145 carries for 600 yards (includes a few end arounds)
75 receptions for 600 yards

Throw in a couple of punt returns for TD’s

Positive attitude, team player, no controversies, no distractions (e.g. Kim pregnancy scare)

For a guy who plays from the backfield, the slot, and on punt returns, that’s probably not too much to ask…unless his body can’t handle that many touches per game in the NFL.

Barring that, I would just like to see Westbrook-esque consistent production as the “2” in a split back scheme.

Wait, I can simplify my desires for him further, and numerically: 16 to 20 complete games played in a row.

I say Reggie needs to get at least 800 plus yrds. rushing 1000 yrds. receiving total tds 20 (including punt return tds). Most importantly STAY HEALTHY!!!!!!!!

If Bush posts 1000 yards rushing and 20 receiving touchdowns, I suppose I could accept him as a valuable member of the Saints organization. But I’d really expect more from a guy as explosive as he was against the future actuaries and marine biologists of the PAC-10.

I’m new at this. I don’t know the correct font for smarmy sarcasm.

that nobody has mentioned averages yet.

Reggie is a good receiver out of the backfield and a great return man. To be considered a “success” he needs to do one of two things:

1. Bring his rushing average up above 4 yards per carry…however many carries he actually gets. If Payton uses him less, he won’t meet those net yards that everyone wants…but if his average goes up, you can’t blame it on Reggie.

2. Be the difference in 2-3 games. If Reggie’s efforts in critical situations put us into the playoffs, who cares what his numbers are?

Exile, I rescind my demand for 1200 all-purpose yards and side with your second scenario. His prolific combination of success in offensive odd-jobs should merit respect. I imagine the coverage and looks he draws on plays in which he’s not featured are as valuable as his crazy cuts and counters and returns. Plus he clearly wants success badly. He’s the most bizarre offensive weapon I can think of offhand. He gets the small victories when we need them; 1st downs from checkdown passes, field position and td’s from returns. He’s 16 consecutive games away from being worth the draft pick.

It’s plays. Playmakers can’t make the play if they’re not in the game. If he can stay injury-free and make the explosive plays that he makes when healthy, who cares how many yards he puts up?

I think the top two things Reggie and the Saints must do is stay healthy and manage the expectations of fans and the media. Being a number one draft choice doesn’t necessarily equate to a number of touches or total yards. It’s effectiveness at contributing to the final score, all season long. If that means he’s a decoy that draws the defense off the ball, then he contributes.

If Reggie gets his 2000 total yards, mostly on dead-end drives, and the Saints go 8-8 again, did it make a difference? If he only gets 1200 yards, but comes through in the clutch and contributes to the final score, it will.

I would like to see him amass chaotic numbers like everyone watchin him, but i would take 16 to 20 full games played, and most importantly id like to see him come through in the clutch. all great football players want the ball in their hands when the games on the line, id like to see him step up and make best on the oppurtunities he prys away from drew. health and consistency, and definitely alot of punt returns for tds n the 4th quater would help him get that respect.

I think that might mean a statline somewhere in the neighborhood of:

1000+ yards rush/rec, 10+ TDs (rush/rec), and 3-4 return TDs.

I’d also like to see a reduction in fumbles (especially those ones that require Payton to call for a review on his goal-line plunges).

I also like the point some folks have made about being able to overlook the little mistakes and a slightly underwhelming statistical performance if we have great team success, and he’s a positive contributor to that.

if he’s averaging 4+ ypc on 12 carries a game then he’ll do that and with an average of 7.1 yards per catch for about 7 catches a game and he’ll be alright. I think 3-5 punt returns is doable to. As far as his comments go…different people do different things to stay mentally strong so him talking about being MVP or the team going to the superbowl is ok in my book. I’d rather have that than a cancer on the team.

lets see how he rolls.

The only number that anyone should care about is touchdowns. At least 15 to 20, don’t try to keep rushing him except for draws or reverses. In the 4th quarter once Pierre wears down the D then rush him against a tired D line. He needs to catch more screens and run more fake reverses, defenses didn’t know how to defend all the reverses and fake reverses the Saints used to run. Even have 4 WR’s and Reggie in the inside slot, then put him in motion to take the handoff and have him run against a bunch of DB’s. Bush shouldn’t even be lined up behind a FB in the 1st 2nd or 3rd quarters… Championship lock it up… Anyway, 400 yards rushing and 900 yards receiving should be about right.

are typically a product of field position. If all you’re worried about is TDs, why not cut Reggie and sign a one dimensional RB for the league minimum? Someone like Leroy Hoard or Tommy Vardell, both who practically made a career of scoring from a yard out, neither of which were worth the 2nd overall pick in the draft by any stretch of the imagination.

Again, if TDs were all that mattered, we could sure use the money Reggie’s making to juke, jive and wail to improve the defense. I’m being sarcastic, of course. Scoring TDs isn’t a God given gift. Making defenders miss, consistently gaining enough yards per touch to move the sticks in less than four plays, that’s what truly matters in football, point blank. When you have a player of Reggie’s speed and quickness, that’s all you’re looking for. As much yardage as possible, in order to bring every other scoring option on offense into (or as close as possible to) the red zone. Whether he finishes the drive himself or not is prett much irrelevant. Nice bonus obviously, but certainly not as paramount as getting there.

I like the “over 4.0 yards per carry” theory. Other than that, I would also consider Reggie having a great year if the Saints went to the Super Bowl, regardless of his totals. If the Saints do that, (assuming Reggie stays healthy) Reggie’s totals won’t be as important and it is clear he contributes at many levels.

He should keep on keepin on, and not try to become a every down back…that’s not what he is…He’s a playmaker and this year should have many of chances on proven that! Go Reg!

He had so much hype that I don’t think he’ll ever live up to it. Still, when on the field, it’s hard to find a back in the NFL who has been as productive as Reggie. I can’t ask anything more from him on the field – he’s produced and produced big for us – and in big situations. Where he can improve himself even further is having more durability and cutting down on the fumbles. Being a relatively smaller guy – this is not something he can necessarily control altogether.

stay healthy.

The guy is the most dangerous offensive weapon in the league. He just needs to stay healthy.

What must Payton do?

I agree, Reggie needs to stay healthy. But Payton needs to use the guy correctly. Get him the ball in space and not in the backfield.

500 yds Rush 4TDS, 700 Rec 4TDS, PR 4TD, and Payton better not run him up the gut on 3rd and 1………..

My son and I bought a couple of Packers foam cheese wedge hats on eBay and spray painted them bright red. We wear them to the games every once in a while and chant “RED CHEESE! RED CHEESE!” Takes people a few seconds to catch on. Funny as hell, though. That’s kind of become our inside joke nickname for Bush over the last couple of years. It’s also a lot more polite than screaming “RUN THE EFF FORWARD!” Which I still tend to do quite often, while watching him dance on television.