Cardinals back Wells looking to step up, but he's not alone

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Beanie Wells is certain he has a bright future -- on Dancing with the Stars.

"I could give them a quick 1-2 step -- dazzle the judges," said the Cardinals' second-year running back while clowning for reporters after a recent training camp practice.

With that, he broke into a dance -- an imaginary partner in lockstep.

Will Beanie Wells get more carries in 2010? Depends on whom you ask. (US Presswire)

"I believe in the two-back approach," Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Aside from the fact that we have two very talented guys back there, it allows you to do different things -- to show different things to defenses."

Last season, that approach made sense. While Wells led the club in rushing with 793 yards, Hightower's superior receiving and pass-protection skills afforded him more offensive touches (206 to 188).

With a year of tutelage, Wells no longer accepts the notion that he's deficient in those areas.

"I know what I'm doing," he said. "I know my plays, my assignments. I'm getting a lot of reps and I think I'm doing a lot better job.

"I think the coaches would agree with that."

They do, but there is more at play in this dual-back philosophy than catering to each player's strengths.

"Nowadays, I don't know if you can just have one main guy," said running backs coach Tommie Robinson, long a proponent of the two-back approach. "The game's just too physical. It's a long season and you can only take so many punches and hits before your body starts to wear out."

Working in Wells' favor is the club's expected transition to a run-oriented, ball-control offense now that Matt Leinart has replaced retired Kurt Warner at quarterback.

To that end, the Cards signed nine-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca -- who played for Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm in Pittsburgh -- then moved Levi Brown from right to left tackle to give the Cards an effective pair of lane makers.

But the club also expects playmaking running back LaRod Stephens-Howling to grab a greater share of the offense. And they can't neglect marquee receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston.

Then there is Hightower. While most media members and fans in the Valley of the Sun expect a changing of the guard, the third-year back has his own agenda.

When asked if it was realistic to expect a greater workload for Wells, Hightower responded,, "Realistic to who? To you or to me? My reality is a little bit different."

Hightower maintained the starter's label all of last season, and he could hold into it again, given Whisenhunt's penchant for making young players earn that distinction.

People around the team will tell you the title is academic if Wells gets more carries, but it's not academic to Hightower.

"Absolutely, it matters," he said. "I'm a competitor. I grew up watching Walter Payton and Barry Sanders in the day when those guys didn't come off the football field. You don't want to be a third-down back. You don't want to be a goal-line back. You want to be an every-down back. You want to be the guy who puts the team on his back and says let's go get it done."

Wells is less defiant, but he does have goals.

"It's kind of embedded in my mind that I'm going to be the best running back that ever played for the Arizona Cardinals and one of the best in the league this year," he said, adding that he's shooting for 1,000 yards.

"My goal is always to be more productive than I was the previous year and help my team win more games."

So how many carries will Wells average this season? Fantasy owners won't like Robinson's response.

"I could sit here and give you a number, but there ain't no truth to it," he said. "Different games dictate different things so I can't guess that."

No matter. Wells can.

"I'd like to get 20-plus," he said. "That's a good number for a back these days -- and that would do me just fine."