Thoughts on the Bell/Harrison trade
What does the Eagles' trade of Mike Bell for Jerome Harrison mean for the running back situation? Here's my take.
Thoughts on the Bell/Harrison trade
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The Eagles announced this afternoon that they've traded running back Mike Bell to the Browns for running back Jerome Harrison.
The Birds signed Bell in the offseason as a restricted free agent, but he was never able to get things going. Bell was hampered by injuries during training camp. In five games, he carried 16 times for 28 yards. The Eagles' coaching staff clearly did not trust him to fill in for LeSean McCoy. Bell averaged 8.8 plays per game in the first five weeks of the season.
Last week, with McCoy playing with a fractured rib, Bell was only on the field for seven of 60 offensive snaps (11.7 percent). McCoy, meanwhile, was on the field for over 83 percent of the snaps.
Which brings us to Harrison. The Eagles desperately need someone to fill two roles at running back:
1. Complement McCoy.
2. Fill in for McCoy if he is injured.
That's the role Bell was supposed to fill. And that's the role the Eagles expect Harrison to fill.
McCoy has played over 81 percent of the snaps in each of the Eagles' five games. Last year, he averaged 12.2 touches per game. This year, he's averaging 19.2 touches per game. Last year, McCoy averaged 9.7 carries; this year, 13.6.
Harrison, 27, was a fifth-round pick by the Browns out of Washington State in 2006. Last year, he carried 194 times for 862 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He scored five times and fumbled twice. Harrison also caught 34 balls for 220 yards and had a pair of receiving touchdowns.
During his career, Harrison has carried 302 times for 1,401 yards, while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also has 61 receptions for 444 yards.
Last year, Harrison had 23 carries of 10 yards or more, tied for 18th-most in the NFL. Interesting stat that I'm not sure what to make of: Harrison averaged 5.1 yards per carry in the second halves of games. That was eighth-best in the league.
Almost all of his success came in the final three games. Harrison carried 34 times for 286 yards against the Chiefs in Week 15; 39 times for 148 yards in Week 16 against the Raiders; and 33 times for 127 yards against the Jaguars in Week 17.
This year, though, he's seen limited action, carrying 31 times for 91 yards, while fumbling once.
It's difficult to be critical of the Eagles for the trade, although it's fair to be critical of the signing in the first place.
If Harrison can play, the Eagles get a guy who can fill the two roles mentioned above. If he can't, they have to hope McCoy stays healthy and doesn't wear down. Then the Eagles will have to target a second running back in the offseason. The others currently on the roster are: Eldra Buckley and Joique Bell.
Earlier today, I posted the weekly What about Kolb? analysis.
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thoughts on the trade? i thought we were done signing castoffs from crappy teams and hoping they can fill a void on the cheap- Thought on the trade: can Jerome Harrison possibly play wore than Mike Bell was playing?! The Mike Bell that we received only excelled at falling down. It was as if some time last season Mike Bell stopped being a decent running back and started just falling down. I would not be the slightest bit surprised to find out that Bell has developed a balance disorder.— knighn
- Why would Cleveland make this deal? What's wrong with Harrison?— davimcg
- I think Banner made this trade to save $12— ArtieLange
- Bell was certainly not living up to expectations, this even-up trade can't really hurt us. If he produces better than Bell did for the rest of the season then it was certainly a good move.
- Great trade this guy is a good hard runner.— Murrayag11
- In the SI agent article, Josh Luchs says he was still representing two "loyal" clients. Is Mike Bell one of them? If he is, isn't that convenient that the Eagles are moving that potential controversy?— mifunk
- Bell showed nothing with the Eagles. I'm glad he's gone! The Eagles should have gone after LT.— Norm3
- Don't expect much of an improvement. And I guess they don't have ANY faith in Eldra Buckley. I thought he ran hard, found cracks and exploited them well, and caught the ball decently, and also picked up the blitz like a back should. So what's wrong with him Andy?— TBear
- There is actually no possibility that Harrison could do worse. Even if he didn't play, it would be an improvement over Bell. What troubles me is that when talented running backs like Marshawn Lynch were available, the Birds only gave a passing glance. Why did they think they didn't need him? Someone like Lynch could have been an actual compliment to McCoy in running styles and could have been the answer to the ever illusive Eagle 3rd and 1.— etrigbro
- Re ArtieLange: Great comment. Joey Nickles is alwaysquick to pinch that corparate penny. I wonder why it is the Eagles have one of the lowest payrolls, but sell out every game, and have a fan base more loyal than Dallas and New York combined. Only team that stands in it's own way more is San Diego.— papabear702
- Excuse me; corporate. My apology for the grammatical error.— papabear702
- More on point; I don't expect this trade to do anything to change where this team is going. Defence needs to correct all the mental mistakes, o-line needs to retire now, Kolb needs to find DJax, and Andy Reid needs to put down the cheesesteak. Look how much weight Rex Ryan has lost since becoming coach of the Jets, why can't the big guy do the same.— papabear702
- Can't argue with the trade, but if Cleveland let Harrison go it means they don't expect him to shine, there or here. Hope he can repeat what he did at the end of 2009.— tacklinjoe
- @papabear702 - I'm sick of the "Eagles don't pay their team" nonsense. Do you know what team has the highest salary in the NFL? Oakland! As a matter of fact, a lot of pretty bad teams are paying more this year, including the Cowboys, Browns, and 49's. And New England is second from the bottom (and KC is the lowest)! So, I'm not sure your argument holds much water. Do you seriously want an owner like Daniel Snyder or Jerry Jones that throw money around with no results? I don't!
Leave the player scouting to the pro's and just watch the game like the rest of us, or move to DC!— gdibig
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