First off, a QB and RB's performance on the field is much more quantifiable than a DE. I dont know of a running back that has been dominant and have it show up as a 32 yard rushing performance. But, Ive seen Dwight Freeney wreak havok with 3 tackles and no sacks. Secondly, I dont get on Bush or VY for not scoring an X amount of times. I do get on them for things that they are supposed to do well...like rush for more than 2.7 yards per carry. Thats not asking much. But you asking Mario to have a game like he did in week one over again is asking a lot. If he had that kind of performance 6 times a year, he'd be a pro bowler. Mario is being just as disruptive as any DE in the game right now. Why wish for more? Again, MLB is a much different position than DE. A MLB can and should be near every play...there is a reason why they lead the NFL in tackles. DeMeco doesnt "bring it" any more than Mario does. Its not like Mario is on the field not giving a rats ass. But when two 300 lb lineman are needed to hold Mario back, it makes DeMeco's job much easier (as well as the rest of the defense). And a MLB's performance is also much more quantifiable than a DE. Im also not pointing to the suckiness of other DE's to describe Mario as a player. Im comparing Mario to the best in the game. Its not like Im looking at Jason Babin's performance and saying "see!!!"....Im measuring Mario up against 2 of the best in the game (Freeney and Peppers). Those are the standards I expect from him and from what Ive seen, he looks like he is headed in the right direction.
You can also look at Carolina's very poor rushing totals and infer that Mario and the rest of the line did a good job.
Aww, then why then is everyone so quick to point out what's not happening with RB & VY when they want to praise MW? If he's good - if his play is that good, then you don't need for someone else to suck in order for him to be good. He should be good entirely on his own. When I look at Mario play on a week in, week out basis, I'm looking at him to see him disspell the criticism that he's an on again, off again, player - A player who can have a monster game and then be just another guy out there in the next few games. His physical ability is not in question only his motivation. I'm not saying that he had to have another 2 sack, TD game but coming off of that performance, you'd have liked to see more than 1 tackle in yesterday's game especially considering that it was in front of his home folks so to speak. OK then. So if they cannot quantify Mario's play vis-a-vis DeMeco's then there is no way we can ever be sure what kind of player we have here. He can do as little as possible out there and it's all good and there are dozens ways to justify or explain away his performance but just let RB or VY have a subpar outing and we get threads like this one. On this we can agree. So far he appears to be headed in the right direction but only time will tell. Expectations go with being the no. 1 pick and sometimes they can swallow up a player who is not up to the task - just ask David Carr. A key test awaits him on Sunday against the SuperBowl champs. I hope he does well. Maybe then we'll get a new Peyton Manning commercial where he's having nightmares about no. 90.
Nobody needs to rationalize Williams play this year. He has been causing havoc. Williams has been collapsing the pocket and occupying blockers consistently. The same people who said Kalu caused him to get sacks against Kansas City are mute about Mario springing Okoye yesterday. It is more difficult to quantify good play at the defensive line than at running back, linebacker, or quarterback. The eyeball test tells me that Williams is doing great.
I don't know why some people took this long to appreciate Mario. Frankly anyone that says or thinks that any of those 3 guys suck are either blinded by their emotions, children, or plain fools. I've been saying MW was causing problems for opposing offensive lines since his rookies season. And I have been bashed several times by people who just can't get over their fantasies. Mario was double teamed constant last season. He is still being double teamed this season. It's part of their game plan coming into the game. Just that alone... the fact that opposing teams watch film on him and adjust their game plan because of him... that should show you he's been effective. Now we have some other guys on the line that can shift the weight off of Mario. I'm not surprised by the outcome one bit.
It blows my mind that people who actually watch football games can't understand this. Williams is a beast. Barring injury, he will one day play in a pro bowl.
Really? Are you kidding? Give the kid a few years. i like his stuff. I'm no N/O fan but I think RB is special.
yes really. he doesnt run inside well. Can he get better? sure, but running in traffic (between the tackles) like that is usually something that you dont teach or you can only teach so much of.
That's the thing. Running backs usually don't take a few years. They have a short shelf life, particularly guys like Bush who are so dependent on that quick initial burst. In seasons that he should be at his peak, he's at 3.6 and 3.0 YPC. He's special... in about the same sense that Ron Dayne is special. Great college player, mediocre pro.
Umm man... You've seen him run between the tackles? I have yet to see that. I have to say I don't watch every Saints game, and I probably don't pay attention to every play. But I don't recall ever seeing Reggie Bush run inside the tackles with the Saints. I've had moments I thought I did... but they all turned out to be someone else running the ball. I challenge Reggie Bush fanatics to provide video of 10 plays where Reggie Bush ran inside the tackles in the NFL.
For every Reggie Bush commercial, there's a solid performance by a young/lesser-hyped (but more productive) RB: Joseph Addai Adrian Peterson Marshawn Lynch Frank Gore Laurence Maroney Its not that Reggie Bush won't some day become an every-down back, or even be a pro bowler... its the attitude that the Texans missed out on a "once-in-a-generation" type player who would CHANGE the way the game is played. Its the "they just passed up on Michael Jordan" attitude that the media had no problem spewing out over the Texans management/city that had me more annoyed than anything. (and notice how they're really never going to admit how stupid they were to be that brash about their predictions). Its safe to say, he'll never reach those levels... and if that's the case, the Texans didn't miss out and likely ended up getting a more valuable (or at least more irreplaceable) player over the long haul.
Yep. All the good backs in the league have averaged more yards per carry in their rookie seasons (Addai, Maroney, Edge, etc) LT averaged the same actually but had a lot more carries and finished with over 1200 yards. It is what it is....Reggie Bush is overrated. He is averaging a whopping 3 yards per carry this season.
But he'll probably have a highlight run or catch on MNF against the Titans, and all will be forgotten by the media. That's my biggest gripe with all of this -- the self-fulfilling prophecy on the part of ESPN and their peers. Anyone who's a starter will have a few big plays in a season. But when Bush has one, ESPN acts like it's a once in a lifetime play that justifies all his hype as the greatest prospect in the history of the sport. The burden of proof for Reggie is essentially one play... and as soon as he gets it... it'll all come roaring back.
He had more than one play last year. He might have had as many as 2 or 3 (although 1 was during the preseason). That's more proof than anyone needs to understand that he is a once in a lifetime player.
The funniest thing to me about Bush is that, after the Katrina disaster, them getting a chance to draft RB was seen as a miracle and he would be the savior of that franchise, etc, etc. Then the team had a great year last season, and people were able to ignore the fact that Bush didn't perform anywhere near as well as most were predicting. Now, the team is 0-2, and Reggie's performance is at the front of everyone's mind...and his presence on that team will have the opposite effect. Far from being their savior, he will be a RB with little production and a large rookie contract. He becomes an albatross. All that love he got last year will turn to hate REAL fast.
Is Ron Jaworski a family friend of Reggie Bush? Seriously, can you believe how much of a stubborn Bush apologist he is? Is he on Bush's payroll? Keyshawn, Emmitt, Ditka, Steve Young, all called a spade a spade: Reggie is a nice trick back. I wish I could remember their exact words, because it was hilarious. He is not one of the top backs in the league like ESPN so desperately wishes he was. Emmitt said it on the broadcast several times: "If you wanna sell tickets, you draft Reggie Bush. If you wanna sell tickets AND win, you draft Vince Young!" Even Neon Deion pretty much agrees: And LMFAO at Stu "The Hype Machine" Scott calling out EMMIT SMITH and STEVE YOUNG for saying what they said. Yeah, Stu Scott's dog and pony show against the word of two HALL OF FAMERS, yeah...right. Are you kidding me?
