Lulz, I've died so many times in 'sploding vehicles in Halo, especially in multiplayer. I always think I can take just one more hit.
I'd say Halo is a pretty easy game to get into for controller noobs. There's just enough target lock to get used to aiming properly, while the range of weapons does make space for spray-'n'-pray shooting. Don't be afraid to chuck your UNSC weapons when you're out of ammo, and grab some of the Covie stuff instead - the Needler, in particular, is a brilliant weapon, as is the Beam Rifle. And sticky grenades ftfw. You can also change up your tracking speed a lot - you might want to set it a little higher, and see how that works for you.
I spent the entire weekend parked on my couch playing Halo: Reach. If you enjoy ODST, you'll love Reach.