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Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints Vonn Bell looked like a finished product the first time he stepped on the field for Ridgeland High in the northwest corner of Georgia. At least to the untrained eye. Bell, a junior ...

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Old 05-22-2016, 03:53 PM   #1
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Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints
Vonn Bell looked like a finished product the first time he stepped on the field for Ridgeland High in the northwest corner of Georgia.

At least to the untrained eye. Bell, a junior transfer from the Chattanooga area, racked up somewhere between 10 and 15 tackles, picked off a pass, even scooped up a fumble and raced for a score that gave Ridgeland a chance in a 17-14 loss to Adairsville.

Bell seemed like the bright, breakout star on a disappointing night for the Panthers.

Imagine the young safety’s shock when found out a day or two later that he’d graded out at a 38 for the game.

“I’ve been coaching for 32 years, and he was one of the best athletes I’d ever seen, but he wasn’t a great football player when he walked on campus,” former Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said. “There were so many little things he was doing wrong.”

Bell sat down to watch the film in shock. The numbers didn’t seem to match.

Then the Ridgeland coaches showed Bell the mistakes he’d made: Bad angles, letting his eyes drift to the wrong part of the field, blown coverages that Bell had made look good by using his freakish physical gifts to recover. Bell, only a junior at the time, took the criticism in stride.

“I tell you that story,” Mariakis said, “because from that day on, he was a sponge.”

‘He soaked it all up’

‘You can’t coach those things’
Bell’s physical gifts were more than worthy of all the attention he earned in the recruiting process. Plenty of talented players find themselves stuck on the sideline in order to mature. The remarkable thing about Bell’s slow starts at Ridgeland and Ohio State is that he was capable of contributing through the growing pains.

“By the time his junior year ended, he was a coach on the field,” Mariakis said. “He was so hungry to learn.”

Bell opened his Ohio State career as a nickel covering in the slot, and although he had trouble with Sammy Watkins in Ohio State’s 40-35 loss to Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl, he also came away with seven tackles and the first interception of his career.

Under Ash’s tutelage, Bell became an All-American, the physical, energizing heart of a defense that dominated the NFL draft at the end of April.

“Pound-for-pound, the toughest player we had at Ohio State on the defense, and that includes Joey Bosa, Darron Lee, all those guys,” Ash said.

Rest: A 'sponge' you say? Rookie Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge quickly with Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana
This kid is gonna be a star!
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Old 05-22-2016, 04:09 PM   #2
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Probably the pick I'm most excited about from the 2016 draft!
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Old 05-22-2016, 04:26 PM   #3
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Originally Posted by dizzle88 View Post
Probably the pick I'm most excited about from the 2016 draft!

Tough one for me. I love the Rankins pick, but DT's aren't very sexy and their stats often go unnoticed. He may have a great game and not record a single tackle or sack. QB's see pressure up the gut and avoid it by throwing it too early or backing up into an OLB sack. Often the only time they get the glory is in film review with teammates and coaches who know who really caused the sack.

Thomas is in that unenviable position that if he doesn't look like a 25 year old Marques Colston right away, people are gonna whine about it. I personally love this pick but he'll probably struggle early as most WR's do.

I think Bell is going to be that ballhawk we haven't had since Darren Shraper. He'll either play right away, or at least force Byrd to earn it. Thats a win-win.

Oneyamata is your typical late round project with freakish upside. You just can't tell about those guys. Excited but guarded.

Lasco... I'm still surprised he lasted so long. But I guess the devaluation of RB's extends past the 1st round as well. I think by year end he'll be our #2 RB.
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Old 05-22-2016, 04:50 PM   #4
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

We currently have a great free safety who is rendered worthless by a sub-par front seven... Such will be the fate of Bell unless Dennis Allen and this defensive coaching staff turns things around.
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Old 05-22-2016, 04:53 PM   #5
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Originally Posted by Danno View Post
Tough one for me. I love the Rankins pick, but DT's aren't very sexy and their stats often go unnoticed. He may have a great game and not record a single tackle or sack. QB's see pressure up the gut and avoid it by throwing it too early or backing up into an OLB sack. Often the only time they get the glory is in film review with teammates and coaches who know who really caused the sack.

Thomas is in that unenviable position that if he doesn't look like a 25 year old Marques Colston right away, people are gonna whine about it. I personally love this pick but he'll probably struggle early as most WR's do.

I think Bell is going to be that ballhawk we haven't had since Darren Shraper. He'll either play right away, or at least force Byrd to earn it. Thats a win-win.

Oneyamata is your typical late round project with freakish upside. You just can't tell about those guys. Excited but guarded.

Lasco... I'm still surprised he lasted so long. But I guess the devaluation of RB's extends past the 1st round as well. I think by year end he'll be our #2 RB.
Agreed!

If Rankins doesn't do well statistically it isn't the end of the world, if he can consistently break the pocket and force an errant throw or allow the linebackers to make tackles for a loss then he's already a huge upgrade over what we have already.

I feel for Thomas, people say he's Colston's replacement and it's not really fair, he needs to be given time to forge his own identity. His attitude so far speaks volumes though and if he committs to staying after practice with Brees he will make strides very quickly.

Onyemata - played against lower level competition but dominated, looks like a man amongst boys playing where he did.

A lot was said that the only reason Lasco dropped so far was a lingering hip issue, if you watch the way he runs the guy really brings it and as soon as he catches a swing pass you see why Payton likes him.

I really think Byrd will be pushed by Bell, not straight away but he'll earn his way onto the field after playing in 3rd and long situations.

Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ
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Old 05-24-2016, 07:12 PM   #6
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

I lived in Chattanooga and he's from the area. I wonder where? Just another reason to pull for him.
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Old 05-24-2016, 11:08 PM   #7
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Sheldon Rankins Rookie Mini Camp Interview

For those who may have missed this interview w/Rankins. Low key dude but I bet once he gets it down with reps... nasty, smash mouth mauler we have been missing in the trenches.
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Old 05-25-2016, 12:40 AM   #8
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Is it to eary to get excited.
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Old 05-25-2016, 08:25 PM   #9
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

Hell Yeah let's get excited.
Another quality DL to solidify our Front four
Colston replacement end zone threat we lacked last yr.
Ball hawk difference maker in coverage
D.O as I like to,call him Will play DE and might be just what the doc ordered
Lasco will make the club on ST. min

I can see three starters in this group. That's Exciting.
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Old 05-25-2016, 09:50 PM   #10
 
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Re: Vonn Bell soaking up knowledge with Saints

I'm looking forward to his soaking up a plethora of interceptions!!!
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