Fumbles Are Not a New Problem for Arizona Cardinals RB Chris "Beanie" Wells

by Hawkwind on Sep 22, 2009 3:36 PM MDT in 2009 Season Comment 27 comments

Obviously one of the major story lines coming out of the Arizona Cardinals big win over the Jacksonville Jaguars centered around Beanie Wells. Sadly the buzz wasn't around his 44 yards on seven carries (6.3 ypc) but instead on his two fumbles, one of which was lost. While the team is saying and doing all the right things right now, we've still got to wonder if this will be a lingering problem. To try and get a better perspective on Wells' past, we re-read his numerous scouting reports to try and see if he had problems holding onto the ball during his days at Ohio State.

Most scouting reports focused on the obvious issues that were fairly well known (ie injury risk and lack of experience catching the ball), but one scouting report we found dove all the way to 2006 when Wells was a sophomore at Ohio State. This is was CBS Sports listed:

His fumble issues were so bad in 2006 that he was buried on the bench and might have never gotten playing time if not for injuries to others ahead of him in the pecking order.

And more about when he get's sloppy with the ball:

Tendency to Fumble: Taking the ball up the gut, Wells will usually run with the ball secure. His problems happen when he tries to get too fancy bouncing outside, as he does not distribute the ball much and leaves it a bit exposed taking off for long distances. His fumbling was so bad in 2006 that the coaches greatly reduced his playing time until injuries hit the running corps. Eight of his 10 career fumbles have been recovered by the opposition.

Now it's worth mentioning that Wells learned to secure the ball during his collegiate days and there's no reason to think that he won't be able to do the same at the professional level. It's possible that both instances were a case of nerves considering that both of his 'fumblitis' cases came when he was adjusting to a much bigger stage and level of competition. Either way, Wells will have a close eye on him every time he touches the ball this Sunday and most likely for the foreseeable future.

Will this be an ongoing issue?

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I doubt it is an ongoing issue.

Sounds like Whiz and A-Dub got on him pretty good about it. Just remember it took TIki Barber quite a while to get ball security down but once he got it he was one of the best when it came to holding onto the ball.

by Pyromnc on Sep 22, 2009 3:52 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but,

It took about 5 years for Tiki to get it right. Hence why he was in a time share for the first part of his career.

by KDean75 on Sep 23, 2009 6:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget that Adrian Peterson fumbled 13 times over the last two years

I’m not too worried about it, he can get it under control, and being with people like A-Dub who will make him get better at holding onto the ball helps too.

by JoeCB1991 on Sep 22, 2009 5:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope he'll figure it out soon

2 fumbles versus the Jags didn’t really faze us but fumbles versus good teams like the Colts come Sunday night can cost games.

by Fitz Jizzle on Sep 23, 2009 2:02 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

He'll get it right.

AS mentioned, he get a handle on it in Ohio and he will here. With Hightower as an alternative, if he doesn’t he’s not going to get to play and I think he wants the ball. He’ll do what he has to to earn the trust back.

by psknapp on Sep 23, 2009 8:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Still hate the pick

Up right runner who doesn’t protect his body, legs or the ball. The guy won’t be a star in the League and wasn’t worthy of a 1st round selection. Should have gotten McCoy.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Sep 23, 2009 9:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

A little early to speak in certainties...

In fact i’m not sure it’s ever very smart.

by badmatty53 on Sep 23, 2009 10:02 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey I hope I'm wrong...

…but the signs aren’t very good to me.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Sep 23, 2009 10:08 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Signs?

Like averaging over 5 yards per carry so far?

I know it’s very early in his career to suggest much about what kind of runner he’s going to be but unless you talking about a career case of ‘fumble-itis’, I don’t know how you can be anything but encouraged.

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Sep 23, 2009 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know I am in the minority here and that nearly everyone has been drinking the Beanie Kool-Aid since draft day, but that rushing average is meaningless if you can’t hold onto the ball. And his fumbleitis will continue until he learns how to protect his body and the ball. He has to change his entire style of running in order to succeed in the League which is doable, but the question is if the change of style will affect his production.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Sep 23, 2009 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see your point but he obviously changed at OSU and was still very productive

I understand that you wanted McCoy over Wells but at this point just accept that he’s going to be on this team for at least the next five years. At least give him the chance to prove you either wrong or right.

So far he’s got to be at least one good mark and one bad mark.

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Sep 23, 2009 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will

Like I said, I hope he proves me wrong. I’ll reel in my anti-Wells rhetoric.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Sep 23, 2009 10:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Red.

Besides with our suspect o-line, can Lesean run through the line and run through arm tackles? I don’t see him as much of a power runner. I was on the McCoy Kool Aid for a little while till I realized we need a bruiser till our line gets up to snuff. Every play can’t go off tackle where speed is a factor. I think they both will be good in time, but I think Beanie was just what Dr. Red Bird ordered for now.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Sep 23, 2009 6:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

McCoy is soft. I know we’ve had this discussion before Red, so I’ll keep it brief, but if you cant see signs of greatness from Wells already I dont know what games you’ve been watching. As with every issue in the NFL, the fumble thing is being magnified, but at the end of the day its just a technique thing, which he’ll get down. Even I’ve had to learn the good old ‘5 points’ style.

by Irishcardinal on Sep 24, 2009 7:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said Bezekira

As most of the time I agree with your posts, obviously ball security is an isuue and hope he can get it right which I think he will, I know 5 yards a carry doesn´t sound like a lot, but being a cardinals fan, it is a lot, Beanie is explosive, and that is not something you teach, his combination of size and speed is special, remember that he is running behind the same line that Edge and Hightower did last year and they were not even close to averaging that… as far as McCoy I think he can be a good pro, but his ceiling is limited compared to Beanie, Brown or Moreno, his talent is not in the same level as those three… one last thing red reign, first of all, it´s ok to not like the pick, but now that he is a cardinal we have to support and expect the best from Beanie (I love it when Rod Graves proves me wrong with a draft pick or a free agent), and as far as the criticism it reminds me a lot of what was said about Adrian Peterson when he was a rookie, I don´t want to suggest anything, but to say that some of that overscouting can be proven wrong just like Adrian Peterson has done so far…

paco cabrera

by pacocab on Sep 23, 2009 12:11 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course I support him

I want him to succeed and I would love for him to prove me wrong. It doesn’t mean that I can’t question him until he proves himself. I was on the Brown boat, but he wasn’t an option at 31. If I had to rank my pre-draft RBs it would have been Brown, Moreno, McCoy and then Beanie. Regardless, its a moot point since Beanie is a Card and I hope he flourishes in the desert.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Sep 23, 2009 2:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

beanie

a couple of thoughts…

2006 was actually beanie’s true freshman year… and yes, he fumbled quite a few times that year… but he changed how he held the ball and if you look at his sophomore and junior years, he took care of the rock.

i think he’s been trying to do too much with his limited carries (trying to impress)… once he’s comfortable with his role (and not trying to do too much), he’ll be fine.

by chibucks on Sep 23, 2009 2:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Well said and Welcome to RotB.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Sep 23, 2009 6:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks... been lurking for a while now. :)

by chibucks on Sep 24, 2009 3:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

pulling for beanie but not drinking the kool-aid

I believe he can be our every down running back (goal line situations for hightower which isn’t bad for a 5th-round pick). His stats over 2 games with limited carries are impressive amongst rookies.

1. Knowshon Moreno – 94 yards, 25 attempts, 3.8 yd avg, 0 fumbles…
2. Beanie Wells – 73 yards, 14 attempts, 5.2 yd avg, 2 fumbles…
3. Lesean McCoy – 64 yards, 14 attempts, 4.6 yd avg, 0 fumbles…
4. Donald Brown – 59 yards, 15 attempts, 3.9 yd avg, 0 fumbles…
-Courtesy of NFL.com

With the limited amount of carries thusfar he has the best avg per carry but as you can see he’s the only one with any fumbles let alone 2. I see Red Reign and Bezekira’s respective opinions and believe it’s somewhere in the middle. I think the challenge for his transition to the NFL is more mental than physical (as is the case usually) and he’s not used to most of the defenders being as big and strong if not stronger than himself so he’s not conciously making an effort to protect the ball. After all he is only 21 so it could just be a sign of immaturity that he’s underestimating the skill of his opponents. I think he’s the type of back we need though. Moreno, Brown, and McCoy are all from the same mold and with a terrible o-line (which the cards have, good job in week 2 but i’m talking consistently) they would get destroyed for losses more often than being able to get to the outside. We need a back that can run through the linebackers and defensive backs our o-line consistently fails to block. GO CARDINALS!!!

by cardsfanforlife24 on Sep 23, 2009 6:49 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Another great comment, and if you haven't already heard this, Welcome to RotB.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Sep 23, 2009 7:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

by cardsfanforlife24 on Sep 23, 2009 7:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Numbers like that is why I thought Beanie was the best RB in the draft.

Even on a team with a weak run game like what we have, he already has a 5.2 yard average.

Get those fumbles under control and you will be here for a LONG time Beanie.

by JoeCB1991 on Sep 23, 2009 9:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice comments

One thing I’d add to your analysis is that McCoy is a much better receiver out of the backfield. This year he already has 5 receptions for 38 yards to Beanie’s 0. In college he had four times the receptions that Beanie did. We’ll see what McCoy is all about this weekend when he fills-in for an injured Westbrook.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Sep 24, 2009 9:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Real Head Case

Straight from Columbus Ohio! If you are wounding if Wells is closer too Claret or Edie George? I would go with Claret! He is a punk that gets hurt easy and will let you down at the time you need him. He sat on the side lines in his last game with a small ding to his leg with the game on the line. Just like Claret! Show me the money type player. In his case hate the player not the game! He will keep fumbling trust me, keep the guns away from him in the bars! Your team deserves better!

by Chuck forman on Sep 23, 2009 8:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs