SmashMouth

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said after the team signed running back Reggie Bush in free agency that they wanted to use Bush in a similar fashion to the way he was used during his time with the New Orleans Saints.

That role included lining up in the slot and being a pass catching threat out of the backfield. The hope for Bush next season is to be a productive cog in the Lions passing game while carving out a role for him. According to the Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website, Schwartz believes Bush could wind up catching between 60-80 passes for the Lions next season.




Lions running backs caught 97 passes last season with Joique Bell catching 52 passes for 485 yards. Bush has caught 70-plus passes twice before during his first two seasons in the league with the New Orleans Saints. Bush caught 88 passes for 742 yards in 2006 and 73 passes for 417 yards in 2007.

With Matthew Stafford at the helm, the Lions have been a pass-first team in recent seasons anyway. If Bush is able to stay healthy, it’s not out of the question to believe he’d be able to achieve those numbers again.

Jim Schwartz: Reggie Bush could catch 60-80 passes next season | ProFootballTalk

73Saint

If Detroit gets back on track this year, like I expected them to play last year, I could definitely see Stafford/Bush being a dangerous tandem. I just don't know what to expect from this team.

Shoe.

With everybody marking up on Calvin and Reggie, the WR2 and TE should have a lot of opportunity to shine

foreverfan

Mardigras9

That would be assuming he will stay healthy all year playing on turf again, not likely.

TheOak

Miami finally got Bush running vertical.. Not Detroit is going to back to getting him the ball in space where he can go back to his bad dancing habit.

SloMotion

That's assuming they can get those two positions under control. The Lions have had a hard time filling that WR2 slot, ie Titus Young (attitude)/Ryan Broyles(injury)/Nate Burleson(injury) and I wouldn't be surprised if they go after a WR in this year's draft, again. TE Brandon Pettigrew seems to develop a case of the 'dropsies' now & again, as well.

I'm on the fence (as usual) with Reggie Bush. I thought with the addition of Joquie Bell and with Mikel Leshoure staying healthy, the Lions running game had become serviceable. I keep having this nagging thought that Detroit is going to try & relive the glory years of Barry Sanders by signing Bush, and that they're setting theirselves up for a huge disappointment. I'd like to see them use Bush similar to how Miami did, but honestly, I think they're too consumed with trying to imitate the Saints offense.

'Unpredictable' is probably the best assessment I think you can make about this team ... a nail-biter & never a dull moment though, that's for sure, .

dizzle88

Yeah it seems like Detroit want to get Bush the ball in space, which is exactly what I heard being said for 5 years whilst he was here
He did good things in miami but I think the lions may use him the way we did - incorrectly

Bush will go back to his "trying to hit a home run every play" kind of mentality and that means dodging the holes and running outside instead, when he makes quick decisions he's an incredible player - can anyone remember the playoff game vs cardinals in 09, he made quick decisions and had 250 all purpose yards

Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ

QBREES9

Just let Reggie be Reggie