Bush has been pretty consistent at fumbling. But I think the opposite, Peyton is doing what he can to keep him. He can’t run him near as often since Bell & Thomas are doing such a great job. So if he can’t get him involved by running (even though when he does he fumbles at the very worst time) then he has to put him returning punts where he will hopefully return one for a td. Why else wouldn’t you play Rod Harper who returned 2 in the preseason then never even had a chance since? He has to find a way to keep Bush even though I think he is doing it the wrong way. I think the same thing, where are the reverses & the fake reverses that had defenses all screwed up. When he gets a shot at playing slot receiver he produces then gets pulled. I think the only time Bush should run between the tackles is in the 4th quarter once Bell & Thomas wear down the D, then Bush should have a chance to break a few long ones.

I am glad Reggie is on this team and I want to see him stay and be utilized ( at least for this season and then I’ll evaluate) but when a team is 4-0, you know what needs to change ?? NOTHING!! The NFL is so damn competitive- if you don’t believe me ask Booby Hebert or Archie Manning, Mario Bates, Pat Swilling, Sam Mills, Steve Gleason, Eric Martin, Jim Dombrowski and others. They would chew off their left arm to be on this team. You want to change what Payton did? It might backfire. Reggie could possibly be leading the NFL in rushing yards because he got more touches- AND THE SAINTS MIGHT BE 2-2 at the bye!!! Careful what you wish for – if Reggie is a bonafide NFL nstar as you think he is and I do as well, his time will come- winners and champions don’t remain in the background for long. They overcome and rise to the top. It’s not the coach, the offensive line, the media, the fans- none of that. It’s has to do with REGGIE. If it’s meant to be that he will shine, he will shine. But, right now the Saints are shining. Don’t take that away from them because you want to see Reggie front and center. Last 2 games, Drew didn’t get the headlines, and he’s ok with that and so are his fans. Because it’s not about Drew. It’s about the Saints. THE SAINTS. And I am sure as this season progresses, Reggie’s role will become apparent and his contributions will be evident. But it won’t be like USC where it will be his team and every headline will about him.
Different place and different time. But, when this season ends, EVERY SAINTS FAN will be happy Reggie was on this roster this season.

I’m not the only one that thinks this…I’m just calling it like I see it, I just have a feeling dude won’t be here next year…

they are trying to keep him healthy for later in the season. I don’t know if he is going to be the “superstar” he was/is suppose to be, I hope so and it’s possible, but I think he’ll start getting more touches as the season rolls on. As far as him still being here, who knows? If we win he will probably stay. If we don’t, it’s definitely possible he won’t be with us anymore. Lets just pull for scenerio A.

It could be that he’s not totally 100% despite what they’ve been saying. Maybe they are trying to limit him a bit and ease him back into things following the surgery. He had gotten progressively more opportunities each week. Last week he didn’t see as many touches, but he did see as many plays. I’ll be interested to see what happens after the bye week with him, PT and Bell all in the line-up. What I envision is for Bush to see just as many touches and opportunities as he has been, and Bell and PT splitting the remainder. I did notice that Bush is in for a majority of 3rd downs, which shows he is an asset to the passing game.

Only because you used the phrase “Red Cheese”.

I’ve always felt that Sean Payton’s major failing as a coach is that he’s slow to catch on with how to use some of his weapons effectively. It took him way too long to realize what he had in PT, and now that PT is well and busted out he’s starting to relegate Bush to the background. There is room for both of those guys in a good game plan.

Honestly, keeping Thomas and Bell and getting rid of Bush makes about zero sense because Bell isn’t a pass-catching, play-busting type of player. Bush needs to get more touches, such as passes underneath the coverage, to keep defense honest and open up the long pass. He’s a threat to take one of those short passes or carries to the outside to the house at any time. He should not, however, cut too deeply into Thomas’s carries, but the dude is a beast and your true featured back. Bush is not going to bulldoze his way through the middle for that needed yard all that often. Effective use of those two as a tandem can only help you guys when teams take away the pass, which is something every team from here on out is going to attempt.

Just my utterly worthless two cents.

I wonder when we’ll see the elusive “perfect game plan” for Reggie. I think it must include 17 touches(15 definitely too few, 20 may be too many), 10 of which occur in the second half, with a near equal distribution of handoffs, slot receptions, and screens/wheels. Also, no other back can have more than 17 touches(unless it’s a total blowout, and you’re just trying to drain the clock), as this could hinder his perceived importance to the game plan. The strategy for any particular opponent should not factor into this formula at all. And he must return all punts, as his yards per return average in 2009 should take a back seat to his total touchdowns from returns in 2008.

Not to go out on a limb too far, but maybe this is the perfect plan for Reggie. His ypa average is way up, his “decoy” value is arguably still intact(see fake toss on Colston TD @Philadelphia), and his fumbles, while individually costly, are, as a whole, at a reasonable number. He’s getting the call on screen passes, he just hasn’t caught all of them. I’m sure they’ll work that glitch out shortly. And there doesn’t seem to be any concern on Airline about his abysmal PR average, so he’s a lock for that. Most important, he hasn’t limped off the field yet.

I would say that, for him, the only concern he should have is a not-strictly-football one: he costs too much. He owns a unique dimension of the Saints’ offense, without question, but maybe he just needs to be getting Darren Sproles or Felix Jones-type money, next time that’s an issue to address. I would think if he left the team after this season, he and the Saints are bound to take a big hit in the investment. We’ll never get a 1st round pick for this production, and I can’t see any team wanting to invest as much money in him as he got with his Heisman. It’s not a sleight on his talent. It’s just a reality that other teams have realized that they can synthesize his efficacy with a similar, if a little slower and a lot cheaper player, and a similar playcalling package.

I am like you and like Reggie and his abilities that he has shown he is capable of. I also like every other player on the team and the WHOLE team. That is the big picture in fact. The team is more important than one player. The results are more important than one player. As a coach, it is your job to take a player who is having problems and help, I repeat, HELP him correct it. A coach can only do so much. A player has to take what he is being taught and apply it consistently. If that player is not then you are forced to loose confidence in him. I don’t think Payton has lost confidence in Reggie just as I’m sure you have not nor have I; but if he is turning the ball over, then he in fact hurts the team as a whole and affects the team as a whole. As a coach you can not risk that. Not if you want to win. I promise you this, if we were 2-2 or 0-4 people would be hating on Bush a lot more and not questioning why he is seemingly not in the game more. If Pierre turned the ball over or Bell turned it over and was not having a consistent positive effect, then we would all feel like they need to come out of the game in exchange for someone else being given the chance. I do really like the fact that Payton is seeming to use each running back eligible for each game in that game. It is a smart move. Think about it, last year, we were hurting in the run game. Injuries were a big part of that. 16 games are a long season and injuries will happen if a running back is in each game and used on every down. Switching it up and using a running back by committee will certainly help keep the injuries down, will switch things up for the defense we are facing, and will ensure fresh legs in the back field come the latter part of the games and season. These are all positives in my opinion. If Reggie needs more consistent touches in a game to stay or better yet get into rhythm then that is something he will have to over come to be a productive part of this offense. Sending him 20-30-40 yards down field I don’t think is a good plan. Maybe every so often to switch things up but we have plenty and I mean plenty of very good receivers who can do the same thing. Reggie is quick and fast and those are his bread and butter. Payton is actually a very good offensive play caller and he knows that to. He will put Reggie in those plays where he will have the opportunities to play towards those strengths. It’s up to Reggie to make the most out of it. I just think that when he is giving those opportunities lately, he is pressing way to hard trying to make those big plays and not taking what he can get. Defenses in the NFL are good. If you can only get 5 or 10 yards tops out of you situation, then take it. Don’t over play it to the point where you will make a mistake (fumble). Being smart is being good and productive in my opinion. All three running backs, Thomas, Bell, and Reggie have their styles and strengths and are all different types of runners. But all of them have to play smart and only do what they possibly can with what they are given by defenses. On punt returns if Reggie only gets 5-10-15 positive yards based on the coverage then so be it. That is smart football. Turning the ball over trying to take one to the house will only hurt the team. Those opportunities will come when the coverage dictates it. If the coverage makes it impossible to take it to the house, then use your strengths and skills to only take what you can get and hold onto the football. That is being smart and productive. If Reggie is in there and seems to be in rhythm and is running the ball well, then I promise you Payton will stick with that hot steak. This is obvious as he has shown that with Bell or Thomas getting more carries a game when they are doing just that. Reggie will have that same opportunity when he gets into a game and gets on a hot streak running the ball consistently and positively but that all starts with the first couple of touches. For the most part he hasn’t done that during those first couple of touches. All in all what it boils down to is winning football games and what you do to contribute to that, or in certain cases what you do that hinders winning. I know that Payton will coach and call plays based on those results.

the decoy attribute on Madden ‘10. Reggie’s rated a 98, just below Gavin Grey. Nice to see the guys at EA Sports dabbling in the fantasy realm for a change.

Keep losing with the D. They need to update the roster’s a lil’ Sharper is getting more picks though.

I agree that he may be a gone pecan soon. It just seems to me that Payton is getting frustrated with him, AND I think Reggie’s even more hard on himself and more frustrated about this than any of us.

I just think he could get sick of being here, as much as Payton might get sick of him not being as good as Payton wants him to be.

And I just cringe every time I see Payton yelling something nasty at a player after they’ve screwed up. I just don’t see how that can help someone to do better next time. Try to figure out what went wrong, and correct it for next time. Also, make sure there’s another ‘next time’ really quickly.

I also don’t think fans should ever boo their own players/team/coaches – it’s demoralizing and embarrassing, and I think it gives a boost/competitive advantage to the other team. Boo the ref, boo the other team, but don’t heap derision and disgust on your own team…you should give the team your verbal support and encouragement to feed them and help them do better.

and booing are two different things but i get your point. I don’t think you boo your own players unless he’s just dropping the ball consistently…

Yeah, I know the Ricky situation turned out good for us in the end when we enjoyed years of Deuce and Ricky enjoyed years of getting high outside of the NFL, but I couldn’t tell you how frustrated I was seeing Ricky Williams suddenly become productive once he got to Miami and found a work ethic…of some sort. I don’t think a work ethic is Reggie’s problem, but with everything we have invested in him, I couldn’t handle seeing Reggie become successful on another team.

at the same time a part of me wants the guy to be successful, sure the NFL is all about team but for that to happen that one individual has to do his job really well and if he isn’t given the opportunity to do so, then…because you can guarantee Bellichick or someone would use this kid really well. “you want 15 carries a game Reg?” Ok. Not to mention the check down’s he’d get…but again, Payton could be just allowing him to really heal and stay injured free. I’ll post my 3rd one of this in week 10 or something.

How many games has he won or at least kept us in it to when…

Denver, Washington, Cleveland…he’s done it with Tampa a couple times,,,

The Saints are a rhythm oriented team. Just about every series that Bush has managed a half-way decent play, 15+ yards, we’ve scored. He excites not just the fans but the team as well.

the biggest problem with this guys analogy is that bush is not a star he is a over hyped punt returner

much agreed

Reggie was good in college because the D was slow. Now the D is bigger AND faster. Pierre Thomas deserves all the carries he can get, and probably more. Reggie is a drain on the salary. It would be no big loss for him to move on.
On another note, I’d really like to see how effective Bush could be if someone ran the offense that U of Indiana runs. It makes the distance to the outside of the line drastically shorter and might allow him to get up some speed.

it’s not a coaching problem. When you’re fumbling in jr. high school, high school and maybe college, then it’s a fumbling problem

made him carry ball on treadmill and sent him to some guy that taught him to quit running with his elbow’s out…

Payton and the saints have one of the thickest playbooks out there. He has only just bearly cracked it open. Reggie will get his and shut down the ney sayers. Reggie is back with Kim and she’ll get his head right. One of them at least.