The Haley Effect

[NorthCoast]

There has been a lot of discussion on how much Todd Haley has affected Roethlisberger's game. While the passing game has 'shortened' under Haley, it is really only continuing a trend that has been going on from the beginning of Ben's career. What is staggering, and indicative of the new NFL, is the other trend that Roethlisberger has throughout his career.

Check it out:

Year	passing air yds/att	atts/gm
2004	5.6	21.1
2005	5.2	22.3
2006	4.2	31.3
2007	4.9	26.9
2008	4.1	29.3
2009	4.7	33.7
2010	4.6	32.4
2011	4.3	34.2
2012	3.8	34.5
2013	3.5	36.5

In each of Haley's two seasons with the Steelers, he has shortened the passing game 10%. But the passing game is much more prolific than it ever was under BA considering Roethlisberger has a career high in attempts/gm.

[SidSmythe]

I think it's a concept BEN had to learn and that's why HALEY was brought in.

The best thing HALEY did (and saved his job) was let BEN have more authority on the OFFENSE/No Huddle

[birtikidis]

I wouldn't say our passing offense is more prolific because of the attempts per game. There was a long stretch where the more we threw the ball the worse we did as a team. What's made our offense prolific (I use that term loosely) is that Ben has made better decisions with the ball each year. He has his bad moments, but by and large, he's becoming more and more precise and decisive.

[papillon]

I know this is blasphemy to many Steeler fans, but I liked the Ben that "managed the game" even though he really didn't just "manage" the game. He was efficient and effective in the pocket and outside the pocket, the offense could run the ball and gave Ben play-action options that until late this season he didn't have for the past few years as the Steelers tried to replace Bettis and no running back was really the threat a defense needed to account for.

It seems Bell is going to be that threat and I'm excited to see next years offense build on what was happening at the end of this year. Bell is going to have to be accounted for in the passing game and the running game by defenses, he reminds me of Roger Craig from having to defend him, both as a receiver and a runner. This will only make Ben that much more dangerous, I believe we'll see Ben's continued success increase even more next year. Contrary to what I believed a few years ago, Ben may be able to play excellent football into his late 30s and keep the window open for the Steelers.

Edit: Based on Ben's transformation, Landry Jones may have been drafted too early as Ben may be playing for many more years and I doubt Jones will want to sit around waiting his turn.

Pappy

[feltdizz]

I wouldn't say our passing offense is more prolific because of the attempts per game. There was a long stretch where the more we threw the ball the worse we did as a team. What's made our offense prolific (I use that term loosely) is that Ben has made better decisions with the ball each year. He has his bad moments, but by and large, he's becoming more and more precise and decisive.

Yep... and I wish we didnt throw the ball so much inthe Miami game. Bell was killingMiami and we stopped giving him touches. Miami had a horrible run D, it was snowing, Bell was gashing them on the ground. We proabably win that game if we didnt pass as much.

I like Haley tho... he has grown on me.

[Shoe]

The lights in the room were flipped on, and all the mice scurried away

It is hilarious, where all the knee-jerk, Haley haters went all of a sudden! The guy only had a year, and people here ("Steeler fans", who should know the value of consistency and staying the course) were calling for his head. Not just a few, rogue folks. It felt like the whole Steeler Nation.

Ben played every snap of this season. That is a result of Haley's system (get the ball out quicker), and Ben's maturation as a QB. He has become a more cerebral player.

[feltdizz]

It is hilarious, where all the knee-jerk, Haley haters went all of a sudden! The guy only had a year, and people here ("Steeler fans", who should know the value of consistency and staying the course) were calling for his head. Not just a few, rogue folks. It felt like the whole Steeler Nation.

Ben played every snap of this season. That is a result of Haley's system (get the ball out quicker), and Ben's maturation as a QB. He has become a more cerebral player.

Its what we do.... the OC is an easy scapegoat. I didnt like Haley early on this year but he proved me wrong and I like what I'm seeing. I've never been a hire, fire type of guythough.. every coach should get 3 years IMO to see if theresystem works unless its its hot garbage like the OL.

[flippy]

Count me as still not a Haley fan. The only good that's happened this season is allowing Ben to call more of the plays. Clearly Ben makes quicker reads and knows where he wants to go with the ball when he gets to call the play at the LOS. But we've seen that from Ben in the no huddle for years and most of us have wanted more for years. So I'm not giving Haley too much credit there.

Haley's personnel/play calling isn't all that impressive imho. I put more credit in the improvements on the OLine, AB, and Bell. And the health of Heath toward the second half of the season for the turnaround.

Seems like things are coming together a little so I'm ok with keeping Haley. But if we replaced him, I wouldn't b upset either.

[feltdizz]

I know this is blasphemy to many Steeler fans, but I liked the Ben that "managed the game" even though he really didn't just "manage" the game. He was efficient and effective in the pocket and outside the pocket, the offense could run the ball and gave Ben play-action options that until late this season he didn't have for the past few years as the Steelers tried to replace Bettis and no running back was really the threat a defense needed to account for.

It seems Bell is going to be that threat and I'm excited to see next years offense build on what was happening at the end of this year. Bell is going to have to be accounted for in the passing game and the running game by defenses, he reminds me of Roger Craig from having to defend him, both as a receiver and a runner. This will only make Ben that much more dangerous, I believe we'll see Ben's continued success increase even more next year. Contrary to what I believed a few years ago, Ben may be able to play excellent football into his late 30s and keep the window open for the Steelers.

Edit: Based on Ben's transformation, Landry Jones may have been drafted too early as Ben may be playing for many more years and I doubt Jones will want to sit around waiting his turn.

Pappy

Maybe Jones was used to motivate Ben? LOL....

Watching these playoff games and it sure seems like teams are running their way to victory. Phillip Rivers had 12 completions and they put up 27 points. 2 rushing TDs

NO also relied on their rushing attack...

The game is still about balance...

[Shoe]

Count me as still not a Haley fan. The only good that's happened this season is allowing Ben to call more of the plays. Clearly Ben makes quicker reads and knows where he wants to go with the ball when he gets to call the play at the LOS. But we've seen that from Ben in the no huddle for years and most of us have wanted more for years. So I'm not giving Haley too much credit there.

Haley's personnel/play calling isn't all that impressive imho. I put more credit in the improvements on the OLine, AB, and Bell. And the health of Heath toward the second half of the season for the turnaround.

Seems like things are coming together a little so I'm ok with keeping Haley. But if we replaced him, I wouldn't b upset either.

That makes no sense.
His only glaring mistake this year was letting Mike Adams single-handedly wreck the month of September for his offense. They went 8-4, by making that one change.

You seem to give everyone else credit (Ben, the O-line, AB, Bell, Heath) for and not give the coach of the entire unit any.

[feltdizz]

That makes no sense.
His only glaring mistake this year was letting Mike Adams single-handedly wreck the month of September for his offense. They went 8-4, by making that one change.

You seem to give everyone else credit (Ben, the O-line, AB, Bell, Heath) for and not give the coach of the entire unit any.

Flippy also isnt impressed by JJ and Bell. I think he is in a funk this year.

[flippy]

At the end of the day, this O doesnt put up points. There's no real rhythm or consistency in production. It's kinda streaky and typically relies on a couple big plays by Ben to bail them out. Haley's over reliant on extra TEs in the formation even when we lack talent. He stops running when we can run the ball. And loves to run when we struggle. He puts a lot of Cotchery in jumbo packages that lets Ds load up the box with 9-10 guys. And his bubble screens infatuation gets a little predictable sometimes.

Im just not sure I'm seeing what he's doing that's so great? This offense is still kinda sputtering putting up about 20 pts a game since he's been here. That doesn't cut it unless our D is playing lights out carrying the team.

[Rod Polamalu]

Never been a big Roethlisberger supporter. However,.. i must give credit where it is due when indeed it is truth. He's playing like a professional now, with the potential to actually assume the mantle of being one of the best of his generation.

And for anyone to say that Haley's knowledge and or experience in terms of his respective craft has not had a great deal of importance regarding this "evolution" on Ben's part is simply illogical.

We are still have difficulty scoring actual points,....but at least now there is hope.

[NorthCoast]

At the end of the day, this O doesnt put up points. There's no real rhythm or consistency in production. It's kinda streaky and typically relies on a couple big plays by Ben to bail them out. Haley's over reliant on extra TEs in the formation even when we lack talent. He stops running when we can run the ball. And loves to run when we struggle. He puts a lot of Cotchery in jumbo packages that lets Ds load up the box with 9-10 guys. And his bubble screens infatuation gets a little predictable sometimes.

Im just not sure I'm seeing what he's doing that's so great? This offense is still kinda sputtering putting up about 20 pts a game since he's been here. That doesn't cut it unless our D is playing lights out carrying the team.

Agree mostly, but also think its only fair to give a coach 3 yrs before calling them a bust, especially given the Steelers injury problems. Most people are feeling good because the last month of the season the Steelers were actually putting up some points.

[flippy]

Flippy also isnt impressed by JJ and Bell. I think he is in a funk this year.

Or the team put me in a funk lol. I do think Bell got better as the season went on. Especially as a blocker. He made some great blocks to help keep Ben clean down the stretch and it made a huge difference. I also thought he showed some consistency as a runner over the last few games. He's the guy I'm most excited about going into next year to see how much he can improve this offseason.

JJ is still a big ? for me.