Saints' Bush electric in preseason debut

Enlarge By John David Mercer, US PRESSWIRE Reggie Bush made waves on the Saints' second possession in the team's preseason game Saturday by breaking open a 44-yard run.

By Tom Weir, USA TODAY

NASHVILLE — It didn't take long for Reggie Bush to start helping the New Orleans Saints recover from a 3-13 season that was made more chaotic by Hurricane Katrina.

On the second Saints possession in Saturday night's 19-16 preseason victory against Tennessee, Bush broke free for a 44-yard run that epitomized his talents.

Initially headed left into heavy traffic, last year's Heisman Trophy winner cut back across almost the entire field, turned a corner and dashed down the right sideline for the longest gain of the night by either team.

"There was a lot of space," said Bush, who was cheered despite playing in the opponent's stadium. "I was running for daylight."

Bush finished with 59 rushing yards on six carries, and added 10 receiving yards on two catches while playing only in the first half.

"I think it's just a glimpse of what's to come," New Orleans wide receiver Joe Horn said

The run was typical of Bush's play last season at Southern California, but Horn said there's no reason to believe Bush won't keep generating that type of breakaway at the pro level.

"I don't see why he won't be able to do it in the NFL," Horn said. "Every defense we play against doesn't have a superstar that's going to stop Reggie Bush. ... Some defenses we're going to go against aren't going to be as athletic as Reggie Bush is."

Bush also served notice that, despite his reputation for zigzagging runs, he also is willing to take on cornerbacks with direct hits.

On one second-quarter run he lowered a shoulder into Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones, which led to some brief shoving and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the defender.

"A lot of people probably perceive him as just a quick-footed guy, a guy who can get out in space and try to make you miss and all those things," quarterback Drew Brees said. "But he wants to make sure that people know he's not afraid to run them over, either."

Brees was 5-for-9 in his first game since January shoulder surgery.

"The shoulder felt good," Brees said. "I really didn't think about it."

The other Saints star who had offseason surgery, running back Deuce McAllister, was held out of the game.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton said he wanted to delay the running back's return from a procedure for a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Brees, a free agent acquisition, complained about having to settle for two field goals on the three drives he led, but New Orleans finished with a considerable advantage for total yards — 401-219.

Bush's performance and the victory were an upbeat turnaround for a team that ended 2005 with four consecutive defeats and was uprooted to San Antonio by Katrina.

But the Saints are being careful not to use Katrina as a scapegoat for the 2005 debacle that saw coach Jim Haslett fired.

"A 3-13 season is 3-13," Horn said. "We went through some tough stuff with Katrina, but it's still not an excuse for why we lost those games, not to me."

Said Saints general manager Mickey Loomis: "We had a lot of adversity, there's no question about it. But I think that's been talked about enough."

Loomis added that echoes of 2005 are less likely as the Saints regroup under Payton's new staff.

"I think it's been addressed simply by the fact we have a new coaching staff," said Loomis. "They weren't part of the circumstances last year. There's nothing for them to dwell on. They're focused on right now."