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

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Once Ottis, Now Beanie
Darren Urban
Posted Dec 23, 2009

BeanieOttisMain.jpg

Wells could turn into Cardinals' best back since Anderson set team records
Rookie running back Beanie Wells (right) has a chance to be the Cards' best back since Ottis Anderson (left) dominated in the early 1980s.

Ottis Anderson had already led the Cardinals in rushing for six straight seasons ? his streak of 1,000-yard performances broken only by the strike in 1982 ? by the time Ron Wolfley showed up to be his fullback.

Yet Wolfley remembers the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Anderson as a guy who could move like he was 170 pounds. He remembers Anderson?s burst, his quickness, his power.

And he sees many of those same things in the 6-1, 228-pound Beanie Wells, a player who can run around or through a defender.

?He has a lot higher gear than Ottis I think ever dreamed of having, and that?s not a slam on Ottis,? Wolfley said. ?But Beanie has that same kind of coo-coo-cachoo, I call it, that little hiccup where those hips just ?boom? and break you down.

?He can embarrass you. He can embarrass you in front of your family, he can embarrass your wife who is watching you because this man can run right over you. And that makes his moves in the open field that much better.?

Wells? indoctrination has been much slower than Anderson?s, since Anderson was the Cardinals? workhorse back from the start of his rookie season (Anderson?s career high of 1,605 yards rushing came in 1979, the first of his 14-year career).

With Tim Hightower starting, Wells still has more carries (153 to 127) and has a team-leading 706 yards. The chances of Wells supplanting Hightower on the depth chart seems unlikely, given that coach Ken Whisenhunt continues to praise Hightower?s play, emphasizes there is a ?good mix going? and generally would rather see Wells fight for his playing time.

?Is he going to be an every down player?? Whisenhunt asked before answering himself. ?He?ll get a lot of snaps but I don?t know if he?ll ever be an every-down just because I still believe you have to have a couple of backs to be successful in this league.?

Given that, it may be harder for Wells to ever reach Anderson?s overall productivity ? five seasons of at least 1,170 yards, and three of at least 1,300.

Yet Wells is learning patience, even with his own game ? ?I definitely think I have some growing to do,? he said ? and the quantity of his touches doesn?t mean quality is absent.

?When you see safeties and corners not want to step up and tackle him, you?re setting a tone and reputation for yourself,? fullback Dan Kreider said. ?People are scared of you and the whole team feeds off that.?

Safety Adrian Wilson compared Wells to the Rams? Steven Jackson ? whom the Cards face Sunday ? as a player defensive backs are wary of tackling.

?They don?t want to hit Beanie,? Wilson said. ?One run last week in Detroit, that rookie safety they had (Louis Delmas), he tried to come in high on Beanie and Beanie just shook him off.?
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Once Ottis, Now Beanie
 
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"Is he going to be an every down player", Whisenhunt asked before answering himself. "He'll get a lot of snaps but I don't know if he'll ever be an every-down just because I still believe you have to have a couple of backs to be successful in this league."
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The only reason he won't be an "every down" back is because you're too fucking stupid to realize just what you have.
 
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Thats a misprint. Supposed to say there are "no" hard feelings between the two. They've become very good friends and cheer for each other constantly.

He can embarrass you. He can embarrass you in front of your family, he can embarrass your wife who is watching you because this man can run right over you. And that makes his moves in the open field that much better.
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Thats just fucking classic! :slappy:

Got my beautiful #26 home jersey for Christmas this weekend and wearing it proudly today. Says Beanie on the back instead of Wells. Lovin it!
 
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MililaniBuckeye;1627018; said:
Not if he's still starting Hightower over Wells...
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There is more to playing RB in the NFL, then simply taking handoffs out of I-Formation, and running it, particularly in an offensive system like Whisenhunt's which is built off of Warner's masterful passing ability.

He's gotten more and more time as the season has progressed and I have no doubt he'll be the starter next year when he's had a full offseason of learning the offense, perfected his receiving skills, and learned all the pass protections.

The Cardinals would be foolish to abandon what has worked well enough to get them within 2 minutes of a Superbowl title, and back into the playoffs this year.

They have a brilliant passing attack with a hall of fame QB, and three fantastic receivers. They also ask their backs to be excellent blockers for Warner as well as be active participants in the receiving game. When Beanie is at the point blocking and catching like Hightower does, he will be the featured back instead of splitting carries.

If you watch the Cardinals week in and week out, you saw early in the season Beanie would strictly come in and run the ball. Defenses would pick up on this and stack the box whenever he was in the game. As the season has progressed they've been able to run more playaction with him as he's learned to block and run routes. However, he still isn't featured in their shotgun sets, and Im expecting this is due to his inability to block and run routes like Hightower.

Therefore, the Cards are still limited in what they can do when he's in the game and that helps the defense.

I just find it amusing (in this Alumni section) that every Buckeye not making the Pro-Bowl is clearly being "held back by bad coaching" or "needs to go to another team".....

If you look at things objectively, Beanie has had a pretty strong rookie year playing in a very advanced offensive system. One with playcalls and responsibilities nothing like the dumbed down offense at Ohio State he had to play in.
 
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Buckeyecty4;1627105; said:
There is more to playing RB in the NFL, then simply taking handoffs out of I-Formation, and running it, particularly in an offensive system like Whisenhunt's which is built off of Warner's masterful passing ability.
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No where did I say the Cardinals need to significantly alter their offensive schema...they just need to have Beanie as the starting RB, and use him a tad more often, especially when the situation dictates (e.g., when leading in the fourth quarter and not throwing on first, second, and third downs).
 
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