Running backs tote their teams’ hopes in AFC battle
Dolphin’s Ajayi, Steelers’ Bell coming off nearly identical seasons
Numerically, Le’Veon Bell and Jay Ajayi had nearly identical regular seasons. At least in terms of their primary function as runners.
Bell ran 261 times for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns. Fab stats, especially considering the Pittsburgh running back missed the Steelers’ first three games because of a drug suspension.
Ajayi only occasionally touched the ball for the Miami Dolphins in 2015 as a rookie and again this past September and early October. His totals to that point in his career: 80 carries for 304 yards.
But with a 204-yard breakout performance in Miami’s 30-15 throttling of Pittsburgh on Oct. 16 — then the third highest single-game rushing total in Dolphins history — Ajayi smashed his way into the realm of NFL elites.
He followed that up with two even better games, 212 yards a week later against the Buffalo Bills and 206 on Christmas Eve against the same Bills. Ajayi finished the regular season with one less carry than Bell (260), but four more yards gained (1,272) and one more rushing score (eight).
Ajayi’s average gain per carry on the season (4.892) also edged Bell’s (4.858).
So why is it that Bell is considered the far more dangerous player when the Dolphins plays the Steelers Sunday at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field in the second of two AFC wildcard playoff games?
It’s because Bell is a great receiver, too. In his fourth year, he’s just as likely to slice up a defence on the end of a Ben Roethlisberger pass as on a simple handoff.
Whereas Ajayi caught 27 passes for 151 yards and zero touchdowns in 2016, Bell snagged almost three times as many passes (75) for 616 yards and two TDs.
“He just does so many things,” Roethlisberger said of Bell this week. “I think he’s the kind of a back that has a little bit of a lot of people in him. You know, the hard running, the finesse, the catching balls. So we could spend all day trying to figure out who he reminds us of. But as long as he’s the best L-Bell, then we’re all happy.”
In October’s game, the Miami linebacker tasked most often with covering Bell out of the backfield was Jelani Jenkins.
“He did a fine job,” Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Vance Joseph said. “(Bell) is a chore to cover in the pass game.”
But Jenkins has been out since Week 15 with a knee injury, was limited in practice this week and is questionable for Sunday.
“Obviously, that’s a big role this week, getting Bell covered in the pass game,” Joseph said.
As for Ajayi, he knows the Steelers will be centring their defensive preparations on him this time, as opposed to last.
“That Steelers game, it was kind of like my first time getting a good workload at running back,” Ajayi said. “It was a good day for us; for me personally as well. I have the confidence that I can have a game like that (again).”
But Steelers defenders were embarrassed when they left Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in October. They’re vowing Ajayi won’t run wild on them again.