ssmitty

and, rightfully so..................

TEXANS TAKE A SWIPE AT REGGIE?
Posted by Mike Florio on April 28, 2008, 4:45 p.m.
More than two years after making the stunning decision to pass on running back Reggie Bush with the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, the Houston Texans might have provided a hint as to the supposed football reason for leaving him on the board.

Offensive coordinator Kyle “Kevlar Jr.” Shanahan, whose career continues to ascend despite having the initials of Chris Simms tattooed on his leg, mentioned Bush while discussing Steve Slaton, a similarly-sized running back whom the Texans took in round three this year.

“You look at guys around the league like Kevin Faulk, a guy like Reggie Bush; guys who come in and fill a specific role on third downs,” Shanahan said. “I think when a guy is 197 pounds and if you look at the history throughout the NFL there are not too many guys that are first and second down player for long periods of time. When you look at a guy that people are projecting as a third down type guy or a change of pace guy I believe a lot of teams have more important needs that go early in the draft. One exception is Reggie Bush; he is the highest guy that I’ve seen go that is a third-down type player. The third round is when these guys start popping out.”

So, basically, Shanahan thinks Bush is a third-down type player. Which is an accurate assessment of him now.

But no one viewed Bush that way at the time. And that’s another reason why we never know what a great college player is going to do against NFL competition until he is actually pitted against NFL competition.

As to Slaton, a scout told us after eyeballing a West Virginia practice in 2006 that Slaton was in many ways comparable to Bush. In 2006, Slaton’s performance was equivalent to Bush’s college exploits as well.

But something happened to Slaton prior to the 2007 season. Maybe he decided to bulk up to the point that he lost his pop. Or maybe he was hoping not to get Michael Bushed when what once seemed to be a first-round payday was within reach.

If Slaton gets that something back, then he could end up having an even bigger impact that Bush. Two years ago, that really would have been saying something.

B_Dub_Saint

Well I can tell you right now, Reggie is gonna shut a lot of people up this year. This is going to be his year to shine. Mark my words.

CantonLegend

i hope ur right....he has too many fumbles to justify his 2nd overall pick....he has helped make our offense very explosive tho....whenever he is on the field he needs a spy because even at the wideout spot he can still end up carrying the ball....thats a scary kind of player....mario williams has made his point....i think he deserved to be the first pick....i think that reggie can be a great player...i just dont think he has shown that yet

SaintFanInATLHELL

I guess I'm going to have to be Reggie's PR guy. Reggie's hype was supposed to be that dude can take 15 carries a game from the backfield and get 1500 yds/year carrying the football. Only one player in NFL history has gotten over 1500 yards with a 6.25 YPC average over the course of a year (which is required if you're only going to have 250 carries). That was Jim Brown in 1963 (and close in 1958)

Reggie was an instrumental cog in getting the Saints to the NFC championship in 2006. Reggie has broken records for RB receptions. Reggie make defenses and their coordinators account for him every play he's on the field. On the field Reggie is a difference maker.

Most importantly Reggie has put a face on the Saints franchise when the Saints most needed a face. Personally it drives me crazy how average Joes gravitate to the guy. But it is certainly what the Saints needed.

And finally Reggie has run the ball well at times when given the opportunity. The Giants game in 2006. Seattle in 2007.

But truthfully it limits the Saints offense to have Reggie as the feature back. It makes it easier to key on him.

All I ask of Reggie in the run game is to continue to work on getting positive yards when he touches the ball. Don't dance until you get past the LOS. Once he learns (and truly believes) that he's better off with one cut and go, then you'll see more positive results in his run game.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

Budsdrinker

Well, you are off to a good start as PR guy. I agree with everthing you said.

CantonLegend

its easier to speculate and make predictions than it is to guarentee something....ru speculating or ru guarenteeing?

WVSaint

i cant even be a homer on this one, slaton was a good college player. i really dont think he will be a good pro. i dont think he'll even have half the career that bush will have.

CantonLegend

haha.....im just thinking about the comparison....reggie is one of the top 25 players to come out of college of all time....this is another silly post...they are just saying that because they passed on reggie to pick up williams

beauchristopher

bush opened up the entire offense in his rookie season. not too mention he had 2 td's when it mattered most (both playoff games).. he may not be a starting rb which they tried in 2007 when the entire team blew.. but when he is used correctly he is something special. even in the nfl.

RockyMountainSaint

[QUOTE=beauchristopher;164598]in 2007 when the entire team blew.. QUOTE]

Thank you beauchristopher!

This sums up the way I feel about '07.

You packaged it nicely.

RMS