Reggie Faulk…I Mean Reggie Bush Scouting Report
Twenty-three carries for 294 yards! Twenty-three carries for 294 yards! That was Reggie Bush’s Saturday night. While most of us east coasters were watching the cool side of the pillow, Reggie was racking up 362 total yards and 2 TDs. Fresno State looked good. They looked very good. But they still couldn’t stop Reggie.
At 6′0″ (more like 5′10), 200, Bush is your concensus #1 overall pick in this spring’s NFL draft. He’s an ‘85 baby, so he’s still a junior. But he’s coming out. I don’t think there’s any question about that.
Bush rushed for 480 yards in 2003, 908 yards in 2004, and he’s got 1398 in 2005. He averaged 5.9 yards/carry as a freshman, 6.4 as a sophomore, and he’s sitting at 8.6 in 2005. He also has 383 yards receiving to go along with 15 total TDs.
His mix of speed and agility is reminiscent of a young Marshall Faulk. He ran a 10.42/200 in high school, which, in a strictly mathematical sense, translates to a 4.4/40. Actually, it’s better than 4.40. You’d think he’d slow down over distance. I’d say his 40’s anywhere from 4.25-to-low-4.3s. Either way that’s Olympic class speed. Or kick-returner speed. Same thing. He hasn’t been to the combine yet, so his measurables haven’t been measured. Or if they have, they’re not out there for public consumption.
I don’t know what else to say about this guy. Maybe you’re one of those guys who thinks he might be overrated because he plays for such a dominant team. But he’s running north-south, sideline-sideline, draws, delays, everything. They give him the ball and let him make his own plays. When Reggie’s got the rock you see more whiffs than a Clemens-Johnson showdown. He’s so light on his feet, and his acceleration and cutback ability are so incredible, that he could easily be a Top 10 RB in the NFL right now. In terms of talent he’s right there with LaDainian Tomlinson, who runs a 4.54/40. So Reggie is actually quicker.
Someone added a comment about watching Reggie play in high-school. Can you imagine watching this guy run wild against 5′8/140 13-year-olds? So many of the great talents out there are actually scary-good.
The feeling around the NFL is that he starts for the Cardinals next year. They’re desperate enough for an RB to make any reasonable draft-day deal. But with the way Houston’s going he might fall right into their lap. And they don’t need Leinart.
I’ve heard some “experts” say that Leinart’s 70% completion stat. makes him the #1 pick. I don’t know how you can say that after watching the Cal game. Leinart looks like the next David Carr, meaning he’s either going to get pancaked playing for a bad NFL team, or he’s going to lead the Jets to a .500 season. If that #2 pick falls in Houston or San Fran’s lap, then there’s going to be a draft-day deal for Leinart.
Since everyone seems to want it, here’s the link to the Reggie Bush Helix high, highlight video.
Click Here To Watch Reggie At Helix High
The link is on the left side of the page, under Reggie’s picture.
Reggie Bush Profile and Statistics
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Comment by dsoldier on 22 November 2005:
Living in San Diego, I got the chance to see Reggie Bush play when he went to Helix High School. I particularly recall that class because it was full of Div-I recruits. Watching Reggie play at USC reminds me a bit of him at Helix. Watching him at USC is seeing a man amongst boys. What you see now is nothing compared to him in high school. I knew he was special then, I know he is special now. I hope he manages to play for a winner when he gets to the NFL.
Comment by E on 6 December 2005:
Nobody can deny the electricity of Bush, but I’m concerned that a 6ft.
200lb. running back might not hold up enough to be a feature back. Tiki
Barber, a supremely productive back, is also 200 lbs., but at 5ft. 10 inches,
he’s a smaller, thicker, and likely more durable target for tacklers.
Would a team select Bush as the #1, or #5 overall for that matter, knowing he
wouldn’t be an every down back? Are the problems of the Houston Texans and
Arizona Cardinals really at the running back position? If the Cardinals
draft Bush with their first pick, they’re saying that J.J. Arrington, the
leading NCAA rusher in 2004, somehow isn’t good enough for them. The Texans,
likewise would be saying that Domanick Davis, their ONLY productive offensive
weapon (and relatively small salary cap number), somehow is not good enough and
needs to be replaced. In my mind, the bottom-feeding NFL teams with early
draft picks need to improve their overall offensive and defensive systems and lines, rather than spending their resources on seductive eye-candy they don’t need.
Reggie Bush is a Ferrari that will have no room to race since these
bottom-feeding teams can’t protect or create space. Look at Barry Sanders
in Detroit - Ferrari in a poor system - 0 SuperBowls, few playoff appearances. Look at any of the productive backs under Shanahan in Denver - lower-priced Honda that performs like a Ferrari in the right system - 2 Super Bowls, perennial playoff contenders. These bottom feeding teams need to create
a productive environment, then the players will flourish within it.
Please comment.
Comment by Diego on 9 December 2005:
I agree with everything everyone is saying but can you really pass him up. If your team had a shot at him would you not take him. I am from New England and I would hope and love if the Pats were to grab him. When was there was a player this exceptional theres no way you cant take him. PLayers like this dont come along every year hell even every 10 years. He is rediculous and the best player (not just runnig back) in college football in at least the last 5 years. Just crazy. On another note there is a video floating around the internet of a highlight video of him from high school it is bananas you need to see it
Diego
Comment by Moneyball on 9 December 2005:
I’ll see if I can’t get a link to the video up shortly…It is as Diego said absolutely insane!