If Moss is the best reciever in the NFL, who is #2?
Okay, so let's face it.....Randy Moss has become the near-consensus decision for the best wideout in football.
But now that's settled....who is the 2nd best WR? Is it still Marvin Harrison? Is it Owens, who has used his strength and arms to make the Eagles offense one of the best in the NFL? Is it Hines Ward, who uses his size and strength to punish defenders? Is it Torry Holt with his amazing route running and ability to seemingly always catch the ball when it is thrown to him?
Hines Ward, the most complete receiver in the league. Glue hands, one of, if not the best route runners, blocks like an offensive guard, leader both on and off the field, etc. He just never seems to get the respect he deserves from fans because he's not a pompous jackass.
My top 5...
1. Randy Moss
2. Hines Ward
3. Marvin Harrison
4. Torry Holt
5. Terrell Owens
Honestly 2 through 5 are interchangable, but that's the way I rank it. There's a fairly decent drop off after #5 no matter who you rank there.
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Hines Ward, the most complete receiver in the league. Glue hands, one of, if not the best route runners, blocks like an offensive guard, leader both on and off the field, etc.
My top 5...
1. Randy Moss
2. Hines Ward
3. Marvin Harrison
4. Torry Holt
5. Terrell Owens
Honestly 2 through 5 are interchangable, but that's the way I rank it.
Just out of sheer curiosity (I don't have an extremely strong opinion on the topic, so I'm just asking)....do you believe Ward, Harrison and Holt could have all transformed the Eagles offense in the way Owens has played a very large role in doing?
Just out of sheer curiosity (I don't have an extremely strong opinion on the topic, so I'm just asking)....do you believe Ward, Harrison and Holt could have all transformed the Eagles offense in the way Owens has played a very large role in doing?
Definitely.
When you go that long without a formidable top threat receiver, things are gonna change. Especially when you have a QB like McNabb.
Owens has a big thing going for him that the other 3 don't though, he's easily the Eagles best receiver by a friggin mile, so he's obviously going to be McNabb's first target. Ward has Burress and Randle-El, Holt has Bruce, Harrison has Wayne and Stokley, etc.
That doesn't take away from Owens, but it definitely helps explain why Owens has helped change the Eagles offense so greatly.
I can't imagine the kind of stats Ward could put up if he was on a team who couldn't boast 2nd and 3rd options like the Steelers can and on a team who wasn't so run oriented. Even with that receiving core the Steelers bread and butter is the running game...
Owens has a big thing going for him that the other 3 don't though, he's easily the Eagles best receiver by a friggin mile, so he's obviously going to be McNabb's first target. Ward has Burress and Randle-El, Holt has Bruce, Harrison has Wayne and Stokley, etc.
That doesn't take away from Owens, but it definitely helps explain why Owens has helped change the Eagles offense so greatly.
Well, you could use the fact that the Eagles don't have any other great recievers to make the exact opposite argument, though. With a potent group of recievers on St Louis, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, defenders playing those teams have to worry about everyone on the field. However, defenses can put more attention on Owens when playing Philadelphia than they could on Holt, Harrison or Ward...meaning those recievers eventually get much, much more one-on-one matchups than Owens does.
Personally I look at it more that the others are taking catches away from each other. Look at the 1970s Steelers, at Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Look at their stats and tell me they belong in the Hall of Fame...and then look at them playing and tell me they don't belong in the Hall of Fame. No better case of receivers taking plays away from each other than those two.
On the field there's only one place where Owens has a decided advantage over Ward IMO, big play potential. There's no doubting, Plaxico Burress is the Steelers deep threat, not Ward. Ward will break a few big plays, but he makes his name muking it up fighting for every yard possible with 3 guys on his back, not for leaving defenses in the dust. If there's one play left with the ball at the 50 yard line I'll take Owens over Ward 100 times out of 100. That's about it though.
Moss, Owens and Harrisson are all in the top level. Interchangable with Moss being the most talented, Harrisson being the most consistent, Owens with the ability to make the biggest splash.
Holt, Ward would be in the second group. If you think otherwise, you're probably a homer or just don't see why the 3 mentioned above are the biggest gamebreakers in the league.
There is nothing Holt does better, besides have a small speed advantage.
I like Ward, I think he is a great player.
That said, Ward is an over-achiever. No player does more with less. He works his tail off, he runs great routes and he blocks ferociously. However, he doesn't have the flat-out talent to beat a double team. Owens, Harrison, Moss do. Ward didn't emerge as a household name until after he had Burress lining up opposite him. Not that Burress is all-that, but he is a legit threat that teams have to consider.
Now, all that said, I don't know if Holt can as well. Bruce is still a quality threat keeping defenses honest.
For what it is worth, I would take Ward over Holt but after Harrison, Moss and Owens. I think Moulds deserves a mention here as well, although he is stuck in a bad situation right now. Judging by what I have seen so far, Andre Johnson will rocket up the list as well.
Judging by what I have seen so far, Andre Johnson will rocket up the list as well.
I actually contemplated adding him to the poll....though right now, I'd say he's in the 2nd tier with guys like Chad Johnson, Eric Moulds and Chris Chambers (also stuck in a bad situation).
I actually contemplated adding him to the poll....though right now, I'd say he's in the 2nd tier with guys like Chad Johnson, Eric Moulds and Chris Chambers (also stuck in a bad situation).
Agreed.
Back to Ward...I don't think it's fair to say he didn't start playing as well until Burress showed up. Sure, his stats were better once Burress picked it up, but that had more with Ward coming into his own than Burress. Like you said, Ward is an over-achiever, which is the biggest reason why he wasn't great out of the gate. He was the Steelers fourth receiver his rookie year of 1998. In 1999 he started 14 of 16 games and had 68 receptions, the year before Burress was drafted. The year Burress was drafted Ward's stats actually fell off a bit. 13 less catches, 3 less TDs, but 34 more yards!
He is a huge over-achiever though. He was a QB in high school and a star baseball player(he was even drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1994) and didn't switch to a receiver until his junior year at Georgia(played QB and HB as a freshman and sophomore). I think that has more to do with his slow start in the NFL than actual skill.
As for his ability to shake-off double-coverages...he can do it just as well as anyone. You throw the ball in his area and he'll catch it, he's as close to automatic as they come. His big play potential is cut back though due to his size(6'0") and his speed(he's not slow by any means, but he's never going to be considered a speed receiver either).
oh come on, there's no bloody way in hell Javon Walker is better than Hines Ward!
yeah, and why not? Ward is a great reciever but I think that Walker is bette and also has better upside. I am not an expert, it's just my opinion though, don't get all crazy.
Harrison probably isn't as good as Moss, but gives him a run for his money. Same with Owens. You notice the other two(Moss and Owens) and big and loud, especially the loud part. You always read about something Moss has done or said, same with Owens. Harrison isn't big and loud, so IMO, he doesn't get as much attention. Still, I'd say Moss is tops. My list:
1.Moss
2.Harrison
3.Owens(all three very, very close)
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4.Holt
5.Ward
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6.C.Johnson
7.Bruce
8.Chambers
9.A.Johnson
10.Moulds
