Jack

Re: Beanie Wells.

Running backs are at the mercy of their offensive lines, and the coaches who design and call the running game. Even the best can be made to look terrible.

I'll go back to my Garrison Hearst analogy, since that name is fresh in my mind.

First year for the Cards, 1993, Garrison totaled 264 yards.

Second year, 169 yards.

Then in 1995 he ran for 1,070 yards... and was then shown the door.

In 1996 he played for the Bengals and totaled 847 yards.

Then, in 1997, he came to the Niners and somehow, magically, learned how to play running back in the NFL. (Magically can be defined, in this case, as Steve Mariucci, Tom Rathman, and the 49er offensive line.)

Wells has had an awfully similar history with the Cards:

2009 - 793

2010 - 397

2011 - 1047

2012 - 234

I look at Wells and I see a guy who has had some injuries... and has had to play behind some gawdawful O-Lines, for a coaching staff that was focused almost exclusively on defense. But he's a guy with obvious talent, and his size and running style fit what the Niners are built to do. He's a 4 year vet who runs the power game. And you don't find those in the draft.

Last Edited By: Kevin 12/31/12 06:45 PM. Edited 1 times.