The Detroit Lions played in the rain against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The field was muddy and players were slipping. Head coach Jim Schwartz made the call to replace starting running back Reggie Bush with Theo Riddick and Joique Bell even when the team was training in the fourth quarter. Schwartz said Bush was not a "mudder" leaving the running back to go on the defense about his play.
Schwartz noted that Bush was a race horse that functioned better on the fast track. The running back is rather injury prone and after seeing him slip a few times at the start of the game, Schwartz opted to take him out. Now, Bush is calling out his coach's comments saying he believes the exact opposite of what Schwartz said.
"I pride myself on being able to run in all conditions, you know what I mean, and I think the opposite," Bush said, via the Detroit Free Press. "I think running in those types of conditions is, for me, I think is better because now the defenders have to be constantly on their heels and toes, and we can get guys off-balanced in mud and when it's rainy and slippery. It's kind of an advantage to the running back. So I think that just, [I] didn't do a good job of running balanced, so to speak, and keeping my feet underneath me. I just didn't handle the situation well."
Bush has the evidence to back up is statements. He once put up 203 yards in a snowy Buffalo Bills game while playing for the Miami Dolphins. He has also had six 100-yard rushing games on grass fielfs. He has experience playing in the Florida rain, but after losing a fumble after slipping in Pittsburgh, Schwartz was not willing to take the risk. Bush was held to just 31 yards rushing and 54 yards of total offense.
"Just, it's just, have to do a better job in those conditions," Bush said. "Sometimes, especially for a guy like me, I can't overaggressively cut. I got to keep my feet underneath me a little bit more and just [handle] the situation better. Whatever that entails, that's what I got to do. That's what I got to get done."
Schwartz defended his decision saying he was sure greats like Barry Sanders faced that type of criticism throughout his career. The coach was confident that the running style of Bell and Riddick better fit the type of game being played and the conditions facing the team.
