Bush could make big impact

Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was asked what he was looking for out of Michael Bush going into the team's first preseason game. "Run physical, run hard," Kiffin said. "He is the one big guy that we have, and if he can do what we hope he can do then we will be in a good position there." Playing in his first game since he was in college for Louisville in 2006, Bush gave the Raiders' offense a lift, running for 27 yards on eight carries and catching two passes for 29 yards in an 18-6 win at McAfee Coliseum. The Raiders mounted a scoring drive in the third quarter, going 75 yards in 13 plays for their first offensive touchdown. Bush was the key to this drive as he caught a screen pass and went for 23 yards. Then on a fourth-and-one play on the 49ers' 5-yard line, Bush plowed his way into the end zone. "I felt really good," Bush said Wednesday at training camp. "It's been almost two years." Bush, a running back who was selected by the Raiders out of Louisville in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, missed all of last year's rookie season as he was on the physically unable to perform list because of the injury that ended his college career. "It's just one of those things where it's something that you love to do, the drive and the will to get back on the field and play in front of all the fans," he said. "It's just a great atmosphere to be a part of — that's one thing that pushed me a lot." Bush rushed for 2,508 yards on 435 attempts, averaging 6.2 yards and scored 39 touchdowns during his college career. During the 2006 season, he gained 128 yards on 17 attempts, averaging 7.5 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns. His 2006 season had started successfully, as his first carry of the season was a 48-yard run for a touchdown in the Cardinals' rivalry game with Kentucky. He then scored two more touchdowns in the first half. But in the opening moments of the third quarter, he was tackled during a rushing play and suffered a broken right tibia, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. "My thing is that I'm trying to stay consistent and keep it up — and maybe my role will get better," he said. "I'm still letting everybody know that I'm healthy and I'm going to be OK and just keep doing what I've been doing. "I just want to contribute as much as possible. I love to run the ball. It's one of those things where you've got to wait your turn. If something happens, you've got to jump in when it's your turn and you've got to make sure not to make any mistakes and keep it going." Early in summer camp was the first time that Bush had put on full pads in about two years. "I enjoyed it a lot and I felt really good," said Bush, who is playing behind Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden. Camp, he said, is as much a mental test as it is physical, with daily practices and meetings. "It makes you dig down deep. It's one of those things where you've got to love the game to keep going through this. It tests your mental toughness." The Raiders' 248 rushing yards last week against the 49ers was pleasing to Kiffin, as Bush and other runners were productive. "It was really good to see him go back and forth with Darren, switching plays and what the two give you," said Kiffin. "I was very pleased with Michael. He looked pretty good. We've got something special with those running backs." In 2005, Bush's junior year at Louisville, he rushed for 1,143 yards on 205 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, scored 23 rushing touchdowns, and led NCAA Division I-A in scoring. He was also widely considered to be a preseason candidate for the 2006 Heisman Trophy. Bush said he felt sharp and fresh for the first exhibition game. "I looked at it as I was just gaining another yard — something that I would like to continue to keep doing," he said. "You've been going over a whole lot of reps in practice — you just go into a zone and focus and try to do what you've been coached to do." At Louisville, he set the school record for rushing touchdowns with 23 and points scored with 144.