Cleveland Sports in 2001
October 8, 2008Pavlik Ready For Hopkins
October 8, 2008If you have the opportunity, go back and watch all of Chris Wells’ runs against Wisconsin again. Be prepared to be impressed. Think you can power him down? Think again. Think he’s got fullback speed? Think again. Think he doesn’t have great natural instincts? I beg to differ. Plus, he has the hammer. You can’t consider it a concealed weapon, because it’s out there for all to see, but when he raises that right hand to fend off a tackler it is like a cannon blast.
Watch closely the 33 yard scamper he makes in the Wisconsin game-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUIb30leipk[/youtube]
First there is the explosion through the hole. Then he delivers a stiff arm to an inside LB going for his legs. 20 yards later, he plows right through the safety, not allowing him to get close to his body. Now take a look at this run, you will have to slide the video to the 4:44 mark.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_0-dQ_IX-4&feature=related[/youtube]
What you might miss about that run is the incredible cut that he makes in the hole. Watch the LB’s on the play. They are in position to meet Beanie about 4 yards into the run, but suddenly Wells makes an adjustment at full speed, and the Wisconsin middle backers have no chance. Then watch as the outside backer bounces right off his leg. Another stiff arm gets him past the safety, and it’s off to the races. Think a fullback has that kind of speed? On a sore foot? No way.
Wells reminds me of a young Jamal Lewis. He has the power and the speed, and can even break out this kind of move-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlmg_11VBp4&feature=related[/youtube]
It was perhaps this stiff arm against Akron that brought national attention to the stiff arm-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTqvbVA2LzY[/youtube]
And of course, the legendary runs against the woodchucks-
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZmuBLYYjrc&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6x7Vax2RMA[/youtube]
I’m thinking we should start a letter writing campaign to Phil Savage. Who’s with me?
7 Comments
Sadly, I think we have plenty of other holes to fill before we address RB. The stiffy against Wisconsin did make me jump off of the couch, though.
My only question is, if he was healthy enough to hurdle a Minnesota safety and man handle the Wisconsin defense, why was he not healthy enough to at least see the field against USC? I’m not saying he would have been 100%, no one knows how effective he would have been, however, any defensive coordinator who says their defensive game plan doesn’t change dependent on if Beanie is in the backfield is a liar. Not to mention I would like to think if he had played in that game, even if the out come was the same, his Heisman chances would be far greater than they are at this point.
Any thoughts?
The best stiffarm of all is at 6:25 of the second video. I just peed a little watching that. That corner had been playing amazingly well up until Beanie put him down.
I agree with Scott, this next draft class is stacked with solid defensive players, especially linebackers (Malanuga, Laurinaitis, Aaron Curry from Wake) and seeing how we could end up with a top-10 pick, we should probably take one of those linebackers, if not then one of the solid defensive lineman or defensive backs that will be in the draft. I think Beanie could be a great NFL back, but good, NFL ready running backs can still be had in the 2nd and 3rd round
The sad thing is if the Browns keep playing the way they are, we might just be high enough to get him
Yeah, I’m gonna agree that the Browns should worry about the D before going after an injury-prone (albeit great–when healthy) RB.
Perhaps I am alone here, but I don’t think the Browns’ defense has been their problem this year whatsoever. They will clearly have to address the RB position soon. I guess when looking at the Browns, I don’t see an awful lot of significant holes that would be first round considerations other than RB, and beanie would be a great fit to replace Jamal Lewis.