Transformers: Bush, Ginn, Breaston, Hester … so much speed, so much more—and so many of them at the same time

Matt Hayes

It's almost too delectable to imagine: Ted Ginn nearly went to Southern California.

Reggie Bush and Ted Ginn on the same team. In the same wide receiver rotation. Next to each other returning kicks.

Holy Mother of Pigskin.

"I think he was a lot more interested than people think," Bush says.

The two players, who have transformed college football with their speed and game-breaking ability, could have been an absolutely sick duo as teammates. A moment of silence and reflection, please, for Pac-10 defensive coordinators.

"I'm happy with the decision I made," Ginn says.

Yeah, well, his Big Ten opponents aren't. In this era of spread offenses 1and sharing the wealth, the growing trend in college football is toward the Transformers--speedy, athletic, dual-threat athletes who can play just about anywhere on the field and change the momentum of a game quicker than you can say 4.3 40.

They are wideouts and cornerbacks and tailbacks and return specialists. They take direct snaps as quarterbacks. There have been times over the years when the game produced a singular versatile game breaker--Tim Brown, Desmond Howard, Rocket Ismail--but never like this and never so many at once.

There's Ginn, Ohio State's splendid sophomore wideout.

There's Michigan wideout Steve Breaston, Miami cornerback/tailback/return man Devin Hester and Boston College wideout/cornerback Will Blackmon.

And, of course, there is Bush, who started this revolution three years ago when then-USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow decided he wanted to get Bush as many touches as possible in a game to take advantage of his speed. So Bush played tailback and wide receiver. He returned punts and kicks and tried more than a few times to convince Chow to let him take a couple of snaps under center.

Although playfully badgering Chow never worked, one thing was clear: Give Bush the ball--and watch out. That, more than anything, is the key to the Transformers. It's about finding and creating matchups to use their speed, about isolating them in space and letting them fake and juke and pinball their way to the end zone.

Or, as Washington State coach Bill Doba so eloquently puts it: "If you've got a linebacker covering (Bush), you might as well start singing their right song."

There always have been fast players in the game; they just haven't always been used in so many ways. Ohio State has more than 10 formations--and various plays from each--for Ginn. USC has used Bush at tailback, slot back and wide receiver. Hester has lined up at wideout, tailback and cornerback; he also returns punts and kicks and is a kick-blocking specialist.

"Any time he's not on the field," says Miami offensive tackle Eric Winston, "it's a wasted play."

But as with every fad, everyone eventually catches up. We're barely three seasons into the era of the Transformers, and already defenses have adjusted. Texas took Ginn out of the game two weeks ago by shadowing him with a safety and knocking him off his routes with physical play at the line of scrimmage. In what eventually could prove to be the biggest game of the regular season, Ginn had 7 yards of offense: He caught two passes, dropped two passes and had one carry for a loss of 2 yards.

Notre Dame used a similar philosophy against Breaston, rolling a safety on top of the coverage and allowing the cornerback to play aggressively at the point of attack. And Bush? No one has figured out that one yet.

Look on the bright side: Those defenses could have been trying to deal with Bush and Ginn at the same time.

Transformers, NFL style

Pro teams have more specialized roles for their players than college teams do, but they also know when to take advantage of special talents.

Brian Westbrook, Eagles. If a linebacker, safety or cornerback doesn't account for where he lines up on the field on every down--as a halfback, slot receiver or wideout--it's very difficult to stop the Eagles' offense, which tries to get him about 20 touches per game.

Antwaan Randle El, Steelers. The former Indiana option quarterback, though undersized (5-10, 192), has made the transition to starting NFL wide receiver. As Pittsburgh's new No. 2 opposite Hines Ward, Randle El is taking advantage of single coverage as a deep playmaker--and his elusiveness makes him equally daunting on reverses and screens. He also is one of the game's most dangerous punt returners.

Steve Smith, Panthers. Clearly back to his full blazing speed after breaking his leg in the opener last season, Smith again is pulling double duty as Jake Delhomme's No. 1 big-play target and the team's top punt returner. Like Randle El, Smith (5-9,185) is a challenge to bring down in the open field after the catch.

Terrence McGee, Bills. McGee got to the Pro Bowl last season on the strength of returning three kickoffs for TDs. but he also emerged as a solid cover corner, recording three interceptions. In addition to the plays he makes with--and on-the ball, he is a good tackler.

Matt Jones, Jaguars. Jacksonville hasn't wasted any time making use of the athletic former Arkansas quarterback. In the opener, he was used as a wide receiver (his primary pro position), runner and passer. With his size (6-6,242), he poses a great mismatch for defensive backs in the red zone.--Vinnie Iyer

Rising threats

Derrick Williams, Fr., Penn State. JoePa swore he'd use his freshman star-and he has. Williams is averaging 15.2 yards on 21 touches through his first three games, but he still hasn't completely grasped the offense. Remember. it took Ted Ginn half of last season to feel comfortable. The goal by the end of the season for Williams is 16 touches per game.

DeSean Jackson, Fr., California. As coach Jeff Tedford's first true deep-threat receiver at Ca Jackson has a fantastic knowledge of the passing game and has quickly picked up Tedford's complex schemes. The staff wants to give Jackson more opportunities for kick and punt returns but only after he feels comfortable at wideout.

Darren McFadden, Fr., Arkansas. He's still learning the offense and won't be used in the passing game--yet--as Reggie Bush is used by USC, but McFadden has Bush's size, tremendous straight-line speed and return ability.

REGGIE BUSH

Southern California

Size: 6-0,200.

Fastest 40 time: 4.28.

Where he plays: tailback, slot back, wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner.

X's and O's: Bush is so strong on the jam at the line of scrimmage that the staff likes to spread the offense and split him wide against cornerbacks in man coverage. Whether it's a quick slant or a straight go pattern. Bush has the edge.

An NFL scout says: "There's no one in our league right now to compare him with. Whoever gets him will completely retool the offense to work around his talents."

TED GINN

Ohio State

Size: 6-0, 175.

Fastest 40 time: 4.29.

Where he plays: wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner.

X's and O's: Ohio State likes to use Ginn in the backfield in shotgun sets, forcing the defense to cover him with a linebacker or a safety. Most teams use a safety, which frees up the center of the field for the rest of the offense;

An NIL scout says: "You worry; about those guys with the long gait because they can be knocked off their routes and it's tough to adjust. Still with that speed and those moves, you can work with it."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

WILL BLACKMIN

Boston College

Size: 6-0, 202.

Fastest 40 time: 4.38.

Where he plays: wide receiver, cornerback, punt returner, kick returner.

X's and O's: He started playing wide receiver this past spring because the offense needed him. and he probably should have been playing there all along-even though he was one of the Big East's best cover corners.

An NIL scout Says: "I love hire. He's got attitude; he's got speed; he's a garner. Where does he play here? Your first instinct is corner because there are so few elite ones--and he can be an elite one. But it all depends on how well he adjusts to wide receiver."

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

DEVIN HESTER Miami

Size: 5-11, 186.

Fastest 40 time: 4.29.

Where he plays: cornerback, tailback, wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner.

X's and O's: When the Canes need a quick change of Pace, Hester will pay tailback and take a toss sweep to either side of the field or be the intended receiver on a halfback screen. Miami also uses plays designed to free him to shoot through gaps against field-goal attempts.

All NFL scout: says: "Where does he play? He's certainly not a receiver, and he just hasn't shown any natural ability to cover."

SKYLER GREEN LSU

Size: 5-9, 190.

Fastest 40 time: 4.33.

Where he plays: wide receiver, punt returner, kick Returner.

X's and O's: The Tigers will use reverses and screens not only to free him up but to put blockers in front to clear the way or provide a distraction long enough for Green's speed to take over.

An NFL scout says: "He's a small guy, but he has good hands and you can see that he knows what he's doing out there. He has game ability, and he has that speed. He's a perfect slot receiver in this league."

Ranking the scary six

1 Reggie Bush, Southern California. What separates him from everyone else: He's a rock. He won't get pushed around and won't get caught once he gets through the front seven of a defense.

2 Ted Ginn, Ohio State. His long stride and fluid motion are perfect for reverses and option plays and devastating on returns.

3 Will Blackmon, Boston College. The most underrated player of the group, Blackmon plays as many as 70 to 80 plays per game at receiver and cornerback and as a kick and punt returner.

4 Steve Breaston, Michigan. He has worked to become a disciplined receiver, making his speed even more dangerous.

5 Devin Hester, Miami. One big problem: He doesn't do anything particularly well on offense or defense. But, oh, those special teams.

6 Skyler Green, LSU. Green played most of last season hurt, but he was the nation's most dangerous return man in 2003.

High school transformers

Look for these Class of 2006 recruits to break open college games in
the next few years.

                 Ht/Wt.     40 time   High school/city

Percy Harvin     6-1/188    4.4       Landstown/Virginia Beach, Va.
Harvin is a combination of Reggie Bush and Ted Ginn but with more
speed. He is electric with the ball in his hands, putting up 475 yards
of total offense in the state championship game as a junior.
Jamere Holland   6-1/175    4.35      Taft/Woodland Hills, Calif.
With a 100-meter time of 10.4 seconds, he's one of the fastest players
in the nation. As a junior, he averaged 26.7 yards per catch, making
him one of the nation's top game breakers.
Stafon Johnson   5-11/200   4.4       Dorsey/Los Angeles
When he plays on defense, big things happen--fumble recoveries,
interceptions, bone-crushing hits. When he's lined up on offense, his
coach says he runs like Herschel Walker.
LeSean McCoy     5-11/204   4.4       Bishop McDevitt/Harrisburg, Pa.
The nation's top running back prospect is a threat on any play because
he has great hands to go along with his hard-nosed running style and
explosive speed.--Jeremy Crabtree, Rivals.com

                 Top schools

Percy Harvin     Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Tennessee, USC
Harvin is a combination of Reggie Bush and Ted Ginn but with more
speed. He is electric with the ball in his hands, putting up 475 yards
of total offense in the state championship game as a junior.
Jamere Holland   Arizona, California, Florida, LSU, Oregon, Oregon
                   State, Tennessee, Washington State
With a 100-meter time of 10.4 seconds, he's one of the fastest players
in the nation. As a junior, he averaged 26.7 yards per catch, making
him one of the nation's top game breakers.
Stafon Johnson   California, Florida, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Tennessee,
                   USC
When he plays on defense, big things happen--fumble recoveries,
interceptions, bone-crushing hits. When he's lined up on offense, his
coach says he runs like Herschel Walker.
LeSean McCoy     Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee,
                   Virginia Tech
The nation's top running back prospect is a threat on any play because
he has great hands to go along with his hard-nosed running style and
explosive speed.--Jeremy Crabtree, Rivals.com

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