A Catch-22

After a promising start, Reggie Bush has fallen back to Earth

(AP Photo)

By Michael Quagliana

It’s hard to believe that Reggie Bush has been in the NFL for seven years now. It seems like it was just yesterday that Bush was suiting up for the USC Trojans, hoisting the Heisman trophy, leading his team to the national championship game, and generating more buzz than any college running back in the last decade.

Well, Bush is now six years removed from his days in SoCal, and more importantly, six years removed from consistent production at the running back position.

Bush was selected second overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. In his five-year stint with New Orleans, Bush averaged fewer than four yards a rush, never surpassed more than 600 rushing yards in one season, and perhaps most shockingly, only posted two runs of over 30 yards. The former star slowly went from bust to afterthought.

In 2011, the Dolphins acquired Bush from the Saints. In his first season with the team, Bush rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. He did the most of his damage in December, ending the season with four straight games of over 100 rushing yards.

In early 2012, Bush picked up right where he left off. In Week 2 he had his best game as a pro, rushing for 172 yards and two scores at home against Oakland. Through the first three weeks of the season Bush was averaging over six yards a rush.

Just when it appeared safe to say Bush had finally found his knack in the NFL, he took another step back. In the last seven weeks Bush has averaged just 3.2 yards a rush, and hasn’t recorded more than 70 yards on the ground in any game. Games like his 12 rushes, 17 yards output in Week 6 against St. Louis won’t cut it as a starter.

Even as a Saint, Bush has provided glimpses of his old self. Once or twice a season he would make the highlight reel with a play on special teams or a screen pass, using his elusiveness to sneak past impending tacklers and exerting his lightning fast speed to break out into the open field. He can still cut back, stop on a dime, and accelerate faster than most backs in the league. The jukes and the flashy moves certainly are fun to watch, but don’t always pay dividends.

The good news for Bush is that his talent isn’t going anywhere. The bad news is that after seven years in the NFL there is still a cloud of doubt on whether he can get it done. He is in the final year of his contract with the Dolphins. In all likelihood the Dolphins will attempt to resign Bush, but that doesn’t mean his starting spot is secure. Second year back Daniel Thomas out of Kansas State has already been pirating touches from Bush this season. If Bush keeps up his dwindling production, Miami will grow impatient.

It’s been seven years. Seven long years. The time is running out for Bush to make his mark.