This should end all the Reggie to wide receiver talk. (1 Viewer)

gw504saints

Very Banned
Joined
Jan 18, 2008
Messages
2,937
Reaction score
908
Location
Somewhere Playing Madden!
Offline
Nola.com

Q: Reggie Bush seems like he's an average running back but would be a Pro Bowl wide receiver. Do the Saints have plans to use him at wide receiver? Kelvin, Shreveport La.

Bush to wide receiver, it's simply not that easy. Bush might look good as a receiver out of the backfield but that's partly because he's working against safeties and linebackers in coverage. If he moved to wide receiver he'd be facing cornerbacks, who are much more difficult to beat in coverage. It's a whole new world out there than in the backfield or slot working against safeties. Plus, while Bush has good hands for a running back, his hands would only be considered average as a receiver. Most important, would see even fewer touches than he does now. You'd be taking the ball out of the hands of your most explosive offensive weapon about five to 10 times a game. That doesn't make sense.

Nola.com Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

http://blog.nola.com/jeffduncan/2009/05/more_questions_on_who_the_new.html

That was a perfect answer! Any question?
 
There is Reggie to WR talk?

Like you wouldn't believe. It's been downright ridiculous. On another forum there's this guy who insists that Reg would be another Wes Welker if we stopped force feeding him the ball at running back and moved him permanently to wide out.

I've said over and over again, why would you limit the ways Reggie can hurt a defense? And he keeps spouting off the same song and dance.

Though I do believe he could be sent deep every once in a while, but that's just a novelty to keep defenses off balance.
 
Nola.com

Q: Reggie Bush seems like he's an average running back but would be a Pro Bowl wide receiver. Do the Saints have plans to use him at wide receiver? Kelvin, Shreveport La.

Bush to wide receiver, it's simply not that easy. Bush might look good as a receiver out of the backfield but that's partly because he's working against safeties and linebackers in coverage. If he moved to wide receiver he'd be facing cornerbacks, who are much more difficult to beat in coverage. It's a whole new world out there than in the backfield or slot working against safeties. Plus, while Bush has good hands for a running back, his hands would only be considered average as a receiver. Most important, would see even fewer touches than he does now. You'd be taking the ball out of the hands of your most explosive offensive weapon about five to 10 times a game. That doesn't make sense.

Nola.com Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

http://blog.nola.com/jeffduncan/2009/05/more_questions_on_who_the_new.html

That was a perfect answer! Any question?

I've seen that answer before on SR!:idunno:
 
Like you wouldn't believe. It's been downright ridiculous. On another forum there's this guy who insists that Reg would be another Wes Welker if we stopped force feeding him the ball at running back and moved him permanently to wide out.

I've said over and over again, why would you limit the ways Reggie can hurt a defense? And he keeps spouting off the same song and dance.

Though I do believe he could be sent deep every once in a while, but that's just a novelty to keep defenses off balance.

Novelty? We need to be throwing Bush a bomb every game. You can't get more open field than behind the whole defense on a post pattern. Who's gonna cover him when you have Devery and Meachem and Colston with Shockey out there also?
 
Like you wouldn't believe. It's been downright ridiculous. On another forum there's this guy who insists that Reg would be another Wes Welker if we stopped force feeding him the ball at running back and moved him permanently to wide out.

I've said over and over again, why would you limit the ways Reggie can hurt a defense? And he keeps spouting off the same song and dance.

Though I do believe he could be sent deep every once in a while, but that's just a novelty to keep defenses off balance.

Yeah, that's me. I didn't realize Jeff Duncan is now huddled together with Payton discussing personnel. We all have opinions. Alot of posters on here are of the opinion that business-as-usual with Reggie at tailback is fine.

I am trying to broaden my thinking after 3 years of mostly ineptitude and injuries at runningback. Reggie can flat out play but he has shown his ability in the passing game and on returns. Look it up. The stats have been repeated (and twisted) ad nauseaum.

Reggie can be a beast . . . in the right role. Burying your head in the sand and saying that he has been a beast as a runner thus far is a joke.

The same old song and dance is sung by posters like you who are happy with mediocre play. You guys are like enablers and won't tell like it is or your expectations are really low. I am the demanding and honest "friend" who wants the guy to tap into his potential.

Besides how does getting Reggie more involved in the passing game "limit the ways" he can hurt a defense? If anything it opens his game up. He would run more than 5 yard bailout hitches and cause matchup problems all over the place. He could also still run a couple of reverses or pitches in a game just to mix it up. When he is in the backfield, defenses do not fear our running game. His longest run is 40 yards achieved last year and he is getting banged up running up the middle.

With PT in the backfield, teams respect our ground game. With Reggie catching passes he is in space and able to use his agility.

I am sorry if you envisioned this idea of an end to "all the Reggie to WR talk." You sure haven't persuaded me.
 
5* for posting such an excellent answer to a hotly debated fan topic. Some of the reasons may still be dismissed as subjective, but I like the analysis.
 
I've seen that answer before on SR!:idunno:


Yea, that's nothing new here.

Most of those who want Reggie to "play wide receiver" only want him to play the slot or occasionally line up wide. I don't remember but maybe 1-2 people that were serious about changing him to full time WR.
 
Yeah, that's me. I didn't realize Jeff Duncan is now huddled together with Payton discussing personnel. We all have opinions. Alot of posters on here are of the opinion that business-as-usual with Reggie at tailback is fine.

I am trying to broaden my thinking after 3 years of mostly ineptitude and injuries at runningback. Reggie can flat out play but he has shown his ability in the passing game and on returns. Look it up. The stats have been repeated (and twisted) ad nauseaum.

Reggie can be a beast . . . in the right role. Burying your head in the sand and saying that he has been a beast as a runner thus far is a joke.

The same old song and dance is sung by posters like you who are happy with mediocre play. You guys are like enablers and won't tell like it is or your expectations are really low. I am the demanding and honest "friend" who wants the guy to tap into his potential.

Besides how does getting Reggie more involved in the passing game "limit the ways" he can hurt a defense? If anything it opens his game up. He would run more than 5 yard bailout hitches and cause matchup problems all over the place. He could also still run a couple of reverses or pitches in a game just to mix it up. When he is in the backfield, defenses do not fear our running game. His longest run is 40 yards achieved last year and he is getting banged up running up the middle.

With PT in the backfield, teams respect our ground game. With Reggie catching passes he is in space and able to use his agility.

I am sorry if you envisioned this idea of an end to "all the Reggie to WR talk." You sure haven't persuaded me.


I like Reggie lined up at WR - just not full time. I like him in the backfield too...just not full time.

I agree that in the exactly correct role, Reggie is, has and shall be the ultimate of what he can be...which, of course, can be said of everyone. For Reggie, this ultimate form seems to be an explosive, multi-dimensional weapon that is above average or has the ability to perform in every offensive 'skill position' (save quarterback or tight-end) with an extreme level of athletic ability. This is unusual, because most NFL players aren't better than average at more than one position.

That said - Reggie's anchor position is, and should be, at Running back where his options are most diverse.



Such is the apparent enigma of forecasting (or typecasting) one such as our Reggie Bush.
 
5* for posting such an excellent answer to a hotly debated fan topic. Some of the reasons may still be dismissed as subjective, but I like the analysis.

Thanks. Let me add that by arguing for Reggie to be more involved in the passing game I am not suggesting he change his jersey to a number in the 80's or that he line up out wide.

Even if Payton keeps him in the backfield, I still think that he is going to have Bush catch passes much more frequently than run the ball. Bush is close to 6' (maybe 5'11"?) which is significantly taller than Welker. Bush has good hands and most of his passes would be caught across the field in stride compared to leaping end-zone grabs or deep fades. Reggie has more agility and speed than Welker. Welker is a factor in the return game and Reggie has already proven that he is a huge weapon on punt returns.

Finally, look at the quarterbacks. Both Brees and Brady are two of the very best and are known to spread the ball around to multiple receivers. People argue that Moss is the catalyst for Brady's monster 2007 season and sometimes overlook all of the first downs made by Welker. The guy caught over 100 passes that year and opened the middle of the field for New England. Welker's play hugely affected the offense in New England because teams couldn't double the outside guys, especially Moss. It kept Brady's options open.

Look at the Saints offense and briefly compare it to the 2007 Patriots record setting offense. New Englands line is probably slightly better all around (especially with run blocking) but the Saints line gives Drew great protection and has opened up running lanes (for PT). New Englands tight end is not nearly as established as Jeremy Shockey. If Shockey regains his form we potentially have a top 5 tight end and a huge, big-play target for Brees. New England's got the advantage at qb but Drew is first rate and has proven he can throw it all over the place. New England has Moss and we have Colston. Obviously, Moss is better but Colston is a great player and is a significant weapon on the outside. New England has Joey Galloway as their second wideout. We have either Meachem (who could burst out-if you believe the training camp reports), Henderson (who is a similar deep threat to Galloway), or Moore (who is a steady target). Regardless of who it is, receiver is a strength for us. New England has a little more certainty at RB, but I really think that we have something with PT (Gruden agrees with me:9:) and I think that PT could rush for over 1200 yards in this offense. Now where do we put Reggie? The same place they put Welker. Our offense would be so unpredictable with Reggie catching passes and returning all kicks. Of course, he could run it now and then, but only on reverses. Now when people start throwing around the "beast" label it will actually mean something because I think that Reggie could really shine in this role because it would be playing to his strengths.
 
I don't want to see him as a WR, but I'd love to have him slip down the sidelines to stretch the field a few more times this year.
 
Yeah, that's me.
Nah, you're not him. For one, you use correct grammar and punctuation.:hihi:

I didn't realize Jeff Duncan is now huddled together with Payton discussing personnel. We all have opinions. Alot of posters on here are of the opinion that business-as-usual with Reggie at tailback is fine.

I am trying to broaden my thinking after 3 years of mostly ineptitude and injuries at runningback. Reggie can flat out play but he has shown his ability in the passing game and on returns. Look it up. The stats have been repeated (and twisted) ad nauseaum.

Reggie can be a beast . . . in the right role. Burying your head in the sand and saying that he has been a beast as a runner thus far is a joke.
I've never said he's a beast runner. I'm well aware that's his weakest area. All I think is you shouldn't limit the ways he can hurt a defense.

The same old song and dance is sung by posters like you who are happy with mediocre play. You guys are like enablers and won't tell like it is or your expectations are really low. I am the demanding and honest "friend" who wants the guy to tap into his potential.
I'm not happy with mediocre play. :idunno: But, I don't want to see drastic changes occur when they don't need to.

Besides how does getting Reggie more involved in the passing game "limit the ways" he can hurt a defense? If anything it opens his game up. He would run more than 5 yard bailout hitches and cause matchup problems all over the place. He could also still run a couple of reverses or pitches in a game just to mix it up. When he is in the backfield, defenses do not fear our running game. His longest run is 40 yards achieved last year and he is getting banged up running up the middle.
Well, for one, he doesn't run many actual receiver routes. Can he do the 5 yard out? The skinny post? Drag n go? What about an option pattern where he choose to push inside or float upfield? I don't know if he can do those.

And then, like others have said, he'll be manned up with an actual corner who can jam him at the line. He's a running back, but does that mean he can beat a press coverage? Does he fully understand finding a soft spot in a zone and hunkering down for the ball? I don't know if he does.

But, I do know that the ways a defense has to plan for a speedy wide out that only plays wide out different from a speedy back that can split out wide and need to be covered like a wideout. If the Saints send out Bush and 3 WRs, does the DC need to send out the nickel or dime package? That'll effect what schemes they run and could present a match up problem, depending on what Bush and the other guys our offense do. Do they put their fastest linebacker on him? A safety? What if they don't even throw it to him, and it's a delayed handoff? Will they still maintain proper gap assignments with a man normally in the box spread out on Bush?

If Bush is a full time WR, we've just taken that decision out the DC's hands.


With PT in the backfield, teams respect our ground game. With Reggie catching passes he is in space and able to use his agility.

I am sorry if you envisioned this idea of an end to "all the Reggie to WR talk." You sure haven't persuaded me.
A defense can only respect what can actually hurt them. Reggie only at WR only hurts them less, as far as I'm concerned. Should he run some more real receiver routes? Heck yes, especially if it's the fly route(pretty sure he can do that one.) Should he come out on some plays, lined up as a receiver, and then the play starts and he's still lined up at receiver? Abso-friggin'-lutely he should.

But, you've gotta give him the carries too. Even if that's the weakest part of his game. Reggie Bush isn't Reggie Bush unless he's running the ball. It's the whole package that we drafted Reggie for. Rushing, receiving, and returning. I don't care which one he's best at, personally.

So long as he picks up yards in chunks and scores touchdowns.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Users who are viewing this thread

    Back
    Top Bottom