They’re not the most recognizable records in franchise history; two of them aren’t even listed in the Steelers media guide. But maybe that will change in the future because Le’Veon Bell is doing things on the field no other running back in team history has.
Bell is on pace to set three franchise records this season. He is on pace for 2,144 yards from scrimmage, which would break the season record Barry Foster set in 1992 when he totaled 2,034 yards (a team-record 1,690 yards rushing as well as 344 yards receiving).
Bell also is on pace to set the franchise records for most receptions for a back in a season and most receiving yards for a back in a season. Bell has 36 receptions and is on pace for 82, which would shatter the record John L. Williams (51) set in 1994. He has 339 receiving yards for a pace of 775 by season’s end. Ray Mathews set record for most receiving yards in a season by a running back with 762 in 1955.
Bell is the NFL’s third-leading rusher with 599 yards, but the Steelers value him as a receiver so much that he is the first option on some of their passing plays. Coach Mike Tomlin called Bell’s 43-yard reception in the second quarter Monday night against the Houston Texans one of the biggest plays of the game because it netted a first down on third-and-8 from deep in Steelers territory. It also set up the first points of the game for the Steelers, who trailed, 13-0, at the time.
The play was called for Bell, who ran an option route and made the correct read to beat linebacker Brian Cushing. Later in the quarter, Bell gained 28 yards on a screen pass that set up the Steelers’ first touchdown one play later.
For the game, Bell had eight receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown. For the season, he is the team’s second-leading receiver in yards and catches.
“When your quarterback leans on you to make a play, I’m going to go out there and make a play for him,” Bell said. “I’m confident enough to let him know he can come to me whenever.”
And Roethlisberger does. He has targeted Bell more than anyone except Antonio Brown. Bell has 43 targets and 36 receptions.
“I don’t even think we’ve used him to his full potential,” Roethlisberger said. “We did one series of no-huddle [against Houston]. When we go no-huddle and I’m calling the plays, I like to get him out in empty sets because I can utilize him in mismatches. So I think that the best is yet to come for him.”
Other NFL teams are using their running backs more in the passing game, too. Matt Forte of Chicago is on pace to break the NFL record for receptions by a back in a season. He has 52 through seven games. The record is held by Larry Centers, who caught 101 passes in 1995 for Arizona. Forte could become only the third back in league history to reach 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. The others to do it were Roger Craig in 1985 with San Francisco and Marshall Faulk in 1999 with St. Louis.
The Indianapolis Colts, the Steelers opponent Sunday at Heinz Field, use Ahmad Bradshaw as their top target in the red zone. He has six receiving touchdowns in the first seven weeks. No running back in league history has ever caught double-digit touchdown passes in a season.
“In our case, we have a guy that is a really good player out of the backfield or lined up out there [at receiver],” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “I said it in training camp. Last year we got a lot of mileage throwing the ball to Le’Veon Bell, but I didn’t think we were really getting anything but the tip of the iceberg because he has such real ability as a receiver.
“You want to be handing off the ball as much as you can, but at the same time, some of the best matchups throughout a game are him on certain individuals. He definitely has the skill to make those plays. We are just going to keep working and keep pushing him. Hopefully he just keeps getting better.”
Tomlin famously said in 2007 he was going to ride running back Willie Parker until his “wheels fell off.” It turned out to be prophetic. Parker was on pace for 367 touches in 2007 (one year after getting 368 touches in 2006) before he was injured in the 15th week of the season against St. Louis and was lost for the remainder of the season.
Foster had 426 touches in 1992, the year he set the record for yards from scrimmage. Parker and Foster did not play past the age of 29.
Bell is on pace for 350 touches this season, but he is not worried about taking too many hits.
“I guess I don’t really take the direct hits,” Bell said. “I have a better understanding of when to get down and when to deliver punishment, when to juke and shake or when I have to lower my head. There were a lot of times last year I was taking direct hits and I’d be sore after the game.
“This year I’m perfectly fine. I don’t get hit on my legs too much.”
First Published: October 25, 2014, 4:00 a.m.
