Is Wells going to start over Hightower?

[PitchShifter]

Timmy isn't going to lie down which means there's two strong young players at the position who will take their energy and blow it up against the opposition trying to outdo each. We have a hardworking veteran to back them up. That's great for the team.

 

[Perfectionist]

Competition is one of the key factors in last years results (the way Whiz handles it) and expect much of the same this year. Beanie will have to be better than Timmy and with both of them working their butts off it only has to help. Good luck to both and would love to see them both run for over a 1000 yards next year, along with 3 receivers over a 1000 yards. Sure would make life on our defense a lot easier.

 

[RonF]

Hightower runs very well in the redzone. He's hard to stop at the goal line and that is a good thing for our side.

 

[JeffGollin]

I Think We Oversimplify the Running Game...

I just watched Ohio St. vs. Penn State.

What I saw mostly was Beanie running inside smack into his own blockers. Toward the end of the game, I did see glimpses of #28 hitting the hole and dragging a few tacklers a couple of yards.

It reminded me of Edge's futile attempts to pick up positive yardage behind questionable run-blocking.

My point - It ain't only about the running back. It's about (a) the running back, (b) his blockers and (c) how well the two components work together.

We know what our running attack looks like with THT lugging the football (i.e. no powerhouse, but he can "make himself small" and slither through tiny holes for positive yardage and lots of short-yardage TD's).

All we know about Beanie is that he's big, he's fast and he can be dangerous when he pops into the open field.

In college.

Not from within the context of the Cardinal running attack.

We'll have to wait until we see him in pads in the Cardinal backfield against NFL opponents. Under similar circumstances, some RB's can replicate what they did on college (Translation: Adrian Peterson).

Other big backs can't (Translation: Curtis Enos).

I drool at the prospect that Beanie will perform like Peterson. But not very far away is the sinking feeling that we could wind up with the next Enos.

Let's not jump the gun.

 

[trueherotillman]

I see Hightower starting initially, although I think it'll be a 60/40 split on the carries. Wright will see time as the scatback on 3rd down, dump option for Warner (although with Fitz's route running, Fitz very well may be open every time). Either way, it's a problem I'm sure we're happy to have. 2 good running backs? I remember when we had ZERO good running backs. After Murrell, pre-Edge.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I just watched Ohio St. vs. Penn State.

What I saw mostly was Beanie running inside smack into his own blockers. Toward the end of the game, I did see glimpses of #28 hitting the hole and dragging a few tacklers a couple of yards.

It reminded me of Edge's futile attempts to pick up positive yardage behind questionable run-blocking.

My point - It ain't only about the running back. It's about (a) the running back, (b) his blockers and (c) how well the two components work together.

We know what our running attack looks like with THT lugging the football (i.e. no powerhouse, but he can "make himself small" and slither through tiny holes for positive yardage and lots of short-yardage TD's).

All we know about Beanie is that he's big, he's fast and he can be dangerous when he pops into the open field.

In college.

Not from within the context of the Cardinal running attack.

We'll have to wait until we see him in pads in the Cardinal backfield against NFL opponents. Under similar circumstances, some RB's can replicate what they did on college (Translation: Adrian Peterson).

Other big backs can't (Translation: Curtis Enos).

I drool at the prospect that Beanie will perform like Peterson. But not very far away is the sinking feeling that we could wind up with the next Enos.

Let's not jump the gun.

Curtis Enis

 

[mjb21aztd]

Has anyone heard any news on if Beanie Wells is close to getting a contract done, i'm a little nervous that he isn't going to be on training camp in time. Thanks

 

[Shane]

Has anyone heard any news on if Beanie Wells is close to getting a contract done, i'm a little nervous that he isn't going to be on training camp in time. Thanks

Dont bother worrying about things you cant control bud. I used to care about that crap. Not any longer. We know odds are he wont be in camp on time. I would be more worried about the 2nd rounder who is still unsigned.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Yeah your right I shouldn't be worried just would be great to have Wells in camp so he can learn the offense.... I always wake up and check the board to see if Wells has signed heh guess i'll stop thinking about it so much .

 

[joeshmo]

Has anyone heard any news on if Beanie Wells is close to getting a contract done, i'm a little nervous that he isn't going to be on training camp in time. Thanks

Pitt signed their 32nd pick. Should make negotiations 50% easier now having a base line to work with in terms of slotting the 31st pick. We shall see, 5 days to get it done is a life time in negotiations world.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

If Well goes down on the first hit, Hightower will start. Wells went down too easily in several college games I watched so I say Hightower starts.

you must have been Maurice Wells, Beanies backup, because that's just not true about Beanie Wells.

 

[mjb21aztd]

thanks josh hopefully we will see Wells signed sometime this week fingers crossed , we need Wells to get some preseason carries.

 

[Lorenzo]

Hightower will start, but beanie can overtake him if he can get blocking down. as the season rolls on hightower may be better as the 3rd down back?

 

[PoolBoy]

Hightower will start, but beanie can overtake him if he can get blocking down. as the season rolls on hightower may be better as the 3rd down back?

goal line back.

 

[slanidrac16]

IMO, it is great to hear he lost 18 lbs. He definitely need to be quicker than he looked at some combine highlights.
But I don't think we have to worry or conject who will be starting. my hope is they make a great tandem because that is truly what we need, Wells by no stretch of the imagination is going to come in here , unseat Hightower and start toting the ball 25-30 times a game. At least not right away. His playing time will be a direct result of how we reads and picks up the blitz. Until he learns that I think he will be handled much like Hightower was handled last year......goal line, short yardage and the early downs.

 

[Mainstreet]

you must have been Maurice Wells, Beanies backup, because that's just not true about Beanie Wells.

Video must be deceiving. I have seen Wells go down with the first hit quite often. I'm just hoping Wells is not like Arrington when he first arrived with the Cardinals. Don't get me wrong, I want Wells to succeed because I like winning, however, he seems like the type of back that needs a hole to run through rather than being able to create some yardage.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

you must have been Maurice Wells, Beanies backup, because that's just not true about Beanie Wells.

Thank you.

Saved me the effort of replying as I wasn't sure if we were watching the same guy for the last three years.

 

[Cody]

wellls better be. i hated seeing TH > EJ last year.

 

[PJ1]

Nothing against Hightower but if Wells can't take the starting job before the halfway point of the season we may have wasted our #1 pick.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I see Hightower starting initially, although I think it'll be a 60/40 split on the carries. Wright will see time as the scatback on 3rd down, dump option for Warner (although with Fitz's route running, Fitz very well may be open every time). Either way, it's a problem I'm sure we're happy to have. 2 good running backs? I remember when we had ZERO good running backs. After Murrell, pre-Edge.

Really. Edge brought respectibility to our run game.

I wonder if our o-line is going to suck at run blocking again this year now that he's out of the line up forever.

I kind of doubt it, but that always drove me crazy. Guys saying "well, a better back than edge would pick up 10 yards instead of edge's five".

Wells better be the real deal cause Timmy isn't (sorry Tim! prove me wrong bro!).

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I see Hightower starting initially, although I think it'll be a 60/40 split on the carries. Wright will see time as the scatback on 3rd down, dump option for Warner (although with Fitz's route running, Fitz very well may be open every time). Either way, it's a problem I'm sure we're happy to have. 2 good running backs? I remember when we had ZERO good running backs. After Murrell, pre-Edge.

Really. Edge brought respectability to our run game.

I wonder if our o-line is going to suck at run blocking again this year now that he's out of the line up forever.

I kind of doubt it, but that always drove me crazy. Guys saying "well, a better back than edge would pick up 10 yards instead of edge's five".

Wells better be the real deal cause Timmy isn't (sorry Tim! prove me wrong bro!).

 

[john h]

Dont know who they will call the starter. They might technically call Hightower the starter in game one, and Hightower might get more snaps even because of pass blocking and recieving, but Wells will without a doubt get the bulk of the rush attempts. On a perfect game plan the coaches will continue the rush to pass ratio we did in the playoffs, which was 28 runs to 32 passes.

Wells - 16 runs
Hightower - 10 runs
Wright - 2 runs

There will be enouhg carries available for both of them. For the most part much of the NFL uses dueling RB's today. Fresh legs, happy players, etc. This of course unless one is an Adrian Peterson. Hightower may be a better goal line rurnner. Maybe not. A lot will go into this. John Havlicheck was the #6 player on the old Boston Celtics but in name only. He was a starter when you looked at the minutes.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Dont know who they will call the starter. They might technically call Hightower the starter in game one, and Hightower might get more snaps even because of pass blocking and recieving, but Wells will without a doubt get the bulk of the rush attempts. On a perfect game plan the coaches will continue the rush to pass ratio we did in the playoffs, which was 28 runs to 32 passes.

Wells - 16 runs
Hightower - 10 runs
Wright - 2 runs

Totally agree.

 

[lauraw]

How about calling Hightower and Wells "Ground and Pound" like was suggested before by someone??

 

[lauraw]

Wells has to prove he can be a complete back, not just a better RB, than THT, to take that job away..