Todd Haley is the "Mystery of Pittsburgh"

[Hammock Parties]

Interesting read.



http://triblive.com/sports/2195481-8...p-nfl-ben-didn

Summer is the perfect time for a good read, yet nobody seems to be getting one on new Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

A Bill Parcells protégé known for adapting his play-calling to his personnel and being an innovative play caller, he is also a volatile sideline presence who inspires loyalty from some players but irritates others.

He is certainly not Bruce Arians, who was not-so-gently shoved out the door in January despite quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s unwavering support. But, according to those who know Haley best, he also isn’t a control freak who implements change just to show he’s the boss.

While the Steelers generally shy away from coaches with colorful pasts, Haley has that and more, as evidenced by his well-publicized clashes with players and an abrupt departure as the Kansas City Chiefs’ coach last year in which he reportedly suspected team offices and his cell phone were bugged.

Now, Haley’s assimilation into the Steelers’ way of life is the latest Mystery of Pittsburgh, a shadowy yet intriguing riddle that will begin to be solved when the Steelers — coming off successive 12-4 seasons — open camp Wednesday in Latrobe. It figures to be a can’t-miss page turner.

“I’ve heard a lot of Todd stories — some good, some bad,” said former Steelers star guard Alan Faneca, who played in Arizona after Haley was the offensive coordinator there. “He’s definitely a hard worker and demands a lot. He can be very excitable during practice. But sometimes change is good, to get people out of their comfort zone.”

That’s already happened with Roethlisberger, who thrived in a Ben-friendly Arians offense that permitted him to improvise at will. Upon first glance at Haley’s playbook, Roethlisberger jokingly called it a Rosetta Stone course in a brand new language.

“That (change) has a way of keeping guys on their toes and keeping their focus, understanding what their goal is, and that’s to win Super Bowls,” Haley said during minicamp last month. “Win one this year — that’s our goal.”

Haley, 45, is the first outsider in 13 years to run the offense. But he’s no stranger to Pittsburgh or the Steelers; as a youngster in Upper St. Clair, he broke down game film with father Dick Haley, the former Steelers personnel chief who played a major role in some of the best drafts in NFL history in the 1970s.

FOOTBALL NOT FIRST LOVE

Todd Haley’s story isn’t the sit-on-dad’s-knee-and-become-a-football genius tale of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. In his teens, Haley shifted his emphasis to golf, playing in high school and at Florida and Miami in college.

The PGA, not the NFL, appeared to be his calling.

“But there never was a time he wasn’t into football,” said Dick Haley, who at 75 remains plugged into the NFL. “Because of some back problems, he got diverted into golf, but he always wanted to know about the players, about football. How many kids wouldn’t want to after rooming next to Joe Greene at training camp?”

The elder Haley left the Steelers to become the Jets’ personnel director in 1991 and, four years later, Todd was hired in the scouting department. Within two years, he was on Parcells’ coaching staff.

“Todd is bright, demanding, persistent, and he came along pretty well,” Parcells said.

Parcells didn’t care Haley hadn’t played football.

“I know guys who didn’t play and did very well in coaching, and others who played that don’t have a clue what to do,” Parcells, a two-time Super Bowl-winning coach, said.

Haley was promoted to wide receivers coach in 1999 before switching to the Bears in 2001, only to rejoin Parcells in Dallas in 2004.

Haley’s profile rose with his next job as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator from 2007-08. With quarterback Kurt Warner headlining an imaginative offense highlighted by former Pitt receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s big plays, the Cardinals were second in passing and third in scoring in 2008. They went 9-7 during the season, but scored at least 30 points during three consecutive playoff wins and rallied from a 13-point deficit to nearly upset the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

That deep throw to Fitz-gerald that nearly sent the Steelers home a loser from Tampa? Haley’s play call.

Haley was subsequently hired as the Chiefs coach by general manager Scott Pioli, the former Patriots executive who worked for the Jets when Haley did. But while Haley went from 4-12 in his first season in 2009 to 10-6 in 2010, finishing third in the coach of the year voting, he was fired with his injury-ruined team reeling with a 5-8 record on Dec. 12.

STORMY DAYS IN K.C.

Haley is derecho-like — always going straight ahead, in full-go mode, and in Kansas City, storm clouds often loomed on the horizon.

Chan Gailey, retained from Herm Edwards’ staff to be the offensive coordinator, didn’t make it through training camp. Larry Johnson, the two-time former 1,700-yard rusher, questioned Haley’s coaching credentials in a Twitter message and was cut in 2009. And tight end Tony Moeaki was lost to a season-ending knee injury in the final 2011 exhibition game, when many NFL regulars rest.

“The quarterback (Matt Cassel) was real average. … It didn’t surprise me what happened in Kansas City. I didn’t have any real confidence in the whole thing,” Dick Haley said.

After Todd Haley departed, the Kansas City Star published a devastating article in which a number of former team employees revealed what they called an intimidating, secretive and stifling work environment. According to the Star, Haley himself suspected bugging at the practice complex.

“I don’t know what happened in Kansas City. I don’t think it’s relevant in Pittsburgh,” Parcells said. “But he probably learned a lot there.”

TUTORING BIG BEN

Given Haley’s sideline spats with Warner, Anquan Boldin, Terrell Owens and Cassel, his relationship with Roethlisberger should prove intriguing. Haley once said, “If you’re sensitive, (the NFL) is not the best place to be.”

“You accept people for what they are and get past the sensitivity level, if there is any,” Parcells said. “Both guys are smart enough to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to make it work.’ ”

Torry Holt, a NFL Network analyst and former Rams star receiver, can’t wait to see how this plays out.

“Coach Haley has a strong personality. Ben has a strong personality. I’m sure Todd wants him to hone in on this or hone in on that, and Ben will try,” Holt said. “But out there on the football field, your instincts kick in and your competitive nature kicks in, and you kind of resort back to what you’ve always done.”

Haley’s take on Roethlisberger? “He’s a guy that’s been a really good player, and we’re going to try to keep that going and get even better,” he said.

Haley believes an offense must be physical, smart and disciplined, and his system resembles that of his former boss, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt, a Steelers assistant from 2001-06.

“Todd Haley represents the best of both worlds,” NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes said. “With Kurt Warner, he threw it 45 times a game and didn’t blink. In Kansas City, he ran it 45 times a game. He’s got those three young wide receivers there in Pittsburgh, and Ben knows how to put the ball in the air. Todd will make the adjustments, and rather quickly.”

While Haley is an assistant again after being a head coach, his father insists he has never been happier now that he’s back home in Pittsburgh with his wife Chrissy and five children.

“He’s loving every second of this,” the elder Haley said. “He couldn’t be more excited.”

Dad Haley also realizes there is intense pressure to succeed as a high-profile coach in your hometown, even if former head coach Bill Cowher made it work.

“I don’t question he’ll do well. (But) there’s a lot of pressure to live up to what’s gone on there for a long time,” Dick Haley said. “And he’d better be good because there’s a lot of pressure on him right now.”

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Some people just cant let the Haley hate go. The same people also said he would never work in the NFL again.

You're ****ing reeruned and you've been OWNED in this thread.

But please, keep posting.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're ****ing reeruned and you've been OWNED in this thread.

But please, keep posting.

Not really Facts are Ben is having his best year How is that owning me?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Not really Facts are Ben is having his best year How is that owning me?

JFC, I'm running out of adjectives to describe your stupidity.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

I'm done with Haley it's time to move on People.

Yet, here you are swinging from his nut hairs like Tarzan.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Roethlisberger says he likes the dink-and-dunk offense
Posted by Mike Florio on October 26, 2012, 10:36 AM EDT
Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals Getty Images

As Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Steelers offensive coordinator inch toward a confrontation that coach Mike Tomlin regards as inevitable, Roethlisberger is fashioning a tapestry of passive-aggressive sound bites aimed at needling Haley or building support from the fans, or both.

Over the weekend, Roethlisberger referred to Halley’s offense as a “dink-and-dunk” attack. Though the term widely is regarded in football circles as derisive, Ben now saws that he actually is a fan of dinking and dunking.

“That wasn’t meant in a negative way,” Roethlisberger said Thursday, via Jarrett Bell of USA Today. “Coach Haley and I had a laugh about it this morning. To dink and dunk, that’s moving the chains, and it will open up big plays. The Patriots dink and dunk, too.”

And when those big plays come, maybe Roethlisberger will refer to the offense as “chuck and duck.” In a positive way.

Here’s the reality. The Steelers got rid of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in part because he and Roethlisberger were regarded as being too close, to the point where there was real concern that Arians was creating game plans with an eye toward showcasing the quarterback, which could have impacted the broader effort to win games. Right or wrong, Haley’s presence is aimed in part at enhancing the overall effort by not allowing Roethlisberger to get too reckless with the ball or his body.

The fact that Haley has yet to engage Roethlisberger via the media is a good sign. The Steelers knew that it would take time for Ben to buy in to the new approach, and they’re wisely tolerating his periodic public pissing and moaning about dinking and dunking or chucking and ducking or whatever he may publicly piss and/or moan about.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Todd Haley, Steelers offensive coordinator: I realize he had a tumultuous stint in Kansas City and was just fired from there in 2011 and he could be a bit of a hothead ... but he has been a changed man in Pittsburgh and he is doing tremendous work.

Ben Roethlisberger was having his best season ever prior to getting hurt, playing more consistent and restrained football, cutting down on the turnovers and sacks he took with that improvising. Haley has subjugated his ego to work with a quarterback who can be tricky to deal with at times, and he just orchestrated a season-saving road win with Charlie Batch at the helm.

Haley has learned from his mistakes, he has overcome a slew of offensive line and running back injuries, an awful year from Mike Wallace and losing Big Ben, handled everything with class, been cool and calm on the sidelines and certainly seems to have learned from his time with the Chiefs. Some might say that next head-coaching gig is another year or more away, and Haley is totally content where he is, but I get the feeling he will have suitors this offseason.

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/sto...son-approaches



Faster then i thought.

[durtyrute]

Dammit, I won't stop saying, We fired the wrong guy!

[The Iron Chief]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

I'm done with Haley it's time to move on People.

Really?!
Apparently not.

Normally I'm this infatuated with some asian or redhead I've seen on a porn site but whatever floats your boat.
The Haley experiment failed no matter the cause..Pioli Cassel Haleys beard.
I'm shocked nobodys bumping Gunther threads lately.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by PGM

Yet, here you are swinging from his nut hairs like Tarzan.

Still at it.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by ChiefsandO'sfan

Todd Haley, Steelers offensive coordinator: I realize he had a tumultuous stint in Kansas City and was just fired from there in 2011 and he could be a bit of a hothead ... but he has been a changed man in Pittsburgh and he is doing tremendous work.

Ben Roethlisberger was having his best season ever prior to getting hurt, playing more consistent and restrained football, cutting down on the turnovers and sacks he took with that improvising. Haley has subjugated his ego to work with a quarterback who can be tricky to deal with at times, and he just orchestrated a season-saving road win with Charlie Batch at the helm.

Haley has learned from his mistakes, he has overcome a slew of offensive line and running back injuries, an awful year from Mike Wallace and losing Big Ben, handled everything with class, been cool and calm on the sidelines and certainly seems to have learned from his time with the Chiefs. Some might say that next head-coaching gig is another year or more away, and Haley is totally content where he is, but I get the feeling he will have suitors this offseason.

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/sto...son-approaches



Faster then i thought.

Haley goes to the Jets, drafts a 1st round QB and they win a Ship in 2015. Chiefsplanet members commit mass suicide.

[threebag]

I would rather have given Haley the keys rather than Pissoli. Flame away bitches but **** could it be any worse?

[KurtCobain]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Haley goes to the Jets, drafts a 1st round QB and they win a Ship in 2015. Chiefsplanet members commit mass suicide.

Haley goes to the Jets, they keep Sanchez, he goes for over 4k yards, 35 TDs and 5 INTs, Jets win a superbowl next year. Planet goes...

[Otter]

Originally Posted by threebag02

I would rather have given Haley the keys rather than Pissoli. Flame away bitches but **** could it be any worse?

1. Agree with keeping Haley. A coach with some fire, how dare he! Always did and always will like the guy.

2. Any Chiefs fan who says "could it be any worse?" after 2012 should be forced to take a 3 minute MoHillbilly beating.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by threebag02

I would rather have given Haley the keys rather than Pissoli.

I would have preferred to hire both a competent HC and GM...

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Yep, Haley was the problem!