RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (Arizona Cardinals)

[matcar]

Originally Posted by osucollegebuck

I find it amusing that you say they're commited 'longterm' to the run.

Moreno has 99 carries to Beanie's 35. I could be wrong, but you could be talking out of your ass.

Geez, might his number of carries have something to do with 1) not being healthy, 2) having at least decent competition for the same spot? I mean he didn't exactly WIN the starting position so I think his number of carries is appropriate. Not to mention the fumbles early on. Dude was right on the money, no one should be whining about the position Beanie is in. He's fortunate at this point to be at the point he is.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by Buckeyecty4

I could be wrong, but you're probably also in the Ted Ginn's thread saying he's getting a raw deal, the Robiskie thread saying he's on the wrong team, the AJ Hawk thread saying he needs to get out of GB, the Troy Smith thread saying he should be starting over Flacco, etc..

1. The Ted Ginn?!
2. Everyone on that team is on the wrong team.
3. Eh.
4. If not for a freak virus, he would've been.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by jebussmurf

That logic was used to argue that one had a choice of working in horrible conditions for no wage or starving. It's basically the same thing and that is certainly not "free".

I also took a class called "Economics and Sports" and read several articles showing how the draft is an inefficient system because players are only allowed to negotiate with one team. I can't think of any other profession that has a system where one potential employer retains your rights.

Glad to see Beanie doing well. Too bad school prevents me from watching his NFL games live. I still vividly remember his 50+ yard man-run into the endzone during the 2006 OSU-UM game. My voice was gone by halftime...

ufl, cfl, a euro league?

trust me if the browns, redskins and raiders are involved anything will be "inefficient" as a system.

no one forces servitude upon a pro athlete, more so they dont have to sign, they can reenter as a fa, rare but not unheard of.

[Buckskin86]

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.?

Beanie Better, But Not Starting

[sammyjenkis]

You know how sometimes you hear about the veteran NFL player taking under their wing the high-drafted rookie at their position, helping them learn the team's system (possibly at their own expense)? For some reason, I doubt this is happening here... I know Beanie wasn't used often to catch balls out of the backfield in college, but when called upon he always seemed to rip off large plays. I never noticed him having trouble in pass protection, either. I didn't particularly pay attention to it, but if it was a problem it seems like it would have been memorable. It just seems to me that Beanie's only barrier now is mastering the Arizona system, and without a veteran guiding him it has taken him longer than it should have. [/talking out of ass]

[matcar]

Originally Posted by BUCKYLE

1. The Ted Ginn?!
2. Everyone on that team is on the wrong team.
3. Eh.
4. If not for a freak virus, he would've been.

1) The Ted Ginn II will need to start playing like a receiver or he'll be rendered to the special teams soon.
2) The Browns ARE a mess, but perhaps Robo is where he needs to be.
3) Eh. Eh?
4) Troy would've started, but he was always on the clock after they drafted "their" guy. [censored]o ended up being a solid choice so Troy will have to make his bed elsewhere if he's to ever get a shot at starting.

What does it all have to do with Beanie...well nothing of course. I suspect the only thing we might agree on is that we're happy Beanie is in AZ. And I think he's getting a fair shake in AZ and that it's a situation that could work out quite well for him.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by matcar

1) The Ted Ginn II will need to start playing like a receiver or he'll be rendered to the special teams soon.
2) The Browns ARE a mess, but perhaps Robo is where he needs to be.
3) Eh. Eh?
4) Troy would've started, but he was always on the clock after they drafted "their" guy. [censored]o ended up being a solid choice so Troy will have to make his bed elsewhere if he's to ever get a shot at starting.

What does it all have to do with Beanie...well nothing of course. I suspect the only thing we might agree on is that we're happy Beanie is in AZ. And I think he's getting a fair shake in AZ and that it's a situation that could work out quite well for him.

1. He was already on ST, but they held every time he took one to the house.
2. I'm happy Robo is in the NFL. Sad that he plays for a [censored] team.
3. Eh. Not everyone is an All Pro. A.J. was one of the greatest Buckeye LB's. That's enough for me.
4. False. If Troy lights it up, they have no reason to ever play [censored]o.

No matter what happens with any NFL Buckeyes, they will always be Buckeyes. I wish them all HOF worthy careers, but that's not likely.

[reagdog]

Originally Posted by sammyjenkis

You know how sometimes you hear about the veteran NFL player taking under their wing the high-drafted rookie at their position, helping them learn the team's system (possibly at their own expense)? For some reason, I doubt this is happening here... I know Beanie wasn't used often to catch balls out of the backfield in college, but when called upon he always seemed to rip off large plays. I never noticed him having trouble in pass protection, either. I didn't particularly pay attention to it, but if it was a problem it seems like it would have been memorable. It just seems to me that Beanie's only barrier now is mastering the Arizona system, and without a veteran guiding him it has taken him longer than it should have. [/talking out of ass]

Tim Hightower has said he has tried to help Beanie as much as possible this year because Edge helped him last year and that's what you do to the new guy. So I think Beanie is getting help from Hightower, but Hightower is only in his second year, so he isn't the best source of information.

Fitz also took Beanie under his wing and has been helping him adjust to NFL life, so Beanie isn't without guidance.

[Buckskin86]

Beanie Wells giving Arizona running game a boost, as long as he doesn't fumble

By Bob Baum (CP)

TEMPE, Ariz. ? The Arizona Cardinals foresee big things for rookie running back Beanie Wells, as long as he holds on to the ball.

The first-round draft pick from Ohio State displayed his power and speed on a national stage when the Cardinals beat the New York Giants 24-17 Sunday night, and he's only getting started.

"I think the sky's the limit as far as what he can do," quarterback Kurt Warner said.

As they have done with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and defensive end Calais Campbell, the Cardinals are easing Wells into action.

Hard-running Tim Hightower remains the starter, but it seems only a matter of time before Wells takes over.

"What we have done is when we felt like the player was going to give us the best chance to win or he was ready to do that, we have made that move," coach Ken Whisenhunt said after the team practised on Wednesday. "We have been consistent with that. I can't tell you when that is going to be for Beanie. He certainly has made big progress."

Wells said he has no problem with the backup role.

"I really don't care about starting anymore, honestly," he said. "I know when I first came here I wanted to start and everything, but I could care less about starting. I just want to go out there and contribute."

Wells wants to quickly shed his reputation as being fumble-prone. He has fumbled the ball three times in 49 carries and the team lost only one. When Wells fumbled twice at Jacksonville, teammate Adrian Wilson gave him a ball and told him to hold on to it through the next week.

Players tried to strip it from him as he walked through the locker room.

Wells also has bobbled the ball a couple of times, but has managed to hold on. He understands the perception that he can be a great back if he doesn't drop the football.

"It's true. I do need to hang on to the ball," Wells said. "It's something I continue to work on. I definitely think it's correctable. It's mistakes that I'm making, not anybody ripping the ball out or anything. It's mistakes that I'm making when I get the handoff, so I definitely can correct that."

Whisenhunt said he's seen improvement.

"I believe he has a large amount of confidence in himself doing that and that is not going to be an issue," the coach said. "Obviously, he has to show us that we can trust him, especially in critical situations."

At six foot one and 228 pounds, Wells hits the line fast and hard. That could be part of his ball-handling problem.

"Sometimes I think I need to slow down," he said, "when I take the handoff, slow down and then hit it."

The Canadian Press: Beanie Wells giving Arizona running game a boost, as long as he doesn't fumble

[matcar]

Originally Posted by reagdog

Tim Hightower has said he has tried to help Beanie as much as possible this year because Edge helped him last year and that's what you do to the new guy. So I think Beanie is getting help from Hightower, but Hightower is only in his second year, so he isn't the best source of information.

Fitz also took Beanie under his wing and has been helping him adjust to NFL life, so Beanie isn't without guidance.

Beanie's in a great place. People who suggest otherwise aren't being realistic about the situation.

[dragurd]

I'm not sure it's a great place until Arizona can commit to running the football. Anyway you look at it throwing the ball repeatedly when up 21 or more especially when it's not working isn't too bright.

[Buckskin86]

Heat Index: Waiting for Beanie
8 comments by Bob McManaman - Oct. 28, 2009
The Arizona Republic

It was right around this team a year ago when Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt made a change at running back.

He decided to sit Edgerrin James and start a rookie.

Tim Hightower responded with 109 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a 34-13 thumping of the St. Louis Rams in a game that strengthened the Cardinals' hold on the NFC West.

We mention this because in Sunday's 24-17 win over the New York Giants, Whisenhunt seemed to be forecasting another switch at running back.

Hightower ran the ball only four times for 9 yards. Rookie Beanie Wells, meanwhile, had career highs in carries (14), yards (67) and scored his first NFL touchdown on a nifty 13-yard run.

So naturally, we had to ask Whisenhunt if Wells is going to start over Hightower on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers visit University of Phoenix Stadium.

His answer was a little curious.

"It's not going to happen yet."

"Yet" is the operative word. When the Cardinals drafted Wells out of Ohio State with their first-round pick, it was a precursor to the obvious. At some point, Wells is going to be the No. 1 guy.

Heat Index: Waiting for Beanie

[Buckskin86]

Wells a liability in pass protection
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 8, 2009

The Arizona Cardinals used this year's first-round draft pick on running back Beanie Wells, wanting to upgrade their running game to complement one of the best passing games in the league.

In a sense, it's worked: Wells has 57 carries for 238 yards, a 4.2-yard average that's better than fellow running back Tim Hightower this season, and also better than either Hightower or Edgerrin James last season. And yet even though Wells is running the ball well, he hasn't cracked the starting lineup and doesn't get as much playing time as Hightower.

The reason, as John Czarnecki of FoxSports.com explains, is that Wells remains a liability in pass protection.

That's a common problem with highly drafted rookie running backs: They were talented enough with the ball in their hands in college that they could get away with being one-dimensional players who didn't know the nuances of picking up the blitz. NFL teams, on the other hand, aren't going to put a running back on the field if he can't protect the quarterback.

That's especially true in Arizona, where Kurt Warner is having another good season but is 38, immobile and has had plenty of injuries during his career.

A quarterback like Warner is only one missed blitz pickup away from having his career ended: Just ask Steve Young, who was knocked out by Aeneas Williams on his last NFL play when running back Lawrence Phillips missed a blocking assignment.

So, yes, the Cardinals would like to get Wells on the field more. Just as soon as Wells can pick up the blitz.

Wells a liability in pass protection | ProFootballTalk.com

[mross34]

Wells just busted a nice 26 yard run. Up to over 50 on the day.

[OhioState001]

Touchdown Beanie Wells!! 10 yard run