Debate: Lendale White Will Have A Better NFL Career Than Reggie Bush

[Chief Rum]

I'm bored, and I'll be bored tomorrow night. So I thought I would give myself something to read in advance after you guys debate the above statement. ;)

[Mr. Wednesday]

My observation from seeing both play against ND was that Bush is capable of creating plays on his own, while White relies on a good line to open holes for him (which didn't happen against the Irish). I'm not sure which translates better to the NFL, but I know which one I'd rather have in college.

[BishopMVP]

I followed college football fairly closely the past few years, albeit not getting all the west coast game and Big XII games, and I started to get the opinion that while Bush was the better college player, he was too small and Lendale White would actually surprise and be the better back. Then I saw ND-USC, the first time I really watched the two of them for a whole game (last year's championship game was over too quick.) And Bush is better, college, pro, whatever. Worst-case, he's Warrick Dunn, who is a top-10 back. Lendale White just isn't gonna be an all-pro.

[cthomer5000]

If Bush can take the hits, I also think he can be at least as good as Warrick Dunn, who catches a ton of balls (even more in the past, I believe). I think he's going to have to see the field a lot to justify the high pick... I wouldn't draft him top 10 just to make him a utility guy who doesn't see all that many snaps on offense.

[Samdari]

I think LenDale White could be a complete stud in the NFL.

Reggie Bush, I am not sure. He could either end up as Eric Metcalf (a spectacular novelty act) or Marshall Faulk (which puts him in the Hall of Fame). I too would be worried about spending a top 5 NFL pick on a back who never led his college team in carries. Not that Bush isn't the most spectacular player in college ball this year (I think he is, with apologies to Vince Young) but USC turns to White for the tough yards.

[General Mike]

I think Bush will have a Tiki Barber-like Career.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think both are going to be top 10 NFL backs.

Which one is going to be better?

Bush by a slim margin I think.

[Maple Leafs]

Great, yet another Bush-bashing thread on FOFC.

[moriarty]

Bush doesn't get 25 carries a game in college, I just don't see him being able to handle the primary load on an NFL team. I say he's an Eric Metcalfe type of player, Warrick Dunn type at best.

LenDale white will be out of the league in 3 years.

I should note I'm not a big fan of USC which may have biased my opinions :).

[Samdari]

Warrick Dunn type at best.

If you could guarantee an NFL team that their pick would have a Warrick Dunn type career, they would take him with the #2 pick every time. You need to pick a better example of "at best."

Leafs, I don't see much bashing - just discussion. You understand why their are question about soomeone so accomplished, don't you. I am surprised by the White bashing. For White to take so many carries away from a player many consider to be the best in the country, one of two things (or both) has to be true (a) Bush really does not have the inside running skills to be a featured NFL back, and/or (b) LenDale white is a stud running back in his own right, and while not as dynamic as Bush, perhaps better suited for the pounding an NFL running back takes.

[ISiddiqui]

Leafs, I don't see much bashing - just discussion.
He was making a joke. Read it again: "ANOTHER Bush-bashing". He's refering to another Bush ;).

FWIW, I think Bush will end up being a Warrick Dunn / Tiki Barber type of player. White has the potential to be a pretty good back himself, but I think Bush will end up being a bit better.

[Samdari]

He was making a joke. Read it again: "ANOTHER Bush-bashing". He's refering to another Bush ;).

Well, don't I feel stupid.

[John Galt]

I think the biggest worry for Bush in the pros is his upright running style. He makes incredible moves and is a superb athlete, but I've never seen a RB in the NFL run like him. Maybe as a hybrid player, he won't have to adopt a normal RB style, but for right now, I'm skeptical.

[moriarty]

If you could guarantee an NFL team that their pick would have a Warrick Dunn type career, they would take him with the #2 pick every time. You need to pick a better example of "at best."

I don't need to do anything, but thanks for your advice. I think Warrick Dunn is a nice back, but he's not an elite back IMO. Whether or not he's a #2 pick isn't the question ... at least I don't think it was. I'd take Bush over White which should be pretty clear, as well as I don't think Bush is the second coming of Barry Sanders which should be pretty clear.

[WSUCougar]

Bush makes a lot of his big play yardage reversing field in college. Unless you're Barry Sanders that's not going to work too well in the NFL. I think he definitely has high-level pro skills, but he's not going to be able to do all that he does for USC.

Lendale White gutted WSU's defense on a regular basis, that's for sure. Right up the middle and loose into the secondary. Admittedly that's not saying a whole lot against our decimated and weak LB corps, but the point is he runs through traffic and breaks tackles. I think he'll do well in the NFL.

[I. J. Reilly]

Reggie Bush is not some scat back, he's 6'0" 200 pounds. There are a lot of every down backs in the NFL who are that size.

[moriarty]

Reggie Bush is not some scat back, he's 6'0" 200 pounds. There are a lot of every down backs in the NFL who are that size.

Maybe it's because White is like 230, but Bush really doesn't look that big.

[John Galt]

Reggie Bush is not some scat back, he's 6'0" 200 pounds. There are a lot of every down backs in the NFL who are that size.

That's why I'm more worried about his running style. He doesn't lower his shoulders or keep a low center of gravity.

[DanGarion]

I don't need to do anything, but thanks for your advice. I think Warrick Dunn is a nice back, but he's not an elite back IMO. Whether or not he's a #2 pick isn't the question ... at least I don't think it was. I'd take Bush over White which should be pretty clear, as well as I don't think Bush is the second coming of Barry Sanders which should be pretty clear.
Some of the things I've seen Bush do since his first game make me think he is the second coming of Barry Sanders. He is able to change directions so quickly it's amazing at times. Plus the guy can make stuff happen after catching a ball when he's lined up at WR.

[pennywisesb]

Reggie Bush is not some scat back, he's 6'0" 200 pounds. There are a lot of every down backs in the NFL who are that size.

I think this is the point. He's not as small as he looks. He's already bigger than say Dunn or Westbrook, and each of them are having pretty good careers. What makes me worry about Bush though, like others have said, is his upright running style. SC doesn't run him between the tackles very much, so it hasn't really hurt him yet, but to be good in the NFL you better be able to run through the tackles, and with that running style, I'm afraid he's got injury written all over him.

[DanGarion]

I think this is the point. He's not as small as he looks. He's already bigger than say Dunn or Westbrook, and each of them are having pretty good careers. What makes me worry about Bush though, like others have said, is his upright running style. SC doesn't run him between the tackles very much, so it hasn't really hurt him yet, but to be good in the NFL you better be able to run through the tackles, and with that running style, I'm afraid he's got injury written all over him.
Marcus Allen used to run upright like that. Heck Earl Campbell ran upright (but he was a little bigger :) )

[Butter]

Plus the guy can make stuff happen after catching a ball when he's lined up at WR.

NFL Position switch?

[Karlifornia]

Anyone who wouldn't want Bush after watching him play is probably insane.

[pennywisesb]

Marcus Allen used to run upright like that. Heck Earl Campbell ran upright (but he was a little bigger :) )

I agree. I just think that in today's NFL, running upright like he does with linebackers being as big as they are, and safeties hitting as hard as they do, that Bush might run into some problems. I hope not though, because I'm one of his biggest fans. I think he'll look great in Silver and Black. :p

[TroyF]

I think both will have great NFL careers.

White is a downhill runner with good speed. Put him in a zone blocking scheme like Denver, Atlanta, Pittsburgh or KC and I think he could simply go nuts and make some pro bowls.

I was very skeptical of Bush coming into the year. I'm not anymore. He's one of the most explosive backs I've ever seen. He's going to be a guy that will be able to beat NFL defenses in a multitude of ways. I think he's better than Dunn, the question will be if he can stay as healthy as Dunn. He's going to be a stud.

[st.cronin]

I think Bush will have a longer career than White. I assume Bush will end up at WR in the NFL; I think his potential is much greater there than at RB.

[bhlloy]

Great topic. White is the safe choice, put him on a team that runs a lot and give him the ball 15-20 times a game and he'll be serviceable. He's basically an NFL back now - very good at reading his blocks and a very punishing runner.

Bush is the classic risk-reward. But if Warrick Dunn can run 15 times a game for 7 years there is no way Bush can't do it. He does take advantage of college level defenders though a lot. Disciplined, fast NFL linebackers will take away a lot of his cutback lanes. I don't see him being a great NFL wide reciever either, he probably needs to be a couple of inches taller.

Basically, if I need a number one workhorse running back I take White. If I want a gamebreaking, third down back who will also probably be one of the most explosive returners in the league I take Bush. Both will be excellent NFL players in different ways IMO. I'd take both in the top 10.

[DeToxRox]

Reggie Bush reminds me of Brian Westbrook, but much better.

Bush would be a perfect fit in the Eagles offense. Thats how I see him playing in the NFL. Obviously not the Eagles O of recent that doesn't run, but the one that does run and uses the RB all over.

He'd dominate.

[Eaglesfan27]

Reggie Bush is not some scat back, he's 6'0" 200 pounds. There are a lot of every down backs in the NFL who are that size.
I was just about to post that. Bush is not a small guy with phenomenal moves. He is a decent sized back with phenomenal moves and speed. I'll be shocked if he doesn't end up leading the league in total yardage at least 2 or 3 times throughout his career.

I think he has the make-up to carry the ball 15-20 times/game and catch about 5 balls a game.

[Samdari]

I was just about to post that. Bush is not a small guy with phenomenal moves. He is a decent sized back with phenomenal moves and speed. I'll be shocked if he doesn't end up leading the league in total yardage at least 2 or 3 times throughout his career.

I think he has the make-up to carry the ball 15-20 times/game and catch about 5 balls a game.

The question is not if he's big enough to run inside, it is if he is willing.

[Eaglesfan27]

The question is not if he's big enough to run inside, it is if he is willing.
I haven't seen or heard anything to suggest that he isn't. He doesn't get as many carries at USC as he could elsewhere because White is such a talent as well. I guess we'll see in the next year (or hopefully 2, but that is highly doubtful.)

[Chief Rum]

Thanks, everyone. That was an interesting read. The debate seems to lean to Bush being the better bet in this, but White the safer bet. Cool. :)

I'll post another one for tomorrow...

[Samdari]

I haven't seen or heard anything to suggest that he isn't. He doesn't get as many carries at USC as he could elsewhere because White is such a talent as well. I guess we'll see in the next year (or hopefully 2, but that is highly doubtful.)

Well, the only thing that suggests he is not is that he doesn't. A function of coaching decisions, more than his choice but still a bit of a cause for concern. The NFL does not seem too concerned about this, so I suppose I should not either.

[JasonC23]

This is a hell of a thing to debate after LenDale's suicide, you cold-hearted bastards.

[DanGarion]

This is a hell of a thing to debate after LenDale's suicide, you cold-hearted bastards.
Yeah he could have been one of the best all time, but now.... we'll never know :(