
“Because when you think about it, who on their team, if you remove them, they wouldn’t be the same. And when you look at what Saquon’s doing, he allows them to do everything else. I know Jalen Hurts has to throw the ball, but it starts with that running game.
“I know wide receivers are a little different at times, you can have your outliers there, but definitely running back and quarterbacks.
“I think that that would just bring more value to the position as a whole if they got that kind of notoriety.”
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