Reggie Bush arrived in the NFL as one of the most hyped college prospects of his generation.
Bush never matched those sky-high expectations with the New Orleans Saints, and a two-year stay with the Miami Dolphins similarly offered mixed results. No one ever described Bush as a bust, but no one would say he was a running back who had realized his potential.
That seems to have changed in Bush's eighth pro season. Bush has found an offense that suits him with the Detroit Lions, and his performance this season has summoned memories of his dominant run with the USC Trojans.
Which begs the question: What took so long?
"When I look back, I'm so much more advanced in just my vision, my understanding of schemes, linebackers, where they have to play their gaps and just all the different things that come along with being a running back," Bush said, via ESPN.com. "So it's taken a while. It didn't happen overnight. It took me a while, took a couple years.
"I would say it took a good four or five years until I really had a true, good understanding of defenses and schemes and how to run the ball."
Look in the trenches for evidence of how Bush has grown. According to ESPN, a career-high 81 percent of Bush's carries this season have come between the tackles. That's up from 76 percent in Miami and 64 percent in his final three seasons with the Saints.
Check out Marc Sessler's latest "Game Rewind" write-up to watch some footage of Bush in vintage form. Health might be the only thing that can stop the running back from an MVP-caliber season.
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