Ward: Loss of Burress isn't problem

The offensive line's struggles has hurt Pittsburgh's passing game.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Sure, Hines Ward says, he misses Plaxico Burress.
Misses him a lot after the two receivers spent five seasons together in Pittsburgh only a few locker stalls apart.
On the field, however, it's a different matter.
Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver, has seen his own receiving numbers drop slightly in what is fast becoming a disappointing season for the Steelers.
But unlike others, he doesn't blame Burress' departure.
To Ward, the Steelers' passing game is as good as it was before Burress took off after last season to play for the New York Giants.
The problem is the running game isn't nearly as productive as it was during a 15-1 season a year ago, the result of numerous injuries and offensive line breakdowns.
Passing more, losing more
As an example, Ben Roethlisberger passed for a career-high 386 yards and three touchdowns Sunday against the Bengals in exactly the kind of high-scoring game the quarterback said he welcomed.
Yet the Steelers lost 38-31.
That loss had nothing to do with Burress' not being around, Ward said, but instead was caused by four turnovers and the offense's inability to sustain drives with the running game.
"Plax has nothing to do with this. Plax is not even an issue," Ward said as the Steelers (7-5) prepared for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears (9-3). "If you don't have time to throw it deep, Plax has nothing to do with it.
"We have guys open and like I said the whole Plax theory, he's doing well and I wish him well, but he's not here anymore."
Ward has heard the complaints that Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson, the Steelers' No. 2 and 3 receivers, aren't getting open enough, encouraging teams to double team Ward -- something they couldn't always do when Burress was around.
"Plax's a threat, no question, but we have guys open and, for whatever reason, we can't get the ball to them," Ward said. "Whether it's the protection or missing them or whatever, that's been a problem."
Career leading receiver
Ward became the Steelers' career receiving leader Nov. 13 against Cleveland and has 561 catches in his career.
With 56 catches in 12 games, he has eight fewer than he did a season ago.
But he has nine touchdown catches, compared to four at this point last season, a sign of how important he has become to the offense with Burress gone.
There's been another change in the Steelers' offense that has taken passes away from the wide receivers: the emergence of rookie tight end Heath Miller, a first-round draft pick.
With 33 catches and six touchdowns, Miller has more than replaced the production Burress gave the Steelers while missing five games to injury last season.
"Yeah, our stats may be down receiving-wise but, look at the overall group, and I think we're farther along than we were last year," Ward said.
Running game needed
What the receivers must be wondering is if it is too late to salvage a running game that has been held below 100 yards during each of three consecutive losses, an unheard-of statistic for a team that had far more carries last season than any other NFL team.
A year ago, Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley and Willie Parker combined for 11 individual 100-yard games; this season, the Steelers have only seven 100-yard rushing games as a team.
Ward and Roethlisberger know how important it is to get the run going against the Bears, if only to keep a defense that has allowed the fewest yards and fewest points in the league from teeing off on Roethlisberger.
"There's a reason they're the best defensive team in the NFL, and people are arguing maybe one of the best ever in the NFL," Roethlisberger said. "They're fast, physical and always around the ball."
The Steelers badly need more production from Parker, who has one 100-yard game in the past nine games.
"Not having a 100-yard rusher for last three games, that hurts your whole offense," Ward said. "We've got to find a way to get back to that because our run game opens up our pass game."
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