86's Leadership

If Hines played last season would it have made enough of a difference to make the Steelers a playoff team?

I believe that with his leadership and the other players working harder towards sending him out on top that the Steelers would have made the playoffs. This team was completely without leadership last season and without Hines it was completely evident.

 

Perhaps the team would have made the playoffs but not further. There are a lot of mediocre players on the Steelers now.

 

No

 

I don't think it would have made a difference. Ward's leadership was dependent upon his play on the field and had he played last year, he would have been a shell of his former self.

 

Yeah I'd say probably not. Not necessarily because of his lack of leadership but because of the lack of those willing to follow. I mean if Heath is not followed by these guys they have no hope of ever being led in my opinion.

 

Heath leads by example but he's never been a vocal leader. Hines, on the other hand, was both. He played his butt off AND wasn't afraid to get in a teammates' face when needed. That kind of leadership is invaluable and, sadly, the Steelers don't currently have that. We MUST find some leadership this offseason.

 

Leadership does not guarantee execution. No.

 

Neither does not having leadership.

You can't say either way, but he did have some ability to get the focus and intensity back to the forefront.

It's plain to see there wasn't that one guy out on the field that was really taking charge on the Offense.

 

Ok, so leadership doesn't guarantee execution and the lack of leadership doesn't guarantee poor execution.

 

mUHUHAHA! You know I had to play that card.

Seriously though, from some of the previous seasons sound bites, I think Ward was the guy making sure everyone knew the game situation in the huddle and on the sidelines. Not sure who took up that role last year. Ben had some moments and it really should come from coaches on the sidelines.

 

You have to have be buying in, I am not
so sure this is happening at the Steeler offices.

 

I still believe it was a mistake to let Ward go. You'll never convince me that he could not have produced more than Cotchery plus his leadership would have proved invauleable. Ward wasn't as washed up as some like to say, but hey if that helps you sleep at night.

 

It is hard to be a serious team leader when you aren't good enough anymore to get on the field.

 

I don't think that's true at all. Look at Charlie Batch...

 

I didn't see anything out of Cotchery that Ward would not have been able to produce equally to or better than in 2012. The guy worked his butt off every time he stepped onto the field. The Cleveland game where they were defeated by 6 points and had 8 turnovers. I have to believe that Hines would have been in everyones ears after the 4th one and may have prevented the loss. It's all speculation of coarse but that one win may have been enough to get us a wild card. Once in the playoffs anything can happen.

 

Hines wouldn't have made those dumb mistakes our WR's made this year, that is for sure....

Hines would not have made a difference unless he improved his game from last year though. Me personally I think was hurt at the end of his year, I think he could have came back and give one more good year...

 

While it's a nice thought (since I'm a big fan of Hines), having him on the team this year wouldn't have made much difference at all.

 

Not if you watched Ward play his last 2 seasons in Pittsburgh he was done. Cotchery is a better player than Ward at this point the Steelers don't give him enough opportunities.

 

B.S. Ward had 46 receptions in 2011 playing banged up and 59 in 2010. Cotchery has had a total of 33 receptions the last two years. He's garbage, plenty of guys available in FA or the draft that can get more than 17 receptions a season for less dough. Maybe if he didn't pull a Amos Zereoue and fall down at the five yard line without being touched he might have been given more chances.

 

at least 10 of Ward's receptions in 2011 were charity, get the guy 1000 catches so that he can leave. Ward was not productive at all the last half of '11

 

True, but he was banged up wasn't he? He never has the same after that concusion. Heck even if 30 of his catches were gifts he still out performed Crotchery.

 

Got to love when facts get in the way during debatable arguments. Cotchery didn't do sqaut during Hine's absence and that's why I still believe that the Steelers go at least 9-7 last season and wrap up the Wild Card for the playoffs. And like I said before, who knows if they catch fire and make it all the way to the SB trying to send him out on top like they did for Bettis.

Look at the Rats during December. Most people were predicting 1 and done in the playoffs.