Here’s the debate: Blake Bell vs. Bryce Brown
Oct. 8, 2008 @ 2:15 p.m. by Joannaby joanna
We just had this debate in the office, and it’s a good one.
If you’re handing out a player of the year award (purely hypothetical), who do you give it to? Carroll junior Blake Bell or East senior Bryce Brown?
Here’s my thoughts.
Blake Bell — He’s poised in the pocket and under pressure, he runs the offense well, he throws the long ball and short pass well, he can run, he’s got pretty qood quickness, he’s tough, and he’s highly productive, passing for 1,444 yards with 17 touchdowns and three INTs. And some have already labeled him as a for-sure dominant player at the next level.
Bryce Brown — He’s broken the City League single-season rushing record twice, he already has nearly 1,000 rushing yards this season, he’s doing it with an inexperienced offensive line, his carries have decreased some with the installation of the spread offense, he’s so fast and if he gets around end, he’s gone, or if he gets through the line of scrimmage, he’s gone. He’s so tough and he can run over defenders, run through tackles.
Here’s what works against both — While Brown has established himself over time as one of the nation’s best running backs, Bell has only been doing this for five games (also one of his impressive attributes). Brown has a tendency to fumble (this can be cured — haven’t you seen The Program?), Bell rarely turns the ball over.
So who do you pick? I’ll take Brown. But if you have to flip a coin, feel free to admit it.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Got to give it Brown, all around better athlete. Not saying anything against Bell, no doubt, he is impressive!
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October 8th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
The way I look at it, picking one over the other doesn’t mean you are dogging the other. At least, that’s not my intention.
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October 8th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I’d wait till the season is over. To the winner goes the riches. As for better all around, Bryce plays only football, Blake is one heck of a basketball player also as well as being a baseball pitcher with promise if he so desires.
Besides, different athletes, different positions, different skills but both still tops at what they do so well.
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October 8th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
All great points, but still not an answer, Hovpen.
Come on, go out on a limb. I know only five weeks have passed in the season, but put yourself out there along with me.
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October 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
If I was building a team I would take Blake Bell, and that includes building a basketball team. The kid is a great athlete and I know Bryce is fast but what else can he do besides run fast. Can he throw, can he shoot a basketball. I mean maybe if Bryce did track we could see how good of an athlete is but it hard for me to imagine saying a kid who plays one sport is a better athlete than a 3 sport athlete, probably all city in all three. Bryce is a great running back, but Bell has many other tangibles like leadership going for him and his team. It is like comparing Tom Brady and Randy Moss. Moss is great but Brady (when healthy) is the MVP of that team.
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October 8th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
We are talking football correct ? i will take Bryce Brown every day all day ! He can score on any play at any time.
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October 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Well If Bell was anywhere as close to the player Brown is I think he would be getting 200 letters a week like Brown and people drooling for him to come to their school. Bell is good no doubt but Brown is no doubt a kid that will play on SUNDAYS someday baring no injuries. Brown hands Down.
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October 8th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Bryce and older brother Arthur were both pretty good basketball players in middle school. They started focusing on football. It’s a toss-up, i like both. Bell has a lot of intangables that college coaches drool over. What Brown has over him is experience. Brown has done what he’s doing for 2-3 straight years now. This is Bell’s first full season at quarterback. I need to see this level of play next year.
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October 8th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Joanna, if I go out on a limb with you that sucker is sure to snap off.
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October 8th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Five games in and he’s All Pro NFL give me a break and Blake a break we’ll see after next year, alot can happen in that short span.
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October 8th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Just my opionon, think both are good players. But Bell has played a half dozen games or whatever, I’d have to agree with most people here that you’d have to just about be related to him or pretty close to him to pick Bell over Brown at this point in their high school careers. He looks reallly good but its just way to early to say he’s better than Bryce Brown. By the way Bryce was killing kids at basketball in middle school before he gave it up. Same with track.
INTHEDARK said you’d also take Bell if you was starting a basketball team? Do you really think he is also the best basketball player around here in high school? Just curious.
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October 8th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Bryce Brown no doubt
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October 8th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
He did score 31 on the 6A state champs last year, so I would say he is probably one of the top three returners in the area. I know there are alot of others with potential but it is hard to ignore a performance like that. All I know with football is that Bell scored 6 times against East and they won the game by a large margin. Here is a queston for you would carroll have the same record with Brown instead of Bell? Bell is my MVP but I do think that Brown is a once in a lifetime running back that we are seeing in this area. I know it is only 5 games but you have to admit Bell looks pretty good. Just my opinion.
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October 9th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Better Player - Brown
Player of the Year in the City - Bell He’s led his team to wins.
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October 9th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Brown has done it for four years, without a lot of talent around him.
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October 9th, 2008 at 8:49 am
i’ve played with and against bryce. he has the ability to consistantly break off 80 yard runs, pretty much by himself, well besides rico huggins blocking but bell also has very good recievers that make plays for him bryce doesnt. bryce has put up incredible records for years now too. and for someone who already has his future made for him, he still works his butt off everyday.
Bryce is the best athlete the area has seen in a long time…..thats a hard guy to beat…..sorry Bell
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October 9th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Bryce Brown.
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October 9th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Bryce was a man among boys playing biddy basketball.
Bell may have had 30+ against SE but Barnes did not play that game or Bell would not have had near that many.
I’d take Bryce over Bell and also Brett Soft over Bell. Brett is tough as nails, has the heart of a lion, and plays all sports with more passion than anyone I’ve ever witnessed play any sport.
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:04 am
If i have to chose one of the two, i chose the quarterback. There are so many coachable runningbacks in the country that have agility, speed and strength, that i can get my runningback elsewhere. So, out of these two i’m taking blake bell. Having a quarterback that can be your leader and mold to your offense is such a valuable asset to teams today.
Not taking anything away from either of these guys, but Bryce is walking through suspect defenses in the City League, and Blake is carving up some very suspect defensive backfields. I dont care what anybody says, nobody will change my mind on the fact that these two stars are not facing very quality oppositions .PERIOD.
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:05 am
and mind you all….the blog said who do you pick? so dont hate
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Good point ‘THAT GUY”
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Where is Sportsgal ?
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Blake Bell by far if anyone went to the game friday Bell was a man amongst boys. Bryce got yards on JV, he is a great back but you go with a QB.
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Joanne you mentioned the biggest factor to me…Would bell and browns stats be the same if they switched O-lines?? I dont think so… but brown would still have the better numbers(which is usually what player of the decides) and he’s the one i would take
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October 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I guess if you are going by wins like someone said, then we better pick a Heights kid, since they are gonna be city league champs.
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hum. Then I’d have to choose among Knight, Roberts, and Sims.
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October 9th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
now that would work if the blog had anything to do with heights…..but..hold on let me re-read it real quick…..ya it doesnt!
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October 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
If i were starting a team and had to pick a HB from the wichita area, i would take Aaron Wilson. People may call me biased for my panthers, but lets look at all the factors here. Bryce maybe a better athlete, but Wilson makes everyone around him play better. He is a leader on and off the field, and an extremely good player i might add. Bryce will put up better numbers, but he also carries the ball more than almost any back in the area. I watched the East vs. Dodge City game, Bryce would walk off of the field if the ball wasn’t kicked to him on kickoff. Wilson is an unbelievable blocker. Bottom line from what i have seen personally, Aaron Wilson plays with more heart and plays more for his team than Brown, and i’ll take that any day of the week.
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October 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
that guy….it doesn’t say anything about who would you pick for your team or whatever….it asks who the better player is and if there was a player of the year award who would get it…..and if it was an MVP award then why not snodgrass from derby? His team is undefeated unlike Carrol?
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October 9th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
oh and heights is overrated!
just wanted to tell you all that
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October 9th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
green4state. you will have your chance to prove that :)
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October 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Panther 44 are you serious? You can’t even mention Wilson and Brown in the same context. And yes that is a very biased blog. If you were starting a team are you telling me you would pick Wilson over Brown? It’s amazing to me when athletes in this area achieve a little “stardom” or “fame” or better yet some good ‘ol recognition how people start to pick them apart.
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October 9th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Just wondering how many scholarship offers and from where has Wilson from Derby got? Not trying to dis him-I actually want to know!! Also, carroll didn’t play their JV-get real!! Bell was actually in the whole game too!!
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Brown will go down as the best running back to ever play in the city league and one of the top ever in the state. Besides derby people the rest of us will forget about Wilson in just a few months. Right now I think Bell is playing better but Brown has been getting stronger each week and has proven himself over 4 years. Hard to argue because of Brown’s career but I like Bell just a little bit more right now. That could change in a couple weeks
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October 9th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
This whole ? is laughable to me . Blake is picking defenses apart in the whole 5 games he has played this is fact. He may well become a great college QB we will see in the years to come. However the best High School player in Kansas is Bryce Brown and the fact that this is even being discussed is laughable like i said. I dont really enjoy talking bad about my fellow peeps but WAKE UP.
Ok maybe this will help pay close attention. When Bryce walks on a field with the 10 same guys as Blake who changes the game more ? Hello Bryce Brown can score from ANYWHERE on the field Blake while talented as hell does not pose that threat. We are not drafting for a NFL team this is High School football and when Bryce Brown steps on the field i promise you the 11 guys on the other side of the field are more worried than when Balke Bell walks out. This is not a slam on Blake at all he a great kidand player but Bryce puts fear in Coachs and players i promise you.
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October 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I thought Barry Sanders was the best to ever come from the city. Heights IS over rated.
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October 10th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I am pretty sure that most teams are equally worried about Bell and Brown. Bell either passed or rushed for 6 tds against East. Brown had just a couple of tds. If teams are not more scared of bell they should be. Barry Sanders might be the best to ever come from wichita but when he was a player in the city he was not close to being as good as Bryce. Barry didn’t really get good until he got to ok state and he just kept getting better. But as far as how good they were when they PLAYED in the city bryce will go down as the best. Please do mention anyone from derby in the same post as these two players. Brown and Bell are 3-4 times better than anyone derby suits up.
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October 10th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Thank god it’s almost basketball season1
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October 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Just thought I would post this link as my answer to this question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6zuoe_TJY
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October 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Reminds me of watching Joe McKnight from USC in high school.
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