Is Reggie Bush officially a bust?

[jonathanlambert33]

Is Reggie Bush officially a bust? Easy question, easy answer.

First, lets look at his season averages:

06: 99 yards a game, 15 touches, 6.6 YPT, 11 TD's, 16 games (64 quarters)
07: 84 yards a game, 20 touches, 4.2 YPT, 6 TD's, 12 games (48 quarters)
08: 132 yards a game, 21 touches, 6.3 YPT, 9 TD's, 8.5 games (34 quarters)

Now, let me start by saying this. Reggie had a good rookie year, he was terrible the first half, but spectacular the second half. In 07, he was a downright bust. He was terrible, I do not want to talk about it. Now, in 08, he had two minor injuries (could have played through the second), but when on the field he was great. When he played all four quarters, he averaged something like 148 yards a game.

If there was one thing I noticed this season, you heard alot less of the "bust" talk. He really made a name for himself, he began the season on pace to break a long standing record. The alltime total yardage record. At 175 yards per game, through the first 6 weeks, he was on pace for nearly 3000 yards. He was the leader in yards, and second in TD's, amongst the entire NFL.

Here is what Solomon Wilcotts had to say about him, after a caller called in and called him a bust:

Teams have to gameplan just to stop this guy from killing them and it still doesn't work. While he has proven that he can run between the tackles, the Saints don't require him to do so. They get the ball to Reggie in space and he kills defenses. Reggie is among the league leaders in scoring since he came into the NFL. While most of TD's are not rushing from scrimmage, he kills you catching the ball and on punt returns. Plan and simple, Reggie Bush is a impact player that's getting better and better as he seasons as a pro. Tell the head coach of the Vikings Childress that Reggie Bush is a bust and he'll probably slap you silly. Reggie Bush will be the highest sought after FA in football barring no major injury if the Saints ever let him get away. The Saints will do well to sign offer him a long term extention.

Reggie Bush can get better, certainly needs to stay healthy, and has some weaknesses in his game. But each time I read a post or hear that the Saints should trade Bush, I wonder whether the poster or caller is drinking something that is exceptionally good or exceptionally bad.

Reggie Bush is the most underappreciated player on the Saints, perhaps ever. And the reason is that the expectations for the guy--because of his college career, his number two draft selection, his hype, his commercials, his flash--are absurd.

The biggest question with Reggie is staying healthy. If he can do that, then he is a star player who is terribly productive, who makes everyone else around him better, who causes opposing defensive coordinators to game-plan against him, and who is alone worth two or three wins a year because of a sensational long punt return or run or pass reception. And some want the Saints to trade this guy? You most likely hear that because they want him on their team. He's in company of a select few backs currently playing you can give 80 catches to over a season, virtually all out of the backfield and most designed, and still average 8+ a catch. Which is terrific. I like Pierre Thomas alot too, but Reggie really is a special player. Hes flashy, a bit fragile, and definitely not a "proper" running back, but what he is is a 100% bona fide game changer and TD machine, and thats fine with me. His speed is just ridiculous, and his cutting/juking ability is really second to none. Bush plays his heart out and gives it everything he's got and it infuriates me when people say the Saints should cut or trade him.

For my last argument, does not being the traditional RB make you a bust? One of my favorite sayings is, the only people who call Bush garbage and a bust are the ones who in their head, think they know what a RB should look like, how they should run, and how their numbers should come. Reggie is a special player, one of a kind. Lastly, lets compare Reggies 34 quarters to the top 20 RB's in the NFL this season.

Steven Jackson- 24 touches- 118 yards- 4.9 (6)
Adrian Peterson- 24 touches- 118 yards- 4.9 (6)
Michael Turner- 24 touches- 109 yards- 4.5 (14)
Matt Forte- 24 touches- 107 yards- 4.5 (14)
Clinton Portis- 23 touches- 107 yards- 4.7 (9)
Steve Slaton- 22 touches- 104 yards- 4.7 (9)
Deangelo Williams- 19 touches- 102 yards- 5.4 (2)
Frank Gore- 21 touches- 101 yards- 4.8 (8)
Reggie Bush- 19 touches- 100 yards- 5.3 (3)
Chris Johnson- 21 touches- 99 yards- 4.7 (9)
LaDainian Tomlinson- 22 touches- 96 yards- 4.4 (18)
Brian Westbrook- 21 touches- 96 yards- 4.6 (11)
Thomas Jones- 21 touches- 95 yards- 4.5 (14)
Marshawn Lynch- 20 touches- 89 yards- 4.5 (14)
Derrick Ward- 14 touches- 88 yards- 6.3 (1)
Maurice Drew- 17 touches- 87 yards- 5.1 (4)
Marion Barber- 20 touches- 87 yards- 4.4 (18)
Brandon Jacobs- 17 touches- 87 yards- 5.1 (4)
Ryan Grant- 21 touches- 83 yards- 4.0 (20)
Larry Johnson- 17 touches- 79 yards- 4.6 (11)
Kevin Smith- 17 touches- 79 yards- 4.6 (11)

 

[Gtown81]

Houston is probably laughing right now.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Houston is probably laughing right now.

I doubt it, Houston did what they should have done. At the time, they had a good young RB, in Domanick Davis. They could have used another RB, but it was not a need. On the other hand, they were coming off a season where the entire team only recorded 37 sacks. They had a major need at DE, and Williams was one of the best prospects to come out in a while, and was looked at as what he is today, a stud.

 

[A.E]

Oh boy...how many times we've all been down this road before.

 

[JoshHoward5]

I doubt it, Houston did what they should have done. At the time, they had a good young RB, in Domanick Davis. They could have used another RB, but it was not a need. On the other hand, they were coming off a season where the entire team only recorded 37 sacks. They had a major need at DE, and Williams was one of the best prospects to come out in a while, and was looked at as what he is today, a stud.

Yes because everyone was raving over Domanick Davis.

 

[jarrod2323]

Houston was happy with Davis, but they wanted Bush first, but was told his asking price as a #1 would've cost them a WHOLE lot more. It was mainly finances, not need.

At the time, Bush was considered the 2nd coming of Barry Sanders, and too hard to pass up.

But, Houston is smiling knowing they've gotten a full-time stud, not a "possible" part-time star. No knock to Reggie, but this is by far his make-or-break year

 

[JoshHoward5]

Houston was happy with Davis, but they wanted Bush first, but was told his asking price as a #1 would've cost them a WHOLE lot more. It was mainly finances, not need.

At the time, Bush was considered the 2nd coming of Barry Sanders, and too hard to pass up.

But, Houston is smiling knowing they've gotten a full-time stud, not a "possible" part-time star. No knock to Reggie, but this is by far his make-or-break year

That was my point. Davis was a decent running back, but when Reggie was coming out he was suppose to be one of the best running backs ever, and you don't pass that up because you have Davis.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Houston was happy with Davis, but they wanted Bush first, but was told his asking price as a #1 would've cost them a WHOLE lot more. It was mainly finances, not need.

At the time, Bush was considered the 2nd coming of Barry Sanders, and too hard to pass up.

But, Houston is smiling knowing they've gotten a full-time stud, not a "possible" part-time star. No knock to Reggie, but this is by far his make-or-break year

That is where the so called "experts" were very wrong. I remember, the Saints drafting Reggie and one of the first remarks Sean Payton made is don't expect Reggie to come in here and be the savior. He will be just another player on this team, he will split the RB duties with Deuce Mcallister. Now, as it turns out, he is splitting with Pierre Thomas.

My point is, the media thought he was the second coming, but the NFL did not. That is a big big difference. Reggie Bush has been everything that the Saints thought he would be, did they think going into his 4th season he would not yet have averaged over 4 ypc? Of course not, but like I said, that doesn't hold the burden on Reggie like it does other backs, because Reggie is not a pure running back. It's like true PG's in the NBA.

Reggie was brought in to do a couple things with the Saints, and that is catch some passes, return some punts, and occasionaly take a handoff, 10-12 times a game, but most of all, he was brought in to change games with his playmaking ability. He was brought in to be a game changer, a explosive player. He has lived up to that mark very very well.

Reggie will never be a 1,500 yard rusher, simply because he will never get enough carries to get that many yards. The same goes for recieving the football. Saying oh Bush is ... in rushing, and ... in recieving is not a good measure, because he does it all a little, not one individual thing alot.

This paragraph summed up what was expected, and what Reggie has brought:

The biggest question with Reggie is staying healthy. If he can do that, then he is a star player who is terribly productive, who makes everyone else around him better, who causes opposing defensive coordinators to game-plan against him, and who is alone worth two or three wins a year because of a sensational long punt return or run or pass reception. And some want the Saints to trade this guy? You most likely hear that because they want him on their team. He's in company of a select few backs currently playing you can give 80 catches to over a season, virtually all out of the backfield and most designed, and still average 8+ a catch. Which is terrific. I like Pierre Thomas alot too, but Reggie really is a special player. Hes flashy, a bit fragile, and definitely not a "proper" running back, but what he is is a 100% bona fide game changer and TD machine, and thats fine with me. His speed is just ridiculous, and his cutting/juking ability is really second to none. Bush plays his heart out and gives it everything he's got and it infuriates me when people say the Saints should cut or trade him.

Just the fact that teams spend very long periods of time game planning for Reggie makes him valuable.

Teams don't want to pick Bush as the poison they will die by. They will take everything else, they just do not want to get killed by the 25pill.

He does not have the size to impose his will on the game like a Deuce Mcallister so he is used in other ways to do the exact same thing.

In 2006 Payton allowed Mcallister and Brees and great timing with his play calling to get it done.

Hopefully they can get it back with Pierre Thomas, Brees and great timing with his play calling.

Just to give you a idea of the TD machine Reggie is, in his shortened career, he has already scored the Saints 174 points, and that is not counting the plays Reggie got the Saints into position.

 

[A.E]

We argued about this last season...and the season before that.

I still stick to the same opinion in that Reggie Bush was right for the Saints given what the city had gone through. New Orleans looked to the Saints to provide the first national display of a city overcoming adversity and driving on. The city was ecstatic over Reggie Bush...so much so that many spend their FEMA donated money on Saints' season tickets.

Given the college career Bush had come off of, there's no doubt that the city was looking at Reggie to not only be the most dynamic player they had seen since...who knows...but also the public face of the team. Right away, Reggie was out doing "We are all Saints" ads, handing out supplies throughout the city, making appearances, etc.

Would the city have been as excited over Mario Williams at the time? Probably not...but Houston opted to fill a bigger need, be patient & for a more comfortable price.

But the bottom line on Bush being a "bust"...he is but he isn't. Reggie is a "bust" in that he has made some dynamic plays throughout his early NFL playing days...however he isn't that feature back that you would hope to get with a 2nd overall. I don't care that the Saints claim "he can run between the tackles but we choose not to use him in that way", we have all been watching & we have all seen how productive he isn't w/o a pounding Deuce McAllister on the same field. Bush is more of a specialty player, a weapon used all over the field.

Reggie puts up some good numbers...but only in yardage and tds. You will never see Reggie finish a season with a ton of carries or a ton of receptions. After 3 seasons, you'd be hard-pressed to convince anybody outside of the Bayou that Bush can shoulder the same load of a Tomlinson, Peterson, or Portis.

Now I also think that Reggie isn't a "bust" b/c the city is still just as freaking excited about him now as they were the day he was drafted. The guy can be lightning in a bottle at any time. I'll never forget him single-handedly dominating the Vikings with the punt returns this past season. Every time the guy steps onto the field you hold your breath & we all know that he's the type of player that can do anything with the ball and some open field.

Reggie hasn't lost his fanbase, his celebrity, or the support of his city. Until those 3 disappear, Reggie won't be a complete failure in my eyes. But can Reggie be effective w/o a bigger back taking the tougher carries...hell no.

 

[Lake Louise]

I`ve said it before, that he`s not bust, and I stick to that. So, he doesn`t play many games because of injuries, or his time is limited, doesn`t mean he`s a bust. Him and Devin Hester have the same Return Specialist level of danger, and Reggie is still young.

 

[A.E]

I`ve said it before, that he`s not bust, and I stick to that. So, he doesn`t play many games because of injuries, or his time is limited, doesn`t mean he`s a bust. Him and Devin Hester have the same Return Specialist level of danger, and Reggie is still young.

But Devin Hester was drafted 55 picks after Bush & makes about $11 million more guaranteed. The Bears also didn's draft Hester under the notion that their offense would be surrounded around his play-making ability.

I mean your right...both are dangerous return specialists but who in their right mind wants a $62 million returnman?

 

[DC4]

Would beast if he was a wr

 

[cruzg24]

But Devin Hester was drafted 55 picks after Bush & makes about $11 million more guaranteed. The Bears also didn's draft Hester under the notion that their offense would be surrounded around his play-making ability.

I mean your right...both are dangerous return specialists but who in their right mind wants a $62 million returnman?

lmao, x2. How is someone not considered a bust if they dont play? Its doesnt make sense to me. A 2nd overall pick is supposed to be produce at a very high level.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Bush is in no way a bust, I think he fits perfectly into a two-attack game, which is what the Saints are using. I agree 100% with AE, until he loses that fanbase hes not a bust. Now keep in mind that he was injured last season. He could have played through but the Saints opted out of that.

Bush needs time before hes a bust, if anyones a bust its Vince Young.

 

[A.E]

I just love how the Saints claim that Bush CAN pound the ball between the tackles. I mean the guy has already torn his PCL, meniscus and was nagged with inflammation & swelling all last season. Reggie Bush doesn't have the body that can take the abuse that goes on inside the box for 16 games.

I still remember Len Pasquarelli's comment on draft day. If I remember correctly, Len said on ESPN that Houston passing up on Bush would be the biggest mistake made in NFL Draft history.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I just love how the Saints claim that Bush CAN pound the ball between the tackles. I mean the guy has already torn his PCL, meniscus and was nagged with inflammation & swelling all last season. Reggie Bush doesn't have the body that can take the abuse that goes on inside the box for 16 games.

I still remember Len Pasquarelli's comment on draft day. If I remember correctly, Len said on ESPN that Houston passing up on Bush would be the biggest mistake made in NFL Draft history.

The Saints have never claimed that he could pound the ball, where you get that from I do not know. About the injuries, all of them are greatly over exaggerated. He's had two surgeries, but neither was major. Both were this season, with one just being a "clean up". He checked in and checked out. The other, he missed 4 weeks, and was only on crutches for a couple days, and was back practicing 2 weeks before he returned.

 

[HARDEN40RICH]

Reggie Bust is NOT a bust. He's an electric playmaker that helps the Saints when he is healthy. When he is healthy, you can't deny the fact that a lot of teams play him as a punt return similar to how they play Devin Hester. They will try to kick the ball away from him, or not even let him get a chance to get the ball. He's real slippery when he's on his running game.

 

[A.E]

The Saints have never claimed that he could pound the ball, where you get that from I do not know. About the injuries, all of them are greatly over exaggerated. He's had two surgeries, but neither was major. Both were this season, with one just being a "clean up". He checked in and checked out. The other, he missed 4 weeks, and was only on crutches for a couple days, and was back practicing 2 weeks before he returned.

"While he has proven that he can run between the tackles, the Saints don't require him to do so."

^ Not sure where you got that from but that sounds to me like the Saints saying: "he can but we don't need him to".

Tearing any ligament in your knee is actually a pretty major injury.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

^ Not sure where you got that from but that sounds to me like the Saints saying: "he can but we don't need him to".

Tearing any ligament in your knee is actually a pretty major injury.

Reggie averaged 4.6 ypc up the middle this season. That, IMO anyways, would qualify as being able to run it up the gut.

And for the record, in 07 when he injured his PCL, it did not require surgery. It was a injury that was able to heal by itself. In 08, he suffered a Meniscus Tear. Which is not a major injury, nothing more than cartilage damage. He had a minor surgery and was back on his feet in less than 2 days, no crutches. Like I said the first time, he checked in and checked out. The second injury he suffered was a aggrivation of this, like someone else mentioned, he could have played through it if needed. He also had a minor surgery after this, thought it was a little more complex. This kept him off his feet for about two weeks. But he is now 100% healthy.

 

[The Guid]

Reggie averaged 4.6 ypc up the middle this season. That, IMO anyways, would qualify as being able to run it up the gut.

Situation G Rush Yds Y/G Avg TD
Wide Right 10 22 63 0.0 2.9 0
Right 10 30 105 0.0 3.5 0
Middle 8 8 18 0.0 2.3 0 -- 1 fumble lost
Left 10 25 144 0.0 5.8 1
Wide Left 10 21 74 0.0 3.5 1

kaboom...you've just been lawyered