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.”

[rico]

Originally Posted by O.city

Gotcha.



Say what Zorn's thoughts on Cassel were?

No, I really didn't get anything regarding the coaches' thoughts on Cassel. He just said that Cassel is generally viewed by most NFL players as a scrub and despised by many because of his contract. I remember someone posted on here that one of the Chiefs players referred to Cassel as a "nice guy, but a timid dork." I asked if this was consistent with NFL players' general perception of Cassel and he confirmed that it seems to be.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Cassel is starting because he's the best QB on the roster. Period.

I'm not going to say that the Chiefs are content with him when they damn near penalize themselves for tampering with Manning.

It's a simple question of "Who else?"

Quinn? The guy is a backup, not a starter.

Stanzi is a ? mark but no 5th round QB is going to be knocking on the door of a starter.

It's going to take an injury or an absolute train wreck of epic to unseat Cassel with what is on the roster behind him. He's simply the best option at QB to start the season.

Sorry to those that believe there is no one worse than him.

You're comparing a guy who had 4 years experience the game and showed no visible improvement to Brady Quinn, a guy who has less than a full season of starts under his belt. Again, I am not a fan of Quinn. I was down on him coming out of college too. Ripped people for saying we should have drafted him in the first. But with him, there is at least an element of "maybe in a new situation, he can do this." He is a first round pick while Cassel is not. He hasn't had a chance to fully prove himself while Cassel has.

It's not like the bar is that high. While we want to test to see if he's worth a first round pick (which is doubtful), the minimum bar is to be better than Cassel. And that's not going to be hard to do.

I don't see what's hard about this debate. You have a guy who clearly is the answer vs. a guy who is a longshot to be the answer, and likely isn't going to be a whole lot worse than Cassel (if you're talking about a floor). There is NOTHING to gain from starting Cassel. Nothing.

[jd1020]

Cassel is a shorter shot than Quinn.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Cassel is a shorter shot than Quinn.

Cassel is a zero shot. You can't go lower than that. There is no reason to march a guy with zero shot to take your team anywhere out on the field as your clear starter.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Cassel is a zero shot. You can't go lower than that. There is no reason to march a guy with zero shot to take your team anywhere out on the field as your clear starter.

****, you are clueless.

[Hammock Parties]

The only reason to go with Cassel is $

The $ you stand to lose if you go 2-14

The $ you already paid Cassel

The $ you might make if you go 10-6

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Toad King

The only reason to go with Cassel is $

The $ you stand to lose if you go 2-14

The $ you already paid Cassel

The $ you might make if you go 10-6

There's only 1 QB on the roster that would make sense going with over Cassel... Stanzi.

He needs to beat out Quinn for the backup job first. If he can't do that...

Cassel's remaining contract is hardly a reason to continue to trot him out there if there are better options to go with.

[Hammock Parties]

I'm guessing Clark Hunt would be furious if Pioli allowed the $63 million man to benched.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Toad King

I'm guessing Clark Hunt would be furious if Pioli allowed the $63 million man to benched.

The $63 million dollar man that you could cut and not owe another penny.

[Hammock Parties]

That's not what it's about, though. You already paid him all this goddamn money. You need to play him now, Scott, or are you telling me I just wasted 60 goddamn million?

Besides, we'll go 2-14 with the other options. And then Clark would murder-suicide.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

****, you are clueless.

Says the person nobody agrees with.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Toad King

I'm guessing Clark Hunt would be furious if Pioli allowed the $63 million man to benched.

In 2009, I'd agree. In 2012, not so much.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Toad King

That's not what it's about, though. You already paid him all this goddamn money. You need to play him now, Scott, or are you telling me I just wasted 60 goddamn million?

Teams "waste" money all the time. The Washington Redskins are the prime example, yet Daniel Snyder lets it all slide because he's bringing in an enormous amount of money.

Clark Hunt's not hurting for cash, either.

[Coach]

Well... look what the ****ing cat brought in....

How have you been Dane?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Coach

Well... look what the ****ing cat brought in....

How have you been Dane?

Hey Coach! I hope you've been well. Things are cruising along...