Reggie Bush, post-Deuce Era (1 Viewer)

[PainTrain]

Last week's Saints game against Carolina was an intriguing preview of how Reggie Bush might be able to handle being the main back, with Deuce out. Bush went to the locker room at halftime with 10 carries for 55 yards. A good 5.5 YPC clip that should have him at least near 100 yards by game's end. However, in the second half he got 11 carries for 12 yards. 1.1 YPC (on 11 carries!) if you round up.

Raises the question, "Can he perform at a high level for all four quarters?"

So tonight we saw:

FIRST HALF

9-88 rushing, 5-42 receiving

8.8 YPC / 8.4 YPR

(14 touches for 126 yards)

SECOND HALF

8-8 rushing, 2-2 receiving, 1 Fumble

1 YPC / 1 YPR

(10 touches for 10 yards)

This means that since Deuce's injury:

FIRST HALF (quarters 1 & 2)

19-143 (7.53 YPC)

SECOND HALF (quarters 3 & 4)

19-20 (1.05 YPC)

Two games may not make a trend, but do you call this a coincidence? It feeds straight into my fear that Bush is a guy who has never been the sole runner on a team, and as his carries go north, his production goes south.

I don't have the first half numbers for receptions, so I'll omit them, neither performance was gaudy by game's end though. Just curious if anyone thinks there might be something to this trend, and that the Saints will need someone to wrest the full-time gig away from Reggie to keep their running game effective.

 

[PainTrain]

Still worried about Reggie in the second half, and as such his ability to be the sole back in NO moving forward. Though he was better on Sunday, he was more effective in the first half again. In the first half, 5 of 8 carries were for three or more yards. In the second half, 3 of 9, with those 3-yards-or-better carries being for 3, 4, and 7.

FIRST HALF

Rushing: 8-30 (3.75 YPC); Carries: 9 3 8 2 1 4 3 0

Receiving: 2-5 (2.5 YPR); Receptions: (4) (1)

3 carries for two yards or less (included short first down)

additional carries for 3, 4, 8, 9

SECOND HALF

Rushing: 9-24 (2.6 YPC); Carries 1 1 3 -1 4 7 1 2 2

Receiving: 3-14 (4.6 YPR) and a TD; Receptions: (inc.) (2) (8) (4TD) [2pt]

6 carries for two yards or less, plus carries for 3, 4 and 7

The YPC look close, but 37.5% of 8 carries ineffective (for 2 yards or less) in the first half v. 66.7% of 9 ineffective in the second half seems more telling, and is consistent with the drop off we've seen since Deuce went out.

As a Bush owner in a one keeper league, I want to believe he'll arrive soon, but he looks like a guy who has never been the sole back , and I'm afraid that may be his most effective role in the future.

EDIT TO ADD: rushing totals by half, since Deuce's injury:

FIRST HALF (quarters 1 & 2)

27-173 (6.4 YPC)

SECOND HALF (quarters 3 & 4)

28-44 (1.57 YPC)

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

What I've noticed is the Saints tend to get away from what's working in an effort to "fool" the defense. I think S Payton has a bit of a complex and when it comes to play calling, he's out to prove that he's one of the best. I think Payton's comments this week, the fact that Bush scored in the 4th quarter, and the fact they gave the carries to Bush on the last drive to clinch the game bodes well for his future in the 2nd half of games.

"Reggie Bush is starting to find his niche as a running back and he is starting to get more carries," Payton said.

3-4-ATL 4 (5:11) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 25-R.Bush rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.

New Orleans Saints at 01:48 1-10-NO 10 (1:48) 25-R.Bush right guard to NO 14 for 4 yards (56-K.Brooking). Timeout #1 by ATL at 01:44. 2-6-NO 14 (1:44) 25-R.Bush right end to NO 21 for 7 yards (55-J.Abraham). Timeout #2 by ATL at 01:36. 1-10-NO 21 (1:36) 25-R.Bush right guard to NO 22 for 1 yard (98-J.Anderson). Timeout #3 by ATL at 01:31. 2-9-NO 22 (1:31) 25-R.Bush left tackle to NO 24 for 2 yards (56-K.Brooking). Timeout #3 by NO at 00:46. 3-7-NO 24 46) 25-R.Bush right guard to NO 26 for 2 yards (90-G.Jackson).