Hines Ward Thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers Should Run the Ball More

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Hines Ward is always opinionated about everything. This week is no different. Ward, courtesy of observer-reporter.com, decided that he thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers should run the ball more. 

Here's some of what he said: "We have talent on this team," said Steelers receiver Hines Ward. "Every year, we get excited about something. Let's just do what we've been doing, what got us to the Super Bowl last year, and we'll be fine. It's great that we have these (receivers) and, of course, we want to put them on the field at the same time, but we need to find our identity. We need to do what we do best."-observer-reporter.com



Ok, so Hines says let's do what we've been doing. Ok Hines, well the Pittsburgh Steelers have been a pass-first offense since Bruce Arians became the offensive coordinator in 2007. Since then the Steelers have made the playoffs 3 out of 4 seasons, two Super Bowls, and one Super Bowl victory. 


Last year when Roethlisberger played he threw the ball 25 or more times in 11 of the 12 games he played in. The Steelers went 8-3. The Steelers threw the ball 32 times against the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs last year and won that game. 


In 2009, Roethlisberger threw the ball 25 times or more in 14 games, the Steelers were 9-5 in those games and Roethlisberger finished in the top ten in every significant quarterback statistic that year. 

"I think when we're balanced, that's when we're at our best," Ward said. "Rashard's getting his carries in. Mike's getting his shots. Me and (tight end) Heath (Miller) are getting open underneath, and then you have some exciting plays with the younger guys.

"Getting into four or five wides, like we're in Green Bay, it's exciting. I'm not saying we can't do it. But I don't know if that's who we are right now. ... We have to emphasize being balanced."

I understand the balance part that Hines is talking about. The Steelers can't just throw the ball the whole damn game. However, they should throw the ball about 52% of the time. Just a little more than they run. That's what they've been doing since 2007 and it's worked pretty well for them. 

What the Steelers really need to do is be less predictable. Last week they called less than 5 play-action pass plays and only 1 or 2 roll-outs. That's not acceptable. When the Steelers are going to pass the ball everyone watching knows that they're going to pass the ball. Roethlisberger comes out in shot-gun in an empty backfield. 

When the Steelers run the ball they line up in the I-formation with two or three tight ends. It's so painfully obvious. If anything it makes me more impressed with the success they've had in the past. 

I'm confused to why Hines would even make this public. Why give the media these quotes? Why start any kind of controversy, especially after you just got your ass kicked by the Baltimore Ravens. 

Hines Ward is selfish. This is the same guy that had not one, but two run-ins with the law this summer, including a D.U.I. This is the same guy that decided to go on a look at me show like "Dancing With The Stars" after a Super Bowl loss. Ward also was the only offensive player to miss the off season workouts ran by captain Ben Roethlisberger. 

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This also isn't the first time Ward has publicly called out a coach or teammate. In 2009, Ward went on national t.v. with Bob Costas and called his quarterback and CAPTAIN out for not playing in a game against the Ravens. Roethlisberger was not cleared by doctors to play due to a concussion he suffered in the previous game. 

"This game is almost like a playoff game. It's almost a must-win. I could see some players or teammates questioning, like 'It's just a concussion. I've played with a concussion before,'" Ward told Costas in an interview taped Saturday at the team's suburban-Baltimore hotel as a prelude to the Steelers-Ravens game.

"It's almost like a 50-50 toss-up in the locker room: Should he play? Shouldn't he play? It's really hard to say. I've been out there dinged up; the following week, got right back out there. Ben practiced all week. He split time with Dennis Dixon(notes). And then to find out that he's still having some headaches and not playing and it came down to the doctors didn't feel that they were going to clear him or not – it's hard to say. Unless you're the person [himself]. … I've lied to a couple of doctors saying I'm straight, I feel good when I know that I'm not really straight."-yahoo sports 

My advice to Hines, stop calling out coaches and teammates publicly. No good comes out of it. Be a man and express your opinions face-to-face. As for the Steelers, they don't care what Hines Ward thinks the team should do. They'll do what's best for the team. Roethlisberger is the best player on the field and the offense should revolve around him. 

Go Steeelers!

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