Why Hines Ward is THE best WR in the NFL
Why Hines Ward is THE best WR in the NFL
Ward blocks out reputation as a player to watch
Sunday, November 11, 2007
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
This actually happened during a second-half timeout at the Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game Monday night:
Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed got in Steelers receiver Hines Ward's face, not to confront him but to congratulate him on the brain-jarring block Ward put on him in the second quarter.
"All week, we talked as a group about you not getting us," Reed told Ward. "Well, apparently, you got me."
From what Reed can remember, anyway.
"Yeah, that's exactly what he said. 'From what I can remember ...' " Ward said, gleefully.
Can you imagine that? Surely, defensive backs talk each week in the film room about not letting a Randy Moss beat them deep. But how many sit around and discuss their physical survival against a wide receiver?
Only those who are getting ready to play against Ward.
"Hines is one of a kind," Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend was saying last week. "No other receiver in the league is that intimidating. He not only can get you benched by catching passes and scoring touchdowns against you. He can knock you out of the game with a hit. That's a tough combination to beat. That's why there's not a more complete wide receiver in the league than Hines."
Townsend grinned.
"I've always said he was a little bit off. Those hits the other night prove it."
Notice the man said hits, plural.
"The way Hines knocks people on their backs, they should just line him up in a three-point stance next to me," Steelers All-Pro guard Alan Faneca said.
Moments before Ward took out Reed and left him temporarily woozy with a block that lifted him completely off his feet and on to his back, his head slamming against the Heinz Field turf, Ward dropped linebacker Bart Scott in an equally fierce collision. Scott was chasing Steelers running back Willie Parker and didn't see Ward coming. Ward sent him flying, much to Ward's delight -- he did two Tiger Woods fist pumps -- and the delight of the all-time Steelers greats who were in town for the franchise's 75th season celebration. Terry Bradshaw practically howled with joy on the sideline.
"[Ward] plays the game the way it's supposed to be played," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's why he's part of that [all-time] group."
For Ward, the hit on Scott was poetic justice. Sure, Scott was the guy who drilled Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Baltimore last season, then bragged incessantly of his pleasure when he felt all of the air rush out of Big Ben's body. But there was another reason. It turns out Scott had put a ferocious tackle on Ward early in the game Monday night.
"Look at this," Ward said, pulling up his shirt to reveal a hideous black-and-purple welt on his left side. "That's Bart Scott."
Ward figures the two are even, but Scott probably doesn't see it that way. He bounced up from Ward's block and starting clapping as if to applaud him for the big hit. But he wasn't saying nice things.
"He didn't like it," Ward said. "He told me he was going to kill me. 'Payback is a [son of a gun].' "
Ward shrugged.
"I'll hit him again if I get the chance."
That's the mindset Ward will take into the big game against the Cleveland Browns today. That's his mindset every week, actually.
"Listen, we might only throw the ball 16 times a game in this offense," Ward said. "One guy isn't going to catch all 16 balls. You might only have three or four thrown to you. So, if you still want to contribute, you have to do something to help in other areas."
Ward's willingness to give up his body on blocks isn't lost on his teammates. They go nuts when they see his hits on tape the day after a game. As Faneca put it, "They make you hit the rewind button a couple of times."
The way Faneca has it figured, Ward doesn't even have to make a block to have an impact on the game.
"He adds an element that defenses don't usually have to prepare for. Cornerbacks and safeties usually think they have a clear shot to come up and make a tackle, but that's not necessarily a given against Hines. Even if he doesn't get you, you're still looking for him. You might be a step slower to the ball. By that time, Willie [Parker] has gained 2 or 3 extra yards."
It's safe to say the Browns' defensive backs spent time this week discussing Ward. They didn't need to see his hits on Reed and Scott. In the Steelers' 34-7 win at Cleveland Sept. 9, he knocked cornerback Daven Holly into next week with a hit that both the officials and the NFL office decided was late and the Browns thought was blatantly cheap.
The Steelers were penalized 15 yards for the play and Ward was fined $5,000.
Ward didn't like it. "I had committed to making that hit. There was no turning back. I'm not going to apologize for that ..."
Then again, $5,000 is a small price to pay for a reputation.
Ron Cook can be reached at [email protected].
First published on November 11, 2007 at 12:00 am
Sunday, November 11, 2007
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
This actually happened during a second-half timeout at the Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game Monday night:
Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed got in Steelers receiver Hines Ward's face, not to confront him but to congratulate him on the brain-jarring block Ward put on him in the second quarter.
"All week, we talked as a group about you not getting us," Reed told Ward. "Well, apparently, you got me."
From what Reed can remember, anyway.
"Yeah, that's exactly what he said. 'From what I can remember ...' " Ward said, gleefully.
Can you imagine that? Surely, defensive backs talk each week in the film room about not letting a Randy Moss beat them deep. But how many sit around and discuss their physical survival against a wide receiver?
Only those who are getting ready to play against Ward.
"Hines is one of a kind," Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend was saying last week. "No other receiver in the league is that intimidating. He not only can get you benched by catching passes and scoring touchdowns against you. He can knock you out of the game with a hit. That's a tough combination to beat. That's why there's not a more complete wide receiver in the league than Hines."
Townsend grinned.
"I've always said he was a little bit off. Those hits the other night prove it."
Notice the man said hits, plural.
"The way Hines knocks people on their backs, they should just line him up in a three-point stance next to me," Steelers All-Pro guard Alan Faneca said.
Moments before Ward took out Reed and left him temporarily woozy with a block that lifted him completely off his feet and on to his back, his head slamming against the Heinz Field turf, Ward dropped linebacker Bart Scott in an equally fierce collision. Scott was chasing Steelers running back Willie Parker and didn't see Ward coming. Ward sent him flying, much to Ward's delight -- he did two Tiger Woods fist pumps -- and the delight of the all-time Steelers greats who were in town for the franchise's 75th season celebration. Terry Bradshaw practically howled with joy on the sideline.
"[Ward] plays the game the way it's supposed to be played," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "That's why he's part of that [all-time] group."
For Ward, the hit on Scott was poetic justice. Sure, Scott was the guy who drilled Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Baltimore last season, then bragged incessantly of his pleasure when he felt all of the air rush out of Big Ben's body. But there was another reason. It turns out Scott had put a ferocious tackle on Ward early in the game Monday night.
"Look at this," Ward said, pulling up his shirt to reveal a hideous black-and-purple welt on his left side. "That's Bart Scott."
Ward figures the two are even, but Scott probably doesn't see it that way. He bounced up from Ward's block and starting clapping as if to applaud him for the big hit. But he wasn't saying nice things.
"He didn't like it," Ward said. "He told me he was going to kill me. 'Payback is a [son of a gun].' "
Ward shrugged.
"I'll hit him again if I get the chance."
That's the mindset Ward will take into the big game against the Cleveland Browns today. That's his mindset every week, actually.
"Listen, we might only throw the ball 16 times a game in this offense," Ward said. "One guy isn't going to catch all 16 balls. You might only have three or four thrown to you. So, if you still want to contribute, you have to do something to help in other areas."
Ward's willingness to give up his body on blocks isn't lost on his teammates. They go nuts when they see his hits on tape the day after a game. As Faneca put it, "They make you hit the rewind button a couple of times."
The way Faneca has it figured, Ward doesn't even have to make a block to have an impact on the game.
"He adds an element that defenses don't usually have to prepare for. Cornerbacks and safeties usually think they have a clear shot to come up and make a tackle, but that's not necessarily a given against Hines. Even if he doesn't get you, you're still looking for him. You might be a step slower to the ball. By that time, Willie [Parker] has gained 2 or 3 extra yards."
It's safe to say the Browns' defensive backs spent time this week discussing Ward. They didn't need to see his hits on Reed and Scott. In the Steelers' 34-7 win at Cleveland Sept. 9, he knocked cornerback Daven Holly into next week with a hit that both the officials and the NFL office decided was late and the Browns thought was blatantly cheap.
The Steelers were penalized 15 yards for the play and Ward was fined $5,000.
Ward didn't like it. "I had committed to making that hit. There was no turning back. I'm not going to apologize for that ..."
Then again, $5,000 is a small price to pay for a reputation.
Ron Cook can be reached at [email protected].
First published on November 11, 2007 at 12:00 am