Miami Dolphins Ceiling and Floor Player Analysis: Reggie Bush

ESPN's James Walker gave me an idea earlier this week they they did a dream scenario and nightmare scenario for Miami's season, predicting that the Dolphins can finish at worst 2-14 and at best 9-7. Many people don't like it and while I'd probably say 5-11 is probably Miami's nightmare scenario and I can't see them finishing worse, I do think 9-7 or 10-6 is a good portrayal of Miami's ceiling in 2012. I keep 10-6 as a slight possibility because of an easy schedule, not because I think Miami is a team worthy of a 10-6 record.

Instead of getting into more analysis of the Dolphins as a team though, I am going to look at the worst and best case scenarios for individual players. I'm going to skip over the QB's here. Why? Because they all have a ceiling of being the starter and also have the floor of being the 3rd QB. That's why I'm going to fast forward to the RB's. Reggie Bush is up first!

Floor: Reggie Bush struggles with durability and has trouble with Miami's new zone blocking scheme. His difficulty to stay healthy and pick up the new scheme allows other Dolphin backs, whether it be Daniel Thomas or Lamar Miller, to become more involved in the offense and instead of seeing Bush become the focal point of Miami's offense in 2012, we see him being pushed to the side. Ultimately, many realize by November or December that it's unlikely Bush would be re-signed in 2013 as the club decides to go in another direction at RB. Stats: 450 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards, 4 TDs.

Ceiling: Bush picks up where he left off in 2011 and thrives in Miami's new rushing scheme in which requires the RB to be patient, make a cut, and then go. His speed and athleticism makes him a huge threat on traps and sweets, but his patience pays off tremendously as he reads inside lanes opening as well in an improved offensive line. Bush becomes a nightmare for teams to handle and he people remember why Bush was drafted so high in 2006. His performances prevent the Dolphins from giving significant touches to Thomas or Miller. Stats: 1,300 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving, 12 total TDs.