A Simple Bush Question
 

With three performances in the books. Do you think Reggie Bush is ready to take over the reigns as the premier back of the New Orleans Saints? I heard from a lot of so-called experts and damn near all of them think he's not even close. Well, I think if he runs north to south instead of east to west he's going to be fine. So I just want to know what you guys think.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

Reggie has not given me any reason to believe that he cannot carry the load of a featured back. He may not be the type to do 20+ carries right up the middle, but I can see him with 25 to 35 touches a game and being fine.

What I'd really like to see in short yardage situations is Karney in the backfield with a TE as a lead blocker with Reggie lined up as WR (or not even on the field).

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

While I do think Reggie is a grate athlete I don't him stepping up and playing to his full potential in this position

Reggie is a very elusive runner and when he does brake loose he’d going to burn people every time but that is the exact problem, Reggie will not be able to run effectively simply because the “O” can put up a block for him
so if he can't make it into the secondary where his running style can be affective then what is the point

This is what I said in another post similar to this one…
I agree with what ScottyRo said about someone with some power in the back field
Simply because with no blocking capabilities from our “O” line then you need a really physical ball carrier and we had that in duce but unfortunately he can’t help us in that department now

look I’m a huge fan of Reggie, I love to watch him play and I know I going to get flak about this post but I'm calling it like I see it because…

…you can dress that hag up in makeup and a new dress but at the end of the day all you are left with is a hag

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

Reggie isn't a featured back... will never be a feature back! Yeah I said it. He's not built for it. He can't take the pounding, he's more of the lil red sports car not a full-size pick up truck you drive to work everyday.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

first off, Euph you're wrong.
Reggie will be fine as a "feature back" is they trust him and give him the ball.
Ask the Giants if Reggie can be a every down back.

Hell, what's with all this 25 carries a game talk anyway... It's not like we ran the ball that much w/ or w/o Deuce.

BTW, Didn't we score 14 pts. with Deuce on the bench?
It's time to move forward and trust what we have...
Let's see Reggie run and see how we do before we guess.

If that doesn't work, Isn't Ricky Williams up for re-instatement?

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

That's bunk, Euphoria. You don't know that and neither do I. Barry Sanders played behind an offensive line worse than this and was one of the most productive RB's in the history of the game. Bush may be the next Sanders, we haven't seen anything to prove otherwise.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

He was the 2nd pick in the draft for a reason. He just did not get the chance, because Deuce was here. Now he will show what he can do. But he needs the rest of the team to play well also. And after the bye week, we have to believe they will.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

I'll believe that.... when he stops running backwards.

I'll believe that.... when he delivers a hit (instead of running away from one).

As of right now, he hasn't show me squat. I don't have near enough to believe he'll ever be on the caliber of Sanders.

Show me otherwise Reggie. I'm waiting.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

Reggie will be fine. The truth is he's still got a lot to learn, but I have complete faith that he will. I wish he had a line half as good as the one Emmit ran all the way to Canton behind...but he doesn't. You know, Deuce wasn't exactly settin' the world on fire either...

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

he would be as capable as barry sanders was with some blocking up front. without it ,he'll join duece in re-hab

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

Ask Westbrook about being to small. W.Dunn had a nice career for someone that was to small. The point is you don't know how anyone is going to turn out in the NFL you just have to wait and see. Now it is Reggie's turn to prove that he is a #1 back. I for one think that he will be ok if the O-line will just make any kind of effort to block someone.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

You know I can’t believe I’m going to do this but I have to side with Euph on this one
I personally think that you guys are focused on what Reggie was able to do last season and don’t get me wrong last season was awesome
but it’s time to face it
and facing it means accepting that this is not the same teas as last year
The team we had last season simply didn’t bother showing up to camp or the start of the NFL season

I think it’s time to stop living in a fantasy world…
Because 0 & 3 is 0 & 3
And then on top of that they didn’t play well at all in the pre season and unless they are planning on drafting more impressive players then Bellamy (and I don’t think they are) then I would have to say this is not going to get better
Certainly no Supper Bowl and I would say we might be able to turn it around and maybe make a wild card game but that’s a big maybe

You can say what you will but the bottom line is this

Fact…
We have no “O” line so Reggie is not going to get help from them all season because this “O” line just has no fire in there hearts

Fact…
Reggie has not been able to move the ball this season for very many yards because of the lack of effort from this “O” line

Opinion…
Do I see Reggie going up the guy much?
No! Reggie weighs just over 200lbs verses a 310lbs lineman and linebackers that weight over 250lbs lol it’s not going to happen, not with out good blocking you do the math.

Opinion…
I personally think that the Lion’s “O” line was better then our “O” line so by saying that the lions did it with sanders is a mute point because at this point it’s like comparing apples to oranges. Several people compared Bush to Sanders and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t say that very same thing over the off season. Hell I even posted it here in this forums but the one thing to remember is that the lions may have had Sanders who was definitely good and as is Bush but that still didn’t make them a better team for it.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

To clarify, I haven't seen any running back that was as shifty and quick as Barry Sanders.
My point is that know one knows what the future holds for Reggie. He may suck as some suggest and he may be flat out awesome. I've seen hints of greatness from him in games so I'm guessing that he'll be just fine.
I will reserve my judgment on him as a player until I see more from him. If he stinks, go ahead and berate me.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

You're not going to find anyone that agrees more than I that Reggie is not going to do much behind our o-line the way they have been blocking. Who would have great stats behind this line? I don't think that's the point of the thread.

Can Reggie be a featured back? I stand by my yes. I'd like to see him utilized a lot like Marshall Faulk was with the Rams. The last I saw Faulk's weight it was 211 and Reggie is 203 so there's not that much difference.

For all the naysayers, he has done nothing to indicate that he cannot handle the punishment of running in the middle. His best runs have come between the tackles so far. I don't have a doubt that he is physically capable and talented enough to do it.

Nobody could put up great numbers the way our O-line has blocked. Nobody.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

I hear how people say Reggie sucks. Hes just like B. Sanders. Sanders always had a bunch negative yards. Sanders ran behind the worst O-line ever but he got the job done. Give Reggie a break its his 2nd year he will get better.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

Two things can help Reggie out through these tough times.

1. We all agree that the O-Line sucks. With better blocking, everybody that traded Reggie off their fantasy teams are going to be sick.

2. I just wish Coach Payton stop calling so many plays for him behind the line of scrimmage. Those pitches and swing passes are getting him killed before he even gets started toward the line of scrimmage. When we line up and run directly at them Reggie is to quick and fast for them to react to him all the time, just think about some of his biggest runs, they came on quick pitches toward the line and runs off-tackle. I say put Big Nasty (Karney) in front of him and let him go and he will be fine.

Re: A Simple Bush Question
 

The Saints have 3 fundamental issues on offense. And Reggie will have problems being a feature back or anything else you want in a rushing attack until the Saints deal with all of the issues.

1. The O-line does not exist. Ha, not a surprise there. But without that O-line, nobody on offense has time to think, time to set up plays, and will not get time to remain on the field without some serious physical abuse.

2. Personnel to take or dish out simple smash mouth football. The personnel seem underweight and not quick enough to stop almost any type of front 3 or 4 or 7 defense. You name it and the Saints can't take it; stunts, slants, blitz (or the fancy name variants of them). So the Saints is reduced to making defensive offensive plays!!!! The Saints are playing low value plays to defend their opponents offensive defense!!!! Bang. The rushing offense disappears, the passing offense is low value and potentially high risk.

3. The playbook does not feature a horse that will take the licks for the cause of the team by driving North to South. Where is our Heyward or why is Stecker not in the play?

Groan. I have a headache