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

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Mailbag: Hightower, Wells and the future
September 19, 2009
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

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US Presswire/Mark J. Rebilas
Beanie Wells had a 15-yard run among his seven carries against the 49ers in Week 1.

Robb from Marin County writes: Bay Area postgame radio suggested that Beanie Wells could be the full-time starter for the Cardinals by Week 3 or 4. How likely of a scenario is this? Could we see a running back by committee for a bit? I'm thinking partially along the lines of fantasy implications, but I am also interested in how quickly the Cardinals would switch to a new back after upgrading Tim Hightower over Edgerring James last year.

Mike Sando: The Cardinals went back to James last season, so the commitment to Hightower is not strong. If it were, the team probably could have found another use for the first-round choice it used for Wells. I see Wells' role only increasing. Hightower seems to challenge the perimeter only when the Cardinals throw him the ball there.

Wells looks like he's close to breaking long runs. I never get that feeling with Hightower. Hightower's longest run in 151 regular-season carries covered 30 yards. James had a 35-yarder last season. Wells already has a 15-yard run despite having only seven career carries.

I also think Hightower appears better suited for a two-back offense. The Kurt Warner-led Cardinals are at their best running a one-back offense with three wide receivers and a tight end or four wide receivers with no tight end. That is my opinion, anyway. The Cardinals might not have made that determination yet, but I suspect that is where things could head once Wells shows he can handle the basics of the offense, such as not stranding Warner in the backfield while overrunning the handoff.

There still could be a role for Hightower in the longer term, even with Warner at quarterback. Arizona was effective at times with two backs and only one wide receiver on the field. It's simply not something the team will do extensively as long as wide receiver remains a strength.
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Mailbag: Hightower, Wells and the future - NFC West - ESPN
 
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Wilson gives Wells a 'present' after fumbles
by Kent Somers - Sept. 20, 2009
The Arizona Republic

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AP Photo/Phil Coale

Cardinals running back Beanie Wells (26) fumbles during the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville recovered, and Wells later was given a ball to carry home by teammate Adrian Wilson.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After the second of his two fumbles Sunday, Cardinals rookie running back Beanie Wells received a present from safety Adrian Wilson.

It was a ball with "Beanie" written on it. It might just be Wells' constant companion this week.

When asked if what Wilson said to him, Wells replied: "That I better not put it down all week."

"You can't have plays like that," Wilson said. "Putting the ball on the ground is forbidden. You have to get that M.O. off yourself as a football player and a running back. If teams know that you fumble, then they'll try to go to the ball all the time."

Wells, who gained 44 yards on seven carries, showed reporters the ball after the game.

"The first (fumble) I was trying to get yards after carry, and I thought I had it protected," he said. "The last one, I thought I had a seam and daylight. I went to accelerate and didn't pick the ball up like I should have."

Coaches have worked with Wells on protecting the ball in practice.

"Trust me," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He may be carrying a ball around with him all day now."
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Wilson gives Wells a 'present' after fumbles
 
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Whisenhunt didn't say it, but I think he might have lacked some trust in his backs at that point. Beanie Wells fumbled twice last week, and Tim Hightower lost a fumble earlier in the Colts game.

A lot of fans have been asking why Wells didn't play more. He had just two carries, both in the first quarter. Part of the reason is that Wells is still learning this offense. When the Cardinals went to their spread package in the second half, Wells was relegated to the sideline. He just hasn't had enough work in that scheme to be effective. "A great bulk of the time that Beanie missed in training camp was where he would have been acclimated to some off the sub-receiver packages," Whisenhunt said. "Which involve protection and checks from the quarterback. He hasn't gotten a lot of reps at those things."
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azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers: Providing answers
 
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I'm going to call bullshit on that one. I find it a little ridiculous that you give your 1st round RB who is an absolute game changer/breaker 2 fucking carries. When Dwight Freeney went out of the game, I would have ran Wells to that backup's side time and time again, then hit them with the playaction pass.
 
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Magua;1554591; said:
I'm going to call bullshit on that one. I find it a little ridiculous that you give your 1st round RB who is an absolute game changer/breaker 2 fucking carries. When Dwight Freeney went out of the game, I would have ran Wells to that backup's side time and time again, then hit them with the playaction pass.
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[sarcasm]Don't bring your logic and good gameplan to this conversation. We don't need it. Coach Wisenhunt is totally satisfied losing the way he did.[/sarcasm] :biggrin:
 
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