The jury on Reggie Bush is in (1 Viewer)

[st dude]

I have never participated in the weekly Reggie Bush threads and plead guilty to starting yet another one. I do not see it as that complicated anymore. I have seen enough of Bush to draw a conclusion, a conclusion I think is supported by sufficient observation and facts.

What Bush is: Reggie Bush is an elite third down back who plays an important role in the Saints offense. He is at his best on quick screens and sprint draws. He can also be a very effective decoy, opening up other plays for his teammates because teams are reluctant to leave one linebacker on Bush. He is a role player, much like he was at USC. While he may "dance" too much on punt returns, he remains as big a threat as any other returner in the league to bring one back all the way. In a pinch, when your other backs are dinged up, Bush can be an every down back. That is not his forte.

Bush is also a team player and professional. His touches have diminished greatly and that must be hard for a superstar like Bush to handle. And yes, he is a superstar if not in terms of name recognition, in the fact that when he is on he can make your jaw drop like no other player can. Many NFL players in his position would long ago have become a distraction. Bush may yet. But so far he has been very professional about his more limited role.

Now that his role is more defined, we might see even bigger plays out of Reggie than we did yesterday. Bush's leap to the endzone and his moves in space are extraordinary. He can do some things other third down backs cannot. Before the season ends Bush will return a punt for a touchdown. Before the season ends he will take swing pass sixty yards for a score against a blitz that gambles on a linebacker covering Bush.

What Bush is not: He is not an every down back. Bush is not Adrian Peterson. He is not an inside runner. In his role he is probably not worth the overall number two pick of the draft, but he is hardly a bust as some proclaim. He is just not a player you give the ball to 25 times a game.

Pete Carroll figured that out long ago. Its not a matter of size, its more a matter of how he is wired. I used to think the holes just were not there. After watching Pierre Thomas last year and Thomas and Bell this year, it is pretty clear now. They have found seams time and time again that have eluded Bush. Reggie's instincts are to bounce out and I do not think he can overcome that consistently enough to be an every down back.

I do not think its a matter of toughness. Bush will put his head down. Bush will pass on a fair catch knowing he might get plowed. Its more instincts and wiring for me, if that makes any sense. Bush is not wired to be an inside runner. Bell and Thomas are.

He is a valuable weapon in a rather vast armory the Saints have. Now that his role is more defined, my guess (hope?) is that he and the Saints get even better at using his skills. With Sean Payton at the helm I have a feeling as the season progresses Payton will find more and more ways to punish teams who focus on stopping other cogs in the Saints offense and forget about Reggie Bush.

 

[inetnawlins]

lus-un2:

 

[Domeination]

For me, the Saints really aren't about Reggie Bush. I'm glad he contributed to the win and loved his aerial touchdown. But, for me, it's a team thing. Geaux Saints!

 

[Rickysmyhero]

I have never participated in the weekly Reggie Bush threads and plead guilty to starting yet another one. I do not see it as that complicated anymore. I have seen enough of Bush to draw a conclusion, a conclusion I think is supported by sufficient observation and facts.

What Bush is: Reggie Bush is an elite third down back who plays an important role in the Saints offense. He is at his best on quick screens and sprint draws. He can also be a very effective decoy, opening up other plays for his teammates because teams are reluctant to leave one linebacker on Bush. He is a role player, much like he was at USC. While he may "dance" too much on punt returns, he remains as big a threat as any other returner in the league to bring one back all the way. In a pinch, when your other backs are dinged up, Bush can be an every down back. That is not his forte.

Bush is also a team player and professional. His touches have diminished greatly and that must be hard for a superstar like Bush to handle. And yes, he is a superstar at least in terms of name recognition. Many NFL players in his position would long ago have become a distraction. Bush may yet. But so far he has been very professional about his more limited role.

Now that his role is more defined, we might see even bigger plays out of Reggie than we did yesterday. Bush's leap to the endzone and his moves in space are extraordinary. He can do some things other third down backs cannot. Before the season ends Bush will retrun a punt for a touchdown. Before the season ends he will take swing pass sixty yards for a score against a blitz that gambles on a linebacker covering Bush.

What Bush is not: He is not an every down back. Bush is not Adrian Peterson. He is not an inside runner. In his role he is probably not worth the overall number two pick of the draft. He is not a player you give the ball to 25 times a game.

Pete Carroll figured that out long ago. Its not a matter of size, its more a matter of how he is wired. I used to think the holes just were not there. After watching Pierre Thomas last year and Thomas and Bell this year, it is pretty clear now. They have found seams time and time again that have eluded Bush. Reggie's instincts are to bounce out and I do not think he can overcome that consistently enough to be an every down back.

I do not think its a matter of toughness. Bush will put his head down. Bush will pass on a fair catch knowing he might get plowed. Its more instincts and wiring for me, if that makes any sense. Bush is not wired to be an inside runner. Bell and Thomas are.

While not perhaps worth the overall number two pick in the draft, Bush is hardly a bust. He is a valuable weapon in a rather vast armory the Saints have. Now that his role is more defined, my guess (hope?) is that he and the Saints get even better at using his skills. With Sean Payton at the helm I have a feeling as the season progresses Payton will find more and more ways to punish teams who focus on stopping other cogs in the Saints offense and forget about Reggie Bush.

This is a great post. This is what he has been since he entered the league, and I am glad that the fans and most importantly the coaches have realized this. I still think that Bell and PT need to be the ones running the ball at the beginning of the game, not just the end, along with Bush coming in in certain situations. He is not a bust in regards to a football player, but he is a bust as far as a top pick is concerned.

 

[Saint_Max]

i like reggie, dont get me wrong

but i'm sick of seeing him returing punts. last year every time he touched the ball in the return game i thought he could take it to the house.

but this year i'm happy if he gains 5 yards and isnt giving the ball over

i dont know if its totally on reggie or the blocking - roby did a good job on the KR though. payton should increase his role in the return game.

 

[Saintlos]

Great post. if anyone else ran that reverse I don't think they would have leaped 5 yards in the air and scored on that play. that was a key score. When I saw the play developing, it reminded me of Pittsburg in 06.

 

[Lee Newell]

I have never participated in the weekly Reggie Bush threads and plead guilty to starting yet another one. I do not see it as that complicated anymore. I have seen enough of Bush to draw a conclusion, a conclusion I think is supported by sufficient observation and facts.

What Bush is: Reggie Bush is an elite third down back who plays an important role in the Saints offense. He is at his best on quick screens and sprint draws. He can also be a very effective decoy, opening up other plays for his teammates because teams are reluctant to leave one linebacker on Bush. He is a role player, much like he was at USC. While he may "dance" too much on punt returns, he remains as big a threat as any other returner in the league to bring one back all the way. In a pinch, when your other backs are dinged up, Bush can be an every down back. That is not his forte.

Bush is also a team player and professional. His touches have diminished greatly and that must be hard for a superstar like Bush to handle. And yes, he is a superstar at least in terms of name recognition. Many NFL players in his position would long ago have become a distraction. Bush may yet. But so far he has been very professional about his more limited role.

Now that his role is more defined, we might see even bigger plays out of Reggie than we did yesterday. Bush's leap to the endzone and his moves in space are extraordinary. He can do some things other third down backs cannot. Before the season ends Bush will retrun a punt for a touchdown. Before the season ends he will take swing pass sixty yards for a score against a blitz that gambles on a linebacker covering Bush.

What Bush is not: He is not an every down back. Bush is not Adrian Peterson. He is not an inside runner. In his role he is probably not worth the overall number two pick of the draft, but he is hardly a bust as some proclaim. He is just not a player you give the ball to 25 times a game.

Pete Carroll figured that out long ago. Its not a matter of size, its more a matter of how he is wired. I used to think the holes just were not there. After watching Pierre Thomas last year and Thomas and Bell this year, it is pretty clear now. They have found seams time and time again that have eluded Bush. Reggie's instincts are to bounce out and I do not think he can overcome that consistently enough to be an every down back.

I do not think its a matter of toughness. Bush will put his head down. Bush will pass on a fair catch knowing he might get plowed. Its more instincts and wiring for me, if that makes any sense. Bush is not wired to be an inside runner. Bell and Thomas are.

He is a valuable weapon in a rather vast armory the Saints have. Now that his role is more defined, my guess (hope?) is that he and the Saints get even better at using his skills. With Sean Payton at the helm I have a feeling as the season progresses Payton will find more and more ways to punish teams who focus on stopping other cogs in the Saints offense and forget about Reggie Bush.

:aduncan::bravo-applaudi-147: Got to give it to you. Great breakdown indeed!

 

[thejkl]

Sean Payton's offense is only designed to have one STAR -- THE QB. Everyone else, no matter how talented, are simply chess pieces. everyone else!

That is why Brees can throw for 5000 yds and no one receiver has a 1000 yds. Bush is playing is role.

No one would replace him and be a star. He is another chess piece and a really really good one for what they ask him to do -- no one else could be that piece of the puzzle on our team.

Sean Payton's scheme is just designed that way. We will have to live with it -- all the way to home field advantage.

 

[BigSlick]

If Payton had been trying to fit a square peg into a round hole a little bit with Bush, he may have been doing Reggie a disservice by putting him in a situation with a low chance for success. Hopefully in his more specialized role, Bush will be able to stay healthier and keep his amazing speed and jukes intact throughout a long season.

It's been wonderous to watch the coaching staffs eventually "crack" the opposition's game plans during the course of a game. During some future contest when it's Bush that's to be the weapon of choice, watch out!

 

[RussTKD]

i like reggie, dont get me wrong

but i'm sick of seeing him returing punts. last year every time he touched the ball in the return game i thought he could take it to the house.

but this year i'm happy if he gains 5 yards and isnt giving the ball over

i dont know if its totally on reggie or the blocking - roby did a good job on the KR though. payton should increase his role in the return game.

The return blocking has been a bit sketchy this year. There's constantly 2-3 defenders in position to make a play on a punt, and punters are kicking to the sidelines as well giving Bush one less option to take on a return.

The thing he's doing that makes me nuts, is instead of conceding a no return and safely fair catching the ball, is he's trying to make something out of nothing, and is usually getting nothing. His mistakes are mental, not physical, and should be correctable via coaching and film review.

That said, he's still the best third down back in the league, by far, and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

 

[blasian]

The return blocking has been a bit sketchy this year. There's constantly 2-3 defenders in position to make a play on a punt, and punters are kicking to the sidelines as well giving Bush one less option to take on a return.

The thing he's doing that makes me nuts, is instead of conceding a no return and safely fair catching the ball, is he's trying to make something out of nothing, and is usually getting nothing. His mistakes are mental, not physical, and should be correctable via coaching and film review.

That said, he's still the best third down back in the league, by far, and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

This.

I can't be upset about Reggie and punt returns because he has zero blockers in front.

 

[primadox]

I have never participated in the weekly Reggie Bush threads and plead guilty to starting yet another one. I do not see it as that complicated anymore. I have seen enough of Bush to draw a conclusion, a conclusion I think is supported by sufficient observation and facts.

What Bush is: Reggie Bush is an elite third down back who plays an important role in the Saints offense. He is at his best on quick screens and sprint draws. He can also be a very effective decoy, opening up other plays for his teammates because teams are reluctant to leave one linebacker on Bush. He is a role player, much like he was at USC. While he may "dance" too much on punt returns, he remains as big a threat as any other returner in the league to bring one back all the way. In a pinch, when your other backs are dinged up, Bush can be an every down back. That is not his forte.

Bush is also a team player and professional. His touches have diminished greatly and that must be hard for a superstar like Bush to handle. And yes, he is a superstar at least in terms of name recognition. Many NFL players in his position would long ago have become a distraction. Bush may yet. But so far he has been very professional about his more limited role.

Now that his role is more defined, we might see even bigger plays out of Reggie than we did yesterday. Bush's leap to the endzone and his moves in space are extraordinary. He can do some things other third down backs cannot. Before the season ends Bush will retrun a punt for a touchdown. Before the season ends he will take swing pass sixty yards for a score against a blitz that gambles on a linebacker covering Bush.

What Bush is not: He is not an every down back. Bush is not Adrian Peterson. He is not an inside runner. In his role he is probably not worth the overall number two pick of the draft, but he is hardly a bust as some proclaim. He is just not a player you give the ball to 25 times a game.

Pete Carroll figured that out long ago. Its not a matter of size, its more a matter of how he is wired. I used to think the holes just were not there. After watching Pierre Thomas last year and Thomas and Bell this year, it is pretty clear now. They have found seams time and time again that have eluded Bush. Reggie's instincts are to bounce out and I do not think he can overcome that consistently enough to be an every down back.

I do not think its a matter of toughness. Bush will put his head down. Bush will pass on a fair catch knowing he might get plowed. Its more instincts and wiring for me, if that makes any sense. Bush is not wired to be an inside runner. Bell and Thomas are.

He is a valuable weapon in a rather vast armory the Saints have. Now that his role is more defined, my guess (hope?) is that he and the Saints get even better at using his skills. With Sean Payton at the helm I have a feeling as the season progresses Payton will find more and more ways to punish teams who focus on stopping other cogs in the Saints offense and forget about Reggie Bush.

This sums up Reggie's role, his professionalism, and his value to the Saints quite well, and why we're lucky to have him. I don't give these out much, but this is a great post:



FWIW, here's a tweet from Billy Miller on Reggie:

Last I am so tired of all the @reggie_bush haters, the guy can do things that u can only do in a Madden game, like jump from the 6ydl 4 a TD

No one else could have made that move. That was sick!!

QUOTE=RussTKD;2376404]The return blocking has been a bit sketchy this year. There's constantly 2-3 defenders in position to make a play on a punt, and punters are kicking to the sidelines as well giving Bush one less option to take on a return.

The thing he's doing that makes me nuts, is instead of conceding a no return and safely fair catching the ball, is he's trying to make something out of nothing, and is usually getting nothing. His mistakes are mental, not physical, and should be correctable via coaching and film review.

That said, he's still the best third down back in the league, by far, and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.[/QUOTE]

This also. When you have a player that defenses still plan for, fear, and must account for, that player is no bust. And many of Reggie's mistakes on PR's are due to his desire to make SOMETHING good happen for his team, especially in situations like yesterday, when they were trailing. You cannot fault his heart and his love for the team.

 

[Colt45]

lus-un2:

perfect assessment, i do however think he needs a slight pay cut, i love his moves tho i had forgot about the beast of an athlete he is wow

 

[Cuozzo67]

I have no problem with Reggie as the 3rd down back as described in this thread. He made 2 key plays yesterday to help us win.

However, I continue to ask why Bush is still being used as a punt returner. Once again, I really would like to see Lance Moore in that role for a full game, handling all the punt returns, and let's see if the production is any better.

 

[Boudro]

i like reggie, dont get me wrong

but i'm sick of seeing him returing punts. last year every time he touched the ball in the return game i thought he could take it to the house.

but this year i'm happy if he gains 5 yards and isnt giving the ball over

i dont know if its totally on reggie or the blocking - roby did a good job on the KR though. payton should increase his role in the return game.

A lot of the issues on the punt returns are not the fault of Reggie. Poor blocking and poor coaching have more to do with it.

I'm not sure if Roby can return punts or not but they are two totally different things. Just because you can do one doesn't mean you can do the other.