texanfan2002114
Veteran
With the 2006 NFL draft less then two weeks away, there is a lot of uncertainty at the top of the first round. However, there is one thing for certain, and that is that USC RB Reggie Bush should be the first overall selection.
The dynamo all-purpose back had a combined 2,890 yards last season as a junior. He rushed for 1,740 yards, caught 37 passes and averaged 9.9 yards per punt return and 17.6 yards per kickoff return. He is a big-time player who knows how to light up the scoreboard, scoring 19 touchdowns last season.
Everything about Bush says he is going to be a special football player. He is a threat any time he touches the ball. He can play many different roles within the offense and on special teams. He has excellent running skills and exceptional vision, and he runs with excellent lean and body control.
Is he small? Yes. Does that hinder him from breaking tackles? No. Bush is also one of the most elusive runners to come out of college in some time.
Speaking of size, it baffles me as to why a lot of experts want to knock Bush on his dimensions. Barry Sanders' size never hindered him. Marshall Faulk, Ahman Green and Priest Holmes are all under 6 feet tall. I understand Bush is 201 pounds, and the above-mentioned players are in the 210-215 range, but they weren't when they came into the NFL. Like them, Bush will add bulk to his frame and likely will end up eventually settling in at 210 pounds as a playing weight.
Speaking of Faulk, he is a nice player to compare Bush to. Both show excellent run skills and vision. Both are extremely elusive with the ball in their hands. Both catch the ball extremely well out of the backfield. In his prime, Faulk kept defensive coordinators up at night, something Bush will do from day one. Bush also brings the added dimension of his return skills and is more of a home run threat than Faulk ever was. Nonetheless, they have similar running attributes and styles.
If the Texans select him, what is the best way to use him? As with any young player, they would need to bring him along slowly. They would want to put the ball in his hands 15-20 times a game. They will look to accomplish that in many different ways. He will get five to seven carries a game early on. They will look to get him the ball another five times as a receiver out of the backfield. Add in a few punt returns, and the Texans have a guy who will be able to break the game wide open at any point.
A lot of experts have talked about Bush's not being a good pick for the Texans because they already have a solid No. 1 RB in Domanick Davis. The Texans would make a mistake by not taking Bush because rule No. 1 is, you always take the best player available regardless of position (and you don't draft for needs). It has also been proven time and time again in the NFL that having a two-headed monster at the running back position is a good thing. Davis has never been a durable player anyway, so having Bush could lessen his workload and keep him fresh late in games and late in the season.
Having two talented running backs would be a huge help to the Texans' offense, which finished the 2005 season ranked 30th in total offense (253.3 ypg) and 26th in points scored (16.3 ppg). How about Davis and Bush in the lineup at the same time? That would be scary. The Texans would have the ability to really use the split-back formation and have two credible receiving threats coming out of the backfield. They also would be able to utilize their three-receiver/two-back package. With the addition of wide receiver Eric Moulds to go along with Andre Johnson and potentially Jerome Mathis, this is a package that would give the Texans their most explosive unit.
In general, the addition of Bush opens up the field for everyone. Because of his skills set, he has to be accounted for on every play. His presence in the lineup will force teams to focus on him, opening up the field for the Texans' other offensive weapons.
So what are some factors that could prevent Bush from reaching his ultimate potential? First and foremost, I think we need to talk about expectations. If there is one thing that truly holds back any top-10 pick it is media, fans and organizations expecting too much too quickly.
Bush is not going to be a player who comes into the league and rushes for 100 yards and scores two touchdowns on a weekly basis. We are so used to seeing him run rampant through opposing defenses at the college level, so it is natural to think that will carry over.
At USC, Bush was the biggest fish in a smaller pond. In the NFL, he will still be a big fish, but it will be in a much bigger pond. That pond will include the likes of teams having multiple defenders who can run, chase and hit.
How will Bush deal with those expectations? Will he be able to handle on-the-field adversity? Will he be able to fight through the rough patches? I think he is a player with excellent work ethic, maturity and character, so he should be able to handle these situations well. However, it is important for people not to expect too much too early.
The other issue that could prevent him from "stardom" is how a team might use him, at least early on. It is natural to want to get him involved in every facet because he was the ultimate weapon as a college player. It is important that he is not asked to do too much, though.
One of the biggest mistakes organizations make is asking a player be the face of the organization before he is ready. From my days with the Browns, it was very apparent this was a mistake we made with quarterback Tim Couch and defensive tackle Gerard Warren. They weren't physically or mentally prepared to do some of the things we asked them to do. We built them up, but when you do that, you open yourself up to a lot of criticism if that player does not play up to his potential early in his career. That player then starts to feel the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Bush is also a little on the light side. He will need to mature physically and add bulk and strength to his frame. Overuse could result in injuries. One of the biggest setbacks for a young player is getting injured early in his career. It causes a player to miss important time on the field taking reps. Mental reps in the classroom are great, but I can't stress how important it is to be on the field working with your teammates.
There has been talk in recent days that the Texans are entertaining trade talk for the New York Jets (who have the No. 4 pick). Unless the deal is overwhelming, the Texans would be crazy to make the move. "A Bush in the hand is better than" … well, anyone else they could pick in the 2006 NFL draft.
Jeremy Green is director of pro scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been an NFL scout for 11 years, including two as director of pro personnel for the Cleveland Browns.
The dynamo all-purpose back had a combined 2,890 yards last season as a junior. He rushed for 1,740 yards, caught 37 passes and averaged 9.9 yards per punt return and 17.6 yards per kickoff return. He is a big-time player who knows how to light up the scoreboard, scoring 19 touchdowns last season.
Everything about Bush says he is going to be a special football player. He is a threat any time he touches the ball. He can play many different roles within the offense and on special teams. He has excellent running skills and exceptional vision, and he runs with excellent lean and body control.
Is he small? Yes. Does that hinder him from breaking tackles? No. Bush is also one of the most elusive runners to come out of college in some time.
Speaking of size, it baffles me as to why a lot of experts want to knock Bush on his dimensions. Barry Sanders' size never hindered him. Marshall Faulk, Ahman Green and Priest Holmes are all under 6 feet tall. I understand Bush is 201 pounds, and the above-mentioned players are in the 210-215 range, but they weren't when they came into the NFL. Like them, Bush will add bulk to his frame and likely will end up eventually settling in at 210 pounds as a playing weight.
Speaking of Faulk, he is a nice player to compare Bush to. Both show excellent run skills and vision. Both are extremely elusive with the ball in their hands. Both catch the ball extremely well out of the backfield. In his prime, Faulk kept defensive coordinators up at night, something Bush will do from day one. Bush also brings the added dimension of his return skills and is more of a home run threat than Faulk ever was. Nonetheless, they have similar running attributes and styles.
If the Texans select him, what is the best way to use him? As with any young player, they would need to bring him along slowly. They would want to put the ball in his hands 15-20 times a game. They will look to accomplish that in many different ways. He will get five to seven carries a game early on. They will look to get him the ball another five times as a receiver out of the backfield. Add in a few punt returns, and the Texans have a guy who will be able to break the game wide open at any point.
A lot of experts have talked about Bush's not being a good pick for the Texans because they already have a solid No. 1 RB in Domanick Davis. The Texans would make a mistake by not taking Bush because rule No. 1 is, you always take the best player available regardless of position (and you don't draft for needs). It has also been proven time and time again in the NFL that having a two-headed monster at the running back position is a good thing. Davis has never been a durable player anyway, so having Bush could lessen his workload and keep him fresh late in games and late in the season.
Having two talented running backs would be a huge help to the Texans' offense, which finished the 2005 season ranked 30th in total offense (253.3 ypg) and 26th in points scored (16.3 ppg). How about Davis and Bush in the lineup at the same time? That would be scary. The Texans would have the ability to really use the split-back formation and have two credible receiving threats coming out of the backfield. They also would be able to utilize their three-receiver/two-back package. With the addition of wide receiver Eric Moulds to go along with Andre Johnson and potentially Jerome Mathis, this is a package that would give the Texans their most explosive unit.
In general, the addition of Bush opens up the field for everyone. Because of his skills set, he has to be accounted for on every play. His presence in the lineup will force teams to focus on him, opening up the field for the Texans' other offensive weapons.
So what are some factors that could prevent Bush from reaching his ultimate potential? First and foremost, I think we need to talk about expectations. If there is one thing that truly holds back any top-10 pick it is media, fans and organizations expecting too much too quickly.
Bush is not going to be a player who comes into the league and rushes for 100 yards and scores two touchdowns on a weekly basis. We are so used to seeing him run rampant through opposing defenses at the college level, so it is natural to think that will carry over.
At USC, Bush was the biggest fish in a smaller pond. In the NFL, he will still be a big fish, but it will be in a much bigger pond. That pond will include the likes of teams having multiple defenders who can run, chase and hit.
How will Bush deal with those expectations? Will he be able to handle on-the-field adversity? Will he be able to fight through the rough patches? I think he is a player with excellent work ethic, maturity and character, so he should be able to handle these situations well. However, it is important for people not to expect too much too early.
The other issue that could prevent him from "stardom" is how a team might use him, at least early on. It is natural to want to get him involved in every facet because he was the ultimate weapon as a college player. It is important that he is not asked to do too much, though.
One of the biggest mistakes organizations make is asking a player be the face of the organization before he is ready. From my days with the Browns, it was very apparent this was a mistake we made with quarterback Tim Couch and defensive tackle Gerard Warren. They weren't physically or mentally prepared to do some of the things we asked them to do. We built them up, but when you do that, you open yourself up to a lot of criticism if that player does not play up to his potential early in his career. That player then starts to feel the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Bush is also a little on the light side. He will need to mature physically and add bulk and strength to his frame. Overuse could result in injuries. One of the biggest setbacks for a young player is getting injured early in his career. It causes a player to miss important time on the field taking reps. Mental reps in the classroom are great, but I can't stress how important it is to be on the field working with your teammates.
There has been talk in recent days that the Texans are entertaining trade talk for the New York Jets (who have the No. 4 pick). Unless the deal is overwhelming, the Texans would be crazy to make the move. "A Bush in the hand is better than" … well, anyone else they could pick in the 2006 NFL draft.
Jeremy Green is director of pro scouting for Scouts Inc. He has been an NFL scout for 11 years, including two as director of pro personnel for the Cleveland Browns.
