Bush comments in article on past RBs picks No. 1 overall

[texansfaninla]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/267385_draft20.html

The article notes: "As odd as it might sound, a running back has been the No. 1 pick in the draft only six times since 1970. The first was Ricky Bell, by the Buccaneers in 1977. The last was Ki-Jana Carter, by the Bengals in 1995. The other four -- Earl Campbell (1978), Billy Sims (1980), George Rogers (1981) and Bo Jackson (1986) -- proved very productive, even in injury-shortened stints."

In response to this information, particularly about Ricky Bell and Ki-Jana Carter, Bush had this to say: "I don't know what happened to the other past running backs and why they weren't successful and what they did, but I know that I'm going to be successful and I won't fail."

 

[Kaiser Toro]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/267385_draft20.html

The article notes: "As odd as it might sound, a running back has been the No. 1 pick in the draft only six times since 1970. The first was Ricky Bell, by the Buccaneers in 1977. The last was Ki-Jana Carter, by the Bengals in 1995. The other four -- Earl Campbell (1978), Billy Sims (1980), George Rogers (1981) and Bo Jackson (1986) -- proved very productive, even in injury-shortened stints."

In response to this information, particularly about Ricky Bell and Ki-Jana Carter, Bush had this to say: "I don't know what happened to the other past running backs and why they weren't successful and what they did, but I know that I'm going to be successful and I won't fail."

No one doubts that he will not fail as an individual contributor, it is all about what the team does with the amount of spend on an uproven commodity on offense. You can find offensive skill players everywhere in the draft.

In the salary cap era, the #1 pick with the most Pro Bowl appearances who happens to be the only #1 pick to win a Super Bowl while starting with the team that drafted him is Orlando Pace.

 

[MikeMc]

Wow, he knows he will be successful and he won't fail? Of course he will be successful...he is about to get PAID and PAID HUGE! His endorsement money will be enough to fund a small country!

Once most of these kids get paid in the NFL, they lose all sense of reality.

 

[Nighthawk]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/267385_draft20.html

The article notes: "As odd as it might sound, a running back has been the No. 1 pick in the draft only six times since 1970. The first was Ricky Bell, by the Buccaneers in 1977. The last was Ki-Jana Carter, by the Bengals in 1995. The other four -- Earl Campbell (1978), Billy Sims (1980), George Rogers (1981) and Bo Jackson (1986) -- proved very productive, even in injury-shortened stints."

In response to this information, particularly about Ricky Bell and Ki-Jana Carter, Bush had this to say: "I don't know what happened to the other past running backs and why they weren't successful and what they did, but I know that I'm going to be successful and I won't fail."

Stick a fork in him.

 

[infantrycak]

In the salary cap era, the #1 pick with the most Pro Bowl appearances who happens to be the only #1 pick to win a Super Bowl while starting with the team that drafted him is Orlando Pace.

And the only team to win a super bowl while a cow is standing under a sycamore tree is? Seriously, that is like saying no QB over 6' 4.73" ever won a SB so let's not take a 6' 5" QB. While it may be true, it proves nothing.

 

[Kaiser Toro]

And the only team to win a super bowl while a cow is standing under a sycamore tree is? Seriously, that is like saying no QB over 6' 4.73" ever won a SB so let's not take a 6' 5" QB. While it may be true, it proves nothing.

It proves one thing, selecting offensive skill position players with the #1 is fool hearty. In business it is a trend in law it may be a precedent, make light of it, but it is a fact.

 

[Runner]

This is so funny. Running backs picked #1, haven't etc.

Since everyone likes hindsight so much, flip it over. How many running backs that haven't been picked number 1 had careers worth a number one choice? There are RBs that have been picked lower that would have been worth it. Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, etc. Lists may vary, but I think you get the idea.

 

[infantrycak]

It proves one thing, selecting offensive skill position players with the #1 is fool hearty. In business it is a trend in law it may be a precedent, make light of it, but it is a fact.

It doesn't prove that. You have little or no control group of defensive players for comparison.

Let's see:

Courtney Brown--nope
Dan Wilkinson--nope
Steve Emtman--nope
Russell Maryland--yes, but a bit of an odd deal because they got him to agree to take less money if they took him #1 since he wasn't worth the pick
Aundray Bruce--nope
Bruce Smith--nope--although this is the perfect example also of acting as if a SB ring is the only standard for a #1 pick being successful.
Kenneth Sims--nope

That's it in 25 years, much less the salary cap era. Contribution to a team cannot be judged for an individual player by SB success.

 

[Kaiser Toro]

It doesn't prove that. You have little or no control group of defensive players for comparison.

Let's see:

Courtney Brown--nope
Dan Wilkinson--nope
Steve Emtman--nope
Russell Maryland--yes, but a bit of an odd deal because they got him to agree to take less money if they took him #1 since he wasn't worth the pick
Aundray Bruce--nope
Bruce Smith--nope--although this is the perfect example also of acting as if a SB ring is the only standard for a #1 pick being successful.
Kenneth Sims--nope

That's it in 25 years, much less the salary cap era. Contribution to a team cannot be judged for an individual player by SB success.

The sample is small in the salary cap era as only two defensive players have been taken at #1 - Wilkinson and Brown and they have been busts, but come on they were drafted by Cleveland and Cincinatti.

The fact that we cannot control the defense does not discount the fact of what I said in regards to offensive skill position players. Application may not be sound expect when you look at our current spend between offense and defense and what is solidified as fact to date. Since we are at least talking defense with the #1 it puts the odds in our favor of bucking two trends.