Marcus Bell has a face that belongs on a coin and a set of personal standards that
belongs on a stone tablet. He believes in rules. He believes in the sanctity and
order of things, the certainty of right and wrong. He believes in the solid feel of
effort and responsibility, the meaty heft of a job well done. Dedication is a catchy
tune he can't get out of his head.
Bell's personal composition -- call it totally
devoted and politely demented -- is perfect for his
current time and space. He believes in football to
the exclusion of nearly everything else. His team is
ranked in the Top 5. And Bell is a likely
All-America linebacker in the middle of the
Arizona defense. You can take everything on the
periphery and keep it for yourself: the media
attention, the undying love of agents, the
prospective love of women. Whatever it is, Bell's
not interested. There are weights to lift and sprints
to run and films to watch.
His role, stripped to its essence, is the most
important one on the defensive side of the football.
You can avoid a great cornerback by throwing to the other side. You can use
play-action to neutralize the head-hunting proclivities of a psychotic free safety.
But you have to deal with Bell. He is The Runstopper, the drive-killer, the rock in
the middle of an ever-changing stream. He is the difference between a two-yard
gain and a long, miserable afternoon. Given the rich heritage of The Runstopper,
it's not overkill to say a national title is at least unlikely -- and at most damn near
impossible -- without one.
They come in different forms and play in different schemes, but staunch defenders
such as Al Wilson (Tennessee), Jason Peter (Nebraska) and Steve Emtman
(Washington) are remembered for taking away the run. Their common link?
Teams don't win without them -- at least not in a way that people remember.
Look at it, for a moment, from the inverse angle. UCLA was ranked No. 2 last
season until the middle of its defense collapsed like a house of Popsicle sticks.
With a stud in the middle -- someone like Florida State's Corey Simon -- it's not
hard to imagine the Bruins standing up to Miami's Edgerrin James (299 yards in a
49-45 UCLA loss) or holding Ron Dayne to something more palatable than the
246 yards and four touchdowns he compiled in Wisconsin's Rose Bowl win.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
