Mar 09
Draft Bust Revisited: Reggie Bush versus Super Mario
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| A Blogger Darkly March 09,2008 |
How many people out there still think that the Texans’ passing on Reggie was a bust? According to every source, everywhere, Reggie was “the best player in the draft, period.” He was a gamebreaker, and someone no team should pass on. According to every hype enthused, jock-riding news source, Reggie had a chance to “be one of the games greatest talents, ever“. Reggie won the Heisman trophy and was groomed to win be the #1 pick in the draft. In a surprising move, however, the Texans signed Mario Williams, a defensive end from North Carolina State. The New Orleans Saints then selected Bush as the number 2 overall pick in the draft.
The Sports World didn’t know whether to shit or throw up.
To hear the news outlets and sports pundits bitch, this was the equivalent of the Trail Blazers passing on Michael Jordan for Sam Bowie. But to date, Bush has not lived up to the hype. In his first season, Bush was a glorified decoy, coming in 5th rookie of the year voting. Bush finished this last season with 6 touchdowns and 581 yards rushing, averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Mario Williams, on the other hand, has been a beast for the Texans. Super Mario finished 07 with 59 solo tackles (20th among D-Linemen), 14 sacks (3rd in the league), 16 assists(21st), 1 reception and 1 fumble returned for a TD. Draft Day bust? I think not.
Bush hasn’t lived up to the hype and I doubt he ever will. I don’t think he’ll ever be as productive a RB as his publicist touted predraft. Looking back, though, iI find that Bush was overhyped in college as he wasn’t even the best runner in the PAC-10 (a conference not known for its defensive prowess). I alway doubted Reggie because he was a little, all-purpose guy who made all his yards doing everything other than running between the tackles. I don’t believe that there is any hope of him ever becoming a 25+ carry/game, 1600 yard RB. That’s unfortunate because Lendale White - Reggie’s back-up in college - finished with a decent season. Through 16 weeks White rushed for 1,110 yards and 7 touchdowns with a 3.7 yard average. From the line of scrimmage to the secondary, Reggie’s 4.29 40 speed is useless and speed is his only asset. Take away Reggie’s open field abilities and he’s just another scrawny running back. He can’t even block properly, taking cheap shots at D-Linemen rather than blocking with proper tech
The age of the feature back is over. reggie’s best hope for success is that NFL teams are moving to a Thunder and Lightning approach. Defenses are just too big and fast for a sinlge 200lb RB to shoulder the load for a 16 game season.
3 cheers for Super Mario!
Now, who is gonna be this year’s draft day bust?
March 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
demonicume
It tends on what deems a bust nowadays ? It’s in the eye of the beholder. And so far Bush has paid dividends in terms of money to his franchise. But it’d appear that Williams may have more of an upside with regard to wher his franchise goes. From my own observations thus far Bush getting himself engulfed with Kardashian seems to have taken his eye of the objectives.
tophatal ………..
March 9th, 2008 at 9:53 am
in term of money, The Saints won this round. Bush has made them much money. television station show their games even when the team is sucking it up. CREAM: Cash Rules Everything Around Me
March 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
demonicume
Which do you think that an owner prefers ? Success on the field or success off it in terms of the financial rewards ? That’s what one has to judge it from in terms of perspectives. Look at the Cardinals and all of the apparent talent they’ve got onfield ? But yet they just can’t to seem to glean any on it. But they’re making a hell of lot of money of it.
See my most recent under this guise . I think you’ll definately love the content matter.
It’s titled If They Asked To Jump Your Bones Would You Let ‘em ? I’ll look forward to reading your comments.
tophatal ……..
March 10th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Even though I was a bit skeptical of Reggie Bush coming from a thunder/lightning backfield at USC, I jumped on the Texans bashing bandwagon for that pick. Not because I thought Mario was terrible, but I thought O-line was the biggest priority for Houston. In fact…I’m still thinking they should have used the value of that top spot in a trade, and still landed one of the best offensive tackles out of that class.
I don’t who the big bust will be this year. Lot of linemen and corners in that first round, and rightfully so.
I think Gholston is going to be the steal of the draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots luck out and get him.
Bush actually might be better off as a wide receiver.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Reggie is an overhyped no class punk.
He won’t last 5 years, he’s little with bad fundamentals and he’s injury prone.
And nowhere near as entertaining as Rickey Williams.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
miracle
At this advent were it a choice between he and Williams. I think that the majority may well go after Bush either way.
But at this juncture it’s far too early to really assess his overall talent. But I’d say this if it were a choice between he and the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson. Then I’d be after Peterson like a rocket launched grenade. That guy is everything they’ve said he’d be and more !
tophatal …………