2002: 50 Total Tackles - 37 Solo, 13 ASSTs, 4 Sacks, 6 Stuffs. 0 FFs, 0 INTs, 2 PDs.
A high-ankle sprain early in the season hampered Kendrell in 2002 although he still was elected to an alternate position for the Pro Bowl. He missed 4 straight regular season games and was unable to play shortly into the January playoff game against Tennessee. It was hoped that Kendrell would become a force as a rush end in the dime defense, and the nagging ankle injury perhaps prevented that strategy from seeing its full fruition. Considering the games he missed, and the nature of a high-ankle sprain, his season stats are impressive and Steeler fans can be assured that the RILB will continue to make big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Kendrell finished the season strong, with 4 sacks in 3 games. At Tampa in December, he had 5 solo tackles with 2 stuffs for losses, and also a recovered fumble. After leaving the Baltimore game early, he made an amazing comeback for the January playoff game against Cleveland, with 9 tackles - 8 of them solo and 2.5 for losses.
For the 2001 draft, the Steelers were in strong need of a RILB and traded up to take Bell as the 8th pick of the second round. At Georgia, Bell had earned himself a reputation as a ferocious and quick hitter who could fight off the largest of blockers, but perhaps even the Steelers were surprised at just how well he was able to win a starting position by the first game of the 2001 season and play at an All-Pro level in the NFL. Kendrell wound up receiving the Joe Greene Award as defensive rookie and was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (the first Steelers player to earn the award since Jack Lambert in 1974), The Sporting News Defensive Rookie of the Year, and an Associated Press second-team All Pro selection. Bell was a first-alternate selection to the 2002 Pro Bowl and was added to the roster as a "need player". For two consectutive months he was the NFL Rookie of the Month (October and November). At Georgia, Bell had a brilliant career with 153 tackles (95 solos), seven quarterback sacks, 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage, five forced fumbles, and 14 quarterback pressures. He was a 2000 All-American Dream Team choice by The Sports Xchange and an All-Southeastern Conference second-team pick by the league's coaches. |
