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Brian Westbrook vs Reggie Bush (1 Viewer)

Shiggy Shaol

Shiggy Shaol

Footballguy
Some random thoughts popped into my head last night as wifey controlled the TV with Dancing With The Stars:

Reggie Bush, based on all of his USC accomplishments and the fact that he does have freakish talents, gets a ton of hype. Teams gameplan around him, which helps out guys like McCallister, Colston, etc. All of us wonder what type of numbers the guy will put up when he's fully acclimated to the NFL game and his offensive coordinator learns how to most effectively use him.

So I was thinking - is Brian Westbrook "Reggie Bush" before Reggie Bush becomes "Reggie Bush" in the NFL? (read that slowly to understand my point)

The speed, the ability to cut and change directions and accelerate, the great hands, the game changing plays, etc. Westbrook has all this RIGHT NOW. Is he completely underappreciated? I'm not necessarily just talking about fantasy value here, PPR leagues or not. I'm just talking about what we're seeing Westbrook do on the field currently instead of what we FORESEE Reggie Bush doing eventually.

Last week's line for Westbrook against the Niners is a great example.

8 carries, 117 rush yards, 2 TD.

4 catches, 47 rec yards, 1 TD.

That's pretty sick. That's "Reggie Bush at USC" type sick, no? I mean - with Westbrook, it's pretty much just a question of staying healthy for extended periods. When he plays, he's pretty damn great.

Might Bush max out at Westbrook-level production? If he does, is Bush a huge disappointment? Most of us don't think that he will max out as a "Brian Westbrook", right? So if he exceeds that, what exactly will Bush do on a weekly basis?

I don't know - I found the whole comparison to be interesting and it made me think that we don't appreciate the things that Westbrook does enough. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

 
I hear you and I have some of the same questions. I actually think Tiki Barber is the original Reggie Bush so to speak.

 
I completely agree that Westbrook is an amazing athlete. He isn't typically deemed "elite", because he does a great majority of his damage on limited touches, which many people interpret as being "undpredicatble and inconsistent", when the truth is his per game numbers are outstanding, and also based on the perception that he's fragile. Typically he does not have high rushing numbers, but even that is a bit of a misconception, I think.

So with Bush, now, when people see him compared to Westbrook, it's a bit of a disappointment based on the perception of what Westbrook is. A shifty little back who breaks some long ones and catches a lot of balls, but isn't a true, powerful -runningback- like LT or SA. People are expecting Bush to be one of those guys, or, as I have viewed him as, a Marshall Faulk type back, which was more in the mold of LT or SA, at least in terms of perception. So far, however, Bush hasn't had much success running the ball, so the Westbrook comparison seems very valid. Personally I believe as he grows stronger and more experienced, his running between the tackles will improve. But as always, the team he is on will go a long way in dictating that as well. Westbrook does what he does in the confines of that offense, much as a Charlie Garner or a Warrick Dunn has done. If Bush is in an offense like the Eagles or Oakland was with Garner, I think he will be like those backs...which is to say if he doesn't have a crushing o-line or an offensive coordinator who wants to pound the ball, he will catch a ton of balls and try to round the corner a lot. If the Saints want to slide him up the gut, and mold their o-line in that mold, in that case I think he will be regarded as more all-dominating, fear-inducing player, more so than Westbrook.

 
I traded for Bush and during negotiations, the original owner commented "Bush will probably have a very Westbrook-esque type season. He won't get a ton of touches in the running game, but he'll be used plenty in the passing game, setting up mismatches." I agreed and still do, Westbrook's monster game vs. SF notwithstanding.

 
Shiggy Shaol said:
Some random thoughts popped into my head last night as wifey controlled the TV with Dancing With The Stars:Reggie Bush, based on all of his USC accomplishments and the fact that he does have freakish talents, gets a ton of hype. Teams gameplan around him, which helps out guys like McCallister, Colston, etc. All of us wonder what type of numbers the guy will put up when he's fully acclimated to the NFL game and his offensive coordinator learns how to most effectively use him. So I was thinking - is Brian Westbrook "Reggie Bush" before Reggie Bush becomes "Reggie Bush" in the NFL? (read that slowly to understand my point)The speed, the ability to cut and change directions and accelerate, the great hands, the game changing plays, etc. Westbrook has all this RIGHT NOW. Is he completely underappreciated? I'm not necessarily just talking about fantasy value here, PPR leagues or not. I'm just talking about what we're seeing Westbrook do on the field currently instead of what we FORESEE Reggie Bush doing eventually.Last week's line for Westbrook against the Niners is a great example.8 carries, 117 rush yards, 2 TD.4 catches, 47 rec yards, 1 TD.That's pretty sick. That's "Reggie Bush at USC" type sick, no? I mean - with Westbrook, it's pretty much just a question of staying healthy for extended periods. When he plays, he's pretty damn great.Might Bush max out at Westbrook-level production? If he does, is Bush a huge disappointment? Most of us don't think that he will max out as a "Brian Westbrook", right? So if he exceeds that, what exactly will Bush do on a weekly basis?I don't know - I found the whole comparison to be interesting and it made me think that we don't appreciate the things that Westbrook does enough. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.
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During the preseason with all the Reggie Bush hype I made the comparison to Westbrook and I said I wouldn't expect Reggie to put up Westbrook's Numbers this year, but he will be a Westbrook type of player. Maybe he becomes a "rich man's" Westbrook and maybe he becomes a "poor man's" Westbrook, but the comps are valid. You can see that Reggie still tries to bounce outside and while Reggie has more top speed I think Westbrook is still a guy who almost always makes the first guy miss and Reggie isn't there yet.Of course I was told that Westbrook was Bush's floor to which I said that wouldn't happen in year 1. They may be right, but Westbrook is a terrific player even if he won't keep up his #1 ranking in most scoring systems. If Bush is Westbrook he was a good pick if he is better it was a great pick
 
I think that Westbrook has developed into a much better back than anyone would have ever imagined coming out of Villanova.

I remeber the buzz during his rookie training camp, and my first thought was "how can he be that great if he only went to Villanova?"

Now, as far as total packages go, he's one of the NFL's top backs. I hesitate to put a number on that, but top ten, all-around, is without question.

I think Bush can also be a top ten back. He's small and quick, like Westbrook, and he's already shown to have great hands, like Westbrook.

Staying healthy has always been Westbrook's only downfall. It's too early to see if Bush has similar problems.

If both stay healthy, I could see Bush and Westbook both being in a lot of future Pro Bowl games together.

 
the only reason Westbrook isn't considered "elite" or "top 5" is because as soon as he gets going he always seems to go down. I find it hard to see Bush putting up the kind of numbers Westy produced last week any time soon.

Next season, maybe, but New Orleans still has a long way to go. I've yet to see Reggie come close to busting this "big one."

On a week to week basis though.. Bush is giving his PPR owners something to smile about as a #2 and that's about it.

I hope I'm wrong since I have him in 2 PPR's next to LT & LJ. ;)

 
JuniorNB said:
I think that Westbrook has developed into a much better back than anyone would have ever imagined coming out of Villanova.I remeber the buzz during his rookie training camp, and my first thought was "how can he be that great if he only went to Villanova?"Now, as far as total packages go, he's one of the NFL's top backs. I hesitate to put a number on that, but top ten, all-around, is without question.I think Bush can also be a top ten back. He's small and quick, like Westbrook, and he's already shown to have great hands, like Westbrook.Staying healthy has always been Westbrook's only downfall. It's too early to see if Bush has similar problems. If both stay healthy, I could see Bush and Westbook both being in a lot of future Pro Bowl games together.
Click to expand...
agreed, it's not always big hype/school guys that make it in the NFL anymore.
 
I think if you put Westbrook in a Saints #25 jersey and he did his thing, it would be difficult to tell the difference. Aside from the 3 inch height differential, of course.

Bush very well may be The Next Huge Thing but Westbrook is quietly being something similar to what we want/expect Bush to be.

 
One said:
the only reason Westbrook isn't considered "elite" or "top 5" is because as soon as he gets going he always seems to go down. I find it hard to see Bush putting up the kind of numbers Westy produced last week any time soon. Next season, maybe, but New Orleans still has a long way to go. I've yet to see Reggie come close to busting this "big one."
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Respectfully disagree. I've seen Bush come close to breaking a few big plays already if it weren't for some shoestring type tackles.Bush is already a decent RB2 week to week in PPR leagues and has the potential to break out with the type of game Westbrook just had any week now. He's going to break a long one sooner rather than later and when he does his day will be much better than an RB2.
 
Shiggy Shaol said:
Some random thoughts popped into my head last night as wifey controlled the TV with Dancing With The Stars:
Click to expand...
I stopped reading after the first sentence. You need to man-up and take back the remote.
 
btw, remember how for years Tiki Barber was underrated by the public but us FF geeks knew about him. And now everyone realizes how great he is.....the same thing will happen to BW. Hes a great player, and if Reggie turns out like him that won't be that much of a disappointment imo. I do, like I said, think that he has even higher upside than that though.

 
salmonstud said:
Shiggy Shaol said:
Some random thoughts popped into my head last night as wifey controlled the TV with Dancing With The Stars:
Click to expand...
I stopped reading after the first sentence. You need to man-up and take back the remote.
Click to expand...
Wednesday at 8pm Eastern - there's nothing on TV that I particularly care to watch. I have noticed that the ladies are pretty damn hot on the show, though. Plus, Emmitt Smith. Which is funny.OK, back to the Westbrook/Bush comparison.
 
The difference is that Westbrook has proven that he's a legit starting rb in the NFL while Reggie Bush has been mostly hype and may never be a full time back(as it stands, he's not even the best rb on his team).

 
Assani Fisher said:
I think Reggie's upisde is more like Marshall Faulk or Priest Holmes.
Click to expand...
The Reggie Bush hype is out of control. Bush will never score the 20+ TD's that Faulk or Holmes did in their prime. He is an electric player to watch...but from a FF perspective won't hold a candle to either of those players at the pinnacle of their careers.
 
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Reggie Bush is currently the #19 RB in the NFL in yards from scrimmage and the #27 overall player in yards from scrimmage.

Considering the fact that he is splitting time with another RB (actually getting fewer carries), I don't think there's any question that he has lived up to the hype.

I don't know how you define "best RB on your team", but so far Reggie Bush has been the most productive RB on the team (Deuce McAllister is ranked 20/28 - fewer yards from scrimmage this year).

The ONLY thing that he isn't doing yet is scoring TD's. Those will come, though.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?s...2&year=2006

 
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one thing I'm wondering is how many touches Westy will get. IMO, you can't rely on the ridiculous production he's been giving recently.

he had 8 carries last week? how many owuld you guys expect from here on out?

 
hollaatyaboy said:
one thing I'm wondering is how many touches Westy will get. IMO, you can't rely on the ridiculous production he's been giving recently. he had 8 carries last week? how many owuld you guys expect from here on out?
Click to expand...
I think the simple answer is... He will get as many touches as the eagles need to win the game... Last week there was no reason to give him 20 touches as the game was in hand, but if they are behind or in a dogfight he is going to see the ball... Situation dictates workload.
 
GDogg said:
gman8343 said:
dawgtrails said:
Skinsfansince72 said:
The difference is that Westbrook has proven that he's a legit starting rb in the NFL while Reggie Bush has been mostly hype and may never be a full time back(as it stands, he's not even the best rb on his team).
Click to expand...
McCallister-58 touches-255ydsBush-53 touches-264yds
Click to expand...
McCallister - 2 TDsBush - 0

:mellow:
Click to expand...
Jacobs - 1 TDBarber - 0

This is a fun game.
Click to expand...
David Tyree - 1Randy Moss - 0

This game is fun.

 
GDogg said:
gman8343 said:
dawgtrails said:
Skinsfansince72 said:
The difference is that Westbrook has proven that he's a legit starting rb in the NFL while Reggie Bush has been mostly hype and may never be a full time back(as it stands, he's not even the best rb on his team).
Click to expand...
McCallister-58 touches-255ydsBush-53 touches-264yds
Click to expand...
McCallister - 2 TDsBush - 0

:mellow:
Click to expand...
Jacobs - 1 TDBarber - 0

This is a fun game.
Click to expand...
:shrug: wouldn't you consider TDs a part of a RBs production? McCallister has proven just a tad more in this league than Brandon Jacobs, so I don't think the analogy applies.

Not that I'm saying Deuce is better than Bush, just that he's at least as productive when you factor in TDs.

 
My point in this thread wasn't to compare fantasy values. Obviously, the thread can veer off into many different topics but my intention was to pretty much say - Brian Westbrook could right now be the player we expect Reggie Bush to be. The guy is dynamic, to put it simply.

Now we know he's not being treated as a 20 carry a week running back but we don't know if Bush can or will be that guy either. Just looking at last year at USC, Bush averaged 15 carries per game, a bit less than 3 catches, and a bit over 3 kick returns.

Bush 2005 USC Stats

So how much more could Bush wind up doing down the road if he gets the same touches Westbrook gets?

Sorry for repeating myself. Carry on, boys.

 
If/when Bush learns how to read those inside blocks at NFL speed, he could have a similar rushing ability as Tatum Bell. Add in a potential for a Santana Moss like receiving ability and its a mighty combo.

Right now when Reggie finds an inside hole and hits it, he moves thru the hole faster then any plater I can remember. He almost seems to move to fast. Maybe he needs to take a step off to read the line, and wait till he is in the secondary to go full rockets. He also needs to not dance behind the line of scrimmage. Save that stuff for the open field.

 
Shiggy Shaol said:
Some random thoughts popped into my head last night as wifey controlled the TV with Dancing With The Stars:
Click to expand...
I think you should watch that show with your wife more often.Good thoughts.If Bush puts up Westbrook stats, he'd be considered a success.
 
The one major difference between the two will be money earned over career. Even if Reggie's career ends now he'll have earned more...

 
dawgtrails said:
Skinsfansince72 said:
The difference is that Westbrook has proven that he's a legit starting rb in the NFL while Reggie Bush has been mostly hype and may never be a full time back(as it stands, he's not even the best rb on his team).
Click to expand...
McCallister-58 touches-255ydsBush-53 touches-264yds
Click to expand...
McCallister - 4.1 yards per rush, 7.4 yards per reception, 2 TDsBush - 3.7 yards per rush, 7.3 yards per reception, 0 TDs

when you consider the short yardage runs hurting McCallister's ypr average, your comparison falls short.

:mellow:

 
jimweldy said:
dawgtrails said:
Skinsfansince72 said:
The difference is that Westbrook has proven that he's a legit starting rb in the NFL while Reggie Bush has been mostly hype and may never be a full time back(as it stands, he's not even the best rb on his team).
Click to expand...
McCallister-58 touches-255ydsBush-53 touches-264yds
Click to expand...
McCallister - 4.1 yards per rush, 7.4 yards per reception, 2 TDsBush - 3.7 yards per rush, 7.3 yards per reception, 0 TDs

when you consider the short yardage runs hurting McCallister's ypr average, your comparison falls short.

:mellow:
Click to expand...
Preach it brother... Reggie has underperformed Deuce up to this point. Every time I saw a great run on Monday night against the Falcons, it was Deuce not Reggie.
 
jimweldy said:
dawgtrails said:
Skinsfansince72 said:
The difference is that Westbrook has proven that he's a legit starting rb in the NFL while Reggie Bush has been mostly hype and may never be a full time back(as it stands, he's not even the best rb on his team).
Click to expand...
McCallister-58 touches-255ydsBush-53 touches-264yds
Click to expand...
McCallister - 4.1 yards per rush, 7.4 yards per reception, 2 TDsBush - 3.7 yards per rush, 7.3 yards per reception, 0 TDs

when you consider the short yardage runs hurting McCallister's ypr average, your comparison falls short.

:mellow:
Click to expand...
If we are going to disount the short yardage runs because they hurt McCalister's average, shouldn't we also take away 1 of his TDs///which as you proably know was from the 2 yard-line.You can't go cherry picking stats. Every back has short yardage runs that hurt his ypc. Even Reggie Bush.

I don't know how anyone who has watched the Saints play can think that Deuce is better than Bush.

 
Reggie Bush compared to Westbrook is a good comparison. Neither will be a 25 carry guy but 15 carries and and a couple receptions is good for both. Reggie Bush is good but please let's not compare him to Marshall Faulk until he is the clear number one option on his team. Faulk to me was better in college on a worse overall team and played against teams designed to stop him on 1st 2nd and 3rd downs. Bush is good but I only compare him to Westbrook for now.

 
Preface #1 - I'm not one to bump my own threads.

Preface #2 - yeah, the Lion defense appears to be horrendous.

My statement - it's been a year since I put this thread out there and I'm concluding now that Brian Westbrook is what Reggie Bush aspires to be. :thumbup: :lmao:

Tell me one other RB in the NFL that you have more fun watching? The man is incredible, quick, decisive, and STRONGER than many give him credit for. A good portion of his highlight film plays are setup not by a cut or juke but by maintaining balance after a hit.

Westbrook rules. I'll put up with his "questionable" knee all year ever year. If Bush becomes "Westbrook Pt 2" he will have lived up to all of his hype.

 
I'm rooting for Reggie Bush (have him on my dynasty team) but so far the guy has been an overhyped Eric Metcalf. I can only hope he puts up Brian Westbrook numbers....

 
Shiggy Shaol said:
Preface #1 - I'm not one to bump my own threads.Preface #2 - yeah, the Lion defense appears to be horrendous.My statement - it's been a year since I put this thread out there and I'm concluding now that Brian Westbrook is what Reggie Bush aspires to be. :confused: :confused: Tell me one other RB in the NFL that you have more fun watching? The man is incredible, quick, decisive, and STRONGER than many give him credit for. A good portion of his highlight film plays are setup not by a cut or juke but by maintaining balance after a hit.Westbrook rules. I'll put up with his "questionable" knee all year ever year. If Bush becomes "Westbrook Pt 2" he will have lived up to all of his hype.
Click to expand...
The most underrated thing about Westbrook is that he can break tackles, and he runsinside pretty well for a shiftier runner. Last year it became apparent who the best offensive player on the Eagles was an westbrook caried them.
 
Bush is a better physical talent than Westbrook. Westbrook doesn’t have great top-end speed, but he is very elusive and has good acceleration. Whereas Bush has the elusiveness combined with top-end speed. Then why does Bush not have the same numbers as Westbrook? Vision. When you watch Bush run the ball, he doesn’t wait for his blocks to setup, taking away his ability cut between the blocks. When you watch Westbrook run, he is very patient and weaves between his blocks and rarly takes a hit straight on. Right now, Bush isn’t even in the same league as Westbrook because of vision. When Bush learns some patience, he’ll be pretty scary.

Just my $0.02

 
mo542 said:
Bush is a better physical talent than Westbrook. Westbrook doesn’t have great top-end speed, but he is very elusive and has good acceleration. Whereas Bush has the elusiveness combined with top-end speed. Then why does Bush not have the same numbers as Westbrook? Vision. When you watch Bush run the ball, he doesn’t wait for his blocks to setup, taking away his ability cut between the blocks. When you watch Westbrook run, he is very patient and weaves between his blocks and rarly takes a hit straight on. Right now, Bush isn’t even in the same league as Westbrook because of vision. When Bush learns some patience, he’ll be pretty scary. Just my $0.02
Click to expand...
I agree with this assessment, however Bush also seems to get tripped up very easily. Westbrook does not.
 
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