Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Hines Ward Article
ode to a warrior
One of the favorite ongoing discussions/debates amongst us great and knowledgeable Pittsburgh sports fans is the future Hall of Fame status of current Steelers. Every fan of every team has a list of players that they think are bronze bust worthy, and I will maintain my previously stated position that I believe the current roster includes three future HOF'ers: Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, and Hines Ward. I will refrain from using the word "lock", as I wish other fans would, simply, because all three of these gentleman are still not complete bodies of work and they all must continue along their progressive paths to Canton.
To fully understand and enjoy this debate, one must first appreciate that the NFL Hall of Fame is clearly the most selective of all sports Nirvanas. I think one of the pitfalls that we occasionally fall into is associating NFL HOF membership with the numbers driven halls like baseball or basketball. Numbers alone can get you into the NFL HOF, but they must be stellar. Ask a guy like Chris Carter.
There are few active NFL players that inspire greater Canton debate than Mr. Ward. With the Pro Bowl caliber numbers that #86 is shelling out thus far in 2009, he has now surpassed 850 career receptions and 10,000 career receiving yards. Great numbers, but in this day and age, certainly not enough to earn HOF induction. Take a look at this list of all time receptions leaders, and you will see the changes in trends over the years. In the glory days of Swann and Stallworth, 600 career receptions was an immortal milestone and worthy of a Canton bust. The NFL has steadily evolved into a pass happy league, and over time that threshold shifted to 700 catches, and now, I truly believe it would be tough for any current player to get inclusion with less than 900 grabs. With this continual air assault trend and improvements in sports medicine and conditioning systems which extend careers, there will eventually be a time when 1,000 receptions is the benchmark for HOF consideration.
This is where Ward becomes an intriguing study. Playing in a era dominated by offenses designed for more passes and catches, Ward has been the quiet understudy to the elite wideouts like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, Marvin Harrison, and Torry Holt. Most critics will quickly argue that Ward was simply not in this group, and never one of the best receivers of his generation. The fact that Ward is the prom night wallflower standing next to these radiant divas probably helps him. How so? Let me elaborate. The NFL media likes good stories. They like guys that are unique and can be held in exclusive categories. If these writers were zoologists, they would prefer the bizarre and differentiated creatures from the Galapagos Islands. (reference to the great MP). Ward is that strange and unusual animal.
Not necessarily a graceful strider with surgeon like fingertips, capable of making the human highlight film catches every Sunday, Ward is a delicate blend of average speed, great conditioning, acute savvy, Kevlar toughness, and eagle like field vision. Top these traits off with an undying desire to do whatever is necessary to help his team win, sprinkle on a triple helping of grit, and you have Hines Ward - possibly the most complete offensive player of his generation. The fact that Ward is closing in on 1,000 career receptions on a team that never employed West Coast offense tactics is amazing. Add the extra consideration that a huge chunk of Ward's prime years were in an offense led by some very average quarterbacks (aka the "Pre-Ben Era"), and it becomes more understandable of just why the HOF tag is now being used by folks not just in Western PA, but nationally. The simply reality is that if Big Ben breaks 4,000 passing yards this season, it will have been the first time in team history. Hines Ward has steadily amassed HOF caliber numbers in mostly ground attack offenses. Ward is not the jet-set gazelle like the Mosses and Holts. He is the working class guy. He's blue collar, not blue blood. He's the type of wideout that a city like Pittsburgh would crave...a linebacker stuffed inside a receiver's body.
Hines Ward wins. Ward plays big when big play is required. Think of all the epic come-from-behind wins that the Steelers have made over the last several seasons. These comebacks are generally associated with the heroics of Roethlisberger - and for the most part, rightfully so. But how many of those memorable drives involved at least one huge catch and run by #86. The play I'm describing is the one where he somehow finds that soft spot in a zone on a 3rd and something, makes that awkward body catch, and then extends the play by breaking a tackle or two. The play I'm depicting generally serves as an energizer to the rallying team. The guy has made a career off that kind of play alone, always with that signature smile on his face.
Ultimately, it will be Ward's role as the leading receiver on a consistently great team that serves as enhancement to his numbers, and earns him that bust. This is where the playing field begins to thin out dramatically: 2 Superbowl rings, 1 Superbowl MVP trophy, 14 post season games with 76 post season receptions. To date, Ward has been the leading receiver on 6 playoff teams, and 4 teams that reached the AFC Championship. These are the numbers that when combined with his growing regular season stats and his unmeasurables (down field blocking, All World persona) make him an NFL Hall of Famer. When folks will remember the great Steeler teams of the early 21st Century, they will first think of guys like Ben, Polamalu, and Hines Ward. If the 1970's was the golden era of Steeler football, then 2001 to the present must be the silver era. Ward is truly the only great standout spanning that entire period. He is a great player from a great team. That is what NFL writers look for, greatness on a great team. This is one of the factors that has lengthened offensive line anchorman Dermotti Dawson's tenure on the induction waiting list. He is associated with good teams, not great teams. The NFL media loves winners, and in a word, that is what Hines Ward is, a winner.
So, after clearly presenting all the evidence, ladies and gentlemen of the e-jury, I will now use that shunned word..."lock". Now, the burning question is when? First ballot selection is a rarity in the NFL, and that honor most likely won't be granted to an everyman like Ward. So when? This is a dynamic variable, and can be influenced by Ward and his mates. Ward's eventual induction day moves up with every catch, every touchdown, every Pro Bowl berth, and every deep post season run. Should he earn a third Superbowl ring, and gain 1,000 receptions and 100 TDs, I think a first ballot selection is a potential. Again, that likelihood may seem remote, but after watching this man overachieve for 12 years, what accomplishment wasn't (at some point) remote?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Tough Spot
How strangely ironic that the Steelers' loss to the greatly improved Cincy Bengals on Sunday came on a weekend sandwiched directly between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Were our beloved Black and Gold simply masquerading as NFL powerhouses in victories over Minnesota and Denver, now waiting to be roasted and carved like turkeys by the quality AFC teams, or was Sunday's debacle just a case of a good team disguised as a mediocre team? On a beautiful afternoon in which the Steelers celebrated Veterans Day by recognizing local heroes, the team looked like anything but the Band of Brothers that Ben Roethlisberger used as his rally cry catch phrase last season. (all apologies to all you Dick Winters fans).
At 6-3 and virtually 2 games behind the peeking Bungles, and now minus the service again of All World defender, Troy Polamalu, our boys in black find themselves in an awkwardly precarious predicament. A spot, however, they are somewhat accustomed to. We only need to turn the clocks back to 2005, when the team was banged up, struggling, and stagnant at 7-5, staring down the potential of a long off season. The response was an epic 7 game winning streak and a Superbowl victory. All this in a season in which the division was fittingly won by the Cincinnati Bengals. As a strange and possibly ironic footnote, this winning streak started just after a home loss to the Bengals, in a game that included a Cincy kick return for a TD.
Is that in the cards this year? Surely the team needs to win at least 5 of the final 7 contests to even sniff the playoffs, and probably more like 6 or 7 (with help) to resume their usual post as AFC North champs. Can this happen? Yes. Will this happen? Maybe. As Chris Berman often states in his annoying voice, "that's why they play the games." Anything can happen on any Sunday in the modern NFL. The Bengals can easily lose a few games. Somehow, I think that this Sunday in Oakland might be an upset special. Perhaps today's signing of lightning rod Larry Johnson will prove to be a mistake by Cincy, one that causes division in the clubhouse. Who knows...
As coach Tomlin maintains, we can only worry about ourselves. Now, more than ever this team needs leadership and heroics from Big Ben. Steeler Nation knows all too well that he is one of the few guys in this league capable of such a daunting task. The writers and readers of this column continually clamor for Ben's inclusion in the 'elite' talks. It's now his time to prove that he is truly worthy of the membership, and not just another guy wearing a mask.
I'll await the barrage of comments...
At 6-3 and virtually 2 games behind the peeking Bungles, and now minus the service again of All World defender, Troy Polamalu, our boys in black find themselves in an awkwardly precarious predicament. A spot, however, they are somewhat accustomed to. We only need to turn the clocks back to 2005, when the team was banged up, struggling, and stagnant at 7-5, staring down the potential of a long off season. The response was an epic 7 game winning streak and a Superbowl victory. All this in a season in which the division was fittingly won by the Cincinnati Bengals. As a strange and possibly ironic footnote, this winning streak started just after a home loss to the Bengals, in a game that included a Cincy kick return for a TD.
Is that in the cards this year? Surely the team needs to win at least 5 of the final 7 contests to even sniff the playoffs, and probably more like 6 or 7 (with help) to resume their usual post as AFC North champs. Can this happen? Yes. Will this happen? Maybe. As Chris Berman often states in his annoying voice, "that's why they play the games." Anything can happen on any Sunday in the modern NFL. The Bengals can easily lose a few games. Somehow, I think that this Sunday in Oakland might be an upset special. Perhaps today's signing of lightning rod Larry Johnson will prove to be a mistake by Cincy, one that causes division in the clubhouse. Who knows...
As coach Tomlin maintains, we can only worry about ourselves. Now, more than ever this team needs leadership and heroics from Big Ben. Steeler Nation knows all too well that he is one of the few guys in this league capable of such a daunting task. The writers and readers of this column continually clamor for Ben's inclusion in the 'elite' talks. It's now his time to prove that he is truly worthy of the membership, and not just another guy wearing a mask.
I'll await the barrage of comments...
Friday, November 13, 2009
Mid Term Grades
For the third time in three seasons Mike Tomlin and the Steelers find themselves at 6-2 at mid season. In keeping the tradition of virtually every sports news outlet, PittsburghFan is once again prepared to issue mid term grades for our Black and Gold. Helping out this year with the grading will be our very own MP and JD McNugent. Away we go...
OFFENSE:
Quarterback:
Briwatt: A-
MP: A
JD: B+
MP: "Ben continues to grow as one of the elite."
Running Backs:
Briwatt: B
MP: B+
JD: B
Briwatt: "Rashard Mendenhall responded very well to Tomlin's challenge. Mewelde Moore proving again to be a versatile and important role to the offense. Can Willie make one more dash as a Steeler..."
WR/TE's:
Briwatt: A-
MP: A
JD: A
MP: "Addition of #17 makes them dangerous."
JD: "Ward and Holmes have been unstoppable while Miller has been clutch. Wallace now puts them over the top."
Offensive Line:
Briwatt: A-
MP: B
JD: B+
Briwatt: "Unheralded group that may be unjustly critiqued for last season's shortcomings. Consider that Ben holds the ball to ridiculous lengths at times before judging this crew on sack totals. Since Week 2 the run blocking has been up to the high standards set for a Black and Gold line."
DEFENSE:
Defensive Line:
Briwatt: B+
MP: B
JD: B
MP: "Given the injuries (Smith, Kirshke), perhaps this rating might be higher."
Linebackers:
Briwatt: A-
MP: B
JD: A
Briwatt:"After a sluggish start, this elite group is once again the heart and soul of the Steelers defense. Expect more from Woodley in the second half. Fox adds depth."
JD: "Harrison is a stud, Farrior is a tackling machine...now let's get Timmons healthy."
Defensive Backs:
Briwatt: C+
MP: B-
JD: A
Briwatt:"Potentially the Achilles heel. Loss of McFadden compromises depth. A healthy Polamalu makes up for a lot, however."
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kickers/Punters:
Briwatt: B-
MP: B
JD: C
MP: "Still thinking about Chicago."
Return Units:
Briwatt: B-
MP: B-
JD: C
MP: "The big return against us still feels like it could happen at any moment."
COACHING:
Briwatt: A-
MP: B+
JD: A
JD: "In his third season, head coach Mike Tomlin has done a great job of forgetting he just won the superbowl. He has a five game winning streak after a 1-2 start. He has his team focused and on point like never before."
OVERALL:
At 6-2, this team is on pace to equal last season's 12-4 mark. That may be where the comparisons end. This team has a whole new look and feel, with an offense emerging and transforming alongside of it's blue chip quarterback. The team is just starting to play at the level it's capable of playing, on both of the ball. The special teams are still shaky, despite the return of punting phenom Daniel Sepulveda. All in all, this team is exactly where Coach Tomlin wants it to be...in the hunt and "on the rise".
GRADE: A-
OFFENSE:
Quarterback:
Briwatt: A-
MP: A
JD: B+
MP: "Ben continues to grow as one of the elite."
Running Backs:
Briwatt: B
MP: B+
JD: B
Briwatt: "Rashard Mendenhall responded very well to Tomlin's challenge. Mewelde Moore proving again to be a versatile and important role to the offense. Can Willie make one more dash as a Steeler..."
WR/TE's:
Briwatt: A-
MP: A
JD: A
MP: "Addition of #17 makes them dangerous."
JD: "Ward and Holmes have been unstoppable while Miller has been clutch. Wallace now puts them over the top."
Offensive Line:
Briwatt: A-
MP: B
JD: B+
Briwatt: "Unheralded group that may be unjustly critiqued for last season's shortcomings. Consider that Ben holds the ball to ridiculous lengths at times before judging this crew on sack totals. Since Week 2 the run blocking has been up to the high standards set for a Black and Gold line."
DEFENSE:
Defensive Line:
Briwatt: B+
MP: B
JD: B
MP: "Given the injuries (Smith, Kirshke), perhaps this rating might be higher."
Linebackers:
Briwatt: A-
MP: B
JD: A
Briwatt:"After a sluggish start, this elite group is once again the heart and soul of the Steelers defense. Expect more from Woodley in the second half. Fox adds depth."
JD: "Harrison is a stud, Farrior is a tackling machine...now let's get Timmons healthy."
Defensive Backs:
Briwatt: C+
MP: B-
JD: A
Briwatt:"Potentially the Achilles heel. Loss of McFadden compromises depth. A healthy Polamalu makes up for a lot, however."
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Kickers/Punters:
Briwatt: B-
MP: B
JD: C
MP: "Still thinking about Chicago."
Return Units:
Briwatt: B-
MP: B-
JD: C
MP: "The big return against us still feels like it could happen at any moment."
COACHING:
Briwatt: A-
MP: B+
JD: A
JD: "In his third season, head coach Mike Tomlin has done a great job of forgetting he just won the superbowl. He has a five game winning streak after a 1-2 start. He has his team focused and on point like never before."
OVERALL:
At 6-2, this team is on pace to equal last season's 12-4 mark. That may be where the comparisons end. This team has a whole new look and feel, with an offense emerging and transforming alongside of it's blue chip quarterback. The team is just starting to play at the level it's capable of playing, on both of the ball. The special teams are still shaky, despite the return of punting phenom Daniel Sepulveda. All in all, this team is exactly where Coach Tomlin wants it to be...in the hunt and "on the rise".
GRADE: A-
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Mile High Massacre
TO: All NFL Teams
FROM: The Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club
SUBJECT: Notice of Intention to Destroy, Maim, and Embarrass
DATE: Now
Serve the notice again. For the second time in two games the Pittsburgh Steelers reminded the entire world of just who the reigning Superbowl champs are. Last night's notice came at the expense of a very good (although somewhat overvalued) Denver squad, in probably the hardest NFL road venue. In what was clearly the best overall effort of the season, the Steelers pulverized a 6-1, 1st place team in front of their faithful fans,...well, let me clarify that: in front of the 70% of the house that was not wearing Black and Gold.
In keeping with my mid term grades posting (due out later this week), I'll kick it back to the classroom and say that a few lessons were learned last night: 1) The continual studio debate of Big Ben's 'elite' status is getting really old. Ron Jaworski's pre-game comparisons between the Large One and nerdy Kyle Orton should have provoked extreme nausea in any knowledgeable fan. 2) The Broncos are clearly not a Superbowl contender. It will only be a few more weeks until the vast majority of Orange Crush Nation begins to vilify the front office and their new head coach for pissing off the bratty Jay Cutler and forcing the trade for the someday journeyman Orton. Didn't the long tenure of John Elway show the mile high morons that blue chip QB's just don't grow on trees? 3) A healthy Troy Polamalu makes this Steeler defense lethal once again. 4) The only thing fast about Willie Parker these days is how fast he has plummeted off the radar screen. Rashard Mendenhall's talent and Melwelde Moore's unique ability to not fumble have transformed FWP into a memory.
With Sunday's showdown with the greatly improved Cincy Bungles, the Steelers will once again be under the spotlight of the big stage. Emergence with a victory would leave the team at 7-2 and alone atop the AFC North. The plot thickens.
GAME BALLS:
Bruce Arians/Dick Lebeau. Hats off to both coordinators for dialing up the right game plan on both sides of the ball, and more importantly, not abandoning these plans when things weren't going so well early.
Troy Polamalu. The iconic 80's hair metal band, Cinderella, once crooned "Don't Know What You Got (till it's Gone)", and truer words were never spoken. It took me six+ years to finally understand the overall impact that #43 plays in this defense. If he ain't 100% now, he's darn close, which is a great thing for Steeler fans and not such a great thing for AFC quarterbacks.
Steeler Nation. It's one thing when you see thousands of Terrible Towels swirling in Detroit or Cleveland, but it's clearly a whole new matter when a rock solid fan base like Denver gets audibly overpowered by visiting fans on Monday Night Football. The panoramic camera shot that ESPN took in the waning moments last night, showing just joyous Steeler fans and empty seats, should have brought a little pride to every citizen of Steeler Nation. Well done.
Send me your comments and game balls...
FROM: The Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club
SUBJECT: Notice of Intention to Destroy, Maim, and Embarrass
DATE: Now
Serve the notice again. For the second time in two games the Pittsburgh Steelers reminded the entire world of just who the reigning Superbowl champs are. Last night's notice came at the expense of a very good (although somewhat overvalued) Denver squad, in probably the hardest NFL road venue. In what was clearly the best overall effort of the season, the Steelers pulverized a 6-1, 1st place team in front of their faithful fans,...well, let me clarify that: in front of the 70% of the house that was not wearing Black and Gold.
In keeping with my mid term grades posting (due out later this week), I'll kick it back to the classroom and say that a few lessons were learned last night: 1) The continual studio debate of Big Ben's 'elite' status is getting really old. Ron Jaworski's pre-game comparisons between the Large One and nerdy Kyle Orton should have provoked extreme nausea in any knowledgeable fan. 2) The Broncos are clearly not a Superbowl contender. It will only be a few more weeks until the vast majority of Orange Crush Nation begins to vilify the front office and their new head coach for pissing off the bratty Jay Cutler and forcing the trade for the someday journeyman Orton. Didn't the long tenure of John Elway show the mile high morons that blue chip QB's just don't grow on trees? 3) A healthy Troy Polamalu makes this Steeler defense lethal once again. 4) The only thing fast about Willie Parker these days is how fast he has plummeted off the radar screen. Rashard Mendenhall's talent and Melwelde Moore's unique ability to not fumble have transformed FWP into a memory.
With Sunday's showdown with the greatly improved Cincy Bungles, the Steelers will once again be under the spotlight of the big stage. Emergence with a victory would leave the team at 7-2 and alone atop the AFC North. The plot thickens.
GAME BALLS:
Bruce Arians/Dick Lebeau. Hats off to both coordinators for dialing up the right game plan on both sides of the ball, and more importantly, not abandoning these plans when things weren't going so well early.
Troy Polamalu. The iconic 80's hair metal band, Cinderella, once crooned "Don't Know What You Got (till it's Gone)", and truer words were never spoken. It took me six+ years to finally understand the overall impact that #43 plays in this defense. If he ain't 100% now, he's darn close, which is a great thing for Steeler fans and not such a great thing for AFC quarterbacks.
Steeler Nation. It's one thing when you see thousands of Terrible Towels swirling in Detroit or Cleveland, but it's clearly a whole new matter when a rock solid fan base like Denver gets audibly overpowered by visiting fans on Monday Night Football. The panoramic camera shot that ESPN took in the waning moments last night, showing just joyous Steeler fans and empty seats, should have brought a little pride to every citizen of Steeler Nation. Well done.
Send me your comments and game balls...
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