Steelers Todd Haley: 'This is the most excited I've been about any offense I've had'

The contract stuff will get worked out one way or another. It's not simply homerish dismissal of the pending problem the team may be causing by not negotiating some kind of mutually beneficial deal with its franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

It's more of recognition that Roethlisberger will have one of the best seasons of his 11-year career, and with it, will earn a significant signing bonus next offseason.

That seems to be an indirect mindset of Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who gave a brief nugget to DK On Sports' Dejan Kovacevic, who wrote glowingly of a well-prepared Roethlisberger.

"This is the most excited I’ve been about any offense I’ve had," Todd Haley was telling me as he walked down the winding path to Chuck Noll Field for the Steelers’ first formal practice Saturday at Saint Vincent College. "Seriously, I mean any offense."

The dynamic playmakers at Roethlisberger's disposal provides a fair reason for optimism. With a running back tandem that can run inside and outside, zone or power, and one of the best receivers in the game (Antonio Brown), it would seem even an average quarterback could have success.

Roethlisberger is far from average, though, and with two years of experience with Haley under his belt, and the likely full-season utilization of their no huddle offense - giving Roethlisberger the keys to dissect defenses while at the line of scrimmage - he'll be in a great position to do what he wants to do.

Guide the offense above the doldrums of its 20-ish points per game average of the last few seasons.

The debate from Steelers' fans is often Haley vs. Bruce Arians. Regardless of which side of the battle fans choose, the reality is this offense hasn't produced anything really above average in the last several seasons. The 2013 season ended strongly, the polar opposite from where it started.

If Haley is this excited for the season, and he didn't just give DK a cup full of platitudes, it's clear why, and it's clear it should be taken seriously.

This is going to be an offensive-dominant team in 2014. It's up to Ben, who's now in the position where he's playing for a contract extension.