Home 2014 Season Todd Haley of 2009 is Why the Steelers Offense Has Thrived

Todd Haley of 2009 is Why the Steelers Offense Has Thrived

by Steeldad
Big Ben, Haley

Ever since the Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs a week ago many have found it hard to admit that the team has indeed qualified for the postseason with Todd Haley running the offense.

After back-to-back 8-8 seasons, questions swirled around whether or not this team could actually win more than it lost under Haley’s guidance of the offense. What Haley has put together in 2014 is nothing short of incredible when you consider the numbers.

A quarterback with almost 5,000 yards and a QB rating of over 100, a running back with over 2,000 yards from the line of scrimmage and a receiver with over 100 receptions and 1,500 yards.

These facts are indisputable but how did the Steelers offense finally get here?

The biggest reason is that Haley jumped into his time machine and found his 2009-self and brought it back to the present day. In 2009, Haley was the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals who lost to the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.

Take a few minutes and look this video of Kurt Warner 2009. Go ahead and watch, I’ll be here when you get back.

What you saw was an offense that relied heavily on three-wide receiver personnel and even four and five-receiver sets as well. This is the Todd Haley I hoped we were getting a few years ago.

Instead, we were getting the “Kansas City Head Coach Todd Haley.” What that meant was a guy who favored tight end-heavy sets and relied on a running game that mixed speed with power. This was the Haley that was brought in by Art Rooney II to “tweak” Ben Roethlisberger’s game.

Instead, Haley has finally adjusted to the talent he has and he has to be credited for doing so. It took him longer than it had to, but he has finally seen the light.

This isn’t to suggest Haley has come full-circle to 2009 and back because we still see plenty of sets involving Matt Spaeth and Will Johnson, but at the very least, Haley has allowed Roethlisberger and this offense to move the ball down the field more than ever during his tenure.

If you refer back to the Kurt Warner highlights, you still saw plenty of wide receiver screens didn’t you? While those aren’t going anywhere, it’s obvious that Haley has adjusted to the skills of his current players and is more apt to get the ball down-field vertically.

Perhaps the biggest reason for Haley’s transformation this season at least is the presence of Martavis Bryant. He has become the Steeles first true deep threat since Mike Wallace and just his presence alone has created more room at times for Antonio Brown and Heath Miller.

Most of you know I was not in favor of the hiring of Todd Haley and have been more than critical of him, but I can also give credit where it is due. Haley has gone back to what worked best for him and his talent.

Do I still have issues with Haley? I sure do. I think he still tries to over-think the game at times rather than just go with what works and while the red zone offense has improved, I believe it can be significantly better.

For right now though, Haley deserves some credit at the very least no matter how hard it is to admit it. That said, I won’t be inviting him over for New Year’s either.

Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteelDad and the website @SCBlitz. Check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/steelcityblitz and on Fancred.com. You can hear him weekly during the season on game day on the Trib-Live Radio Steelers Pre-Game 

 

 

 

 

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5 comments

bob graff December 27, 2014 - 6:09 pm

I know i have been very critical of Haley and with cause. I think it’s the departure from Haley’s base offense as the key reason for the offensive success. The offense has changed during the season, with not as many bubble screens and draws up the gut. He has incorporated more slants double move patterns and some deep balls as well as running off tackle more. This is something i have been asking for since last year [playing towards our strengths as opposed to just running his play. At any rate the offense has been more productive and i for one hope it stays that way.

steeldad December 27, 2014 - 10:11 pm

Thanks for commenting Bob. Haley does many things that drive me nuts but he’s also adapted and that’s saying something for a guy with his reputation.

Vittorio December 28, 2014 - 2:05 am

I know how you guys feel but doesn’t every OC do this to there fans? Now Haley’s Offense in Arizona thrived because of Kurt Warner but once he left they have never been the same since. You can 3-4 Good WR’s but without a good QB or a great QB your not going to succeed. Now since Wallace left the Steelers are 18-13 and the Dolphins are right at .500 so I wonder if Wallace really thinks he made the right choice. I doubt he would say in front of his teammates or the media but in private he must be kicking himself for leaving. I do have one question about Bryant: Can he be the guy to break the No.10 Curse? What I mean is the last 2 successful guys to wear that number had success early but eventually faded away into obscurity and finish there career on a bad note

steeldad December 28, 2014 - 1:08 pm

Keep in mind Vittorio that following that season, Haley left for the HC job in Kansas City where the talent was drastically different. Interesting point about Bryant… Would you take a Super Bowl MVP performance from him if he then left in his prime?

Vittorio December 28, 2014 - 11:55 pm

That’s true steeldad but it’s fact that Arizona was on it’s last leg as a competitive team at that point. They were exhausted after that Green Bay wildcard game. I would but that’s if the Steelers get to the Superbowl first. When it comes to No.10 no matter if it was Stewart or Holmes there first year will be remembered by 1 significant play. With Stewart I don’t know cause I have seen footage of him at WR but I remember him more as the QB from 97 to early 2002. Holmes signature moment his 1st year was Week 17 in 2006 against the Bengals, he was running a slant pattern and took off running after he caught the ball to score the game winning TD in OT and knock the Bengals out of the playoffs. After tonight I want all of the fans to tell me what is Bryant’s signature moment from the regular season.

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