Steelers Expected to Announce Hiring of Todd Haley as Offensive Coordinator

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I think.

Good to get the wait over with, and it gives us someone who knows how to win. He has his issues, but he is tough and knows Pittsburgh.

Welcome Coach, and I hope you get some rings during your stay.

I lived in Chiefs country through the new Pioli/Haley regime. Most fans weren’t sure about the hire initially because his limited experience and mixed track record, but generally people were excited to see if he could turn the team around. He turned out to be very passionate, exciting, demanding, and carried high expectations. After the results from his style didn’t generate an explosive offense and troubles with the front office continued to build, it was time for him to move on.

I think his was a classic case of someone getting promoted to a position over his head in an environment that wasn’t ripe for success. When the talent was there he was able to field the number one rushing attack and drastically improve the wideouts on the roster, but he never seemed to get the big picture of being a head coach.

It will be really interesting to see what he can do with all the talent on our roster when he only has to focus on the offense (his greatest strength). I know some people around here are extremely anti-Haley and I can understand why. His attitude and demeanor can be off-putting, but from someone who got used to him I am extremely excited.

I am also somewhat optimistic on what Haley’s take on the offense will be.

Not to mention, I just quickly looked at his draft picks on the offensive side over the last two years (they drafted mostly defense and traded for Cassel in 2009). Of course, disclaimers over whether Pioli or Haley pulled the trigger, but you would have to imagine he would be heavily involved for the offensive players. Anyways, there seem to be some interesting tendencies.

1) He drafted Dexter McCluster and then utilized him both out of the slot and as a change-of-pace back. Maybe we target one this year, such as a LaMichael James.
2) He spent a 3rd rounder on TE Tony Moeaki, so I would assume we might see more of a role for Miller as a receiver.
3) They spent a first rounder on Jonathan Baldwin this year, but then again they had little else besides Dwayne Bowe….
4) Which leads me to the most important: in 2010, they drafted G Jon Asamoah at 63rd overall and the next year drafted G Rodney Hudson at 55th overall. Of course, take this a grain of salt, but it would seem more probable that we look to upgrade this spot on day 2 of the upcoming draft.

Would of had the job if not for the fire.

Meh

The one thing that stands out to me is the stability factor. KC has had 6 different coaches(89 to present) and who knows the amount of OC and DC. It’s not like Haley went to a franchise that has been worldbeaters. The pressure to win now or be gone in a year or three could of been a factor in his demeanor. I guess what I am trying to say is what better run franchise is there. My bet is The Front Office,Tomlin and even Coach Dad won’t allow Haley’s, for lack of a better word, dickheadiness to be a factor. Sure It will be some bumps along the way but if Haley can get Ben to bye into some tweaking, just 10% , this O will be better.

If all else fails, if and when Coach Wilson is able to return he can assume his job as OC. GO STEELERS!!!!

I for one feel Big Ben needs to get out of that comfort shell he has been in with Arians. Being a diehard steelerfan I saw he got way too comfortable with BA and they both became too predictable. Thats how the Ravens were able to beat us this year both times. We need the o-line re-established in Pittsburgh and we need Big Ben to get a little more cerebral on the field. It seems Eli is gonna pass him as an elite qb as well if nothing different is thrown at him to force him to evolve into the QB we all know he can be. Besides, its not like Haley is a stranger to the team. Hell, he used to be the damn ball boy when his dad was there. Welcome home Todd and lets get this thing rollin. I, myself, am looking forward to the combination of offense that we can have that he can mesh from AZ and KC. LETS DO THIS STEELER NATION! If Big Ben is the consumate pro that I think he is he will accept it and it will work. Remember yall, his offense scared the hell out of all Steeler fan in the SB against AZ when he was OC, so you doubters should be a little more optimistic.

Finally someone who would run a 3 and 1 with a RB in the field!!!!

all you can do is hope that the guy has learned from the past that being a complete jerk face all the time just doesn’t work. If he has learned that then I think this is a great hire. If he hasn’t then this could be a disaster.

But he’ll have my support until he deserves to lose it.

will round out a lot of rough edges, esp after our early exit this season.

I believe the biggiest positive difference n the upcoming season (going on the basis that we actually improve) will b determined by what the FO decides 2 do re: protecting Ben. IMHO, that is far & away issue #1 this offseason. This carries import 4 both immediate & long term prospects 4 this teams standing as an elite team n the NFL. Yes, Ben is tough. I do NOT, however, believe he is tough enuf 2 withstand either the amount, severity, or frequency of blows 2 his body he is currently enduring, particularly over the last 3 seasons.

Issue #2 will b the relatively extensive (4 us) housecleaning we will almost certainly b forced 2 perform 2 comply w the salary cap restrictions. Both of these issues carry >import & will hv a greater effect on our upcoming seasons success or failure, IMHO.

Likelyhood Ben will significantly change his MO: < 5%

Likelyhood Coach T made it clear 2 new OC what he considers “Steeler Football” & BB’s value 2 that gameplan: >95%

Likelyhood new OC realizes what a “plum” he has, & that an outstanding contribution here cld propel him 2 HC (somwhere else, of course) dwn the road: >75%

Likelyhood new OC realizes a poor showing here cld = exit from coaching anywhere n the NFL: >90%

Welcome 2 Steeler Nation, Coach Haley, where the expectations & talent level r higher than anywhere u’ve been b4, or r likely 2 ever be! U will respect our players f u want theirs, they will accept no less. Treated w the respect they deserve, they will show u an offense u cld only dream about w other teams. We’ve (xcept OL) got the talent n the skill positions; if u’ve got the plan, we can lay waste 2 the other teams standing n our way 2 the trophy that rightfully belongs w it’s SIX siblings.

I’ll be interested to see if he is free to create his own offensive playbook from scratch with his own numbering system and language, and have the whole offense learn it, or give him the Arians playbook and tell him to learn it and work with that with only some of his own slight adjustments.

I thought Arians had some great plays designed. He just didn’t seem to have a good feel a lot of times on what play to call when.

… this is epic. not very steeler-like but absolutely awesome

…if Haley is the presumptive Offensive Coordinator, what does that mean?
1 – Haley interviewed in such a fashion that his demeanor, philosophy, and coaching style was found to be compatible with what Tomlin wants to do, and so he became Tomlin’s first choice or

2- The first choice(s) of Tomlins either weren’t available or turned the job down.

If its No. 1, then I think Steeler Nation needs to chill (myself included) and realize that all that we hold Tomlin up to being was used to make this decision, with the obvious concurrence of the FO.

If its No. 2, then that either speaks to a dearth of viable candidates, a too-small a range of candidates were identified, or this position isn’t as attractive as we believe it to be.

I don’t know the history of Haley as well as many others here, but I am somewhat familiar with the Steeler organization’s management practices over the past forty years or so, from a fan’s perspective. And although there were some real busts when it came to hiring coordinators under Cowher, we have to remember that the Rooney’s give their coaches a lot of latitude in running the team, and so those busts should be considered Cowhers, not the Steelers.

Given the apparent focus of A. Rooney II on the offensive performance of the team, not just this year, but also in 2009, it would seem to me that they would have had a hand in the selection process, if nothing else than by making sure Tomlin understood what their expectations of the team were so that he would be fully cognizant of them throughout this hiring process.

So, at the end of the day, again presuming this news is correct (and this comment applicable no matter who is chosen), it seems to me that while commentary from the fans here will always be opinionated, and while I don’t advocate blind homerism and allegiance to an idealized ownership, the Rooneys certainly have proven their abilities over the years, and Tomlin certainly seems wise enough to realize how important this hiring will be on his coaching legacy.

Thus, I for one do not see this hiring as being in any way a desperation move, a knee-jerk reaction, or a “this is best we could do with the options available” type of move. Admittedly, I fell into the camp that did not like what we saw of Haley’s apparent histrionics on the sidelines. That may be a part of his character, one I would hope was examined closely and addressed in the job offering. Time will tell, and Steeler Nation will judge, but I am quietly optimistic that the decision is being made now, taking it as a sign that they found the person they wanted. Had this occurred a month from now, then I would be worried.

would have to alter Bruce Arians character too much to match Todd Haley in the upcomings coaches meetings. lol

Haley might have a past of being volatile with his players but you think Tomlin’s gonna allow that? Hell no. Everything will be fine.

this could work if u can win if not this will only last a year or two i think part of the reason u hired him was 1 he plays pitt real well 2 u play the afc west next year

He’s VERY intense, but in KC the players seemed to respect him for it. Unless your WRs fit the TO mold, he’ll get the best out of them…he did it for Fitz/Bolden/Breaston in AZ and he did it for Bowe in KC.

His personality didn’t mesh at all with Pioli & Hunt in KC, and that’s the main reason he isn’t here any longer. He’s not good HC material, but I think he’ll bring a lot of good things to Pittsburgh as an OC. This and he loves Pittsburgh, he was very open about this in his time with KC.

Probably sees this as a stepping stone to another HC job. But at least he’s not Arians.