Rams agree on terms with bell.

[RamFan_Til_I_Die]

Rams sign Jacob Bell
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/03/2008


The Rams took what they feel is a substantial step towards upgrading their offensive line, agreeing to terms early Monday evening with Tennessee Titans free-agent guard Jacob Bell. It's a six-year deal; contract terms weren't immediately available.
Bell, who started three of his four seasons with Tennessee, visited Rams Park on Monday. He will be the Rams’ starting left guard next season, moving into the spot occupied by Mark Setterstrom at the start of 2007..

Left guard has been a trouble spot for Rams over the past few seasons because of injuries and other factors. Since the start of the 2004 season, 11 players have started at least one game at the position for St. Louis.

Health permitting, Bell could be a fixture there for years. A fifth-round draft pick by the Titans in 2004 out of Miami (Ohio), Bell has missed only two games in four seasons with Tennessee. He missed one game at the end of his rookie season with a torn knee ligament, and was inactive for a 2006 contest with a toe injury.

Overall, he has played in 55 regular-season games for Tennessee, including 46 starts. Forty-three of those starts have come at left guard, and three at right tackle. In 2005, his only season where he wasn’t a full-time starter, Bell also saw some duty at left tackle.

According to team officials, Bell was the highest-rated offensive guard on their free-agency board. But the Rams went after Pittsburgh’s Alan Faneca first because of the veteran leadership they thought he could bring to the club. But Faneca signed with the New York Jets instead.

Although not known as a power blocker, coach Scott Linehan liked the way Bell blocked against Carolina’s Kris Jenkins and Jacksonville’s Marcus Stroud and John Henderson last season. Bell held his own against those big, powerful defensive tackles.

[laram0]

This is great news. How much did he cost us?

Does this mean we are definitely going DE with our 1st pick in the draft?

[General Ram]

Rams agreed to terms on a six-year contract with LG Jason Bell.

He's likely getting about $4 million a year. Bell, 26, is only 6'4/295, but is considered sound technically and was part of a good Titans line. Of course, he was flanked by two elite players, C Kevin Mawae and LT Michael Roos.
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch

[Wolf]

If he can handle his own against Stroud, Henderson, etc. he should have no problem throwing out some defensive line players on Seattle, Whiners, and Cards

[Chris58]

Of course, he was flanked by two elite players, C Kevin Mawae and LT Michael Roos.
[/COLOR][/U][/URL]

Nice to hear Roos, a former Eastern Washington University Eagle, referred to as an elite lineman. He was a real stud when he wore the Eagle uniform.

[Rambos]

Thats two starters in FA were done. Nice job FO, if it's Chris Long great, if it's Jake we have a very solid line with depth.

[r8rh8rmike]

Somewhere, Marc Bulger is smiling.

[Nick]

Excellent signing, now everyone can calm down a bit about free agency. You also have to wonder how this affects the draft, because one of the appeals of Jake Long was his ability to immediately play at guard. Now that we've signed a starting guard in free agency, that's one less place Long could make an immediate impact. Food for thought.

[Rambos]

2007 (16/16/0/0)

WEEK 1 at Jacksonville (9/9): Started at left guard in a 13-10 opening day victory … Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Titans’ rushers to gain 282 rushing yards, the second-highest total in franchise history.

WEEK 2 vs. Indianapolis (9/16): Started at left guard and was part of an offensive line that allowed Titans’ ball carriers to gain 141 rushing yards on 34 carries (4.1 avg.)
WEEK 3 at New Orleans (9/24): Started at left guard and was a member of an offensive front that did not allow a sack on 26 pass attempts in a 31-14 victory on Monday Night Football.

WEEK 4 vs. Atlanta (10/7): Started at left guard and was a part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 33 pass attempts in the Titans’ 20-13 win.


WEEK 5 at Tampa Bay (10/14): Started at left guard.



WEEK 6 at Houston (10/21): Started at left guard … Member of an offensive line that open holes for Titans’ rushers to gain 155 rushing yards in the Titans’ thrilling 38-36 victory over the Texans … Part of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 42 pass attempts.

WEEK 7 vs. Oakland (10/28): Started at left guard and was a member of an offensive line that paved the way for Tennessee ball carriers to gain 192 rushing yards on 36 carries (5.3 avg.) in the Titans’ 13-9 win.

WEEK 8 vs. Carolina (11/4): Started at left guard … Part of an offensive front that opened holes for Titans’ rushers to gain 140 yards on the ground in the Titans’ 20-7 victory over the Panthers.

WEEK 9 vs. Jacksonville (11/11): Started at left guard.

WEEK 10 at Denver (11/19): Started at left guard and was a member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 41 pass attempts, while allowing Vince Young to throw for a career-best 305 passing yards.

WEEK 11 at Cincinnati (11/25): Started at left guard and was a part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack in 31 pass attempts.

WEEK 12 vs. Houston (12/2): Started at left guard and was a part of an offensive line that opened holes for Titans’ rushers to gain 153 yards on 29 carries (5.3 avg.) in the Titans’ 28-20 victory

WEEK 13 vs. San Diego (12/9): Started at left guard but left the game in the first half with an injury.

WEEK 14 at Kansas City (12/16): Started at left guard in the Titans’ 26-17 road victory … Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Titans’ rushers to gain 148 yards on 36 carries … Part of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 26 pass attempts.

WEEK 15 vs. N.Y. Jets (12/23): Started at left guard and was a member of an offensive front that allowed Titans’ ball carriers to amass 127 rushing yards on 36 carries in the Titans’ 10-6 win.

WEEK 16 at Indianapolis (12/30): Started at left guard … Part of an offensive line that opened holes and provided protection allowing the offense to gain 356 total yards in the Titans’ 16-10 playoff-clinching victory.

2007 Postseason (1/1/0/0)

Wild-Card Weekend at San Diego (1/6): Started at left guard and was a member of an offensive front that opened holes for Titans’ ball carriers to gain 119 rushing yards.

[evil disco man]

This is great! I honestly thought he was just using other teams as leverage and would end up being re-signed with the Titans. Good move, Devaney. He might not ever reach Faneca's level of play, but I'd rather have Bell anyway, as he comes much younger and much cheaper.

:l

-jake-

[Varg6]

Is this guy going to be starting or what?

[THOLTFAN81]

Honestly, this offseason went from a bust, to a good one IMO. We snagged a quality OG and a great kicker. And theres talk about a trade. Lets hope my boy "DRC" falls into our laps in round 2 and we grab him

[Rambos]

that's one less place Long could make an immediate impact. Food for thought

Nick you think it's asking too much for Jake Long to move inside and also play right guard?

[Nick]

Is this guy going to be starting or what?

He will be the Rams’ starting left guard next season, moving into the spot occupied by Mark Setterstrom at the start of 2007..

It would appear so.

Honestly, this offseason went from a bust, to a good one IMO.

Not really, because no one should have been so eager to label this offseason a bust 3-4 days into free agency.

Lets hope my boy "DRC" falls into our laps in round 2 and we grab him

No way he's there barring maybe breaking his leg or something major.

Nick you think it's asking too much for Jake Long to move inside and also play right guard?

I don't think it's asking too much, but Bell's signing has reduced the number of jobs Long could compete for. We still don't have a starting DE opposite of Little, so we'll have to see what develops there.

[Varg6]

It would appear so.

<33 Nick lol hahaha

Sounds good, I can't wait to see the dude play.