Arizona's Finest
Your My Favorite Mistake
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2005
- Posts
- 9,709
- Reaction score
- 1
I am going to preface this by saying that I have been a HUGE proponent of the Cardinals drafting Matt Leinert in next year’s draft. In my mind he is a huge can’t miss prospect and will be a great NFL QB. And when I say great I mean like leading his team to multiple Super Bowls before he retires. The last time I felt this good about a QB’s NFL prospect was with Eli Manning (blood lines and production against the SEC) and Carson Palmer (because of me being fortunate enough to be in person for the game that made his Heisman trophy case and watching his eyes from my end zone vantage seat.) Lienert will be definitly be a good choice….
But saying that if the Cardinals have the number one pick, the number two pick, have to trade their entire draft, trade Fitzgerald, or sacrifice Denny Green and Rod Graves to make the choice they with out a doubt HAVE to get their hands on Reggie Bush.
I was fortunate enough to attend this weekends epic game between ND and USC. That was the experience of a lifetime for a college football fan. Especially one who was raised on Arizona/ASU college football. I mean no comparison as much as it pains me to say that. But while I really was impartial to the outcome of the game, I came away with one thing watching that field. Reggie Bush might end up being the best running back in the NFL EVER….re-read that for a second. I really mean it and not for the reasons that get replayed over and over on SportsCenter. Here’s why he might be the biggest game breaker in the last ten years IMO:
Best moves since Gale Sayers: I don’t even need to go into this. Anyone who doesn’t think this guy has the jukes for the NFL right now should be commited. And the fluidity and creativity behind his running is out of this world. Everyone saw the play where he hurdled ND CB Ambrose Wooden and got into the end zone. The thing is Wooden is the most sure tackler in the ND secondary (see Jarrett’s catch on 4th and 9 that could have ended the game right there. Wooden made the almost game saving tackle) Bush just hurdled him and it was effortless. His punt returns were even more amazing of a clinic. He had a 20 second return in which he lost yards because he kept going east-west and making players miss. As great of a return man as he is, I would not advocate putting him back there as his value is to the offense and you want to limit his hits. Although when you NEED a big return, I can think of anyone save Dante Hall that I would rather have back there.
His speed: I have no idea how he will show at the combine but im hoping its not a 4.2 like I expect or it will be a hell of a lot harder to get him. No doubt the offensive line he plays behind is world class but the speed he has when he hits the holes is just crazy. ND played the best defense against this team I had seen in 3 years and they STILL couldn’t game plan for him. I’m not really going out on a limb saying Weis is the best new coach in college football and he managed to keep Byrd, Jarrett, Smith, and Lienert to just on big play and lets not even get to what he did to stud in his own right Lendale White. Despite all this Weis admitted he went into the game defensivly game planning to limit Reggie. That didn’t work out to well and Weis is the closest thing to a NFL coach in terms of game plan college football has.
His Running syle: The only knock I hear about the guy is he will not be big enough for the NFL. I am not going to go google the guys actual weight but you cant tell me LT (the back I think most closely resembles) and Faulk (another clone) are much bigger. Its how you run, not how big you are. Carroll has the luxury of a bruiser in White so his goal line touches are less then they would be but Bush moves the pile and lays his shoulder down when he is about to take a hit. He runs hard and that’s more important then being 250. Same with LT and Caddillac Williams. They may not be the biggest guys but I don’t see size being a huge factor in their ability to perform on the next level. Says here Reggie will put on 10 lbs anyway before the combine just to allay any fears. His vision is also uncanny as he found holes an also speedy White was not able to get through.
His flair for the dramatic: Against Washington State and UCLA last year he had punt returns that effectively ended any momentum those other teams had at home against SC. He just killed ASU with his second half runs. He was the ONLY difference in ND not having won a history altering win on Saturday. And I mean the ONLY reason. The bottom line was SC had Bush and ND didn’t. Ironically those were his last two choices when he committed out of high school.
His hands: Like LT and Faulk, Bush has the hands of a second tier NFL receiver. You could actually convert Bush into a receiver and I still think he would be a pro bowler. The Virginia Tech game to open the game last year was Exhibit A. He could easily catch a hundred balls as a running back if utilized properly. Look at what kind of weapon LT is.
His demeanor: This was the one factor that solidifys it for me. I knew all the other things about Reggie Bush but mentally he is on a different level then even the other top chices who will be available. Did you know before the sneak was ran that Lienert turned to Bush and asked him if it was a good idea? Did you also see that he was the reason the scored on that play is he leaned his 200 lb body so that Matt would have the momentum to get in? How about how contrite he was after the game after Zybikowski cheap shotted him (but rightfully so) as he slowed down to get into the end zone? He said something to the effect of that “I’m an upper classmen and that was bad leadership on my part”. Did you see him on kick returns pointing players into their designated spaces and counting the number of guys on the field? Did you also know that he was so overwhelmed due to the emotions and history in that stadium that he had to sit down when being interviwed directly after the game? This guy LOVES football and he will not be the type of player who gets money or status and then rests on his laurels.
So I could actually see a scenario where teams draft two players out of the SAME backfield ahead of him and regret it. I think White might have a Ronnie Brown rise in his status if he runs a sub 4.4 at the combine if he decides to leave. While Brown will be a good back, I think its safe to say that Miami made the wrong choice between Auburn running backs. And it could play out similarly in that I have already heard that NFL teams are worried about his size. SC could actually go 1-2-3 if the right things happen between now and the draft.
I’m hoping he does fall because Denny will draft the BPA and there has to be no debate that the player who fits that title in the entire draft is Bush. He won the Heisman on Saturday and he will be a franchise changer much like LT is for the Chargers. Think about the hype Vick got before the draft…as good as Vick is do you think San Diego regrets that at all. Even of they wouldn’t have gotten Brees I think they would still make that trade.
Lienert will get a lot of hype and he will be a good player IMO. But barring injury, Bush will a Hall of Famer the minute he steps on the field. And I don’t care if Arrington ends up running for 1000 yards this year, Shaun Alexander says he is dying to be a Cardinal this off season and Maroney, Lendale White, and D’angelo Williams are all available. Bush is the pick hands down.
But saying that if the Cardinals have the number one pick, the number two pick, have to trade their entire draft, trade Fitzgerald, or sacrifice Denny Green and Rod Graves to make the choice they with out a doubt HAVE to get their hands on Reggie Bush.
I was fortunate enough to attend this weekends epic game between ND and USC. That was the experience of a lifetime for a college football fan. Especially one who was raised on Arizona/ASU college football. I mean no comparison as much as it pains me to say that. But while I really was impartial to the outcome of the game, I came away with one thing watching that field. Reggie Bush might end up being the best running back in the NFL EVER….re-read that for a second. I really mean it and not for the reasons that get replayed over and over on SportsCenter. Here’s why he might be the biggest game breaker in the last ten years IMO:
Best moves since Gale Sayers: I don’t even need to go into this. Anyone who doesn’t think this guy has the jukes for the NFL right now should be commited. And the fluidity and creativity behind his running is out of this world. Everyone saw the play where he hurdled ND CB Ambrose Wooden and got into the end zone. The thing is Wooden is the most sure tackler in the ND secondary (see Jarrett’s catch on 4th and 9 that could have ended the game right there. Wooden made the almost game saving tackle) Bush just hurdled him and it was effortless. His punt returns were even more amazing of a clinic. He had a 20 second return in which he lost yards because he kept going east-west and making players miss. As great of a return man as he is, I would not advocate putting him back there as his value is to the offense and you want to limit his hits. Although when you NEED a big return, I can think of anyone save Dante Hall that I would rather have back there.
His speed: I have no idea how he will show at the combine but im hoping its not a 4.2 like I expect or it will be a hell of a lot harder to get him. No doubt the offensive line he plays behind is world class but the speed he has when he hits the holes is just crazy. ND played the best defense against this team I had seen in 3 years and they STILL couldn’t game plan for him. I’m not really going out on a limb saying Weis is the best new coach in college football and he managed to keep Byrd, Jarrett, Smith, and Lienert to just on big play and lets not even get to what he did to stud in his own right Lendale White. Despite all this Weis admitted he went into the game defensivly game planning to limit Reggie. That didn’t work out to well and Weis is the closest thing to a NFL coach in terms of game plan college football has.
His Running syle: The only knock I hear about the guy is he will not be big enough for the NFL. I am not going to go google the guys actual weight but you cant tell me LT (the back I think most closely resembles) and Faulk (another clone) are much bigger. Its how you run, not how big you are. Carroll has the luxury of a bruiser in White so his goal line touches are less then they would be but Bush moves the pile and lays his shoulder down when he is about to take a hit. He runs hard and that’s more important then being 250. Same with LT and Caddillac Williams. They may not be the biggest guys but I don’t see size being a huge factor in their ability to perform on the next level. Says here Reggie will put on 10 lbs anyway before the combine just to allay any fears. His vision is also uncanny as he found holes an also speedy White was not able to get through.
His flair for the dramatic: Against Washington State and UCLA last year he had punt returns that effectively ended any momentum those other teams had at home against SC. He just killed ASU with his second half runs. He was the ONLY difference in ND not having won a history altering win on Saturday. And I mean the ONLY reason. The bottom line was SC had Bush and ND didn’t. Ironically those were his last two choices when he committed out of high school.
His hands: Like LT and Faulk, Bush has the hands of a second tier NFL receiver. You could actually convert Bush into a receiver and I still think he would be a pro bowler. The Virginia Tech game to open the game last year was Exhibit A. He could easily catch a hundred balls as a running back if utilized properly. Look at what kind of weapon LT is.
His demeanor: This was the one factor that solidifys it for me. I knew all the other things about Reggie Bush but mentally he is on a different level then even the other top chices who will be available. Did you know before the sneak was ran that Lienert turned to Bush and asked him if it was a good idea? Did you also see that he was the reason the scored on that play is he leaned his 200 lb body so that Matt would have the momentum to get in? How about how contrite he was after the game after Zybikowski cheap shotted him (but rightfully so) as he slowed down to get into the end zone? He said something to the effect of that “I’m an upper classmen and that was bad leadership on my part”. Did you see him on kick returns pointing players into their designated spaces and counting the number of guys on the field? Did you also know that he was so overwhelmed due to the emotions and history in that stadium that he had to sit down when being interviwed directly after the game? This guy LOVES football and he will not be the type of player who gets money or status and then rests on his laurels.
So I could actually see a scenario where teams draft two players out of the SAME backfield ahead of him and regret it. I think White might have a Ronnie Brown rise in his status if he runs a sub 4.4 at the combine if he decides to leave. While Brown will be a good back, I think its safe to say that Miami made the wrong choice between Auburn running backs. And it could play out similarly in that I have already heard that NFL teams are worried about his size. SC could actually go 1-2-3 if the right things happen between now and the draft.
I’m hoping he does fall because Denny will draft the BPA and there has to be no debate that the player who fits that title in the entire draft is Bush. He won the Heisman on Saturday and he will be a franchise changer much like LT is for the Chargers. Think about the hype Vick got before the draft…as good as Vick is do you think San Diego regrets that at all. Even of they wouldn’t have gotten Brees I think they would still make that trade.
Lienert will get a lot of hype and he will be a good player IMO. But barring injury, Bush will a Hall of Famer the minute he steps on the field. And I don’t care if Arrington ends up running for 1000 yards this year, Shaun Alexander says he is dying to be a Cardinal this off season and Maroney, Lendale White, and D’angelo Williams are all available. Bush is the pick hands down.
Last edited:
my bad
