Maybe Reggie Bush to the Texans Isn't a Slam Dunk

According to Peter King, the Texans aren't sold on Reggie Bush. Or at least that is what Charlie Casserly, the Houston GM, has told King. or at least that is the Texans negotiating ploy.

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"There's been no guarantee that we'll take Bush,'' Casserly told me. "We're wide
open. We're wide open for trades for the pick. The way I see it, here are our
options. Keep David Carr and take Reggie Bush. Keep David Carr and draft Vince
Young. Take Vince Young and see what we can get in trade for David Carr. And
trade down. We're going to visit with people at Indianapolis and take our time.
Nothing will get done, I wouldn't think, until the week before the
draft.''

I think it is a little better to just go with the flow on this and see if you can get a talent like Bush wrapped up before the draft. I also don't want to hear the bull about Bush being durable enough. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Peter King says: "My biggest question about Bush has been -- and continues to be
-- this: Can he be an every-down player in the NFL? This is a guy who rushed
more than 20 times twice in a three-year USC career, and who, playing at around
198 pounds, will have massive durability questions in the
NFL."

"It's the same question we're asking ourselves internally,
quite frankly,'' said Casserly. "He didn't do it in college, and you don't know
if he can do it in the NFL."

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. I hope you are just blowing smoke up someone's bloomers. I think the guy is Cadillac Williams, only better. I think he is Clinton Portis, only faster. I think he is Marshall Faulk. Reggie Bush is about Marshall Faulk. And with the way that teams pass the ball, Bush doesn't have to carry it 20 times a game between the tackles every game. Just some games. And Bush has always looked plenty tough to me.


Let's take a look at the top running backs in the NFL draft for the last several years.

2005

Ronnie Brown, No. 2 overall, Miami: Looked pretty damned good his rookie year. Split carries with Ricky Williams toward middle and end of year. Hopefully didn't split brownies with Williams.

Cedric Benson, No. 4, Chicago: Held out. Couldn't win starting job from former No. 7 overall pick Thomas Jones.

Carnell Cadillac Williams, No. 5, Tampa Bay: Was the top rookie running back last season, and won several honors as offensive rookie of the year.

J.J. Arrington, No. 44, Arizona: Was it JJ's lack of burst or an offense-wide problem with Arizona not being able to run the ball? Arrington didn't look very good his rookie year.

2004

Steven Jackson, No. 24, Rams: Was good enough to take Marshall Faulk's starting job away. With the Rams moving away from a pass-drunk offense, Jackson may move to being a top NFL running back. Big and fast, Jackson needs to continue working on his game.

Chris Perry, No. 26, Cincinnati: Was slated as a second-rounder. Missed most of his rookie year with an injury, but was productive as a sophomore as a third-down back. Showed a surprising burst.

Kevin Jones, No. 30, Detroit: Looked better as a rookie than last year, though he had to battle some injury woes as a sophomore. May be getting the ball a lot as the Lions move away from the San Fran West Coast offense.

Tatum Bell, No. 41, Denver: Is a part-time starter. Very, very fast, and looks like he can be productive in the Denver system.

Julius Jones, No. 43, Dallas: There are times that Julius looks like the best back in this class. He is powerfully built, can read his blockers, and shows a nice burst with some breakaway speed.


2003

Willis McGahee, No. 23, Buffalo: Sat out a redshirt year as a rookie because of injury. There are times that McGahee looks like a top-5 back in the NFL. There are times that he doesn't. Has all the tools, and still may put them together.

Larry Johnson, No. 27, Kansas City: Looked a little like a bust after his first season and a half. There was some talk about KC giving up on him and moving on before last year. I'll be they are glad they didn't. Had one of the best half a seasons in football history the last half of 2005. He gained 1,351 yards in the last nine games of the season, with 16 rushing touchdowns. He is one of the top three backs in football right now.