RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (All B1G, All-American)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Beanie has what... 2 big games as a feature back? (note I mean 'big time', he's been consistently 'good' in earlier games) I think the potential is certainly there to eclipse Hart, but ignoring injury... I think the mouth is more established in big games at this point. As for the 04 OSU game, I'm not sure Beanie would do that much against that defense either.

While Hart is indeed "more established", that's not the point, at least not in my mind. My point is that right now, at this point in time, who is the back that you would want carrying the ball for you at the most crucial time in a huge game? If you had to drive the length of the field for the winning score in the game that decides whether or not you go to the NC game, which do you choose?

I believe you already know my choice...

 

[ScarletBlood31]

While Hart is indeed "more established", that's not the point, at least not in my mind. My point is that right now, at this point in time, who is the back that you would want carrying the ball for you at the most crucial time in a huge game? If you had to drive the length of the field for the winning score in the game that decides whether or not you go to the NC game, which do you choose?

I believe you already know my choice...

Being completely unbiased, at this point in time, I definitely have to go with Hart....


He may give a lot of people a reason to not like him, but I want the ball in his hands when it counts. Nothing at all against Beanie, who is starting to become a great player and I'm thrilled to have him, but Hart has got to be the guy.

 

[akronbuck]

While Hart is indeed "more established", that's not the point, at least not in my mind. My point is that right now, at this point in time, who is the back that you would want carrying the ball for you at the most crucial time in a huge game? If you had to drive the length of the field for the winning score in the game that decides whether or not you go to the NC game, which do you choose?

I believe you already know my choice...

I would go with Beanie in a sec and why. Name one RB in the country thats a better power runner and he's not even pain free. Hart couldnt run up the middle or against a loaded d-line like Wells do. Who would the pros pick first.WELLS

 

[jwinslow]

While Hart is indeed "more established", that's not the point, at least not in my mind. My point is that right now, at this point in time, who is the back that you would want carrying the ball for you at the most crucial time in a huge game? If you had to drive the length of the field for the winning score in the game that decides whether or not you go to the NC game, which do you choose?

I believe you already know my choice...

To me, you're asking which back do you trust at crunch time. You learn to trust someone (and how they'll do, in football and life) by what they do and how consistently. From that standpoint, I believe Hart has the edge.

I can trust Hart to not fumble. Beanie has not had many, but does not have the same stonecold lock on the ball as Hart. I have more trust in Hart to make something positive out of a negative if Terrance Taylor blows up Ben Person. Beanie does not share that strength of shedding & sidestepping tacklers before he gets rumbling. I can trust Hart to protect my QB well, something Beanie is still learning how to do consistently.

What Beanie does have is better breakaway speed and more lethal power at the 2nd level. If I have only one drive left, and have to go the length of the field...

at this point, I have seen enough from Hart to know what I will get. From what we've seen thus far I'm fairly optimistic with Beanie as well, but he needs more big time games before I can trust he will bring that level of production every time out.

 

[itsmitch]

To me, you're asking which back do you trust at crunch time. You learn to trust someone (and how they'll do, in football and life) by what they do and how consistently. From that standpoint, I believe Hart has the edge.

I can trust Hart to not fumble. Beanie has not had many, but does not have the same stonecold lock on the ball as Hart. I have more trust in Hart to make something positive out of a negative if Terrance Taylor blows up Ben Person. Beanie does not share that strength of shedding & sidestepping tacklers before he gets rumbling. I can trust Hart to protect my QB well, something Beanie is still learning how to do consistently.

What Beanie does have is better breakaway speed and more lethal power at the 2nd level. If I have only one drive left, and have to go the length of the field...

at this point, I have seen enough from Hart to know what I will get. From what we've seen thus far I'm fairly optimistic with Beanie as well, but he needs more big time games before I can trust he will bring that level of production every time out.

regardless of whether the blocking is great or its breaking down I'd rather have Beanie running the ball for me. The notion that somehow Hart is better at "shedding & sidestepping" just does not work for me. I respect Hart and agree that Beanie has some work to do before he can claim to have had a college career to match Hart's. But as a talent at the running back position, in my mind, Beanie has passed him already. If we were picking up sides for a game I'd take Beanie first. The thing I love most is his patience and running style. To me 28 has a feel for picking holes and choosing when to accelerate that I think puts him in a very exclusive group. He is among my favorites all time. What's really cool is that the best is yet to come!!!

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

To me, you're asking which back do you trust at crunch time. You learn to trust someone (and how they'll do, in football and life) by what they do and how consistently. From that standpoint, I believe Hart has the edge.

I've learned to trust Beanie enough, thank you very much...

I can trust Hart to not fumble. Beanie has not had many, but does not have the same stonecold lock on the ball as Hart.

Beanie fumbled a lot last year, but when was the last time he fumbled this year?

 

[scarletngray]

I'd take Beanie in my backfield any day of the week and twice on Saturday!! Beanie's a beast and in many ways, he is the reason this Offense is excelling.

:osu:

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I just went through all nine games' play-by-play charts. Beanie has lost one fumble this year, against Minnesota with 6:00 minutes left in the game while we were running out the clock (he has also recovered one of his own fumbles). Maybe not Mike Hart-like in non-fumbling, but I think losing only one fumble in 174 carries is pretty damn good, and Beanie's big edge in power negates the 0.6% of his losing a fumble on any given carry...

 

[jwinslow]

Beanie fumbled a lot last year, but when was the last time he fumbled this year?

Two games ago vs MSU. Fortunately Otis dropped the pickup, and Beanie was able to fall on it.

The fumbling thing is not as big as the making guys miss attribute, imo.

The notion that somehow Hart is better at "shedding & sidestepping" just does not work for me.

Remember the early games this year? Where the DL got penetration and Beanie would be brought down by the first tackler with regularity? I remember commenting on this in a Mo Wells thread, how the two wells are very similar if you catch them in the backfield. Once Beanie gets rumbling, things change quite a bit.

Hart has an excellent sidestep move and vision, and can often make something out of nothing, or what should have been a negative play. I do not see that attribute in Beanie, despite all of his other strengths.

 

[SNIPER26]

While Hart is indeed "more established", that's not the point, at least not in my mind. My point is that right now, at this point in time, who is the back that you would want carrying the ball for you at the most crucial time in a huge game? If you had to drive the length of the field for the winning score in the game that decides whether or not you go to the NC game, which do you choose?

I believe you already know my choice...

Ok, clearly I'm a huge Hart fan and we know my choice. But consider this...

If you're going to drive the length of the field and you've got two great running backs, neither of whom are likely to break off a massive run (Yes, I remember Beanie all too well from last year, just work with me here), both of them guys who will get you 5-6 yards every time and fall forward and not fumble, would you not want the better pass blocker since you're probably going to throw it a few times????

 

[jwinslow]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Ohio State tailback Chris Wells rushes for a gain as he is chased by Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, left, in the fourth quarter of their college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. A Nittany Lions defense once considered one of the best in the country faces some tough questions after being dominated Saturday night by No. 1 Ohio State, 37-17. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Running back Chris Wells #28 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium October 27, 2007 in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won 37-17. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Running back Chris Wells #28 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium October 27, 2007 in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won 37-17. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Running back Chris Wells #28 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium on October 27, 2007 in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won 37-17. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Runningback Chris Wells #28 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium October 27, 2007 in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won 37-17. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Ohio State's Chris Wells (28) rushes with the ball as Penn state defenders Dan Connor, far left, Lydell Sargeant (10), and Maurice Evans (48) move in during the fourth quarter of their college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. Ohio State won 37-17. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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[FONT=arial,helvetica] Ohio State's Chris Wells (28) rushes the through the line past teammate Donte Johnson (49), second from left, as Penn state defenders Tyrell Sales (46), left, Chris Baker (93), right and Sean Lee (45) right top, move in during the first quarter their college football game at in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)[/FONT]

 

[BengalsAndBucks]

I agree with jwins. If my team is on a last second drive with the game on the line, I would go with Hart. His ability to hold onto the ball and his pass blocking do give him an edge over Beanie, considering that the rest of their game is pretty much equal.

I dont understand why some people here are getting so upset by this though. We are talking about one of the best B10 backs in recent history. To say you would take Hart over Beanie is like saying you would take Brady over Manning. It doesn't mean Manning isnt good, it just means that there are some intangibles that would drive you to pick Brady. Its not disrespectful to Beanie to say that you would rather have Hart on a game-tying drive.

That all said, Beanie does have more physical tools than Hart does. He just isn't as proven in important aspects of the game. And Mili, the only reason he didn't lose that second fumble is because Michigan State players, and a lot of football players in general, go for the glory of the touchdown instead of just falling on the ball.

 

[lvbuckeye]

i think the question that begs to be asked in the Beanie v. Hart debate is which one would you rather see lined up for the opposing team when the game is on the line...

 

[SNIPER26]

That all said, Beanie does have more physical tools than Hart does. He just isn't as proven in important aspects of the game. And Mili, the only reason he didn't lose that second fumble is because Michigan State players, and a lot of football players in general, go for the glory of the touchdown instead of just falling on the ball.

Beanie is a fucking man tank. Amazing pro prospect.

 

[UpNorthBuckeye]

actually, the only negative I have with Hart (besides the team he plays for) is that in THE GAME he has not been that great.

When Beanie fumbled against MSU, given the situation (two turnovers for TDs in the last 2 drives) I could have jumped over my house!! Holy crap. Don't you think they all said to each other "just don't turn it over" and then he let go of the ball!!??

On the other hand, you get 221 yards, you can have a fumble now and then.

I'm okay with nine and oh.

Go Bucks! Just win, baby!