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Analysts split on whether running back has NFL toughness, durability
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Apr 12, 2009
When Chris Wells first walked through the door at the Euclid Power Plant, Eric Lichter asked, ''What NFL team does he play for?''
Lichter was stunned to learn that Wells was a senior at Garfield High School and had come to his spartan facility to train for the U.S. Army All-American Game and Ohio State spring football in 2006.
''I said, 'What is in the water in Akron, Ohio?' '' said Lichter, who has spent the past three seasons as OSU's director of football performance. ''The last guy I saw so gifted physically was LeBron [James].
''I've said that LeBron is a once-in-50-years type of athlete. Beanie is a once-in-25-years type athlete. To find a guy so physically mature and so powerful is very rare.''
But since Wells decided to forgo his senior year and enter the April 25-26 NFL Draft, his special gifts are no longer the hot topic of conversation. 'Tis the season to poke holes in ''Beanie'' Wells.
His durability and toughness are the biggest question marks. Wells played most of 2007 with a broken left wrist that required postseason surgery and was also slowed by a sprained ankle. In 2008, he injured his right toe in the season opener and strained his right hamstring against Illinois. After gaining 106 yards in a loss to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl, he finished his final game on the sideline
with a concussion.
''There's been a lot of injuries that have created a lot of smoke. A lot of teams wonder if there's fire,'' Lichter said. ''If he were a defensive tackle he might be able to play with his hamstring and toe.''
Mike Mayock of the NFL Network has been extremely critical of Wells, ranking Georgia's Knowshon Moreno as the best back in this draft and the sixth-best prospect, and not listing Wells in his top 20. That was after Wells, 6-foot-11/2 and 235 pounds, improved his 40 time from 4.59 at the combine to 4.39-4.42 on a notoriously fast track at OSU's pro day.
''I don't think it's a toughness issue; it's a durability issue,'' Mayock said. ''He's missed multiple games over multiple years. That's not a top-10 pick.''
Charles Davis of the NFL Network did not agree, especially since Wells missed only three games in three years, all in 2008.
''I've watched him two years now, including the [2007] title game, and I don't see that,'' Davis said. ''I see a kid who played last season with a broken wrist; he had that great [222-yard] game against Michigan. This year he came back before his time, played in an oversized shoe when he should have shut it down.''
Wells said he had ''never felt a pain like that before'' when he hurt his toe and thought it would keep him out all season.
''If your toe is in extreme pain, you use it at every opportunity, to cut, to push off, it absorbs force,'' Lichter said.
Former University of Miami running back Melvin Bratton is vice president for football operations at DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment, which represents Wells. Bratton said Wells had ''the same toe injury that caused Deion Sanders to retire.''
''It's like taking your toe and running full speed into a door and trying to play in the next hour,'' Bratton said. ''He was jumping over people with a bad toe. The only thing you can do for a toe like that is rest.''
Wells' agent, Adam Heller, said noted orthopedist James Andrews examined Wells in January and ''gave him a clean bill of health.'' But that, and the extensive medical examinations at the combine, did not answer all the questions about Wells.
Moreno vs. Wells
Some rank Moreno higher because he's a better receiver and blocker. Wells finished his three-year career with 15 catches for 84 yards; Moreno caught 53 passes for 645 yards and two touchdowns in two years.
''I feel as if I can do it. It just wasn't a part of our scheme at Ohio State,'' Wells said. ''If you look back in history, I don't think a running back at Ohio State has caught over 13 balls in four or five years.''
Wells wasn't far off. The only running back in coach Jim Tressel's eight seasons at Ohio State to catch more than 13 passes in a season was Buchtel's Antonio Pittman, who had 14 receptions in 2006 and 17 in 2005.
The most recent back to lead the Buckeyes in receiving was Keith Byars in 1984 (42-479). Eddie George is tied for 22nd on the school's single-season receiving list with 47 catches during his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 1995.
Impressive skills
Bratton, a seventh-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1989, has scouted for the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams and been involved in five drafts. He knew Wells needed work as a receiver, so he took him to Pensacola, Fla., then spent at least two sessions at Ohio State working with quarterback Todd Boeckman.
''We gave him the route tree, we put him out wide and made him run routes like Brian Robiskie,'' Bratton said. ''He shocked Boeckman. He has such great hands, Boeckman started laughing. His hands are so soft, he looked the ball in. I was expecting something worse.''
But while the NFL looks at Wells and sees weaknesses, Lichter looks at Wells and sees strength.
''When you look at his legs, they don't appear to be the same size as his upper body, but they're very powerful,'' Lichter said. ''He can squat over 520 pounds. He broad-jumped 11 feet, that's another confirmation of that fact.
''He has an uncanny ability to utilize his vision. He can move his feet so quickly, stutter step and accelerate in full stride. He has a tremendous burst. It's rare for a guy with so much muscle mass to change direction so quickly and accelerate. No one in this draft can match that. It would shock me if he wasn't the first running back taken.''
Future with Browns?
Because of the durability concerns, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted in late March that Wells could go to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 21st pick or to the Arizona Cardinals at 31. Wells' scheduled visits include the Cardinals, along with San Diego, Denver, Seattle, the New York Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati and the Browns.
The Browns, who hold the fifth overall pick, will bring in Wells this week. Atlanta Falcons assistant coach Terry Robiskie, the former Browns coach and father of OSU's Brian, believes the Browns should pick Wells to be Jamal Lewis' heir apparent.
''He's got to work on his hands, his ability as a receiver, his blocking,'' Kiper said of Wells. ''But as a runner, when he's healthy, he runs tough between the tackles. They couldn't catch him in the open field; they could catch Moreno. He's the best running back in this draft. Moreno is a better receiver and better blocker. But as a runner, you'd be hard-pressed to find a guy with more ability than Beanie Wells.''
Fans on field
Wells' teammates already know that.
''The film shows everything. He's stiff-arming people, he's playing through injuries, he's running over people,'' OSU senior linebacker James Laurinaitis said at pro day. ''The film is what matters and people seem to forget that at this point of the year. I'd take Chris Wells if I were a top-10 team. It's going to be upsetting I can't be on his team for the rest of my career. He's a great running back, he's a tough kid.''
Senior linebacker Marcus Freeman was even more emphatic.
''If you play with this guy every day in practice, you know how tough he is,'' Freeman said. ''To be that big and that fast and that agile, the smart people realize this guy is a rare talent.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
When Chris Wells first walked through the door at the Euclid Power Plant, Eric Lichter asked, ''What NFL team does he play for?''
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 06:14 AM, 04/12/2009
Thanks for the article, Marla. It was appreciated.
Browns can take him and his toe with their second pick.
Go Beanie!
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:26 AM, 04/12/2009
Yes the Browns are going to need Beanie..
Jamal can help him along,
Go Browns....
Posted 08:44 AM, 04/12/2009
This nice fellow is injury prone. Never make it.
barberton, oh
Posted 09:23 AM, 04/12/2009
bbbbbbbbbbbeanie and the browns
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 09:30 AM, 04/12/2009
Wells is too fricken slow for the NFL. 4.59 is not even a RB time. Maybe he can play for one of the indoor arena teams or the Youngstown Semi-pro team?
Posted 09:49 AM, 04/12/2009
They should take Jeremy Maclin or Malcolm Jenkins,first, then Beanie or the best running back available, judging from what I hear, Laurinitas or Freeman will be there in the second round. Maybe even both, what a pickup that would be to get those two who are a great tandem at linebacker because they know each other so well.
San Diego, CA
Posted 11:36 AM, 04/12/2009
Hey Grump, I'll bet he's as fast or faster than Brandon Jacobs of the Giants. He sure seemed fast enough when he outran the LSU secondary for the 65 yard TD run in that title game. He doesn't have Reggie Bush speed but he's fast enough.
Go back to sleep. You shouldn't interrupt your afternoon nap. Maybe that's why you're a grump!
Posted 12:37 PM, 04/12/2009
I like Wells a lot & feel his injuries (which were minor, not major like a knee) are being over blown. He'll be a solid (if not great) NFL back for 8 to 10 years. Unfortunately, the Browns current picks don't give them much of a chance to land him. I would do a deal with the Giamts for Braylon & acquire more picks!
Jason Dawg
Canton, OH
Posted 12:51 PM, 04/12/2009
Beanie will be okay. . .He has good pedigree: Garfield Golden Ram & OSU Buckeye. ..
Lorain, oh
Posted 02:36 PM, 04/12/2009
He will be fine, but do not expect him to end up in a Browns uniform..New Orleans is eyeing him hard to take over for Deuce
Posted 04:48 AM, 04/13/2009
beenie was afraid to run into or over people in high school...can u spell nfl BUST
Posted 08:57 AM, 04/13/2009
I don't think Beanie Wells is going to be all that. He's frequently banged up, and that's going against college defenses.
Posted 10:11 AM, 04/13/2009
Defense at #5.
Mentor, OH
Posted 11:18 AM, 04/13/2009
Anyone with that much of a history of minor injuries keeping him from playing is a huge risk and not a guy you take at 5. Should we trade down or he stay on the board into the second round he becomes a serious candidate for the Browns to draft.
With our offensive line Beanie will probably be injured his first exhibition game.
Draft for the offensive line, not because a player is from OSU.
While Wells ceiling is extremely high, so is his risk of being a total bust due to injury.
Barberton, OH
Posted 01:09 PM, 04/13/2009
If Wells stays moderately healthy, he'll be the greatest 3rd down back in NFL history.
That might not sound like much. But if I'm an NFL GM, you have to see Wells' potential to get that crucial two/three yards for the always pivotal 1st down. He's big. He's pretty fast. He's a faster version of T.J. Duckett and LenDale White.
Therefore, even if you only used him at the Goal Line or on 3rd down, he's worth the late first, early second round pick. Besides, with that type of role, you lessen the chance of him being injured again by giving him primary carries on 1st and 2nd downs.
