Ward's numbers with and without Ben

[Stryker]

Hey guys,

I know we're discussing this, but I pulled the stats and they are pretty cool so I'm making a new thread. I know we all give Ben the credit for Ward's stats, but when you crunch the numbers, maybe we shouldn't think that way?

Ward's stats before Ben:

6yrs 425rec 5051yds 37TDs 11.9y/c 96games 4.423 rec/game 6.17 TD/yr
8yrs 575rec 7032yds 48TDs 12.2y/c 121games 4.75 rec/game 6 TD/yr

Surprisingly, there is little difference in catches per game and receiving yards per catch. Slightly lower TD per year with Ben. Keep in mind, his pre Ben stats include his rookie year stats of 15rec 246yards 0TDs. Pull those stats from when he became a starter in year 2, and the averages increase.

5yrs 410rec 4805yds 37TDs 11.7y/c 80games 5.31 rec/game 7.7 TDs/yr

Ward's 4 years of Pro Bowl Starting QBs were: Kordell, Maddox, Maddox, Ben. 3 of his 4 pro bowl years were pre Ben. Ben only had a pro bowl appearance from him in 8 years.

Ward was a possession X receiver so his numbers didn't really jump with Ben, but I think this also shows, it doesn't matter who Ward's QB is, he was going to put up these numbers, and to me, that makes him Hall of Famer.

 

[Ike Kelly]

I think the main emphasis is that he produced no matter who the QB was. Who remembers the onside kick TD return in the pro bowl?


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[Coryea]

That's always been my reasoning for Ward, he put up numbers no matter who was throwing him the ball, and he didn't get to play with Ben during his prime or in the pass happy NFL.

 

[Bluesteel]

Who remembers the onside kick TD return in the pro bowl?


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I absolutely remember that return TD! Because, I remember being bent that Ward didn't get the game MVP... If I recall, he had a receiving TD as well, from the eventual game MVP, who threw multiple TD passes. It was my opinion, Ward had 2 TD's, including the on side kick return, which had never been done before in a Pro Bowl. I felt the uniqueness of that TD, as well as an additional receiving TD warranted the MVP over a QB that threw multiple, as that is accomplished just about every Pro Bow, with the lack of full speed defense and no pass rush to create pressure.

Still think it's BS he didn't get it!!!

 

[FSF]

Ward really caught fire when Maddox got his chance to start.



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[Steelmann]

Hey guys,

I know we're discussing this, but I pulled the stats and they are pretty cool so I'm making a new thread. I know we all give Ben the credit for Ward's stats, but when you crunch the numbers, maybe we shouldn't think that way?

Ward's stats before Ben:


6yrs 425rec 5051yds 37TDs 11.9y/c 96games 4.423 rec/game 6.17 TD/yr
8yrs 575rec 7032yds 48TDs 12.2y/c 121games 4.75 rec/game 6 TD/yr

Surprisingly, there is little difference in catches per game and receiving yards per catch. Slightly lower TD per year with Ben. Keep in mind, his pre Ben stats include his rookie year stats of 15rec 246yards 0TDs. Pull those stats from when he became a starter in year 2, and the averages increase.

5yrs 410rec 4805yds 37TDs 11.7y/c 80games 5.31 rec/game 7.7 TDs/yr

Ward's 4 years of Pro Bowl Starting QBs were: Kordell, Maddox, Maddox, Ben. 3 of his 4 pro bowl years were pre Ben. Ben only had a pro bowl appearance from him in 8 years.

Ward was a possession X receiver so his numbers didn't really jump with Ben, but I think this also shows, it doesn't matter who Ward's QB is, he was going to put up these numbers, and to me, that makes him Hall of Famer.

Great thread
Thanks For the number crunching Cope!

 

[madinsomniac]

Ward was perhaps the greatest blocking Wr ever... at a minimum top 5... he played his entire prime in a super conservative run first offense

Virtually none of his peers could have put up his numbers in the offense we ran and the qbs we utilized...

Most would have blown a gasket between the offense treating wrs as afterthoughts, the less than accurate passes, and the over tge middle stuff getting them killshotted back when over the middle wasn’t wide open and easy

 

[Drink IRON City]

Hey guys,

I know we're discussing this, but I pulled the stats and they are pretty cool so I'm making a new thread. I know we all give Ben the credit for Ward's stats, but when you crunch the numbers, maybe we shouldn't think that way?

Ward's stats before Ben:

6yrs 425rec 5051yds 37TDs 11.9y/c 96games 4.423 rec/game 6.17 TD/yr
8yrs 575rec 7032yds 48TDs 12.2y/c 121games 4.75 rec/game 6 TD/yr

Surprisingly, there is little difference in catches per game and receiving yards per catch. Slightly lower TD per year with Ben. Keep in mind, his pre Ben stats include his rookie year stats of 15rec 246yards 0TDs. Pull those stats from when he became a starter in year 2, and the averages increase.

5yrs 410rec 4805yds 37TDs 11.7y/c 80games 5.31 rec/game 7.7 TDs/yr

Ward's 4 years of Pro Bowl Starting QBs were: Kordell, Maddox, Maddox, Ben. 3 of his 4 pro bowl years were pre Ben. Ben only had a pro bowl appearance from him in 8 years.

Ward was a possession X receiver so his numbers didn't really jump with Ben, but I think this also shows, it doesn't matter who Ward's QB is, he was going to put up these numbers, and to me, that makes him Hall of Famer.

WoW, awesome break down Cope and I thank you !!!


It really does show the point you make. WARD was just a greAT WR ALL AROUND. NO he didn't have elite speed but he had HEART which is hard to beat. He played with a passion and it showed. Rule change due to him and many DBs knocked the **** out due to him. Wasn't Ed Reed introduced to Hines Ward once but in the end Ed couldn't remeber due to being unconscious ? The Cincinatie kid "RIVERS" couldn't speak of Hines Ward and for good reason due to jaw issues. The list could go on and on but

WARD needs in the HOF and very soon.




Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

Ward finished with six 1,000 yard seasons. I don't remember the circumstances, but he had 975 with 15 games played in 2005 and 975 with 14 games played in 2006. That 1,000 yard number is a benchmark and he basically had two more on the table if not for some missed action. Pro Football Reference has a Hall of Fame metric to estimate a player's chance of making the HOF. Ward scores a 73.40 with the average HOF WR at 106.19. HIs score is above Hall of Famers: Fred Biletnikoff, Lynn Swann, Harold Carmichael, John Stallworth, Bobby Mitchell, Bob Hayes, and Tommy McDonald.