When I watch Metellus...I see a free safety. When I watch Bush...I see

[Reality Man]

a strong safety. He isn't a MLB. No way.

I see why UM wanted him...he runs really well and likes to hit. I understand why his father was concerned about him playing 'downhill'.

The point I am trying to make is Bush is a really good recruit but I'll bet you he doesn't play MLB. Someone else is coming. UM still needs a MLB. Jackson?

Bush is just too small. I don't see a guy who sheds blocks but just runs downhill and explodes into a gap. More Tripp Welbourne than David Harris.


RM

 

[DetroitRockCity]

a strong safety. He isn't a MLB. No way.

I see why UM wanted him...he runs really well and likes to hit. I understand why his father was concerned about him playing 'downhill'.

The point I am trying to make is Bush is a really good recruit but I'll bet you he doesn't play MLB. Someone else is coming. UM still needs a MLB. Jackson?

Bush is just too small. I don't see a guy who sheds blocks but just runs downhill and explodes into a gap. More Tripp Welbourne than David Harris.


RM

Bush is currently listed at 5'11 224. By September he could be at 235. That is linebacker size, not safety.

 

[scfanblue]

I remember when Jimmie Johnson put 220 lb safety type athletes as LB's and everyone said they were not big enough to stop the power running games of Oklahoma and Nebraska back in the day. I guess Johnson won that argument at Miami.

 

[Reality Man]

Bush looks more like 5'10 at best and how many lb's does he put on before he slows down.

But that is secondary to the fact he tends to like to blitz and utilize his speed going downhill rather than side to side. He plays like an OLB/SS.

Watch Jackson play...he looks like an ilb. Physical and tough. Bush...speed and explosiveness. He isn't bad at diagnosing plays but he'd rather play in the backfield away from the lineman.



RM

 

[jbannan]

He does not seem fast enough at the weight he is carrying to play SS. His height is not a problem there have been several shorter MLB'S in the NFL and they did well. The question is how soon will he be ready with the lack of experienced depth at LB for next season.

 

[kahnawa]

sometimes shorter guys have more leverage with speed from sideline to sideline. He's a big hitter.

 

[Reality Man]

Bush is fast enough and looks like he is tough enough to play strong safety. I hear you on the height which makes him more difficult to block (sometimes) but he isn't big enough. The mlb is there to fight off blocks and get physical at the los.

Bush is really a weakside olb or ss because he is built take on running backs and not h-backs.

He is a downhill player...not strong enough to fight off blocks at the college level at mlb.

Not saying he isn't potentially a good player. Go look at the film of a Dontavious Jackson. He plays like a mlb.

Carlo Kemp...strongside lb'er. He can play the run and fight off TE's. Dytarious Johnson and Bush look like they can be pretty decent in space. These guys remind me more of the Dhani Jones/Wellbourne/Peoples type of players but UM needs a Sam Sword guy in the middle...neither one of these guys fit that bill.


RM

 

[ugenious]

he's 18

 

[57varieties]

A mlbs job isnt to shed block the dl is supposed to eat block so mlbs can flow.
Think ray lewis playing behind haloti ngata.

 

[Reality Man]

I hear you...in a perfect world. But in the Big Ten these guys are big, (fullbacks) plus delayed draws or screens.

You better be a pretty big guy and Ray Lewis is a big big man. Bush is not a big big man. He looks to be 5'10ish on a good day. Unless you can put on 20 lbs (at his height?) which will probably impact his ability to be as quick.

He is a weakside lb'er at best. I personally think he would excel at ss. I wouldn't put more weight on him. He looks like a very fast/quick hard hitting guy if hitting the right guys going downhill.

Weakside...o.k. Guy is clearly talented. He can play a number of positions but MLB won't be one of them in the Big Ten. Maybe if he was in a lesser conference. Just ask RR...this conference is big and tough and you better have a big boy in the middle.



RM

 

[Reality Man]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/60573/did-ray-lewis-lose-too-much-weight

 

[scfanblue]

Good post

 

[adrianervin]

Zach Thomas, a pro bowl nfl linebacker who I played with and was only 5'10" 240 at best. All-Pro Sam Mills was 5'9" 232 and All-Pro Dat Nguyen 5'11" 238. Size though nice is not always the end all be all. Defensive scheme has a lot to do with it as well as the players ability to read and recognize and various other factors.

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

RM also forgot about Derrick Brooks, a 14-year veteran listed at 6-0 but really 5-10. I'll take all those guys mentioned as my MLB anytime, anywhere. Plus UM can run a version of the Tampa 2 against the spread.

 

[BlueCoral]

FYI, Ian Gold was 6' 223 pounds. He was one of the great LB's that we have had due to his speed . He played 7 years in the NFL. Don't be short sighted, Bush is going to be great. He has a top notch work ethic. We need speed T LB, period.

 

[57varieties]

Ray lewis was considered undersized at miami he gained weight throughout his pro career as his speed declined and had to rely more on his play recognition

 

[Michigan ken]

I hear you...in a perfect world. But in the Big Ten these guys are big, (fullbacks) plus delayed draws or screens.

You better be a pretty big guy and Ray Lewis is a big big man. Bush is not a big big man. He looks to be 5'10ish on a good day. Unless you can put on 20 lbs (at his height?) which will probably impact his ability to be as quick.

He is a weakside lb'er at best. I personally think he would excel at ss. I wouldn't put more weight on him. He looks like a very fast/quick hard hitting guy if hitting the right guys going downhill.

Weakside...o.k. Guy is clearly talented. He can play a number of positions but MLB won't be one of them in the Big Ten. Maybe if he was in a lesser conference. Just ask RR...this conference is big and tough and you better have a big boy in the middle.



RM

He can put on 10 lbs by next season no problem. He could mlb at 240 or so no problem. Also only 3 pro style offenses on schedule next year and need his speed at lb vs spread teams.

 

[St. Joe Blue 3]

He can put on 10 lbs by next season no problem. He could mlb at 240 or so no problem. Also only 3 pro style offenses on schedule next year and need his speed at lb vs spread teams.

Good points!

 

[CancunLive]

FYI, Ian Gold was 6' 223 pounds. He was one of the great LB's that we have had due to his speed . He played 7 years in the NFL. Don't be short sighted, Bush is going to be great. He has a top notch work ethic. We need speed T LB, period.

I played BB with Ian a number of times and no way is he 6'. More like 5'10".

 

[scfanblue]

Dhani Jones was not that big and he was good as well at LB