Good post. Like I posted, Carroll used Bush's speed quite a bit, and it's a good thing he did. Like most have posted, there's weren't a whole lot of reasons for Bush to go inside during college, especially when he had Lendale backing him up for that I don't have anything against Bush, I think he will be a very good player. I'm not too worried about his size or durability. I do question his style of running though, I've seen a bunch of USC games, and I don't like how Bush cuts it outside almost as much as he does, but that's just me.
4 of the Top 5 Rusher in the NFL did: DeAngelo Williams Laurence Maroney Cadillac Williams Cedric Benson Ricky Williams Shaun Alexander Tiki Barber Edgerrin James Willis MgAhee Thomas Jones Larry Johnson Marshall Faulk ran the ball 25 times a game I don't really like using the Bush didn't get enough carries/game argument. But here is a short list for ya. What were you going to prove with this?
Bush is always looking for the opening. He impresses me in how he approaches the defender. His ability to time the hit and roll off the tackle can only add to his longevity in the NFL. Once he sees an opening his initial burst and cutting ability will allow him to maintain a decent ypc average. Give USC some credit. They played to their strengths. Reggie Bush is an open field runner (similar to LT), with great instincts and athleticism. Lendale White provided the punch that will wear down a defense physically. Bush will wear down a defense mentally. Bush will be the ultimate compliment to Davis and Wells, while adding a receiving threat to compliment Johnson, Gaffney, and Mathis.
I don't understand the criticism of Bush sharing time (and splitting carries) with White as evidence for how he can't handle the workload of being a full-time NFL back. Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams split carries their senior season at Auburn. Neither consistently rushed 25 times a game. Both (and especially Williams) have come into the NFL and rushed more times per game than they did in college... and have held up remarkably well in doing so. It's hard for me to give much credibility to the argument of "if he split time in college, he can't be a legit starter in the pros" when all you have to do is look back a few months to see that this argument doesn't always hold up.
I believe that the NFL has evolved. As fast as defenders have become, it is important to split time between 2 running backs and not put the entire load on 1. Without a good RB to split time with Davis, he will continue to wear down. Wells has his niche, but it is not enough to preserve Davis.
norm chow on the obstacles reggie bush faces "They're huge," Chow said. "Pass protection, blocking, running pass routes. He's played in a good system with a good staff, but the speed of the game – they're all going to be as fast as he is, you know?" http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...bYF?slug=cr-combine022306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns why isnt this being discussed more? i think this is huge. chow could just be blowing smoke here but the guy worked directly and designed an offense around bush for 2 years. his opinion probably holds the most weight out of anyone. if you read between the lines it seems like chow is saying that bush is a product of his system. arrogant i know, but i think its interesting of all the things he could have said about bush, he said this.
The interesting part for me is when he says "as fast as HE is." I think most of the time, the speed of the NFL is initially MUCH FASTER than the rookies can adjust to. I hear him saying that the obsicals are huge, like they are for any rookie, but he's already leveling the palying field.
While folx question how Young will have to change his game in the next level [never behind center . . always in the shot gun] Bush will have adjustments too. I cannot say I watched alot of Denver but I don't recall their backs being put in the slot much not to mention the running between the tackles while in college he was say X faster than everyone in the league he will be [X-y] faster because the game is faster and you get hit harder more often Rocket River
he did pretty good towards the 2nd half of the season. Played like it was a contract year or something.
