What Benchmarks Will Hines Ward Pass In 2008?
by Blitzburgh
on May 12, 2008 3:40 PM EDT
A quick fun post to put a smile on your face this Monday afternoon. Who doesn't smile when thinking about Hines Ward's career?
Receptions:
Hines Ward - 731
Career Rank - 28
In Sight - Muhsin Muhammed 742; Andre Rison 743; Michael Irvin 750; Charlie Joiner 750; Eric Moulds 764; James Lofton 764; Marhsall Faulk 767
Prediction - Hines finishes 2008 ranked #21 in career catches. Randy Moss and Torry Holt stand in his way at #20 and #19, so I wouldn't expect him to move any higher than that.
Receiving Yards
Hines Ward - 8,737
Career Rank - 52
In Sight - Joe Horn 8,744; Mark Carrier 8,763; Terance Mathis 8,809; Terry Glenn 8,823; Mark Duper 8,869; Ricky Proehl 8,878; Amani Toomer 8,917; Roy Green 8,965; Wes Chandler 8,966; Mark Clayton and Fred Biletnikoff 8,974; Harold Carmichael 8,985; Derrick Mason 9,024; Tony Mason 9,065; Charley Taylor 9,110; Anthony Miller 9,148; Herman Moore 9,174; Raymond Berry 9,275; Rob Moore 9,368; Drew Hill 9,831
Prediction - I'd guess Hines surpasses Terry Glenn, and perhaps even Amani Toomer, but probably not Derrick Mason. And unless he has an astounding 1,100+ yard year, he probably wont catch Mr. Drew Hill this year either. Nevertheless, Hines has a big opportunity to move into the 32-36 range in career yards with even just a so-so year for him.
TD Receptions
Hines Ward - 65
Career Rank - t-39th
In Sight - Tony Gonzalez 66; Roy Green 66; Jimmy Orr 66; Jimmy Smith 67; Cliff Branch 67; Raymond Berry 68; Art Monk 68; Rod Smith 68; Gary Collins 70; Wesley Walker 71; Torry Holt 71; Bob Hayes 71; Stanley Morgan 72; Nat Moore 74; James Lofton 75
Prediction - Hines won't surpass Tony Gonzalez this year, or at least it's not likely, and he likely won't catch Torry Holt. But still, if he snags 6 or 7 TD passes this year, he'll move into the top 30 for his career.
Guys, we're entering the final stages of the career of a very special player. Individual accolades mean little to Hines I'd imagine, but he can really help his Hall of Fame resume with a solid final 2-4 years. I personally think he'll make it regardless of how he finishes up, but padding his already incredible career numbers certainly wouldn't hurt. Incredible stuff from Hines.
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Unless his career
is cut short, I can’t see him not making the HoF. Maybe not a first-ballot guy, but solid stats on a team that was pass-phobic for most of his career and a Super Bowl MVP makes for a good case.
by Desroko on May 12, 2008 4:57 PM EDT 0 recs
yea
Agreed. I think he’ll get in, even if his numbers are on the fringe. Personality/likeability, the teams he played on that never passed, Super Bowl MVP, plus Korean heritage all might help a bit too. Not saying those things should or should not be taken into account – I’m really not that well versed about football HOF – but I think those things might be in play.
by Blitzburgh on
May 12, 2008 5:05 PM EDT
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And as we're told every Steelers game
he’s the best blocking WR in the game.
Every selector probably has different criteria, and I imagine there are a couple who are going to look at his numbers and say “Pfft.” He may end up in a class with a few sure-fire guys, as well, which is why I hope he and Torry Holt retire a few years apart, or that Cris Carter makes it in soon, because I don’t want tem o the same ballot as Hines.
But he'll fight his way past the marker, as always.
by Desroko on
May 12, 2008 5:15 PM EDT
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Hines
He’s no doubt one of my favorite Steelers players, both past and present, but I’m more iffy on his HOF status than most. Not that I don’t think he deserves to be b/c he’s absolutely HOF in my mind. I just think when he gets to that point he’ll be put up next to Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt among others and many people will forget his intangibles b/c they can’t be measured.
I think he needs another 3-4 productive years to get in and I hope they’re all in the Burgh.
by cgolden on May 12, 2008 5:11 PM EDT 0 recs
good points
He will be up against some tough competition..i.e. Moss, Harrison, TO. I dont think Torry Holt will get in before him. His numbers are only marignally better playing in pass happy STL. We’ll see what goes down with this Marvin Harrison thing. He could kinda be like Art Monk and have to wait his turn. The media, who votes on this, gets no access to Marvin because hes so guarded. That could factor in.
by Blitzburgh on
May 12, 2008 5:20 PM EDT
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Torry Holt
I guess you’re right about his reception numbers and TDs, but Holt was the faster WR ever to reach the 10000 yard mark. If he sticks around long enough, he may have a shot at surpassing Rice for career yardage, but probably not any other mark.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on
May 12, 2008 5:55 PM EDT
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Love this post!
As you know, I’m a big proponent of Hines’s HOF credentials, so I was very glad to see this posted. Hopefully, Hines will stay healthy, and be able to catch 70+ passes for over a 1000 yards, but I see his numbers being more like last year, 50-60 receptions for around 700-800 yards and maybe as many as 10 TDs.
I do think that his HOF candidacy may be helped by the Bus, when Bettis is elected. I could definitely see Bus campaigning for Hines, the same way that Bradshaw did for Swann and Stallworth, and then Swann saying that it was only a “half hour” until Stallworth was elected to the Hall. What a great reflection of the team spirit between those two guys! I get chills just remembering those acceptance speeches. :)
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 12, 2008 6:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Lambert
...if I had it to do all over again I would be a professional football player. And you damn well better believe I’d be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
by 5020 on
May 12, 2008 6:05 PM EDT
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Sweet!
How about Bradshaw? “Just one more time! Just one more time, I’d like to put my hand under Mike Webster’s butt!” His delivery was more entertaining than the printed version, of course. :)
by WolfpackSteelersFan on
May 12, 2008 6:10 PM EDT
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quick question
you said you only see him Toomer and Glenn because they are only like 100 something yards apart. so do you think Hines ward will only have a 100 yard year. Or are you basing this on what you expect Toomer and Glenn to produce as well?
* till next time wave those towels proud
by LiveinDCbutsteelerfanbyheart on May 13, 2008 9:22 AM EDT 0 recs
since theyre all active
I can see Toomer getting 500-600 yards and Hines getting 650-800 yards. And who knows about Glenn. I guess he could have a big year if he were healthy, but thats not likely. Hines should pass them both even if all three play and have solid seasons.
by Blitzburgh on May 13, 2008 10:29 AM EDT 0 recs
Had to get my two cents in
on this one. I think he’ll get in sooner or later in the worse case. But I think the case can be made for a first ballot if the focus is on the fact that Hines is a total football player who happens to play receiver (Someone should develop a highlight package featuring, among other things, him practically knocking Ed Reed out on a block). Add that he has statistically surpassed two other HOF Steeler receivers, and all Steelers receivers. Finally, there is the SB MVP. I truly believe that HInes will look better and better after his playing days are through and he passes into the realm of legend.
by RickVa on May 13, 2008 3:05 PM EDT 0 recs
Will he be an HoFer? Definitely.
Will he make it in on the first ballot? That might be a tougher question.
Quite frankly, I don’t think his last few years are going to make that much of a difference statistically. Last season, they were using him less as a deep threat and more often as a slot-type receiver and I think that progression is going to become even more pronounced over the next year or two. (Hell, Santonio ended the season with 200 more yards than Hines.)
Aside from his career stats, being a Super Bowl MVP winner and the extent to which the Steelers will miss him when he finally retires, what’ll put him over the top could very likely be the fact that he’s one of the nicest guys in the NFL and is basically an unofficial ambassador for the sport.
Either way, he isn’t going anywhere for a few years and we’re damn glad for that.
Whose field? Hines’ Field. (Hence, the name…)
by HinesField on May 13, 2008 3:50 PM EDT 0 recs
i think i agree
but I would say that I think padding his stats is important. It shouldn’t be, but Hall of Fame voters who may not quite be aware of his entire greatness might like to see him in the top 20 or 15 in some of those categories. 150 more catches, 2000 more yards and 20 more TDs would not hurt his case to get in sooner rather than later imo.
by Blitzburgh on
May 13, 2008 3:59 PM EDT
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good point
We have to remember that sports writers around the nation (who have a vote) don’t have the same appreciation for Ward as Steelers fan do. Sure they hear that he’s hell of a blocker and know that he always has a smile on his face but what will they really remember about a guy they saw play a dozen times? Not a whole hell of a lot, especially considering they have five years to forget about the most important part and equally immeasurable of his game, his intangibles. He has to pad his stats for another 3-4 to get in. Otherwise some jackass writer from Tampa Bay (or wherever) will say, “what’s so great about him, here’s handful of guys with better stats, who aren’t in.”
Again just my opinion and I hope I’m wrong.
by cgolden on
May 13, 2008 4:28 PM EDT
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SB MVP
I do agree that racking up some more catches, yards and TDs will help, but I do think that the SB MVP will play a part in overriding those that think his numbers are just average. Championships and MVPs mean something. That’s why so many Steelers from the 70s are in the HOF, not because of their career numbers. Of course, I know that Hines only has one SB, but the MVP award will make that more meaningful than if, say, Mel Blount or Jack Lambert only had one SB win, instead of four. With only one championship and no SB MVP awards, those two greats may not be in the HOF.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on
May 13, 2008 4:44 PM EDT
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Great article
Hey folks. Sorry its been so long since I’ve been around. We are in the process of moving to another city, which means trying to sell our house and buy another one. It has been a crazy month or so. I still read, just no time to post.
If any of you have any doubts about Hines making the Hall, see some of the names that he would be passing…
Yds – Berry, Biletnikoff, Taylor, and Lofton
Catches – Irvin and Joiner
TDs – Monk, and Berry and Lofton again.
All of those are current HOFers(the ones that I know for sure). His stats are not necessarily mediocre. They don’t all pop out at you, but think about all the guys to go through the league at that position. About how hard it is to find guys that year in, year out continue to produce on a regular basis. Hines didn’t miss a game until 2005, and has only missed 6 games during his 10 years. He has stats better than other HOF’ers, not just the ones above, a SB MVP, and several Pro Bowls. I have no doubt that he gets in. I agree it probably won’t be a first time ballot, but he gets in. Lets just hope he pads his stats enough, and gets a few more rings, to get in on the first try.
by steelerark on May 13, 2008 5:47 PM EDT 0 recs
Good to hear from you again
I was wondering where you were, steelerark. I know that moving is always a busy time, after moving from PA to NC, then to GA after college. And, I’ve never actually done it having to sell one house and buy another.
Good points, but I think a lot of people look at those names, and note that most played in a different era. But, like I said above, I also think he gets in, especially based on his performance in SB XL.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on
May 13, 2008 6:10 PM EDT
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hehe
I knew this post would bring you out of the woods ‘ark. Your previous posts about his credentials were very compelling to me. Gl with the move man.
by Blitzburgh on
May 13, 2008 6:53 PM EDT
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Welcome back
Best of luck selling the house in the market. Hope you have better luck than a few of my friends trying the same.
Speaking of regulars we haven’t heard from where’d we lose Lifer to? I miss the pearls of wisdom…
by Chicago Steeler on
May 14, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
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i know
Color me officially worried about him. Not appropriate for me to speculate here on the board about what’s going on, but I’m concerned. I’ll write him another email and see if I get a reply. If so, I’ll share if appropriate.
by Blitzburgh on
May 14, 2008 11:48 AM EDT
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hah
It was like bait. I just couldn’t help it. He is so underappreciated throughout the league, and no one plays harder. Great post though. I have been going through withdrawals with the site. But with this move, I am going back up to Fayetteville, away from this hell hole that is Little Rock, and to a position where business is slower and I can breathe a little more. Then its back to my old ways, before the position I’m in now started dragging me down, of posting all the time. :) Btw, moving to a different city, while still trying to sell the house you live in, BLOWS. Don’t do it.
by steelerark on May 13, 2008 7:11 PM EDT 0 recs
Not to mention
when I do get a free moment, I have been sucked into Pens world. Hockey almost, almost rivals football for me, and to see the Pens just dominating is just like my prom date – a ton of fun. If you guys like the Pens, check out the Pensblog. Its a pretty decent site for Pens fans. Man I hope the beat the Phlaggers tonight.
by steelerark on May 13, 2008 7:14 PM EDT 0 recs
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