fourteenandoh;1344400; said:
i was thinking about that when i read the thread yesterday. i tend to agree with you. do you think that is because he hasn't gotten much attention nationally because of the injuries and hasn't had a chance to run up the stats, do you think since we get to watch him week in week out we know better than the rest of the country, or do you think we are homers? i lean toward the 2nd choice. i don't think it is very homerish to include him with the greats. i didn't choose him, but i definitely think he deserves consideration.
Wells is everything as a buckeye fan we would love. Huge man,that's pretty fast,and amazing to watch. He makes us feel like USC fans did,when Bush was running the ball,because he can do something,when it shouldn't have been done. It is exciting to see such an elite athlete come along and know he's 100% buckeye. What's even more promising with Beanie is that you really can't look back and question him. It almost seems like he never really messed up(from the beginning of being here),other then a fumble here or there,that will happen in football,and we know that as fans. Aside from injuries(something that is very difficult to control) there's nothing really to fault him for. I could be wrong,but it's also time for him to leave as well. His personality on and off the field is going to be greatly missed. People realize this already.
The fact that he doesn't have the stats definitely hurts to a degree. That doesn't take away from his talent or potential at all. Think about how easy it is to remember stats from Steve Mcnair or Antwan Randel El,Marshall Faulk etc etc..That's what draws the attention to someone,and gives them the opportunity to become "media famous". Sometimes guys take advantage and sometimes they don't,but there is a certain aura of putting up big statistics,that are hard to deny,when it comes to distinguishing "who's best".
In the same regard I think people obviously see the flaws with living and dying with statistics so much,that they begin to not care enough about them (For the best rb discussion).
The reason I brought up Ahman Green was simply,because he is a fair comparison to Wells. Tough guy,who had a great college career,and even furthermore proved his legitimacy by actually producing in the NFL. His stats are better then Beanies. He won multiple national championships. That honestly is a hell of a resume isn't it?
If this was a Cornhusker board,and the same question was posed. How many votes would Beanie get? Honestly,that's just how being a college football fan is .
The argument over offensive lines will never hold weight. It definitely has a DRAMATIC impact on the running back's production,but as I stated above..That's just how it is. You can't go back in time and say Beanie is better,then Eddie just because of that. What happens if Eddie George was running the ball right now,and Beanie was running in 95? Eddie's pulling in a heisman..running for 314 against illi..Do you think people would honestly put Beanie ahead of him then? Nope..It's the "today factor"..Then you will have someone say "well beanie could run with more yards with that line"..That is a variable that cannot ever be proved.That does not mean it's not a realistic thought,but it makes it worthless in these kinds of discussion.
The problem I have with grading people on "potential",because of nagging injuries or not carrying the ball enough is this.
Maybe Al Bundy could have scored 5 touchdowns in one high school game if he had a better offensive line. Maybe if he didn't marry Peg he would have put Polk High on the map,and won the super bowl. What if they had a different offensive scheme that was more suitable for his running style?..The only facts you know are the ones that happened..4 touchdowns..One high school football game.
Trent & Craig Steltz...'nuff said.
