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The Detroit Lions play indoors this week, but there was a little back-and-forth through the media between Jim Schwartz and Reggie Bush about whether or not Bush is a back built for the messy outdoors, or as Schwartz termed, "a mudder." Schwartz said Bush wasn't a mudder. Bush, on the other hand... (via NFL.com):
Bush disagreed with the assessment that he's not good in bad-weather situations, like the rain-soaked Pittsburgh field.
"I think the opposite," he said, per MLive.com.
The best rushing game of Bush's career, 203 yards, came in 2011 in snow in Buffalo. His best receiving game, 132 yards, happened in 2006 also in the snow, at Soldier Field, MLive pointed out.
"I pride myself on being able to run in all conditions. Know what I mean?" Bush said. "I think running in those kinds of conditions is, for me, it's better, because now defenders need to constantly be on their heels and toes. And when you can get guys off balance in the mud and when it's raining, it's kind of an advantage to the running back."
As I pointed out in this week's fantasy article, Bush's yards per attempt average on the road this year is only 0.2 less than at home, where he's getting a lot more work. (0.31 if you're using Football Reference.) While his career arch suggests he's almost a yard per carry better on turf, his two years in Miami suggest he can do just as well on grass (4.5 vs. 5.0 yards per carry). In addition to the career numbers provided by MLive above, the point is that Bush seems to be right, at least in recent years; he's been able to run in all conditions.
All moot this week in the clean, MRSA-free Ford Field, but something to consider for future roadies.
Infectious, disease- and blurb-free picks:
LIONS (-9) over Buccaneers
Jags (+10) over TEXANS
PACKERS (-5) over Vikings
CHIEFS (-5) over Chargers
DOLPHINS (+4) over Panthers
Steelers (+2) over BROWNS
RAMS (-1) over Bears
RAVENS (-3.5) over Jets
Titans (+1) over RAIDERS
Colts (+2.5) over CARDINALS
GIANTS (-2.5) over Cowboys
Broncos (-2.5) over PATRIOTS
REDSKINS (+5) over 49ers
SEASON (LAST WEEK) (%)
Northern Lite: 71-66-7 (9-4-2) (52%)
Me: 70-83-8 (7-6-2) (46%)
KDawg: 69-82-8 (7-6-2) (45%)
Elfuego51: 66-71-7 (5-8-2) (48%)
cram9030: 62-66-7 (7-5-2) (48%)
Big.Al: 59-49-5 (55%)
HireMattMillen: 50-43-5 (54%)
lions fan displaced in las vegas: 51-52-5 (50%)
Bighaircut: 33-30 (7-6-2) (52%)
Reno09: 22-33-5 (40%)
JT072589: 17-9-3 (65%)
jwitzsc: 13-25-2 (4-9-2) (2-1 on locks) (34%)
Hendo44: 10-18 (36%)
gibbsericj: 7-7 (50%)
Jeremy Reisman's locks of the week: 6-9 (1-2) (40%)
ncbur10: 3-9-3 (25%)
* denotes teaser (+14) (season: 39-5)