Will Mendenhall have fumbling problems?

I hate to point this out, but it seems like in every Rashard Mendenhall photo or highlight tape I see, it shows our rookie running back holding the ball away from his body (as opposed to tucked in high and tight). Ever since draft day I've wondered if he'd have fumbling problems in the NFL because of this tendency. A photo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Web site (above, credit to Peter Diana of the Post-Gazette) illustrates this to a certain degree.



A photo from his college days at the University of Illinois (right), shows the tendency in a much more pronounced way.

To be sure, I've never seen Mendenhall play a single game, the photos/highlights usually don't feature him running in traffic, and a search of Google images does reveal college photos with what appears to be excellent technique (as well as photos with the ball low and/or far(!) from his body). Still, this issue has given me pause since day one. Any Illini or Steelers' fans have any thoughts about this?