Does he rebound to his normal production or are his 1st 3 games a reflection of the kind of season we can expect from him this year. Before the season began, I expected the Steelers to evolve into more of a passing offense (with Ward being a big part of that), which hasn't happened yet with Ben injured and struggling. Has anyone seen Ward play the last 2 games with Ben comment on how he looks and if his hamstring problems from pre-season are behind him.
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Hines Ward - Will he bounce back? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter pfalvey
- Start date
Otter
Footballguy
Ward has a nagging hamstring injury, which he had since training camp. That, coupled with the horrible play of Roethlisberger, has really affected his play on the field. I've always liked Hines as a #2 WR (a very good one), but he doesn't have the downfield speed to be a true #1 WR. What is hurting him more than anything is Cedrick Wilson, who absolutely sucks. Most teams can double Hines and eliminate his threat. To answer your question, it all depends on Roethlisberger and the play of the other WR. Maybe Holmes will crack the starting lineup, or maybe even Nate Washington. I think Hines' hammy will heal, but unless someone else starts catching the ball, then it's going to be a long season.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
WR's don't forget how to play. When Ben gets better, so will Hines. Ben is just so s-l-o-w to get rid of the ball, looks like one of those pitchers from the 1920's with his windup. If he doesn't pick up his game, and the stats (especially TD's to INT's) from the end of the season last year to now are very troubling, the Steelers are toast.
AcousticNut
Footballguy
I think that Ward is a tremendous Buy Low right now. Ben has been slow to start due to the motorcycle and the appendix surgury. Hines has been slowed up due to the hamstring. I think the bye week this week gives both of them a chance to work together to get healthy and get their timing down.
Look for Hines to start picking it up.
Look for Hines to start picking it up.
I'm thinking of trading A. Gates for Ward. I have LJ Smith at TE also, so I won't miss Gates too much. Outside of Muhamed and Jennings, my only real option for WR3 is Rod Smith, Jurevicious or B. Lloyd -not too strong. Ward "could" provide a real upgrade at WR without losing much at TE. It is a PPR league and WR is the 1 position my team is noticebly weak in, with E. Manning at QB, Tomlinson & W.Parker at RB's. I'm not that concerned with trading Gates, I just want to make sure I get production in return so I don't continue with holes at WR.
ditka85
Footballguy
Hines production is tied directly to Big Ben. Ben has looked awful so far, repeatedly missing open receivers. Wonder how much these injuries are affecting him.
Calling Pitt homers! I didn't see any Pitt preseason games. Did Ben look this bad? Did he play at all in the preseason?
Calling Pitt homers! I didn't see any Pitt preseason games. Did Ben look this bad? Did he play at all in the preseason?
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Godsbrother
Footballguy
I am not sure how you can call a team that won more games over the past 2 years than any other team in the league a farce but if it makes you feel better...Now back on topic: Ward missed virtually all of training camp and played 0 preseason games. Roethlisberger played sparingly in the preseason and then missed the next two weeks, including the first game of the regular season. I just don't think Ben and Ward had much time to get on the same page.Now they've had the BYE week I expect Ben's play to be much better and so Ward should benefit. The big concern for Ward owners should be whether or not the other Steeler receivers can step up their game so Ward doesn't get double coverage on every pass play.Sabertooth said:I think Ward will suck as long as his QB does. And that will be the entire season. Ben's hubris has finally caught up to him and his arrogant attitude is finally coming home to roost.He's had unbelievable good fortune since being in the league and the Steelers are simply regressing to the mean in the good fortune department. Sounds kind of silly but it's true. Kind of like the Buccaneers. Played way over their heads last season. Now, they are shown for the farce that they really are.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Ben played sparingly in preseason but looked really good. Ben's play was actually the biggest highlight of training camp and the preseason for the Steelers. The appendicitis came out of nowhere and took it's toll on him and the Steelers offense.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
I was calling Tampa a farce, not Pittsburgh.I am not sure how you can call a team that won more games over the past 2 years than any other team in the league a farce but if it makes you feel better...Now back on topic: Ward missed virtually all of training camp and played 0 preseason games. Roethlisberger played sparingly in the preseason and then missed the next two weeks, including the first game of the regular season. I just don't think Ben and Ward had much time to get on the same page.Now they've had the BYE week I expect Ben's play to be much better and so Ward should benefit. The big concern for Ward owners should be whether or not the other Steeler receivers can step up their game so Ward doesn't get double coverage on every pass play.Sabertooth said:I think Ward will suck as long as his QB does. And that will be the entire season. Ben's hubris has finally caught up to him and his arrogant attitude is finally coming home to roost.He's had unbelievable good fortune since being in the league and the Steelers are simply regressing to the mean in the good fortune department. Sounds kind of silly but it's true. Kind of like the Buccaneers. Played way over their heads last season. Now, they are shown for the farce that they really are.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
oh. sorry...I was calling Tampa a farce, not Pittsburgh.I am not sure how you can call a team that won more games over the past 2 years than any other team in the league a farce but if it makes you feel better...Now back on topic: Ward missed virtually all of training camp and played 0 preseason games. Roethlisberger played sparingly in the preseason and then missed the next two weeks, including the first game of the regular season. I just don't think Ben and Ward had much time to get on the same page.Now they've had the BYE week I expect Ben's play to be much better and so Ward should benefit. The big concern for Ward owners should be whether or not the other Steeler receivers can step up their game so Ward doesn't get double coverage on every pass play.Sabertooth said:I think Ward will suck as long as his QB does. And that will be the entire season. Ben's hubris has finally caught up to him and his arrogant attitude is finally coming home to roost.He's had unbelievable good fortune since being in the league and the Steelers are simply regressing to the mean in the good fortune department. Sounds kind of silly but it's true. Kind of like the Buccaneers. Played way over their heads last season. Now, they are shown for the farce that they really are.
Pied Piper
Footballguy
AcousticNut said:
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Don't tell your brother, ok?oh. sorry...I was calling Tampa a farce, not Pittsburgh.I am not sure how you can call a team that won more games over the past 2 years than any other team in the league a farce but if it makes you feel better...Now back on topic: Ward missed virtually all of training camp and played 0 preseason games. Roethlisberger played sparingly in the preseason and then missed the next two weeks, including the first game of the regular season. I just don't think Ben and Ward had much time to get on the same page.Now they've had the BYE week I expect Ben's play to be much better and so Ward should benefit. The big concern for Ward owners should be whether or not the other Steeler receivers can step up their game so Ward doesn't get double coverage on every pass play.Sabertooth said:I think Ward will suck as long as his QB does. And that will be the entire season. Ben's hubris has finally caught up to him and his arrogant attitude is finally coming home to roost.He's had unbelievable good fortune since being in the league and the Steelers are simply regressing to the mean in the good fortune department. Sounds kind of silly but it's true. Kind of like the Buccaneers. Played way over their heads last season. Now, they are shown for the farce that they really are.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
I won't but he's got that omnipresence down pretty good...Don't tell your brother, ok?oh. sorry...I was calling Tampa a farce, not Pittsburgh.I am not sure how you can call a team that won more games over the past 2 years than any other team in the league a farce but if it makes you feel better...Now back on topic: Ward missed virtually all of training camp and played 0 preseason games. Roethlisberger played sparingly in the preseason and then missed the next two weeks, including the first game of the regular season. I just don't think Ben and Ward had much time to get on the same page.Now they've had the BYE week I expect Ben's play to be much better and so Ward should benefit. The big concern for Ward owners should be whether or not the other Steeler receivers can step up their game so Ward doesn't get double coverage on every pass play.Sabertooth said:I think Ward will suck as long as his QB does. And that will be the entire season. Ben's hubris has finally caught up to him and his arrogant attitude is finally coming home to roost.He's had unbelievable good fortune since being in the league and the Steelers are simply regressing to the mean in the good fortune department. Sounds kind of silly but it's true. Kind of like the Buccaneers. Played way over their heads last season. Now, they are shown for the farce that they really are.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
There, I deleted the original posting. Hopefully he was watching the middle east this morning.I won't but he's got that omnipresence down pretty good...Don't tell your brother, ok?oh. sorry...I was calling Tampa a farce, not Pittsburgh.I am not sure how you can call a team that won more games over the past 2 years than any other team in the league a farce but if it makes you feel better...Now back on topic: Ward missed virtually all of training camp and played 0 preseason games. Roethlisberger played sparingly in the preseason and then missed the next two weeks, including the first game of the regular season. I just don't think Ben and Ward had much time to get on the same page.Now they've had the BYE week I expect Ben's play to be much better and so Ward should benefit. The big concern for Ward owners should be whether or not the other Steeler receivers can step up their game so Ward doesn't get double coverage on every pass play.Sabertooth said:I think Ward will suck as long as his QB does. And that will be the entire season. Ben's hubris has finally caught up to him and his arrogant attitude is finally coming home to roost.He's had unbelievable good fortune since being in the league and the Steelers are simply regressing to the mean in the good fortune department. Sounds kind of silly but it's true. Kind of like the Buccaneers. Played way over their heads last season. Now, they are shown for the farce that they really are.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Also, has anyone noticed that Hines' stats have faded considerably since the rise of Big Ben... just saying I wouldn't expect a major correction.
⚡DEADHEAD⚡
Footballguy
I do expect a better reception to target percentage of 34.6, IIRC.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
After the disappointing 2003 season where they opened up the offense considerably, the Steelers got back to what they do best: run the ball. Because of this, Hines Ward's numbers took a hit (though he did have 11 TDs last year, his second highest ever).Going into this season, many thought the Steelers would loosen the strings on Ben and allow him to throw more often. This was based on how well it worked down the stretch last season and especially in the postseason. And that is the way it looked in the limited playing time that Ben saw in the preseason where they were showing a lot of hurry-up offense with Ben audiblizing at the line ala Peyton Manning.So far in the regular season it has not come to fruition. My guess is that the appendicitis had a lot to do with that but maybe they've pulled back a little or never intended to open up the offense at all. The one thing I do expect to see turnaround is Ben's horrible passer rating. Ben has been an efficient passer and pretty good protecting the ball so I will be surprised if he doesn't improve in that department. That should mean good things for Ward.
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