Gase finally catches on about Le’Veon

Adam Gase evidently awoke from a year-and-a-half long slumber to discover that Le’Veon Bell has a lot to offer. Only time will tell whether the Jets head coach’s Tuesday revelation is real or just the latest in a string of empty words, but it was encouraging to think about the possibilities.

Bell has flashed his pass-catching prowess lately, reminding the playcaller he’s hardly a one-trick pony. Although you’d have to be stranded on an island with a deflated volleyball not to already know Bell has been one of the game’s most versatile running backs for the past decade, better late than never, right?

“I feel like we can find better ways to get him the ball to help him create more explosive plays,” Gase said Tuesday after practice. “We can get him in space better than what we did last year. I think there was a lot of good that he did in the receiving game last year. But I don’t think we ever really gave him enough space to work. Because that’s his game. If he gets space to work, he’s going to make a guy miss… I think we really got to use the whole gamut and find as many different ways to get him the ball in space as possible.”

The obvious reaction to that sentiment: Duh.

Anyone blessed with the power of sight already knew Bell was a difference maker as a runner and pass catcher for five seasons in Pittsburgh. It was why he sat out the entire 2018 season in the first place. He fashioned himself as an offensive weapon more than simply a running back.

And he was right.

Bell racked up 312 receptions for 2,660 yards in 62 regular-season games with the Steelers. Perhaps Gase would have been wise to pop in tape of Bell’s final game in Pittsburgh, when he hauled in nine catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.

Gase admitted the string of injuries to Jets’ skill position players this summer prompted him to explore other options.

That’s a smart move.

For all of Gase’s stubbornness and arrogance, he should be lauded for getting out of his comfort zone with Bell. Sure, the obvious move from the moment Bell arrived last year would have been to use his gifts better as a pass catcher, but you can’t go back in time.

So, Gase’s recent deployment of Bell as a receiver is a step in the right direction.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, so it’s unrealistic to expect growth from Gase without a hint of snark. So, when asked about whether he believed there was more meat on the bone for Bell despite his 66 catches last season, the head coach quipped: “So you’re saying he touched the ball a lot last year?… I was just checking.”

However, smart football observers will tell you the number of Bell’s receptions isn’t nearly as important as the quality of them. Fifty-five of Bell’s 66 catches last season came out of the backfield, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Bell averaged 8.5 yards per catch in five seasons with Pittsburgh before dropping to 7.0 in his first season with Gase (an 18% decline).

“We’re trying to do a couple things that maybe we haven’t done before or he hasn’t done before,” Gase said. “Or some things that really weren’t in the early parts of the install. We’ve gotten pretty deep and gotten those guys involved. Obviously since we’re down to (a) limited (number of ) backs as well, we thought kind of really kick it into gear with some of the passing game things with the back… This was a good time to do it.”

“He can see his route tree really expanding and we keep trying new stuff,” Gase continued on Bell. “If he likes it, we make sure we run that again. If he doesn’t like something, we’ll throw that thing away.”

That’s a solid approach. Good coaches adapt and adjust.

Gase’s words reflect flexibility, but we heard similar stances from him last year about other players (see: Robby Anderson).

“He can be a game breaker,” wide receiver Jamison Crowder said of Bell. “You can get him out there in space against linebackers. He can catch and make plays just as well as a receiver… He can do this thing in the backfield obviously.”

“He’s definitely going to be a guy that opens it up for all of us,” Crowder continued. “Le’Veon is that guy. He’s the guy that’s going to make plays for us in the backfield or pass catching. If he really gets in a groove and plays how everyone knows he can, he’s really going to be the guy that defenses tune in on to open it up for tight ends and receivers and whoever else.”

Bell’s gifts were obvious long before he signed with the Jets. Gase sounds like he finally understands that.

But nobody truly knows whether this is simply more of the coach’s verbal shenanigans or a sea change.

If it’s real, then Gase will be lauded in due time.