Michael Bush was drafted by the Oakland Raiders out of the University of Louisville in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. He was unable to play his rookie season, as he recovered from a broken leg, however the Raiders will be expecting big things from him in the 2009 season.
It is Bush who is the next player that is being spotlighted in the “Under the Raider” series. Outside of the Raider Nation, Bush is mostly a forgotten man, but inside the Raider Nation he is well known.
At the beginning of the 2006 NCAA season, Michael Bush was expected to challenge Adrian Peterson to be the first running back off the board in the ‘07 draft. However, he suffered a major leg injury that would ultimately sideline him for the remainder of the season as well as cost him his rookie season in the NFL.
With the injury sending Bush plummeting down the draft board, the Raiders took advantage of the situation by selecting him with the first pick of the second day. Bush spent the 2007 season first on the physically unable to perform list, and after a brief period where he was able to practice, but was never activated, he was placed on the injured reserve. Unable to get any action his rookie season, Bush became an unknown quantity, and the Raiders selected another running back in Darren McFadden with their top pick the following year.
Bush showed flashes last year, having big games against Kansas City and against Tampa Bay. He has also looked very good as part of the offseason workout program. He is big, strong, and deceptively fast. With Lorenzo Neal in front of him, it is going to make for a load for defenders to bring down.
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