Can Yeremiah Bell Help the Cardinals?

Oct 14, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donnie Avery (11) is tackled by New York Jets strong safety Yeremiah Bell (37) during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aristide Economopoulos/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Yeremiah Bell comes to the Arizona Cardinals attempting to fill some pretty big shoes at strong safety. At six feet tall, 205 pounds, Bell is a 35 year old pro bowl veteran that the Cardinals hope can add some stability to a defensive backfield that will have three new starters, which leaves Patrick Petersen as the only returning starter. Last year’s starters William Gay, Kerry Rhodes, and Adrian Wilson have all moved on to other teams.
Team captain and fan favorite Adrian Wilson was a cap casualty this offseason and has moved on to try and win a ring with the New England Patriots. Wilson while talented, was inconsistent the last couple of years and you never knew what you were going to get from him game to game. Bell lacks the elite skills of Wilson, but is known as a disciplined safety with strong tackling technique.
Having a strong safety that can wrap up ball handlers as the last line of defense is going to be a key to the Cardinals defense this year as they transition from Ray Horton’s blitz-heavy defense to Todd Bowles more conservative hybrid defense. Considering Bell played for Bowles in Miami as recently as 2011, the addition of Bell will assist Bowles in implementing his defense with current Cardinal players. Bell can be used as an on the field coach and will be invaluable in the development of rookies like Tyrann Mathieu.
The Cardinals hope that Mathieu can learn a new position of safety and become the playmaker they drafted him to be. Bell will play a large role in Mathieu’s development as he is ultimately being asked to groom Mathieu to take his position, as Bell only signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals this offseason. Bell may not provide the flashy hard hits that his predecessor Wilson did, but if the Cardinals defense is successful in the 2013 season, Yeremiah Bell will be a big reason for their success.