Month: January 2006 (Page 9 of 14)

Bush, Leinart, Young.

Bush, Young, Leinart.

Young, Bush, Leinart.

Or does someone else jump into the top-three? Things are going to change so much in the months leading up to the draft, but it’s still fun to talk about this stuff in January. Bush just announced he’s going pro, Young did the same last week. Oh, and Marcus Vick announced his intentions too. Then he waved a gun at a bunch of teenagers at McDonalds.

Here’s the thing: I’m not sold on Bush or Young. Yeah, call me crazy. All of a sudden, Young is this once-in-a-lifetime talent, one of the best college QBs ever, and some people say the Texans would be crazy to pass him up with the top pick. People compare him to Michael Vick, which sounds about right, only I can’t figure out if that’s good or bad. Some would say it’s good, but those of us who refuse to be hypnotized by all the highlight reels tend to say it’s not so good. Ron Mexico doesn’t have it figured out yet, so how is being the Next Michael Vick necessarily a good thing?

As for Bush, I’ve gone into more detail here, but I guess my first question would be, how is someone worthy of the first overall pick if you’ve got to then formulate a plan to make him an effective NFL back? He’s Brian Westbrook, only better. Would you take Brian Westbrook with the first pick of the draft?

And then there’s Leinart. His plan didn’t work: not only is he not the first pick, he’s not the reigning National Champ. Still, is he the pick? Look at Carson Palmer. Hell, look at Eli Manning. They each had a rough introduction to the NFL playoffs, for sure, but there aren’t many teams in football that wouldn’t love to have one of those guys as their starting QB. In three years, Bush may be Eric Metcalf and Young could be Akili Smith (or even Michael Vick), but maybe Leinart’s up there with Palmer, Eli and McNabb. Peyton Manning, even?

Confirming what everyone already believed to be true, Reggie Bush announced Thursday that he will turn pro.

Most people think he’s a lock for the first pick. I just don’t see it. I know he’s explosive, I know he can beat you in so many different ways, but I also know that he’s listed at 6-0 and 200 pounds, and I’m pretty sure those numbers are a tad liberal. Can he withstand the pounding that an everyday NFL back takes? Can he give you 20-25 carries a game? That’s highly doubtful.

The best comparisons I’ve heard so far are to Philly back Brian Westbrook. Westbrook is a very good player and, in the right situations, he’s also very dangerous. But remember all the talk about the Eagles’ lack of a running game? Donovan McNabb threw the ball so much because Westbrook just isn’t an every-down back. So what makes people think Bush can be? Granted, he’s a better player than Westbrook but they’re still the same type of player, and Westbrook’s struggles offer a sobering preview of what may await Bush in the NFL.

Whoever drafts Bush will figure out ways to best utilize his talent in the NFL, but that comment alone should raise the question: Is Bush really the best player available in the draft? Seems to me if you’re taking someone with the first overall pick, you shouldn’t then have to devise some sort of plan to make him effective.