Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
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| | Jim McIsaac/Getty Images |
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver
Hines Ward was voted as the
smartest offensive player (non-quarterback) by NFL head coaches this offseason.
Ward's abilities to read defenses and discover tendencies are apparent. But a deeper way to measure Ward's intelligence is to look at his special knack for developing younger receivers.
First, Ward took Plaxico Burress under his wing when Burress was a raw first-round pick of the Steelers in 2000. Ward helped Burress with the mental side of the game, and Burress is now a four-time 1,000-yard receiver, a Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants and one of the top receivers in the NFL.
After Burress left for free agency, Santonio Holmes was next to enter Ward's classroom. In two years, Holmes' progress has been rapid. He has 101 receptions, 1,766 yards and 10 touchdowns during his first two NFL seasons.
Most recently Ward, who sat out of minicamp while resting his knee, was very hands-on in teaching second-round pick Limas Sweed the nuances of Pittsburgh's offense.
Our guess is that Sweed is in good hands.
H
