New Orleans Saints Need Reggie Bush Healthy To Succeed

Who is the New Orleans Saints most valuable asset? Is it superstar QB Drew Brees, or future Hall of Fame SS Darren Sharper, or is it late-round gem WR Marques Colston. The answer is simple. Nope. The key to the New Orleans Saints success this season rests on the shoulders of one guy. Some call him 'Baby Matrix'. Others call him the 'Cutback King'. This man is a former USC Trojan, and Heisman Trophy winner (even without the trophy). His name is Reggie Bush, and he will be the one to rescue the Saints ailing offense.

In many peoples mind, Reggie Bush is one of the biggest 'busts' of all time. Many expected Bush to make a huge splash in the NFL after a record breaking college career. However, to many people's disappointment, Bush did not have that same record breaking impact. Rather, defenses were able to step up and consistently shut down Reggie. So how, you may ask, is Reggie Bush the key player for the Saints? Well your about to find out.

No one has ever denied the fact that Reggie Bush is still one of the most explosive players in the NFL, and he has proven that on numerous occasions. Whether it be returning a punt for a 71 yard TD, or breaking loose on a trick play and jumping 6 yards into the endzone (see Saints vs. Dolphins highlights from last season), Reggie was never lacking in the 'explosive' department. This home run threat that Reggie poises every time he is on the field is such a valuable asset for the Saints offense, as I will elaborate further on in a moment.

As stated above, every time Reggie steps on the field, the defense must immediately know where he is. One minor mistake in coverage, and the defense will be hopelessly chasing after number 25 down field. This kind of threat opens up so many other options for Brees, enabling him to dissect opposing defenses. 

And now, let me write about Bush's versatility. Not only is he an explosive running back, but he is also a slot receiver, and a punt returner. Having Reggie on your team is an extremely worthwhile investment as he can effectively play multiple positions, creating some scary matchup problems for opposing defenses. 

Last but not least, Reggie has been the most consistent scorer on the New Orleans Saints along with Marques Colston, each scoring 33 TD's throughout their career. However, Bush's scores came from not only rushing, but receptions and returns as well. Are there any other players with 17 rushing TD's, 12 REC TD's, and 4 return TD's in 4 seasons? The answer is simple.

Nope.

When Bush comes back in a few weeks, we can expect the return of the all mighty Saints offense, and the return of one of the most exciting players in the National Football League.