How come Reggie Bush didn't live up to his potential?

[Draje]

The thing is, at the NFL level everyone's fast and strong. You don't last if you aren't. Vision, ability to see holes and accelerate quickly through them are way more important than raw 4.3-4.4 speed.

At the college level, especially at big schools, they have such a huge advantage in the trenches, their running backs are running through huge holes in the defense so it's tougher to gauge abilities like stated above.

I never even thought about the vision needed to be a running back and seeing holes. I just kinda thought you went for the first hole you see.

Are there slower running backs who have GOAT-tier vision and can be successful? Is sheer strength more valuable than just straight speed.

 

[Black_Panther_JS]

his overall in Madden his rookie year was 99

 

[onthereal]

He was up against athletes that was just as good or better than him. He wasn't a very big dude. Had a lot of injuries as well as a lot of miles before he even came into the league.

With that said he's still in my top 5 as one of the greatest college players to ever put on pads. Had nikkas waiting in line for ankle surgery.

 

[Lakerman0834]

All time leader in decoy yards breh lived up to his potential

 

[King Kreole]

Are there slower running backs who have GOAT-tier vision and can be successful?

Spoiler

 

[RubioTheCruel]

I never even thought about the vision needed to be a running back and seeing holes. I just kinda thought you went for the first hole you see.

Are there slower running backs who have GOAT-tier vision and can be successful? Is sheer strength more valuable than just straight speed.

Frank Gore is an excellent example of this

 

[Sauce Dab]

I'm not a football guy but it's mad interesting to hear brehs discuss the nuances of running like this.

So just being fast and tough doesn't make you a good running back? Things like running patiently are big deals too?

Yeah being a patient a runner and reading your holes ( )
Is probably the most important thing for a RB in the NFL. Being just strong and fast won't get it done. Look at Trent Richardson

 

[alpo]

Sad thing about frank gore is before them knee injurys frank gore was actually fast! He was AP on steroids. That dude was unreal in high school and his freshman year a the u

 

[Draje]

Yeah being a patient a runner and reading your holes ( )
Is probably the most important thing for a RB in the NFL. Being just strong and fast won't get it done. Look at Trent Richardson

Like what exactly is a patient runner? Like you're not supposed to aggressively attack any hole you see?

 

[BlackAchilles]

I never even thought about the vision needed to be a running back and seeing holes. I just kinda thought you went for the first hole you see.

Are there slower running backs who have GOAT-tier vision and can be successful? Is sheer strength more valuable than just straight speed.

Emmit Smith's 40 time looks like a defensive end; But he was a patient runner and also had Allen/Newton/Stepnowski up front so he's the all time leader in rush yards

A current example I'd say is Alfred Morris

 

[King Kreole]

Like what exactly is a patient runner? Like you're not supposed to aggressively attack any hole you see?

You have to give your blockers time to set up and execute their blocks, otherwise you risk going somewhere where the play isn't designed to cover you yet. A runner without patience is overeager and goes to where he first sees a hole, without thinking of the entirety of the play design. Being able to modulate your speed is important because it throws off defenders since they can't track you properly. A good runningback is constantly reading whats going on in front of him to make adjustments in case the OL misses a block or the defense overcommits to a side.

 

[RubioTheCruel]

Like what exactly is a patient runner? Like you're not supposed to aggressively attack any hole you see?

You have to sort of see where the right hole is opening and when to hit it. That's the key to picking up 5 yards without being touched rather than getting stuffed short of a first for no gain.

The speed at which holes close in the NFL is why so many good/great college RBs never amount to much in the NFL. Where there was a huge hole half a second ago in the pros, there is now a pile of bodies and an unblocked safety ready to lay the lumber on you.

 

[Sauce Dab]

Like what exactly is a patient runner? Like you're not supposed to aggressively attack any hole you see?

You pick and choose when to be aggressive or patient. Jamaal Charles is prime example


Arian Foster is a good example too
Start at 1:05

 

[Draje]

You have to give your blockers time to set up and execute their blocks, otherwise you risk going somewhere where the play isn't designed to cover you yet. A runner without patience is overeager and goes to where he first sees a hole, without thinking of the entirety of the play design. Being able to modulate your speed is important because it throws off defenders since they can't track you properly. A good runningback is constantly reading whats going on in front of him to make adjustments in case the OL misses a block or the defense overcommits to a side.

You have to sort of see where the right hole is opening and when to hit it. That's the key to picking up 5 yards without being touched rather than getting stuffed short of a first for no gain.

The speed at which holes close in the NFL is why so many good/great college RBs never amount to much in the NFL. Where there was a huge hole half a second ago in the pros, there is now a pile of bodies and an unblocked safety ready to lay the lumber on you.

You pick and choose when to be aggressive or patient. Jamaal Charles is prime example


Arian Foster is a good example too
Start at 1:05

You brehs making me want to follow football just to understand this shyt

 

[jetflyinglimousineriding]

Like what exactly is a patient runner? Like you're not supposed to aggressively attack any hole you see?

Some guys will try to bounce everything to the outside, go full speed without waiting for their blockers, or not read the cut back available. One thing that makes Le'Veon Bell so good is his patience. The thing I like about him is that he has this hop step that he uses that lets him wait for his blocks before he hits the hole