The Sports Xchange

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell has been completely ineffective this season with just 22 yards on 20 carries. In Week 3 against the Denver Broncos, he had just 6 yards on 10 carries and lost 2 yards on his only catch.

“He’s not quite where he used to be, where he was last year, but I think he’ll get there,” coach Jim Caldwell said of the 29-year-old Bell.

At this point, outside of short-yardage situations, there seems to be little reason to use Bell instead of electric rookie running back Ameer Abdullah. Caldwell said the Lions will continue to evaluate the role of the backs, but has faith in Bell, who missed most of the offseason recovering from January knee and Achilles surgeries.

“He didn’t perform as well as he’s capable,” Caldwell said. “He obviously did his blocking assignments and those kinds of things. Just like any other position, it’s not always on him. He can’t create his own opportunities sometimes.”

–Ahead of facing another team with a top safety tandem in the Seattle Seahawks, Lions strong safety James Ihedigbo said his running mate Glover Quin is the top player at the position. Quin, the Lions’ free safety, is tied for the league lead in interceptions with two and led the NFL with seven last season.

“I think G.Q. is the best safety in football,” Ihedigbo said Monday. “You look at what he does week in and week out. If there’s a play to be had, he’s the one to make it. And this league is all about consistency and what you do week in and week out. And you know what you’re going to get from 27 every time he steps on the field.”

–Despite some predictable and conservative play-calling, coach Jim Caldwell said Monday he has not considering taking over calls from offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Caldwell also said execution, not play-calling, has been the problem.

“It takes work,” he said of improving the offense. “It doesn’t come easy all the time, particularly when it’s not just one issue. There’s a number of different things that are going on, and it’s a number of different people that are involved in that.”

–Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s fumble in the fourth quarter was a pivotal play as the Lions had already crossed into Denver territory and still trailed by one score, 14-6. Stafford and Caldwell thought his arm was going forward on the play, but the NFL agreed with the officials that his hand was not, making it a fumble instead of an incomplete pass.

“When Matthew Stafford lost the football, his hand was moving in a downward direction, coming back toward his body,” the league said in a statement. “That is why the play was ruled a fumble and confirmed as a fumble, as all turnovers are automatically reviewed. Prior to the removal of the tuck rule, this would have been considered an incomplete pass.”