By TOM WILLIAMS

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

DETROIT — If Chaney High graduate Brad Smith's future in the NFL is playing wide receiver, if there any better team for him to excel with than the Steelers?

In April, the University of Missouri quarterback is expected to be taken in as high as the second round of the NFL Draft, perhaps as a receiver or tight end. If the pros determine that Smith's size and athletic gifts would be better served catching footballs rather than throwing them, there are role models in Pittsburgh.

Take Hines Ward, the Steelers' eighth-year receiver who has surpassed John Stallworth's record for career receptions. Ward played quarterback and receiver in high school and at the University of Georgia.

And then there is Antwaan Randle El, the fourth-year receiver who was quarterback for Indiana.

Ten years ago, the Steelers kicked off the current trend of utilizing athletic quarterbacks in other positions when Kordell Stewart, a quarterback for Colorado, became "Slash" — a quarterback, running back and wide receiver during Pittsburgh's last Super Bowl season.

"Coach [Bill] Cowher has never had a problem with it," said Ward of converting players. "Kordell — he was the original guy, the original 'Slash.' "

Most of Stewart's eight seasons in Pittsburgh were played behind center — some good (he started the AFC championship games in 1998 and 2002), some not-so-good (1998-2000).

Paying dividends

In the past three weeks, thanks in part to the splendid development of second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers (14-5) have evolved from a run-dominant offense to one that comes out throwing.

The shift paid huge dividends in the Steelers' most recent playoff games — Pittsburgh stunned the Colts in Indianapolis with a 14-0 first-quarter lead on Jan. 15 and then walloped the Broncos in Denver with a 24-3 halftime edge in the AFC championship game.

Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks (15-3), Roethlisberger will try to guide the Steelers to the franchise's fifth Super Bowl title.

Roethlisberger claims the team's recent success is not new.

"Early on in the season, we hit on a bunch of deep balls," Roethlisberger said. "Antwaan, Hines, Cedric [Wilson] and even [tight end] Heath [Miller] started to make people say that these guys can still stretch the field.

"I think that's the good thing about this offense, that we can bring a lot of versatility."

The Steelers aren't the only team finding success with converted quarterbacks. In April, Jacksonville drafted Arkansas' Matt Jones and made him a tight end who found success in the team's 12-5 season.

And the Seahawks used backup quarterback Seneca Wallace as a receiver in their 34-14 NFC championship game victory over Carolina when he caught a pass to set up Seattle's first touchdown.

"Seneca Wallace, Matt Jones — it's catching on," said Ward, a third-round draft choice in 1998. "The transition is a little tough. A quarterback has never been in man-to-man coverage so it's going to take some time but I don't see why they can't have success.

"It's done wonders for my career, Antwaan's, Matt Jones'," Ward said. "When I was at Georgia, we had some key injuries. I had played quarterback in high school so I was asked to go in to that position.

"People say 'jack of all trades but master of none.' I like to think that playing so many positions helped me become the player that I am today," said Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Ward said comprehending the demands of both positions has helped him and Randle El stay in tune with Roethlisberger.

"Understanding the game, being on the same page as my quarterback makes our job getting open a little easier," said Ward. "I credit that to having played [multiple] positions in college."

Opening up offense

Ward credited Miller's late-season progress to creating space for the receivers. Against the Colts, Miller caught Roethlisberger's first toss and ran for a 36-yard gain on the opening drive.

"Teams can't just play cover two — teams have to be responsible for Heath," Ward said. "He's making plays, he's killing strong safeties and defensive backs. You've got to adjust to him. We're on the same side of the field so it's like you've got to pick your poison.

"He's been a huge asset to our offense as far as getting teams out of cover two," Ward said. "He's going to continue to get better — he's definitely a threat on out offense."

Miller's emergence as more than a blocker plus the recent blossoming of Wilson, a former 49er who signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent, have helped erase the memory of wide receiver Plaxico Burress, the Steelers' deep-threat for five seasons who bolted for the Giants after last year.

"The loss of him made us a more close-knit group," Ward said. "That was a big question coming into this year — what would the Steeler offense do without Plaxico? I think we proved a lot of naysayers wrong.

"All our averages are up from last year. Our yards-per-catch is up," Ward said. "We're the last [ranked] team in the league in pass attempts — that speaks volumes about receivers and quarterback.

"It's a great sense of gratification that we can come out and do what we are doing in the passing game when people said we couldn't do it without Plaxico," Ward said.

Looking back

Living in Pittsburgh for eight seasons, Ward said he has an appreciation for what Chuck Noll's teams did three decades ago. He knows the importance that a victory Sunday would bring.

"I'd like to be included with that team from the '70s," Ward said. "As players in the NFL, you can solidify yourself with [a Super Bowl win]. Some of the greatest players in this game did not get a chance to win a Super Bowl.

"I remember [Lynn] Swann and Stallworth ... a vision of them making plays in the Super Bowl. Hopefully, I can go out there and do that because that would help me solidify with those guys if I could get a Super Bowl ring."

Ward said his early Super Bowl memories include watching the 49ers win in the '80s.

"I remember being as a kid wanting to go out and emulate Jerry [Rice]," Ward said. "Hopefully this Sunday, I can make some plays to help this team win the Super Bowl."

Ward knows that his recent success is connected to his young quarterback's right arm.

"There's no question that Ben is an integral part of the reason we are here and I'm so happy for him," Ward said. "Being so young, he's showing so much poise. It speaks volumes about the guy."

Randle El said it's important for Ward's teammates to pick up the slack when he draws double coverage.

williams@vindy.com