Beanie Better, But Not Starting
Darren Urban
Posted Oct 26, 2009
Rookie encourages Whisenhunt but depth chart doesn't change
Tim Hightower (left) will remain the Cardinals' starter at running back, although Beanie Wells (right) had an impressive game Sunday.
Beanie Wells is going to get more carries. That?s inevitable.
But the integration process for the rookie running back will remain gradual, coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday, and he isn?t going to replace Tim Hightower as a starter anytime soon.
?I just don?t think Beanie is ready yet,? Whisenhunt said.
Wells got his most extensive work of the season during Sunday night?s win in New York, gaining 67 yards on 14 carries and scoring his first touchdown. That success included a five-yard loss on one play in which Wells tried to make something big happen instead of plowing ahead for a shorter loss.
Whisenhunt praised Wells and acknowledged that Wells will, at some point, likely enjoy a huge game with a breakaway run or two. But Wells had another fumble ? his fourth in just 49 attempts, although he?s lost just one ? and that gives Whisenhunt pause.
Whisenhunt did say he has seen a ?dramatic difference? in how Wells is carrying the ball compared to his two-fumble day in Jacksonville a month ago.
Hightower has had fumbling issues himself. He has three, including one lost Sunday night. But Hightower long ago earned Whisenhunt?s confidence, something Wells remains in the process of doing.
?(The fumble) tore Tim up,? Whisenhunt said. ?He obviously hears a lot about Beanie because Beanie is a first-round draft pick. He has to fight that, but Tim is a conscientious player, he does an outstanding job in protection and in our third-down packages and he will continue to play because he has played well for us.?
Hightower finished with just nine yards on four carries, although he did score on a one-yard run on third down to put the Cardinals ahead for good.
Last season, Whisenhunt elevated Hightower, then a rookie, to starter over incumbent Edgerrin James around midseason. The coach said Monday the situation with Wells was not the same.
?The reason we made the change last year at running back was because we felt Tim was ready and it gave us a chance to be better,? Whisenhunt said. ?It?s not like Tim has played bad (this year). Beanie is making strides and we know he is a good football player. I just think we are lucky we have a number of good football players at the position.?
To that end, Whisenhunt pointed out the fact all three top running backs ? Wells, Hightower and Jason Wright (on a screen pass) ? scored touchdowns against the Giants, the first time the Cardinals have had three different backs score in a game since Emmitt Smith, Troy Hambrick and Obafemi Ayanbadejo did it against the Saints in 2004.
Wright?s two touchdowns receiving this season already double his total of his first five NFL seasons.
?That speaks to our versatility,? Whisenhunt said, emphasizing that no matter how Wells plays, ?there is going to be some rotation.?
Wells, despite his limited work, has 191 yards rushing to make him third among rookie runners behind the two backs drafted in front of him ? Denver?s Knowshon Moreno (381 yards) and Indianapolis? Donald Brown (212).
Wells, as usual, wore a wide smile Sunday night. This time, it was for his extended playing time. Normally a man of few words, Wells admitted he didn?t know exactly what to say other than to repeatedly use the word ?fun.?
?It was great just to be out there contributing and, like I?ve said about 15 times, having fun,? Wells said at one point.
The Cardinals want Beanie to continue to have fun at the opponent?s expense, and his carries may eventually outgrow those for Hightower. But with the Cardinals playing well as constructed ? which includes Wells off the bench and Hightower starting ? there seems to be little reason to change.
?We have different packages that emphasize the strengths of the different backs,? Whisenhunt said. ?But when (Beanie) has the hot hand like he did (Sunday) night, that is something we are hopefully continue to see him do.?
