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"My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!" -
Haley has sure toned it down
November 7th, 2012
Mark Kaboly | Tribune-Review
Everybody has heard about (and sometimes saw) the explosive personality of Todd Haley before his arrival in Pittsburgh.
There’s no denying that.
Even Haley’s quarterback last year with Kansas City Matt Cassel admitted so during Wednesday’s teleconference with the Pittsburgh media in preparation for Monday’s game against the Steelers.
“Coach Haley is a demanding coach,” Cassel said. “He expects a lot out of his players. He will challenge you. He is not afraid to get in your face and let you know … I guess hold you accountable is the best way to put it.”
Did Cassel ever take exception to Haley’s methods?
“There were probably times that there I did but there were other times that you respect the process and respect the coaching that is taking place,” he said.
But that Todd Haley is no more.
He has barely even raised his voice in more than nine months as a Steelers employee which leads to the question if the organization (Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert) strongly suggested before hiring Haley to tone down his antics.
What other explanation do you have?
It wouldn’t be unprecedented for a coach to change his style from year-to-year while with the Steelers.
There wasn’t a more dynamic of a special teams coach than Bob Ligashesky. He was animated, he screamed, he yelled, he was high-energy and he was expressive on the field.
Then, all of a sudden after his first year with the Steelers (2007) to his second (200
, he barely said a word – no more screaming, yelling and gyrations.
Did the Steelers tell him to knock it off?
Did the Steelers tell Haley to knock it off as well?
We will never know the answer to that, but don’t you think it’s unusual for coaches to change their coaching personality that got them to the pinnacle of their career?
[URL]http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/2012/11/07/haley-has-sure-toned-it-down/[/URL]Comment
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Tomlin is the man and he sets the tone. I mentioned this when Haley was hired. That said, I also believe that the Steelers handle themselves like pro's and that there are less reasons to go into screaming fits than there might be in lesser organizations.Comment
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I agree. And by all indications, Haley adjusts his game plans according to the competition. So, maybe he adjusts his attitude according to what he feels is needed to keep his current group of players moving forward? It sure would be nice to think he's that intelligent and calculating.
I love what I've seen so far and until I see otherwise, I'm marking this down as a fantastic hire.Comment
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Maybe he meshes well with this team because they also hold themselves accountable.“Coach Haley is a demanding coach,” Cassel said. “He expects a lot out of his players. He will challenge you. He is not afraid to get in your face and let you know … I guess hold you accountable is the best way to put it.”Comment
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The offense has been getting better with each week, so there really hasn't been the opportunity for a lot of ranting and raving. Maybe the players are doing what he is asking of them. The mistakes seem to be diminishing week by week, maybe new ones pop up, but it seems the repetitive nonsense has dissipated over the 1st 9 weeks of the season. And, maybe the brass asked Haley to keep himself composed like a professional. Either way (or both) when you see mistakes eliminated and positive things happening it's difficult to become animated in a negative fashion. A combination of Steeler professionalism and the team moving forward and playing sound offensive football certainly have helped I'm sure.
Pappysigpic
The 2025 Pittsburgh Steeler draft
1.21 - Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon - Nick Emmanwori, S, S. Carolina
3.83 - Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa - DJ Giddens, RB, Kans St
3.123 - Will Howard, QB, OSU
4.156 - JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
5.185 - Clay Webb, OG, Jack St
7.229 - Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT, Georgia
"Football is a physical game, well, it used to be anyways" - Mel BlountComment
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Plus he probably has learned it hasn't been the best career move for him to act that way. Haley knows he is in Pittsburgh to rehabilitate his image. He has to be successful if he ever wants another head coach job. Personally, I think he is one of those guys who is a great coordinator but will never be a great coach in the NFL. However, I think with his intense personality he could be a very good college coach."My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"Comment
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Steelers vs. Chiefs: Todd Haley says "I've moved on," from Kansas City
By Neal Coolong on Nov 9
Despite some insistence from others that his firing after a 5-8 start in 2011 sparks some desire for revenge, Steelers offensive coordinator and former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley sticks to mantra of "every game is the biggest game of the year."
It wouldn't seem befitting the dignity of a coach - particularly not a Pittsburgh Steelers coach - to come out to the media making statements of residing animosity toward a former employer.
It would seem in line with human nature, though, for Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley to want to stick it to his former bosses, though.
The Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh's Week 10 opponent, fired Haley after posting a 5-8 record in 2011, just 14 games after going 10-6 and winning the AFC West. Haley received a Coach of the Year award from NFL's 101 organization.
A rocky 2011 season that saw the Chiefs go on a four-game winning streak, but also lose three in a row and four in a row at different points, doomed Haley, in the eyes of general manager Scott Pioli - a man on the verge of termination himself.
Clearly, Haley's relationship with Pioli had its complications. After his departure, a report in the Kansas City Star suggested Haley had stopped using his personal cell phone and repeatedly checked his office for listening devices. The Star had a story on Jan. 12 about the entire affair, quoting one source attributed as a former longtime Chiefs executive as saying, "When you're mentally abused, you eventually lose it, too."
Some of Pioli's first moves were made in regards to protecting information. According to the Star, a rule instituted by Pioli regards the shades be drawn during practices in all offices facing the Chiefs practice fields, including then Chiefs president Mark Donovan.
From a cultural perspective, weight can be put in the theory of changes being made out of fear of what a new manager knows can happen, disregarding what may happen. Pioli's New England Patriots weren't without invasions of allegedly secure information.
Allegations and smoking sightings without confirmation of fire aside, Haley was out, as was Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, whom the Steelers elected not to bring back after the 2011 season. After working in that kind of alleged environment (Pioli allegedly chastised department heads after a candy wrapped sat in a stairwell for a week in an effort to show how detail-oriented championship teams may be), pretty much anywhere else sounds like a good change of pace.
Haley's comments leading into the Steelers job paint a night-and-day difference between the two organizations - one with a Super Bowl appearance and two double-digit winning seasons, and one with just that 10-win season under Haley since 2009.
Putting all that together, a reasonably-minded person could understand if Haley has extra motivation (if such a concept is possible in an extremely competitive league) against the Chiefs. At the same time, he may no longer be a head coach, but according to the Tribune-Review, "Haley loves his new job in his hometown Pittsburgh and loves going to work every day because of the drama-free environment and his personnel, including the best quarterback he's ever coached. He also sneaks in a few more family hours each week."
It's largely implied no one is bugging his phone or screaming about candy wrappers, either. Maybe Haley will think about that wrapper while holding a three-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter Monday, and decide to give that best quarterback he's ever coached, Ben Roethlisberger, a pass check at the line of scrimmage. Maybe his past experiences will make him stare into the suite where Pioli likely would be sitting for a brief second after a touchdown.
He says he's moved on, but less than a year after leading a reporter inside Chiefs headquarters, eyes scanning over the room for listening devices, it's really hard to believe he's forgotten about it. Maybe in the heat of battle those thoughts come back to him, leading to a deep pass when holding a lead.
It seems, though, Haley is more content with leading the offense to score enough to give the Steelers their fourth straight win. Not all revenge scenarios play out with fire and brimstone.
[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2012/11/9/3621780/steelers-chiefs-todd-haley-revenge-comments-preview-fantasy-football[/URL]Comment
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What a novel idea! An OC that gameplans for the opponent by exploiting their weaknesses and emphasizing the teams strength. BA's offenses were a cluster. I saw it when he was in Cleveland. This season he is benefitting from an above average QB in a league that doesn't have a lot of tape on him yet. Indy's wins have come against bottom half defenses this season. Let's see what happens in year 2.Comment
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I just think a lot of it has to do with the Steelers as already mentioned. I'm sure his Dad plays in to it some but I'd say it's more about Tomlin, the other coaches and the players than it is anything else. The team is no bs AND because everyone holds themselves accountable there is no reason for Haley to get all riled up on the sidelines. He can simply sit back and do his job.Comment
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Haley’s diverse game plans provide offensive boost
By Mark Kaboly
Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012
Steelers running back coach Kirby Wilson used the analogy well before Todd Haley was hired as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator.
It just seems to resonate a little louder nowadays.
Wilson’s story goes like this: “If you are going to fix a refrigerator and you have a toolbox full of tools, just take the tools you need to fix the refrigerator. Don’t take the tools you need to fix the television and the air conditioner, too.”
Such an approach is why the Steelers’ offense has been successful in Haley’s first season: It has been multiple, versatile and, most important, not predictable.
Heading into Monday night’s game against Kansas City at Heinz Field, the offense might not be among of the top-ranked units in the league, but it sure has been one of the most diverse.
“We know we have a lot of tools,” Wilson said, “but we will use whatever is necessary to get the job done.”
The offense is doing just that — taking only the necessary tools into each game. Usually, it’s a different tool each week.
“You never want to be one-dimensional,” Wilson said. “But sometimes success lends you to be that way, and you can get out of whack.”
Diversity is something the Steelers were lacking in recent years under former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. He liked bubble screens, deep passes, three tight end sets and throwing on third-and-2.
It led to an offense that put up big numbers at times but that would bog down in the red zone and short-yardage situations.
“We had tendencies with some people wanting to stay in their zones and do things they felt comfortable with more than trusting other individuals on the team,” tackle Max Starks said. “That’s more of the philosophy of the coordinator and being able to adapt and not being able to adapt.”
Haley’s philosophy has been simple: Identify an opponent’s weakness and relentlessly attack it.
“It can lead to good offensive play and winning football, the more diverse you can be and still do what you do well,” Haley said. “When you do have real good personnel in a bunch of spots, it makes it a good situation for you as a staff and a team.”
Diversity is what every team strives for but few accomplish, whether because of style, personnel or even ego.
“Some coaches get locked into tendencies, and it is all on film for teams to study,” NFL Network analyst Steve Wyche said. “Todd doesn’t do that. He always seems to have something in place to exploit a defense. Todd is understanding what he has now and is playing to it. He has been brilliant.”
EXPLOITING WEAKNESSES
Haley’s diversity was on full display last week against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Despite the Giants having a porous secondary, Haley’s game plan was influenced by New York’s ability to create turnovers out of its Cover 2 defense.
So despite having a red-hot quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, Haley built his game plan around power football by fullback Will Johnson and running back Isaac Redman. Focused almost solely on running between the guards, the Steelers rushed for 158 yards in a 24-20 win.
“We just do whatever we feel we have to do to win the game: Run the ball, pass the ball, throw deep or throw short,” Roethlisberger said. “We take pride in being able to be diverse.”
It would be hard-pressed to find a team that has been as diverse from one week to another. Consider:
• A week after using the three wide receiver set 51 times against the Denver Broncos, Haley scaled back the formation against a depleted New York Jets secondary by using three wide receivers only 14 times. It worked. The Steelers beat the Jets, 27-10, and Roethlisberger had a 125.1 passer rating.
• Despite the Raiders allowing 263 yards rushing to the Dolphins the week before, Haley decided to attack the Oakland secondary by throwing 49 times. Roethlisberger threw for 384 yards.
“If there is an obvious glaring deficiency, we want to take advantage of it and exploit it,” Starks said.
• Against the Redskins, the Steelers used more zone-blocking schemes to help their run game while attacking with the short passing game. Twenty-four of Roethlisberger’s 31 attempts went less than 10 yards.
“If we see something we think we can take advantage of, we have to do it,” Wilson said. “We believe that’s good football. We believe that is mandatory.”
Haley’s in-game adjustments have been just as successful.
• After the Steelers struggled with their first three series in Denver, Haley went to the no-huddle with five minutes left in the first half and never got out of it. The Steelers scored both of their touchdowns while running the no-huddle.
“We are capable of going no-huddle at any time, and we are capable of doing anything we want to do at any time,” quarterback Byron Leftwich said.
• With the Steelers trailing, 14-3, in the second quarter against the Bengals, Haley unexpectedly turned to his 31st-ranked running game. To that point, the Steelers had attempted 16 passes and six runs. Haley called five consecutive runs and six in seven plays and stabilized a game that appeared to be spinning out of control.
“That is something that he has always been able to do,” said Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel, who was Haley’s defensive coordinator with the Chiefs. “He has a good offensive mind. That’s just who he is, as far as the offense goes and what he tries to get done.”
ADJUSTING ON THE GO
Then there are the subtleties of a game plan:
• Targeting tight end Heath Miller 10 times against Oakland
• Attacking the middle of the Tennessee defense by throwing 24 of 32 times in between the numbers
• Targeting the weak left side of the Bengals’ defensive line with the run game.
“We really have tried to do a really good job of dissecting our opponent and finding their strengths and weaknesses and then trying to create a game plan around that,” Wilson said. “When you have the personnel that we have, you pretty much can do whatever you feel like you want to do. That’s what we believe in here.”
All Haley is concerned with is finding a way to win. If that means changing the game plan significantly every week, so be it.
“We want to win the game, score more points than the defense,” Haley said. “I’ve always been a big believer in less is more, that you get good at what you do. We have a long way to go, but I’m confident that the more we know what our guys can do and the more we let them do what they can do well that we’ll be OK.”
[URL]http://triblive.com/home/2906664-85/haley-game-steelers-offensive-wilson-coordinator-diverse-offense-running-todd#ixzz2BwvYo5qA[/URL]Comment
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NorthCoast, I'm glad you said the part about, " I saw it when he was in Cleveland. " I did too and he is the only coach that made me aware enough to realize " their OC coach is horrible. " I wanted to vomit when I heard Cowher hired him as our receivers coach. I knew he would spread his stupidity on the offense.Comment
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