Triplett says Saints Interest in Chris "Beanie" Wells is "Bona Fide"

[Danchrism]

Unfortunately those two games pretty much defined our season. It sucks that he couldn't deliver when it counted but that's what it boils down to. Racking up yards against Oakland and Detroit doesn't mean a whole lot.

He paid his pittance, though. He got all of 14 carries in the next six games (meaning he didn't even get significant playing time against Oakland; I specifically remember asking him about that after the game). Once Payton started giving him carries again, he only had the one bad game against Tampa. Every other game was exactly what we look for in a running back -- but no, continue to define him by five plays if/since it aids your agenda.


Is it PT's fault that we drew two cheese divisions last season?

 

[Galbreath34]

Just hope you don't see Ditka on TV singing his praises... (Avery)

 

[Baybee_Biggum225]

I really am not in love with any of the defensive players in this draft. The more footage I see of Wells, the more he reminds of deuce. He is a bruiser. I love PT, and I know he worked his butt off, but Beanie is growing on me more and more as each day passes.

 

[saint_cajun78]

If we can't trade down and there are no defensive players rated high enough at 14 then I would not be upset at drafting Wells.

Remember a lot of people were talking bust about Adrian Peterson because of his injury-laden past but we all know how that turned out. I'm not trying to compare Wells to AP but I'm just making an argument that he could very well be the best value for our #14 pick.

 

[TheDeparted]

Unfortunately those two games pretty much defined our season. It sucks that he couldn't deliver when it counted but that's what it boils down to. Racking up yards against Oakland and Detroit doesn't mean a whole lot.

But those games were so early in the season...if those were his only 'bad' performances, then he did a 'heckuva' good job.

That said, the more I see of Wells, the more comfortable I would be with having him. Bush-Wells would be an excellent 1-2 punch, and then you have a solid runner in PT to spell either of the two runners.

I can see how a running game, as good as what I imagine this could be, can really help the defense out - and how much more able we could be with respect to closing games out. Maybe that's the boost we would need to fall on the positive side of 50% on the close games..

Of course...it would also benefit the passing game, which would be 'sick', as they say in the parlance of our times.

I really am not in love with any of the defensive players in this draft. The more footage I see of Wells, the more he reminds of deuce. He is a bruiser. I love PT, and I know he worked his butt off, but Beanie is growing on me more and more as each day passes.

For most of Deuce's career, I was delivering pizza (before I graduated) and had to try to catch segments of the game here and there on the radio...but from what I have seen of him in the games I have seen and the highlights...yes, Beanie reminds me a lot of Deuce. Not 100% of course, but a good deal like him.

 

[A.D.Rock]

If Jenkins is gone and we can't trade down,Beanie's a Saint.....bank it

 

[money941]

If there is one thing that bugs me, it is people saying Wells has injury issues.

He missed 3 games his entire college career. I wouldn't say he has "injury problems." I don't care if your on the questionable list every week, if you play on Saturdays or Sundays then no complaints.

You will never be 100% healthy.

I never understood where he got the "injury prone" label. As you said he's missed 3 games in his entire college career. He's a bruising running back, he's going to get nicked up every now and then but the fact is he always tried to play on saturday's but it was Tressel that sat him out as a precaution for a couple of those games if i remember correctly.

The fact is half of this board is going to hate the pick if we draft him, the other half will accept/like the pick, just the way it's going to be (as can be seen in this thread).

 

[nolafan33]

A couple of things:

- Can't we let the draft clock just run out on us and see what happens?
- Pierre Thomas, at worst, deserves a(nother) chance to rectify the Washington and Denver games, because that's apparently the ONLY memory some of you have of him. It's like the other 13 games after those either 1) contained no down-and-short conversions, 2) didn't see Pierre improve his running, or 3) didn't happen.

Wells is a upgrade over Pierre. Anytime a upgrade comes along, and your in position to do so, you take it.

Honestly, how many would be mad if the Saints dumped Drew for a upgrade at QB?

 

[natedog]

Is Pierre Thomas from the Louisianna area?..................thats rhetorical byt the way. I like the guy but Imo he and Reggie are basically the same player,except one costs alot more and brings alot more hype to our team. I find it odd that not many people here mention the Heath Evans signing, he isn't just going to be used in a traditional FB role. Actually I think he will be receiving the ball a lot on 3rd and 1, I just don't see us taking a Rb at 14. I would actually prefer a DE over RB at that spot, but most of all I would prefer Jenkins like most on this board.

 

[rlmarine]

Wells is a upgrade over Pierre. Anytime a upgrade comes along, and your in position to do so, you take it.

Honestly, how many would be mad if the Saints dumped Drew for a upgrade at QB?

First off, I'm wouldn't conclusively say Wells is an upgrade over PT. PT has shined when given the opportunity, and Wells would take PT's 4.8 ypc average over his first 2 years in a heartbeat. The draft is about addressing needs, and some needs hold higher priority over others. OLB need is > RB need. S need is > RB need.

With no other 1st day picks, drafting a RB, or any offensive player, is absolutely a luxury pick, and doesn't best address the most pressing needs this football team has. SP already traded away this year's 2nd for an offensive player, and to consider also using this year's 1st on another one is asinine. Yet, I pray to god Beenie Wells gets drafted before 14, because I'm afraid SP foolishly won't be able to pass on him.

 

[nolafan33]

First off, I'm wouldn't conclusively say Wells is an upgrade over PT. PT has shined when given the opportunity, and Wells would take PT's 4.8 ypc average over his first 2 years in a heartbeat. The draft is about addressing needs, and some needs hold higher priority over others. OLB need is > RB need. S need is > RB need.

With no other 1st day picks, drafting a RB, or any offensive player, is absolutely a luxury pick, and doesn't best address the most pressing needs this football team has. SP already traded away this year's 2nd for an offensive player, and to consider also using this year's 1st on another one is asinine. Yet, I pray to god Beenie Wells gets drafted before 14, because I'm afraid SP foolishly won't be able to pass on him.

PT is strongly overrated on this site. Do not get me wrong, he is a good young back, but he isn't a feature back. The only thing PT has ever done is perform against the worst, college defenses if you want to call it that.

Wells is a stud. He's 6'1, 240 and ran a 4.3 in the forty. I don't put much stock into the 40, but a 4.3 for someone his size is a miracle. Wells will be a star in this league, he has the speed and the power.

To be honest, I look at him as a better Deuce. Again, Wells will be a star. I'll say it, he will be AD good.

Lastly, your two needs. OLB, and FS. If Jenkins is on the board, you take him. No doubt about it. But who do you take at OLB? Matthews or Cushing? I don't think. What about safety? William Moore is a possibility. He should be a top 15 pick, if it wasn't for injuries his senior season.

If the top guys are gone, Curry, Brown, Orakpo, Jenkins, and others, and you can't find a GREAT trade back option, you take Wells.

I've said it before, and I will say it again. Payton likes to counter his pass game with a big power back. Wells fits that.

 

[rlmarine]

PT is strongly overrated on this site. Do not get me wrong, he is a good young back, but he isn't a feature back. The only thing PT has ever done is perform against the worst, college defenses if you want to call it that.

I quit reading after that last sentence.

 

[nolafan33]

I quit reading after that last sentence.

Well, you missed alot then.

Tell me, what has PT ever done against actual defenses?

And why is it that everytime he gets a high workload he becomes injured?

 

[rlmarine]

Well, you missed alot then.

Tell me, what has PT ever done against actual defenses?

And why is it that everytime he gets a high workload he becomes injured?

What has PT done when he gets 15+ carries in a game, and he becomes the "feature" back? Go back and look.

http://www.nfl.com/players/pierrethomas/gamelogs?id=THO085535

It's really pointless for me to argue against the PT naysayers, you've already made up your mind and he can do nothing more to sell you. I don't doubt Wells can be a solid NFL running back, but when SP has made a commitment to run the ball with PT, we have all we need at that position, and the 14th pick can be better addressed.

 

[nolafan33]

What has PT done when he gets 15+ carries in a game, and he becomes the "feature" back? Go back and look.

http://www.nfl.com/players/pierrethomas/gamelogs?id=THO085535

It's really pointless for me to argue against the PT naysayers, you've already made up your mind and he can do nothing more to sell you. I don't doubt Wells can be a solid NFL running back, but when SP has made a commitment to run the ball with PT, we have all we need at that position, and the 14th pick can be better addressed.

Against the 30th, 26th, 25th, and 5th running defenses in the NFL, yardage wise. And the 30th, 26th, 28th, and 3rd running defenses in the NFL, YPC wise. And please do not act like PT had a good game against Chicago, he was horrible.

I'm not a PT naysayer, I like PT and think he is a good RB. He would excel if he was used like Bradshaw or Ward were last season with NY. But to think he can be the feature back of this team is dreamful, we have seen what happens when Payton uses him that way. He becomes injured. The only time Payton has ever made a commitment with PT is against sorry run defenses.

Like I said, I'm not a PT naysayer, I like him. But, I am not sold on him. He has done NOTHING against good NFL defenses. And IMHO, there is a reason for that. There is a reason he gets carries against the bad defenses, and not the good ones. There is a reason Payton voiced his displeasure with PT's performance early in the season and reduced his carries.