And if he doesn’t, to be honest, it doesn’t really matter. I know he had solid numbers this year (80+ grabs and over 1,000 yds) but he’s really not the focal point he once was.
In fact, you could argue that Santonio Holmes is more important to the offense, especially considering his production as both a wideout and a punt returner in the postseason. He’s the deep threat and the only Pittsburgh receiver who should command double coverage.
Hines is a warrior and a great possession receiver. But he’s lost a step. Or two. And his injury won’t help that. Pitt is still going to do what it always does: pound the ball with the run, hit a little play action to Heath Miller and toss a few bombs down the field to Holmes. They literally do the same thing on offense every game.
And if it’s tied or the Steelers are trailing late in the fourth, the ball is going to Nate Washington. Seriously, the amount of times Pitt has been on TV here in the Northeast, everytime they needed a late 3rd-and-15 or 4th-and-8, there was Washington making a circus catch for 17 or 10 yards and the first. He could be quiet all game but he always – ALWAYS – was making plays in the clutch. It was eerie actually, because you started to expect the ball to go to him in those situations.
This is no knock on Hines. He’s a great player and all, but I just think I little too much has been made of a player who will have less impact on the game than everyone thinks. The real benefit of having him out there is it keeps Limas “Timeout killer” Sweed off the field.
Prediction for today: Pittsburgh 24 – Arizona 17.
Get your Pitt bets in at -6.5, or if your guy is stuck at 7, try to work a teaser.
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