Reports out of the Oakland Raiders practice have Lane Kiffin giving snaps to Michael Bush at fullback. As the designated short yardage back at halfback, Bush will be given the opportunity to back up Justin Griffith, along with recently claimed Luke Lawton.
Bush has had experience playing multiple positions, offensive and defensive, in his entire football career dating back to high school. At Louisville Male High School he played all the positions but offensive lineman and defensive tackle before starting at quarterback his senior year.
Bush led his team to the Class 6A Kentucky State Championship game, passing for 468 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 116 yards and another touchdown before succumbing to future teammate Brian Brohm’s Trinity High 59-56.
At the University of Louisville Bush had 2,508 career rushing yards at 5.8 yards per carry, including his breakout junior year as a first time starter charging for 1143 yards on 205 carries and 23 touchdowns along with 253 receiving yards. As a top ten favorite in the 2007 NFL Draft and a Heisman contender, Bush was on track for another brilliant season when he broke his right tibia against state rival Kentucky.
Refusing to wait to play a fifth season in college, Michael Bush entered the draft. Rumored to convert to tight end, Bush remained as a halfback throughout the combine and was selected in the beginning of the fourth round by the Raiders. During his rookie season, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list for Oakland to retain him behind Lamont Jordan, Justin Fargas, and Dominic Rhodes.
The role of fullback could feature Bush as not only an extra runner, but also as an extra tight end in the backfield to compliment Zach Miller. Kiffin has thought very highly of Bush and of his abilities as a complete football player, already promising to play all three of his halfbacks on roster.
19 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
toby varner 10 months ago
Mike is definitely not too thrilled to be in at fullback. However in a press conference today Lane Kiffin informed the media that he is a tailback. We want him to be a tailback, we are excited about him as our tailback. Lane also said that we have brought in a guy for that position and probably another to give a better idea of what we want to do. Okay... Then why is bush lining up at fullback? The newly acquired Luke Lawton had yet to arrive. He suited up today wearing the number 44.
Reading between the lines I am very impressed with Bush keeping his mouth in check. Doing what was asked of him, he has shown tremendous class since being signed last season. I wont be surprised to see him in lined up as a fullback, in the soon to be famous two tailback formation. Because Bush is definitely not our fullback as kiffin had said earlier. Kiffin said we have a guy. Meaning Lawton I will assume. He didn't know his name yet? I really like Lane as our coach but he is looking more like a puppet everyday.
Wow the roller coaster that is the raider nation should be quite a sight this season. I am excited to see where this crazy train is headed.
I need to go check TMZ and find out where Javon was today.
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
Hey regardless of who's the puppet, Al Davis will always pull the strings as long as he's living.
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J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
I wouldn't limit Al's ability to pull strings like that 8^D
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J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
Bush is a impact player. Currently he is the third option at his position. A good coach will look for ways to get a impact player on the field, regardless of the position, if he can make a positive contribution.
I'm sure Bush would prefer to be playing instead of standing on the sideline waiting only for short yardage situations.
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
To be honest, if I was coach of the Raiders I'm using Bush as both a halfback and a h back, in the way that BYU did in the '90s. I'm sure Mike will have a bigger role by next season given that some team is willing to trade for either him or Justin Fargas.
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toby varner 10 months ago
I just had the best idea ever. Let Al and Lane make teams with the players they prefer and let them do battle on Madden.
Coaching mode.
Would make for a great mini documentary as well.
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
That would have to be a Pay Per View event I would be willing to purchase.
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The_KRAKEN 10 months ago
Seems that this will be run 1st pass 2nd offense, unless Lane is Sand Bagging, so unless we have some great trainers and good doctors on staff one of our RB's will go down during the season and I predict it will not be BUSH !! At which time he will emerge to be a contender !! Big Back, Big Plays !!
One Krakens humble Opinion !
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
I can't say that Bush would not get hurt because he's a RB in the NFL, you play, you have a chance to get hurt. With that said Oakland's rushing attack will scare teams, and JaMarcus' arm will be seen more later in the year when they need that come from behind win, like Brees to Gates.
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Garry Collins 10 months ago
Stud
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
That he is.
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Jamaal Foster 10 months ago
remember Kieth Byars? Played TE, RB, WR everything for the Eagles back in the late 80's. Maybe the Raiders could use him something like that or similar to what NO does with Reggie Bush.
Good article, I was wondering if he was going to get a shot. If that Kentucky game was any indication of what his season was going to be like, (200yards in the 1st half) he was going to walk to the Hiesaman.
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
If Bush wants to then he could. The difference would be the yards per carry of Michael versus Reggie and Keith Byars.
Also Byers had to do what he did because Randall didn't have a capable O-Line or wideouts (Quick was injured annually, Carter was then undependable) to help him out.
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James Morrison 10 months ago
Micheal Bush is a man! He would have probably been picked at 12 overall (Buffalo) or 16 (Green Bay) In the 2007 Draft had he not been injured....He just didn't have the agent or tje upside McGahee had...And McGahee's injury was horrible! Bush would start for a handful of NFL teams though and probably will when that contract is up.
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
If they don't trade for him first. McGahee was also helped by playing the full season and recovering cleanly from his knee surgery, along with having Drew Rosenhaus as an agent. Bush had the upside but concerns about his weight, speed, and recovery from the leg injury during workouts and the combine killed his draft stock.
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James Morrison 10 months ago
Theres no way you can say Micheal Bush had the upside of Willis McGahee and McGahee was drafted with only shreds of what used to be a knee no one knew if it would hold up to the wear and tear of a NFL season, let alone what it takes to play RB at such a high level
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
He had the upside just not the hype. Most teams expected Bush to have recover from the leg, with lower first round teams expecting a steal. But again he just didn't look good in his workouts and combines. McGahee had the benefit of getting injured in the championship giving him a pass to prove what he could do. Bush was more a victim of timing than anything else.
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Kristi Spicer 10 months ago
I just hope to have them win more than 5 games this year? I realy dont care who is coching the Raiders this year I'll I want is them to make it to the super bowl that would be sweet. its been a long time since that happend.
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James Senbeta 10 months ago
I doubt Super Bowl for a couple years but with the running and ever improving defense they should make progress.
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