ShareThisBy JOSH KATZOWITZ
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Reggie Bush has been the target of national criticism in recent weeks.
Pundits, both in the New Orleans area and around the country, say the Saints' 2006 first-round pick's rushing numbers have been miserable, that coach Sean Payton is reduced to complimenting Bush's blocking ability, that the fact Bush has scored only one touchdown and his yards per carry average is a very unimpressive 2.8 make him a first-round bust.
And when Bush fumbled against the Steelers in the third quarter Sunday _ a game Pittsburgh, which scored a touchdown on the very next play, would win _ the volume on the negative reviews was increased.
One espn.com contributor actually wrote, "... Right now, Reggie Bush just isn't that good," and another national Web site made Bush its overpaid player of the week following New Orleans' win against Tampa Bay on Nov. 5.
So you could understand why Bengals defensive end Justin Smith didn't seem all that impressed when the subject of Bush's effectiveness was broached earlier this week. At that point, Smith hadn't seen film on Bush, but he wasn't going out of his way to praise the 2005 Heisman Trophy-winner from USC either.
"It's just another guy to us," Smith said. "We play great running backs every week: LaDainian Tomlinson, Warrick Dunn, Jamal Lewis. It's just another guy you have to stop. Nobody is going to be out there worrying about some rookie."
That's because he's not even the Saints' featured running back. That job belongs to Deuce McAllister, who ranks 24th in the league with 547 yards and is tied for fourth with seven rushing touchdowns. He's the first concern for Smith.
"I know Deuce is having a really good year," Smith said. "Stop Deuce first, and if they put Reggie in there, stop him too."
Still, it's not quite that simple. Although Bush has gained only 256 rushing yards this season _ good enough to rank 45th in the NFL _ he's made his mark as a receiver, catching 53 passes. The idea is to get the ball in Bush's hands, and let Bush make spectacular moves.
"He's such a great athlete, and he's able to do some really nice things," said Bengals practice-team tight end Gregg Guenther, who played with Bush at USC and talks with him every couple weeks. "Deuce McAllister is a great back. But they are still finding ways to get Reggie the ball. When you see him get the ball in open space, he can do that."
Despite the criticism he's received, Bush is in good spirits, Guenther said, and he expects his former teammate to continue improving for a Saints team that ranks 26th in rushing yards per game and 29th in rushing yards per attempt.
"He's still a rookie, and he still's halfway through the season," Guenther said. "I'm sure he'll become more comfortable with the blocking scheme and more comfortable with the offense as time goes on."
New Orleans coach Payton also isn't worried. Although Bush finally scored his first running touchdown of the season against the Steelers, Payton has said his first-round pick is on track.
"I think he's doing fine," Payton told reporters after the Tampa Bay game, a contest in which Bush rushed 11 times for minus-5 yards. "The expectation level on him is no different than anyone else on this team. We're winning football games. He's a big part of why we're winning. Whether it's in the special teams aspect, the passing game. ... I'm happy with the way this guy is playing."
