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.”

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Too small a sample size.

Last year RAC took Haley's losers and made them look like a real team.

This year RAC took a healthy offense and improved defense and it looks like a Haley team.

I'm not going to have this "well, cancer is better than AIDS" argument...

Give me a ****ing break. Haley's team lost games in 2011, but they lost games behind two terrible QBs. RAC won games behind a decent QB. This year, RAC's team looks like a mess behind a terrible QB. If anything, this shows just how much Cassel has held this team back.

And what a crock of shit that Haley's team never looked like a real team. With Tyler Palko at QB, the team was completely outmatched. Despite that, I have never seen the team work harder in the past 10 years than what I saw during a few games during that stretch. The team was magnificent in the Steelers game (but that only goes so far behind Tyler Palko).

You are absolutely clueless if you don't see the enormous different in toughness and attitude vs. what we saw through most of the Haley era.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You are absolutely clueless if you don't see the enormous different in toughness and attitude vs. what we saw through most of the Haley era.

I believe the players want to win for RAC and respond to him better than Haley but I don't see the results so far this season.

Once Haley was gone this team looked completely different last year. Why that hasn't translated to this year I don't know...

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

"Haley's team."

Couldn't you tell how much players bought into Haley that first game RAC was HC?

The defense was no better in those games than they were when they played against Pittsburgh and Chicago.

The offense was light years better because Orton was miles better than Palko and much better than Cassel.

All RAC did was take a Haley-disciplined team, install a new QB, and take advantage of a team on the rebound from the last head coach.

You're just as naive as Scott Pioli. Maybe you are Scott Pioli. The smart fans realized that the uptick was because of the QB. You and Scott Pioli wrongly believe that the uptick was because of the head coach. We're seeing this year just how unbelievably comical that reaction is.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Give me a ****ing break. Haley's team lost games in 2011, but they lost games behind two terrible QBs. RAC won games behind a decent QB. This year, RAC's team looks like a mess behind a terrible QB. If anything, this shows just how much Cassel has held this team back.

And what a crock of shit that Haley's team never looked like a real team. With Tyler Palko at QB, the team was completely outmatched. Despite that, I have never seen the team work harder in the past 10 years than what I saw during a few games during that stretch. The team was magnificent in the Steelers game (but that only goes so far behind Tyler Palko).

You are absolutely clueless if you don't see the enormous different in toughness and attitude vs. what we saw through most of the Haley era.

Of the supposed trio of huge problems the Chiefs had last year: Haley, Cassel, and Pioli -- my money is on Haley being a head coach again within 3 years, while the other two will no longer be in the league in any meaningful capacity.

[jd1020]

Naive is thinking that Haley was actually a good HC.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Give me a ****ing break. Haley's team lost games in 2011, but they lost games behind two terrible QBs. RAC won games behind a decent QB. This year, RAC's team looks like a mess behind a terrible QB. If anything, this shows just how much Cassel has held this team back.

And what a crock of shit that Haley's team never looked like a real team. With Tyler Palko at QB, the team was completely outmatched. Despite that, I have never seen the team work harder in the past 10 years than what I saw during a few games during that stretch. The team was magnificent in the Steelers game (but that only goes so far behind Tyler Palko).

You are absolutely clueless if you don't see the enormous different in toughness and attitude vs. what we saw through most of the Haley era.

are you ****ing serious here?

Buffalo blew us the **** out last year and we looked like we did last Sunday. Haley was our coach then.
No difference, the team wasn't tough and their attitude sucked then too
Posted via Mobile Device

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I believe the players want to win for RAC and respond to him better than Haley but I don't see the results so far this season.

Once Haley was gone this team looked completely different last year. Why that hasn't translated to this year I don't know...

It's not uncommon for a tough coach to be replaced by a player's coach, and see an immediate improvement. But more than anything, it was the QB.

I think we are forgetting how hard our team played against New England, Pittsburhg, and Chicago. But there was one guy on the field, Tyler Palko, who tried really hard but just had zero talent to get anything done.

Which again brings me to my original point. YOu take Todd Haley's team from last year, plug in a REAL QB... are you going to tell me this team wouldn't be dangerous?

[bevischief]

Replace leadership and this team is 2-0 not 0 going on 3.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

It's not uncommon for a tough coach to be replaced by a player's coach, and see an immediate improvement. But more than anything, it was the QB.

I think we are forgetting how hard our team played against New England, Pittsburhg, and Chicago. But there was one guy on the field, Tyler Palko, who tried really hard but just had zero talent to get anything done.

Which again brings me to my original point. YOu take Todd Haley's team from last year, plug in a REAL QB... are you going to tell me this team wouldn't be dangerous?

You know who had the power to plug in a "REAL QB?"

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

are you ****ing serious here?

Buffalo blew us the **** out last year and we looked like we did last Sunday. Haley was our coach then.
No difference, the team wasn't tough and their attitude sucked then too
Posted via Mobile Device

The Buffalo and Detroit blowout was due to a gamble on Haley's part that didn't work out. I've said before, it was a bad mistake, but hardly a fireable offense. The team was just poorly conditioned. But using those 2 games as representative of the Haley era is completely ridiculous. The midseason Haley team we saw in Pittsburgh and Chicago is representative of the team we saw all season long in 2010.

Let's not be rash and act like 2 bad games defines an entire coaching era.

[Hammock Parties]

It's more than 2 games. Haley's teams got dominated like 15 times.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

The Buffalo and Detroit blowout was due to a gamble on Haley's part that didn't work out. I've said before, it was a bad mistake, but hardly a fireable offense. The team was just poorly conditioned. But using those 2 games as representative of the Haley era is completely ridiculous. The midseason Haley team we saw in Pittsburgh and Chicago is representative of the team we saw all season long in 2010.

Let's not be rash and act like 2 bad games defines an entire coaching era.

bullshit. We sucked then just like we suck now.

At least most of us aren't sucking Haley anymore, you on the other hand...
Posted via Mobile Device

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Which again brings me to my original point. YOu take Todd Haley's team from last year, plug in a REAL QB... are you going to tell me this team wouldn't be dangerous?

That talented QB was benched under Haley.

This is the problem. The talent we have is being misused (Haley/Herm/Romeo) and with the draft position we've been in we should also have better players.

GM/HC FAIL...

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jd1020

You know who had the power to plug in a "REAL QB?"

The only game where there was zero excuse not to start Orton was against Chicago. And he ended up getting plugged in by the second quarter.

But glad you're basing your entire argument around that 1 quarter that would have magically turned Haley's season around.

The question shouldn't be why Haley didn't start Orton way too soon or to rush him back from a dislocated finger. The question should be why the **** did it take 2.5 years for Pioli to bring in a competitive QB option?

[SAUTO]

Dude Haley was absolutely horrible as a hc. Give it up
Posted via Mobile Device