Hines Ward/Cotchery

Hines had 46 receptions in 2011 his last year here, he was hardly a cheer leader, he said when he retired he could still play and several teams had contacted him to see if he was interested in playing for them, he just couldnt see himself wearing a different uniform, and he has better stats than a lot of receivers in the hall of fame, his stats makes michael Irvin look like a rookie and he is one of only two receivers with two superbowl rings who has 1000 receptions. Ward will always be fondly remembered by steeler fans, tough guy who laid it all on the line every Sunday, Cotchery just occupies a roster spot as far as I am concerned, he contributes nothing, maybe it's not his fault, but if they arent going to use him then get someone else we will use, he is our new Deuce Staley of receivers......

 

You make some good points. My original post was not to downgrade Cotchery. My point was we seem to have kept Cothery over Ward and I believe Ward even as the fourth receiver would have made more of an impact than Cotchery's four receptions.
Alot of the posts here seem to dodge the question.

 

I answered your question, ward would be more productive over cotchery, his 46 receptions last year proves my point, and the only reason they cut ward was over the 4 million he was due to make this year, ben converted a lot of 3rd downs with ward last year, and I think ward would have been money playing in the slot this year, and his blocking would have contributed a lot to the running game, it was all about money and his age that they forced hines to retire, funny how they were concerned with those two factors with ward while they have the same problem with the over the hill gang left over from the cowher era on defense where 5 starters there are not as productive stat wise as hines was in his last year.

 

You cant compare last year to this year. Like i said earlier haley doesnt go four wide he would rather go three wide with a te and a running back. im trying to think if we have gone with 4 wrs at all thiss year and i dont think we have. Somebody else said cotch is really the fifth or sixth option and ward would have been as well.

 

I answered your question, ward would be more productive over cotchery, his 46 receptions last year proves my point, and the only reason they cut ward was over the 4 million he was due to make this year, ben converted a lot of 3rd downs with ward last year, and I think ward would have been money playing in the slot this year, and his blocking would have contributed a lot to the running game, it was all about money and his age that they forced hines to retire, funny how they were concerned with those two factors with ward while they have the same problem with the over the hill gang left over from the cowher era on defense where 5 starters there are not as productive stat wise as hines was in his last year.[/quote:ccfonx2m]I know you answered the question, I was speaking of others who dodged the question. I agree with your points.

 

Bumping this after Cotch's performance last game. I'd say it was the right decision

 

if Cotchery was a starter he would have a lot more catches than the 8 he has. we havent seen a ton of 4 wr sets in Haleys offense unlike what we saw from Arians offense.

Cotchery is a great guy to have as a backup. he is a pro that is always ready when asked. he is not the playmaker that Brown, Wallace or Sanders is, but he has sure hands and he is reliable. not many teams can go 4 deep at the wr position and say they are all well above average.

i think most experts will say that the Steelers have the best wr group in the NFL.

 

Atlanta is in the discussion with Jones and White but we have a much larger selection of talent with our 4 WR's

 

Anybody still think Cotchery over Ward was a good choice?

 

Of course he did, but Cotchery was terrible tonight. I hope he shakes it off and bonces back next week.

 

to be fair I don't think they played to his strengths tonight. He is a very good possession receiver working from the slot but he wasn't utilized that way either because of they plays that Lefty liked didn't cal for it or because the zone defense of the Ravens took away the crossing routes. He is not an outside receiver and to try and force him into that is just wasting what he brings. That being said I still crusaded for Ward to get one more season just for this type of game. No way Pollard makes those thumps down near the LOS with Ward there to lay a block on.

 

I hated to see Hines go but I think it was probably time. I just wish we would have taken Anquan Boldin. That dude is a beast and WAY better than Cotchery. I don't like Cotchery at all. He's a waste of a spot in my opinion. So is Charile Batch if they're not gonna play him but that's for another thread altogether.