I HATE this signing.
If they think they'll replace Burress with this guy, they're nuts. Wilson is a decent WR, but he won't bring the threat that Burress did. Not even close.
Hines Ward will no longer face single coverage against the other team's second best corner, and the entire offense is going to lose out on this one.
Threat? What threat?The threat to catch a whopping 35 balls in a SINGLE season? The threat to average 800 yards and 4 TDs in a season? OH, I got it! The threat to spike the ball and fumble when he is not even been tackled! You must mean that kind of threat.......
First, the team as a whole didn't pass a lot. In his starts with Roethlisberger in there, Burress was on a pace right around 65-1150-8, and that's DAMN good considering how little the Steelers passed the ball. Burress played VERY well this year aside from the time he missed with a hamstring injury.Second, his averages per season that you present there include his rookie season, in which he had an injured hand and barely played. It also includes his 2003 season that was a disaster for the entire offense because of an injured OL. His averages mean very little to me, because the only season he spent with a good passing attack ended with a season around 80-1300-8.
He had over 1,000 yards as a 2nd year receiver, and he has a 1300 yard season under his belt. Put him on a team that passes the ball and watch him become a star.
And the threat of Burress on the field was enough to get the attention of every defensive coordinator the Steelers played. Just him being on the field opened things up for the passing and running game. Take a look at Ward's numbers in games Burress missed.
And let the spike thing go. It's been a long time.