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New coaches have a job ahead of them with Reggie Bush
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Reggie Bush has struggled as a running back thus far in the NFL
This off-season, the New Orleans Saints added a new running backs coach in Brett Ingalls, who comes in replacing Aaron Kromer. Kromer was promoted to offensive line coach and running game coordinator. Both of these men have the daunting task to do something not done the past three seasons: to make Reggie Bush into a reliable and effective running back.
Bush has only once rushed for over 100 yards in a game, way back in the 2006 season against the New York Giants. He has only rushed for over two touchdowns only twice, a three touchdown game against the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 and a two touchdown game against the Tennessee Titians in 2007. Last season, Bush rushed for only two touchdowns.
Granted, Bush has been hampered by injuries the past two seasons, but his numbers should be improving in the games he plays. But if you average out what he did last season, he would have finished around 646 yards on about 170 carries for a 3.8 yards average per carry. This number is close to his 3.8 yards a carry average for his career.
The 2007 season was his best running the ball, finishing with 581 yards on 157 carries for a 3.7 average per carry in 12 games. Those numbers would put him at 775 yards on 209 carries for 16 games, all of which would have been made for an impressive sophomore campaign. However, his per game average was still below 50 yards a game, an average which he has not yet achieved.
Bush has continually not learned to move north and south, not dancing around the backfield before making positive yards. If he can learn to be patient, look for holes, and follow his blockers, perhaps he can become more effective. Bush needs to watch tapes of Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, Brian Westbrook, and LaDainian Tomlinson. He has to learn by watching, because he has not learned by doing so far.
Some people just simply argue that Bush is a multi-use back, who can receive as well as run the ball and that should explain his lackluster rushing stats. But in 38 games played, he has amassed over 100 yards receiving three times, once last season and in back to back games in 2006. His stats maybe a good set up for a team if he was a lower paid, backup running back, which came in as a change of pace player. Unfortunately, he is making second overall pick money and is a popular face around the league.
Hopefully, new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Jr., who came in to replace the newly named Syracuse University coach Doug Marrone, can install some running plays designed for Bush in mind. Tailor-made plays could give Bush a confidence in his running skills and have him build off of his progress.
Saints fans remember though, despite the coaching change at offensive coordinator, it will still be head coach Sean Payton that calls the plays.
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