Was Hines Ward The Last Of His Kind?

In the process of watching all of Ben’s TD passes in the “Thanks Ben” thread and something that really sticks out:

Hines Ward.

Is there a receiver today that even comes close to what Hines was as a player? Sure there are many receivers that are light years better at running and many receivers that are light years better at catching but are there any out there that will take the hit and keeping grinding like Hines did, block like Hines did, initiate contact like Hines did? This guy took vicious hits, multiple hits at times and was still able to get the extra yardage, the first down, the TD time and time again. Somehow he was able to play fast when in reality, he was kinda slow…lol.

Who is out there today that plays like Hines? I can’t think of anyone recently since Hines…other than Steve Smith maybe?


https://youtu.be/lhCK99g_sjA

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

In the process of watching all of Ben’s TD passes in the “Thanks Ben” thread and something that really sticks out:

Hines Ward.

Is there a receiver today that even comes close to what Hines was as a player? Sure there are many receivers that are light years better at running and many receivers that are light years better at catching but are there any out there that will take the hit and keeping grinding like Hines did, block like Hines did, initiate contact like Hines did? This guy took vicious hits, multiple hits at times and was still able to get the extra yardage, the first down, the TD time and time again. Somehow he was able to play fast when in reality, he was kinda slow…lol.

Who is out there today that plays like Hines? I can’t think of anyone recently since Hines…other than Steve Smith maybe?


https://youtu.be/lhCK99g_sjA

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Guys that were at least in the ballpark of Hines:

Anquan Boldin
Steve Smith
Donald Driver

Current guys that do it a bit differently (mostly because of rule changes) but might be an answer to your question:
Mike Evans
Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp (both are asked to block often)
Allan Lazard

But I can not think of a guy that relished hitting and flourished with contact they way Ward did.

We have one here in the Hines Ward mold

Hines would have made one hell of a safety

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

Hines Ward = Nirvana

Not the most album sales. No record-breaking concert sellouts. Yet, the first 10 seconds of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” changed music for forever.

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Originally Posted by teegre

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

Hines Ward = Nirvana

Not the most album sales. No record-breaking concert sellouts. Yet, the first 10 seconds of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” changed music for forever.

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Someone needs to photoshop Hines' smiling face on the baby on "Nevermind" :chuckle:

the pure hatred of hines from our division rivals fans made hines that much more special. he lived rent free in their heads.

There was none like Hines, except maybe in a smile and that would be Antwaan Randle El

There was no one quite like Hines and I doubt there ever will be.

But this comes as close as it gets:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j9zNdkbkv0s

There was one , there will never be another ...

he truly was ONE of a Kind

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Originally Posted by Steeler-in-west

We have one here in the Hines Ward mold

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Yep - JuJu. Wish some of this would rub off on Claypool:

https://j.gifs.com/rRoQ4k.gif

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Originally Posted by fansince'76

Yep - JuJu. Wish some of this would rub off on Claypool:

https://j.gifs.com/rRoQ4k.gif

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it does but only in street fights when he has nothing ot do with it and can cheap shot the guy someone else put on the ground with his $400 tennis shoes

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Originally Posted by Dwinsgames

it does but only in street fights when he has nothing ot do with it and can cheap shot the guy someone else put on the ground with his $400 tennis shoes

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Hell, I'd even settle for Claypool fighting for and taking away contested catches from guys he is 6-8 inches taller than once in a while.

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Originally Posted by fansince'76

Hell, I'd even settle for Claypool fighting for and taking away contested catches from guys he is 6-8 inches taller than once in a while.

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YES!!

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Originally Posted by fansince'76

Hell, I'd even settle for Claypool fighting for and taking away contested catches from guys he is 6-8 inches taller than once in a while.

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still not sure if claypool was supposed to be that receiver that was going to stretch the field or not, Martavis Bryant he is not, I don’t know what kind of receiver claypool is

I know we all really like JUJU and, especially when he laid out Burrfect! It's like who is Claypool and, he can get better who knows?

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Originally Posted by Steeler-in-west

still not sure if claypool was supposed to be that receiver that was going to stretch the field or not, Martavis Bryant he is not, I don’t know what kind of receiver claypool is

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My problem with Claypool is for as big as he is, he plays extremely soft. No physicality at all.

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Originally Posted by fansince'76

My problem with Claypool is for as big as he is, he plays extremely soft. No physicality at all.

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He never gets separation either...every catch is a contested jump/dive/hop/etc.

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

He never gets separation either...every catch is a contested jump/dive/hop/etc.

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You're right. I would hope the coaches see that and try and coach him up on that.

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

He never gets separation either...every catch is a contested jump/dive/hop/etc.

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he never runs harder than he needs to ... get to the mark faster and make the catch while on the move ...

he takes his time getting to the spot and then the QB seemingly has to adjust and throw it high for him to have a shot at it ... by design or just lazy route running ???