What is with the Reggie Bush bandwagon?

Question

He didn't even do the best of all the running backs taken in the 06 draft class. He was out done by Addai, Maroney, Jones-Drew, and DeAngelo Williams might have done better than him. What is with all of this bandwagon hype. I'm not saying he is a bad player but lets give credit where credit is due.

Once again I am not saying he is a bad back he is a great player that will probably do wonders in the future but, all the hype is annoying. And I don't think he lived up to it last season.

No people actually all of the running backs I named are in multi back systems (Maroney-Dillion, JonesDrew-Taylor, Addai-Rhoades, Williams-Foster). So try to argue it all you want what it comes down to is Bush only averaged 3.6 yds a carry or so.

Answer 1

Amen to that. He was disappointing running the ball for most of the season. He averaged a crappy 3.6 yards a carry. He was, however, improving toward the end of the season and was finding the hole better. I do, also believe that he has a bright future ahead of him but he was not even close to being the best running back of the 06 draft class in the 06 season.

P.S. What's with these guys who are defending him? They sound like they would turn gay for him. My gosh, he's just a football player.

Answer 2

I would've agreed with you 100% at the beggining of this season. Everything was Bush this and record braker that... I was telling everyone that he hasn't done a thing yet! Same with fantasy football: every league I was in Bush was taken in the 2nd round or so. I thought, "hey, that's one wasted pick and another chance for me to get a player I want." As the season progressed though, I'm gonna have to disagree with some of your opinion. The fact is, Williams wouldn't have done better than Bush FOR SURE. Being durable is one of the things that makes a good back great. As for Addai, I'm not putting down his position, but I would put him on the same level as Bush. Don't worry about Joseph Addai though, he'll go to the probowl this year without Rhodes in the way. Maroney, although I really like him too, is part of the Bellichek system. I'm not knocking him or anything, but Corey Dillon and Maroney were put behind a great O-line and Brady still was still picking apart most defenses.
Although I totally agree with you that too many people jumped on Bush's bandwagon way too early, and that has clouded many fans judgement about other rookie RB's, but Bush still produced staggering numbers even though he was the 2nd back behind an ex-probowler in McCallister. Also, Brees was throwing bombs all over the field to different recievers which means that Bush was going to lose the small # of carries he had already.
I'm just saying that for the time Bush was on the field, and his ability to turn nothing into something (as I dreadfully watched him dead in his tracks against Philly, and then turned the corner for a long TD) is something not many backs can boast...

Answer 3

he struggled early, then put up great numbers during the second half of the season. i'd take bush over any of those guys you mentioned, and i'll bet 32 of 32 nfl coaches/owners would agree as well. there was a point last season when the light came on for him, reggie said the game had begun to slow down for him, like he he was seeing things the way he did at USC. adjusting to the pace took a while, but the sky's the limit for him and the saints are lucky to have the talent he offers. the saints have a very good offensive line, which a few of you wrongly stated the opposite, and with the playcalling of payton, brees at qb and reggie slowly taking more of the workload from deuce you'll see him get 75-80 receptions every year and close to 1000 yds on the ground. but i do agree there is a bandwagon effect surrounding bush. i just hope he lives up to the hype. i personally think he's too hard a worker to disappoint.

Answer 4

He did well, not outstandingly, in limited playing time. I'm convinced that he would have outdone guys like Addai and Maroney if he had received as much playing time as they did.

Honestly, of all those RBs (Bush and the other 4 you listed), who would you most like to have on your team? I'll take Bush, thank you very much.

Honestly, I think Addai and Maroney are a bit overrated. They are kind of average players who look good because they are playing in a good system. I see great futures for Williams and Jones-Drew, he's like Brian Westbrook but better.

Reggie Bush gets an insane amount of hype, but I don't think we've seen enough of him yet in the NFL to know whether he lives up to it or not.

Answer 5

Cool out b..... he does what he is known for doing just like the other rookie RB's did what they were known to do..... the difference is he makes it look so much better and that is exactly what fans love. We see and appreciate the good runs but we grasp what can astonish. Reggie Bush was seen as a juke-em back who will have little to no effect in the league. He showed last season that he has an impact and shows that he will have more and more and more........ i hope i dont need to keep going.

P.S. he has always had a bandwagon... you make it seem so new..... check out youtube.com, he has been this way since HS, so its a guarantee he'll live up to the "Hype"

Answer 6

The word everyone is looking for is versatile. He can line up in the back field, wide out or slot.

Because of his versatility most teams are afraid not to guard him and perhaps slant two players toward him. On any one play he can take it to the barn.

His ability to stop, turn on a dime and give you 9 cent change is something CB and Safeties don't want to happen to them. Because they know once they are back in the dressing room or watching film there will be lots of talk about what Bush did to him. More laughter and finger pointing.

I think as they phase in more plays for Bush you will see more or him and the things he is capable of doing.

As far as going between the tackles he has proven that he can do that on a regular basis both in college and the pros. But would you want a back like Bush going between the tackles except on a few times to keep the defense honest and not cheating to the outside?

I hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.

"FIGHT ON"

Answer 7

Maurice Jones-Drew, Joseph Addai, Leon Washington, Mike Bell, Jerious Norwood, and Laurence Maroney all played in multi back systems as well and still put up better numbers than Bush. Sure, he made good plays in college, but that was against Pac-10 defenses, with one of the best O-lines in college football, and he didn't even carry the full load! The so-called electric Reggie Bush didn't even have a run of over 20 yards last season. All of his rushing TD's came in the redzone, meaning he has yet to perform one of his signature breakaway from 50 yard, run by mediocre defender TD's.

He led all rookies in receptions, so what? He's a RB! Their job is to RUN the ball! Even when he did catch it, he didn't do crap with it. Marques Colston had 18 less receptions but had 296 more yards. Santonio Holmes had 39 less receptions and still outdid his yardage totals by 82. Sure, I'm comparing him to receivers but when you catch the ball more than most receivers, I would expect better stats. Sure he had that amazing run on the dump pass, but as my dad likes to say, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Oh, but he returns punts? Yeah he does, for an average of 7.7 ypr. His overall stats in returns aren't worthy of the highest paid running back either, only gaining 216 yards, with most of it coming from his season long of 65 yards.

He just isn't as good as some say and definitely doesn't deserve his contract, seeing as how he's not even the starter.

Answer 8

It's not all about Reggie. He plays on a team. It's not so much of what has he done but what can he do. Just his presence make him a threat and therefore be used as a decoy because you know when he's out there he has to be given the best coverage enabling other players to help the team. He can explode if you let him.

Answer 9

Are you kidding me? Do you not know your football? Do you not know who Marshall Faulk is?

Bush is an all around player at the RB position. He has the speed and mobility (my god did you not see his take a dump pass all the way for a touchdown in the playoffs, thats crazy speed). Above all, he can motion out into the WR position making him an all around threat, especially if the LB has to come out and cover him.

He is perfect for the Saints because him and Deuce make a great combo.

Know your football, quit listening to frieds, and maybe you'll understand why Bush could be the next greatest thing in the NFL.

Answer 10

he's not a every down back and will be used more in play action and catch more passes than run the ball. McCalister is a better back than him on his own team. However I would rather watch bush play than any of the backs you named. just for pure wow factor. Bush is fun to watch. and to truly rate him you will have to go by Total Yards, not Rushing Yards.