The stats vary slightly but a couple of sources he is 230 and runs a 4.5 in the 40. He looks to be more like 240 and runs a 4.5 in the 40. Basically Wells reminds me of Ronnie Brown from Auburn. We have seen these guys in the SEC, he is nothing unusual. I think the reports of this guy running a sub 4.4 are a bit exaggerated. He is not faster and not much bigger than most SEC running backs. McFadden plays at about 220 according to the Ark depth chart. Saying McFadden barely breaks 200 is a bit of a stretch. Additionally, McFadden is a much more powerful runner than most realize.
MLU, McFadden is the best running back in college football and it's not close. We can agree on that. Wells was Parade Player of the Year, easily the best player in the Army AA game and is now living up to that billing in college. But...but...the LSU fan says he played against YSU, Akron and Kent State. Fine take those numbers out and guess what? His stats improve. Per game average goes from 121.9 to 140.5. 13 of his 14 TD runs came in the other 9 games. YPC only goes up slightly. The comparison shouldn't be limited to size but it does matter as Wells is a more punishing runner than McFadden and Jones. Of course, it should be limited to backs as good as him because your statement was that LSU has faced many backs that are as good or better than Wells. This isn't true. LSU has faced one or two backs that are as good or better than Wells. You give Dixon credit for speed but the fact is that he's slower than Wells and has less than 1000 yds rushing. We'll see what happens with Forte but his goal should be to make an NFL roster because he will not be playing on gameday next year. Look at Tulane's schedule. The only defenses they played against were Mississippi State and LSU. Both teams easily held him to under 100 yards. We probably agree on more than we disagree on in this thread. What I find interesting is that LSU fans seem eager to put down Wells and his accomplishments and talk about how many "better" backs than him they've played. If that's really the case then why the obsession with him? In reality it seems that they're a whole lot more worried about what he brings to the table than they're letting on. Either that or they're simply so overconfident that they are dismissing the Ohio State team in general and have already ordered the champions package from the LSU web site. Recent history in BCS Championship games show that this is a foolish approach to the game. cheers!
First of all, I don't recall bringing up thte teams that tOSu played. You can bring up LaTech and MTSU and make the same statement about LSU and it gets us nowhere. Every BCS team plays poor teams and I imagine that stats are skewed because the best players won't play the entire game. Everyone's goal is to 1) stay healthy and 2) win, in that order. Dixon has 1066 yards rushing this season and shares the backfield with three other RB's, but receives the bulk of the carries. Forte's woes have been due in large part to the lack of any talent whatsoever around him. You can't dismiss him any more than you could dismiss Marshall Faulk when he came out of San Diego State or Marques Colston when he came out of Hofstra. The fact is that he is rapidly climbing up the draft board because 2000+ yards is nothing to sneeze at, no matter who you play for and he has shown to have exceptional speed for his size. As for an obsession with Wells, I don't see it. There are a couple of threads on teh forum, which doesn't qualify this as an obsession by any definition of the word. Most of the remarks stem from his remarks about LSU, otherwise no one would really even care about the guy. No one is concerned with Wells' carrying tOSU to a win. People are much, much more concerned with LSU giving up another 100 yards in penalties and Flynn/Perrilloux throwing un-timely intercetions and/or passes. The defense will be fine. They suffered two meltdowns this year and both of them were at the hands of two players who are arguably the best at their position (McFadden, Woodson) in the NFL Draft next year. If you're going to lose, at least do it to a guy whose name will be in light soon.
WHOA! Hold on there! I agree he's a good player, but "easily the best player in the....and living up to that billing in college?" Over the top statement. Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Andre' Smith, CJ Spiller, Brandon Spikes, DeMarco Murray, Jarred Fayson...and those are just off the top of my head. He's a good one, but calling him the best RB is still a stretch with Spiller and Murray also in that group.
Quote from MLUTiger: Everyone's goal is to 1) stay healthy and 2) win, in that order. I couldn't disagree more. Hey everyone: Is winning secondary to staying healthy for your football team? My guess is that almost everyone will say the exact opposite of the order you have listed here.
I think most LSU fans are as tired of hearing about wells as much as OSU hates hearing they are slow. Seriously, Wells is in the top 5 of backs LSU will face, but no where near as good as McFadden or Jones.
He was the MVP of the game and some accounts had him playing as a "man among boys". This statement is from a friend of mine who lives in Louisiana and is one of the Rivals.com founders. I'm not making it up. It was the assertion of those that were at the game to judge talent. Anyway, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I see him as one of the elite running backs in the nation. Apparently, y'all see him as just another back like every one you see every week in the SEC.
Backing up to the original message of the thread that OhSU boards say "we haven't seen anything like Wells." That is probably true, but it doesn't mean he going to run all over us. I won't get into comparisons overall, but LSU has faced big physical backs like Wells, maybe not as fast as him though. The big physical backs didn't do anything vs. LSU's defense. Wells is good, but LSU has faced enough good backs to be able to compete and slow him down. Look, I think OhSU will be in for a shock if y'all think they can line up in a conventional formation and run for big yardage. I guess I welcome that gameplan because it plays into our strength...I think that is the point of LSU fans here too regardless of what type of back Wells is. Bucknut fans think we haven't seen any good backs or O-lines outside of McFadden this year...I hope your team thinks that too. FYI I also saw message board that said LSU has not seen an offense as good as OhSU's is too.
Agreed. Harvin was far-and-away the most dominant player in that game and I thought it was Harvin that walked away with the POTG award. I don't believe that such a game showcases any particular player's skills, especially a RB, but it's a priviledge to be invited. Wells is a good, solid, dependable back. But there are no less than 3 SEC teams where he would not be the starting RB today. And even if he did start, he wouldn't be getting 25 carries a game. Comparing him to either McFadden or Jones isn't even a debate, IMHO.
