Pittsburgh Steelers: Todd Haley Has Already Identified Offensive Strengths

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Didn't Haley say that he was going to play to the Steelers strengths? He knows that our strength is our WRs and Ben. Ben also said that Haley was going to use the no-huddle on more regular basis than previous years. That all points to the passing game. So what, he's implementing a FB which is long overdue and a good decision IMO.

What's wrong w/ being balanced, being unpredictable, adjusting, and playing to your strengths and the opposing teams weaknesses? I don't see the problem here.

[phillyesq]

Didn't Haley say that he was going to play to the Steelers strengths? He knows that our strength is our WRs and Ben. Ben also said that Haley was going to use the no-huddle on more regular basis than previous years. That all points to the passing game. So what, he's implementing a FB which is long overdue and a good decision IMO.

What's wrong w/ being balanced, being unpredictable, adjusting, and playing to your strengths and the opposing teams weaknesses? I don't see the problem here.

Really well said.

[Crash]

Also, there has been multiple times he's taken a sack when we were in field goal range only to take us out of field goal range.

In 8 years? I would say thats happened LESS than 10 times in his career.

[steelnavy]

what's the insult?
you get on youir soapbox proclaiming what a great oc arians was and how he utilized ben to the best of his abilities. you make up some bs about rooney saying we have to run the ball every play and that ben wont be throwing the ball at all and he wont be allowed to ever leave the pocket. you give everybody the impression that the offense was great but the defense sucked. you keep preaching about changing the number 1 defense and being happy with the 21st ranked offense. all im doing is asking you to back up all your thoughts and insights. if you really think this offense will handcuff ben and not be as productive as your boy arians, then take the bet.
taking this bet has nothing to do with wanting them to fail, it has evertything to do with walking the walk.

Really glad that Haley, Tomlin and Art are in charge of the team and NOT Crash. Seriously, you argue the opposite position of every fact that is laid out...

I predict that between the addition of the two new linemen and the loss of BA predictabe play calling, the offense will kick butt, WHATEVER they have Ben doing. And thats what is important.

[DBR96A]

"An effective running attack will help draw defenders to the line, which will provide the offense with plenty of opportunities to take their shots down field to Wallace and Brown. "

Given Ben's ability to extend plays, my feeling is defense should and would be more inclined to stay back for fear of Brown or Wallace getting deep. I would expect the defensive line to move to a contain the QB type attack. This is when the running lanes should be open up. Play action works well here but in reverse. Use the fake handoff a few times to freeze the db's into pass and the front seven to contain Ben. When they do, go ahead and hand the ball.

(or, in short, pass to set up run).

So if the defense stays deep, throw a short pass.

[Crash]

Really glad that Haley, Tomlin and Art are in charge of the team and NOT Crash. Seriously, you argue the opposite position of every fact that is laid out...

I predict that between the addition of the two new linemen and the loss of BA predictabe play calling, the offense will kick butt, WHATEVER they have Ben doing. And thats what is important.

Yeah Haley's a real genius. Just remember, Charlie Weiss isn't on our staff.

[Captain Lemming]

what's the insult?
you get on youir soapbox proclaiming what a great oc arians was and how he utilized ben to the best of his abilities. you make up some bs about rooney saying we have to run the ball every play and that ben wont be throwing the ball at all and he wont be allowed to ever leave the pocket. you give everybody the impression that the offense was great but the defense sucked. you keep preaching about changing the number 1 defense and being happy with the 21st ranked offense. all im doing is asking you to back up all your thoughts and insights. if you really think this offense will handcuff ben and not be as productive as your boy arians, then take the bet.
taking this bet has nothing to do with wanting them to fail, it has evertything to do with walking the walk.

Squid, Crash already KNOWS what it is like to proclaim something like this and to have your favvorite team prove you wrong.
He thought we would never win the SB under Cowher.

You are elated with the championship while at the same time everyone on the board calls you out for being wrong.

You wind up in a very uncomfortable place when you are proven wrong by the team you love.

[SidSmythe]

DJ should never i repeat never see the field over Manny or Cotchery. Enough of this stupid run-run-pass offense. Todd Haley was hired for this caveman offense???

Bengals, Raven don't give a damn about Steelers Running Game.

Mike Tomlin against raven in 2012..we are going to tun the ball down the Ravens throat no matter what. Issac Redman stats (17 carries -34 yards)

PS board in meltdown. People cursing offense for the loss. Ben sucks thread all over the place.

Are you serious???
You're going to take ONE game to prove ur point?? (But i would say 17 carries against the Ravens is sticking to the run)
AND....who said ANYTHING about David Johnson "Starting"??? He's being moved to FULLBACK fulltime. Just b/c he's a Full Time FB does that mean our offense will primarily be an I Formation??? or could it be that when we go 2 back sets David Johnson (assuming he makes the cut) will play FB.

[Pops8]

So if the defense stays deep, throw a short pass.

certainly that is an option, but the discussion I was getting at was run strategy. Specifically: passing to set up the run vs. running to set up pass. I swear some people think running the ball is the eight sin. It isn't. The rules and game favor a passing attack, but running is still a vital part of the game. How you integrate the run into the passing game is the modern strategy vs. how to fit the passing game into the run attacks of my youth.

That said, I have long been a supporter of a short passing game (screens, slants, etc).

[Crash]

We throw plenty of short passes. That's not an issue.

[DukieBoy]

Really well said.

x2

And hope we will be rid of the patterned snaps at 2 seconds or less on the play clock. Opponents teed off on our late snaps.

[NorthCoast]

I'm not so sure true FB will suit DJ. I think W Johnson has a great shot at it because he SHOULD be far more effective in PA. DJ's strong suit wasn't ISO blocks in the A & B gaps and Redman is best when he is downhill attacking the ILBs following an ISO block. Hard to believe W Johnson can't give you at least what DJ gives them in that area & add a better dimension off of PA.

A FB that could clear the trash off of PA and stay on his feet and get in a pattern is a very effective weapon. A FB in the "I" is the ILB read coming through the hole. More often than not, the LB meeting him is responsible for him in coverage if in man. You have an athletic FB who could get seperation off that PA....You get LBs to hesitate & meet the FB 2 yards deeper than they should or the DC has to drop the S off the line. When they start doing that, run game moves the sticks and the clock. You start getting those 5-6 yard runs on 1st down that just kills the DC. 2 & 5 or 2 & 4 is just a nightmare to call against especially when the Steelers go 21 personnel. Factor in Batch or Rainey now in 21 personnel...You get mismatches on the RB....And there is where passing to the RBs becomes a huge part of the offense.

If the plan is to have a full time FB, I am disappointed the Steelers didnt try to find a stud in the draft or free agency. DJ is not the answer, and we are pinning alot on hopes of Johnson being up to the task.

[Slapstick]

Not really...DJ probably won't have any more responsibility or be on the field any more as a FB...with him now attending meetings with RBs and coached up by Kirby Wilson, I believe he can only improve...

[Crash]

The only way the offense improves with DJ is by not playing him.

He's horrible. Awful. The Tomlin Era's version of Corey Holliday.

[Steel Life]

Let's face it...the entire offense has been somewhat ineffective during BA's tenure - especially in the red-zone. Myself & others have long said that the team had succeeded in spite of his direction, where we continually saw everything from an over-reliance on pet plays (WR screen anyone?), predictable play-calling in given situations or personnel (the same WR screen), & an apparent lack of adjustment to game situations (OL's inability to block yet routes still being run deep). Say what you will about Ben holding the ball too long or his desire for heroics, but I'm of the opinion that there are few other QB that could've worked in BA's offense. Ben is unique because he is able to hold the defense off long enough to make things happen & because he sees the big play possibility not just the dump-off. Does he need to dump it off more often? - absolutely, but calling routes that take the blocking & situation into consideration will be a welcome change.

As for the run-game, I'm looking forward to the change with a FB & really hope all our RBs find more success. I really feel we'll find the problems were mostly our past personnel on the line, as too often our RBs found themselves staring defenders in their faces unable to get things going. Where a FB would certainly help in those situations, I'm not counting on that being the difference in our offense...a balanced offense with the continued development of our young WRs could dominate the division for the remainder of Ben's career.