I for one am sick of the criticism of Bush. A couple of things to consider....look at the other players who were considered possible picks at that spot (Williams doesn't figure into the convo; he was already gone)....A.J. Hawk, Brick Ferguson, Vince Young, Matt Leinart. All considered marginal players at best at this point in their careers. We certainly did not blow it by taking Bush over any of these guys. Not to mention, everyone in the league thought Bush was going to be the 2nd coming of Barry Sanders. If we blew it in terms of scouting Bush, the whole league did. It just so happens that we were in the position to have to make a move on that scouting info. The real problem with Bush is that for the last 2 seasons, he has not been put into the position where he can best utilize his skills. He is unquestionably the rest pass catching running back in football, and one of the top 3 return specialists. He has scored 24 touchdowns in 38 games played, pretty good percentage if you ask me. He makes the Saints offense better by just being on the field, because of the attention he commands from opposing defenses. Opposing defenses scheme to give him extra attention no matter where he lines up, opening things up for the other offensive weapons we have on the field. So he's not a good runner between the tackles? So the he!! what? Hopefully, that will be Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell's job, finally allowing Peyton to move Bush around and create more difficulties for the defense, the way he did in his rookie year. To label Bush a bust just because he doesn't fit the classic definition of a tailback is absurd.
i don't think he was a bust, 24 total touchdowns does not equal bust. looking back on that draft class there are only a handful of players that i would rather have than bush, but hindsight is 20/20, and at the time, he was the best possible pick. He has not lived up to all of the hype, but which USC player has in recent memory? Carson Palmer for that 1 season? He isn't a bust, and he is dangerous in space, i just think the Saints could have dealt him for more experienced corners or defensive players when his stock was higher. Drew Brees has shown that it does not matter who he has on offense, he is going to make plays.
True (your comment in bold), or they could also do what they've hopefully done this year; found the people better suited to do the things he can't do, so they put him to use doing the things he does well. Its kind of like.....if we traded for Brian Urlacher, but played him at strong safety (his college position) because we didn't have anyone better. He might do OK, but he certainly wouldn't have the impact he'd have at MLB. Do you just trade him for what you can get, or do you recognize his potential and do what you can to put him where he's best suited?
I would have traded him. I think he is payed way too much for what he is best suited for, but that is just my opinion. To me, he is nothing more than Devin Hester with better hands.
I think he's more of a game breaker than an everyday, plow the line, running back. Give him some plays. Let him return punts. But he can't see the holes as a running back and can't take the punishment. But, when he finds the holes, he can go. So give him several plays per game but he's not our every down go to guy.
Say what you want (I'm guilty of it, too), but Reggie Bush is the 2nd best football player on this Saints team. Hands down. It's not even close.
