No Big-Stage Fright for Reggie Bush

Clifton Brown - SportingNews.com

DAVIE, Fla. -- Reggie Bush had an immediate reaction to being drafted by the Saints in 2006. He was frightened.

"I'm not going to lie, I was pretty scared," Bush said Monday after practice. "I was pretty nervous. I didn't know what to expect. It was the year after Hurricane Katrina. They didn't even know if they were going to have a home field to play on.

"That night I was drafted, Drew Brees called me. He basically said he was excited to play with me. He had gotten a chance to play with LaDainian Tomlinson (in San Diego), who he thought was a great running back, and now me. That to me said a lot, eased my mentality."

The unknown of New Orleans might have frightened Bush, but big games do not.

Since joining the Saints, Bush has been at his best in big moments, a trend he hopes to continue Sunday in Super Bowl 44. Bush has scored at least one touchdown in all four career playoff games, and he has scored them in a variety of ways -- as a runner, as a receiver and as a punt returner.

The Saints are 5 1/2-point underdogs against the Colts, but Bush has the explosiveness to change a game's momentum on any touch.

The Saints' 45-14 playoff victory over the Cardinals was a perfect example, when Bush spun out of a would-be tackle to race 46 yards for a touchdown, then returned a punt 83 yards for another score. Bush had 217 all-purpose yards in that game, despite touching the ball just 12 times. If Bush has that kind of game Sunday, the Saints might march out of Miami as champions.

"The sky's the limit for Reggie Bush." Brees said Monday. "I think he can continue to get a lot better. He's one of the most talented players in the NFL. Just seeing that Arizona game, very complete, probably one of the most impressive performances I've seen from him since he's been here. I think he wants to continue to build upon that."

The transition to the NFL from USC has not been easy for Bush, who has struggled to be a consistent inside runner. Until recently, Bush made all of his impact plays either as a receiver or on special teams. Lately, Bush has been running with more force and physicality, taking on tacklers and sometimes running over them. Bush (6-0, 203) has a powerful upper body, and though speed remains his biggest asset, his recent willingness to lower his shoulder has given tacklers another dimension to worry about.

Asked what has changed about his running style, Bush said: "My decisiveness. A couple of years ago, instead of just taking a few yards here and there and allowing the big play to come to me, I was going after the big play too much. It's been a learning process.

"Experience, in general, helps you. Being able to play in some big games in college has helped me. These types of games are the games you live for, you love to play in."

A main objective of Saints coach Sean Payton on Sunday will be to devise plays to get Bush matched man-to-man against a slower Colts defender. Indianapolis might have the fastest defense in the NFL, but Bush is confident he can find some cracks.

"(Payton) does a great job of giving me an opportunity to be mismatched against defenders, constantly creating problems," Bush said. "You can't ask for more than that -- your head coach giving you an opportunity to make plays."

Bush's initial fear of joining the Saints has long since subsided. By raising his game in the playoffs, Bush has helped the Saints reach their first Super Bowl. Now, he wants to help them win it.

"This is a tough team we're playing against; everybody knows what we're up against," Bush said. "Peyton Manning's a great quarterback; the Colts are a great team. We're going into this game with the mentality that we want to win.

"We're not going in there scared."

Clifton Brown covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.

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