Post by cityofchamps on Oct 18, 2012 22:08:09 GMT -5
By Ian Rappaport
Through six weeks of the season, the Steelers are banged up, beaten up and 2-3. All, of course, is not well. That road loss to the Titans only underscored the issues. The defense is hurting, the offense hasn’t found its rhythm, they are currently looking up at the Bengals and Ravens in the AFC North.
Statistically, just like actually, it has been a struggle for the offense. Even with a talented quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger and WRs like Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, they are ranked just 17th in scoring with 23.2 points and 16th in total offense with 360 yards. In other words, mediocre.
Now, there are some issues to point to as far as why the unit is inconsistent. Offensive line injuries have crushed them, and you can’t overlook that. Wallace’s holdout didn’t help. Neither have the injury issues of RB Rashard Mendenhall. But still, it is the responsibility of new offensive coordinator Todd Haley to produce, and it has yet to come together. Of course, the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship is one we have been discussing all season.
So, let’s discuss it.
I am told that the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship is what everyone expected. It is not great. They have butted heads. We’ve read about the much-publicized incident where Big Ben used last year’s signals, and that didn’t go over well. It also was indicative of a QB who didn’t trust or feel comfortable with the current system.
Before we continue the discussion on Haley — and everyone knew beforehand that he is as gruff as they come — let’s take a step back. How did the Steelers end up in this situation with an OC who clashes with the QB after Roethlisberger and Bruce Arians got along so well?
I’m told Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wanted to hire running backs coach Kirby Wilson as his offensive coordinator after last season. That was his intention. Yet Wilson was involved in a tragic incident with a fire, and no one could predict how his health would rebound. Sad to say, but the team had to essentially move on in its search. In fact, Wilson (the RBs coach, still) wears bandages from the incident.
While Wilson dealt with his health, Tomlin had to act. And so, on Feb. 7, he hired Haley. Tomlin knew there was nobody better available, thanks to Wilson’s situation. While Tomlin didn’t love Haley’s interview — it wasn’t great — he felt obligated to make the move. After all, Haley might be gone if he waited for Wilson to improve.
There is also the thought, I’m told, that Tomlin felt pressure from above, notably from Art Rooney II, to run a slightly tighter ship this year. Haley, who is intense, would theoretically help that. The issue, though, is that Big Ben and Haley have had their disagreements. With Wilson or Arians, Roethlisberger just meshed well. Thus far, it hasn’t happened with Haley.
All of which makes me wonder… If the trend of the Steelers’ offense continues, might we see Tomlin next year eventually promote Wilson, hiring the guy he always wanted to hire anyway? Could it be a one-year stay for Haley? It’s all up in the air.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy has absolutely NO CLUE about what he is talking about. Some of it I can agree with, but the majority is him spitballing right now and bringing up false beliefs simply because the Steelers are 2-3. Here are my main problems.
1. Do not blame the 16th ranked Offense on Ben, Brown and Wallace. The Steelers Passing Offense is 7th in the NFL. Their Running game is 31st in the NFL. If they had Mendenhall all season, they could EASILY be a Top 5 Offense in the NFL right now.
2. Oh Please. FUCKING ENOUGH with this media-fueled BS about Ben and Todd Haley. So what if Ben used hand signals from BA's system. I haven't heard anything about it not going over well with Haley. In fact, if I remember correctly, Haley came out and said it was okay because the Offense was familiar with them. If the trend with the Offense continues, then Haley is going to get a big fat contract extension. He has done wonders with the Passing Game. Under Arians, by now Ben would probably have 6 or 7 Interceptions (In fact, by Week 7 of last year, Ben had 6 Interceptions). He only has 2.
3. How the hell do you know how Haley's interview with Tomlin went? Were you there in the room with them? Has Tomlin told you personally that it wasn't good? Did he tell you if he was pressured from Art Rooney II to hire Haley? Then shut the fuck up because you are just talking out of your ass.
If the Steelers were 5-0 or even 4-1 with the same Offensive Statistics(and they very well could be), this article wouldn't have even been written. NFL.com makes me sick when they come out with complete Horse shit like this. There is no proper research or professionalism in this article whatsoever.
Through six weeks of the season, the Steelers are banged up, beaten up and 2-3. All, of course, is not well. That road loss to the Titans only underscored the issues. The defense is hurting, the offense hasn’t found its rhythm, they are currently looking up at the Bengals and Ravens in the AFC North.
Statistically, just like actually, it has been a struggle for the offense. Even with a talented quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger and WRs like Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, they are ranked just 17th in scoring with 23.2 points and 16th in total offense with 360 yards. In other words, mediocre.
Now, there are some issues to point to as far as why the unit is inconsistent. Offensive line injuries have crushed them, and you can’t overlook that. Wallace’s holdout didn’t help. Neither have the injury issues of RB Rashard Mendenhall. But still, it is the responsibility of new offensive coordinator Todd Haley to produce, and it has yet to come together. Of course, the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship is one we have been discussing all season.
So, let’s discuss it.
I am told that the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship is what everyone expected. It is not great. They have butted heads. We’ve read about the much-publicized incident where Big Ben used last year’s signals, and that didn’t go over well. It also was indicative of a QB who didn’t trust or feel comfortable with the current system.
Before we continue the discussion on Haley — and everyone knew beforehand that he is as gruff as they come — let’s take a step back. How did the Steelers end up in this situation with an OC who clashes with the QB after Roethlisberger and Bruce Arians got along so well?
I’m told Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wanted to hire running backs coach Kirby Wilson as his offensive coordinator after last season. That was his intention. Yet Wilson was involved in a tragic incident with a fire, and no one could predict how his health would rebound. Sad to say, but the team had to essentially move on in its search. In fact, Wilson (the RBs coach, still) wears bandages from the incident.
While Wilson dealt with his health, Tomlin had to act. And so, on Feb. 7, he hired Haley. Tomlin knew there was nobody better available, thanks to Wilson’s situation. While Tomlin didn’t love Haley’s interview — it wasn’t great — he felt obligated to make the move. After all, Haley might be gone if he waited for Wilson to improve.
There is also the thought, I’m told, that Tomlin felt pressure from above, notably from Art Rooney II, to run a slightly tighter ship this year. Haley, who is intense, would theoretically help that. The issue, though, is that Big Ben and Haley have had their disagreements. With Wilson or Arians, Roethlisberger just meshed well. Thus far, it hasn’t happened with Haley.
All of which makes me wonder… If the trend of the Steelers’ offense continues, might we see Tomlin next year eventually promote Wilson, hiring the guy he always wanted to hire anyway? Could it be a one-year stay for Haley? It’s all up in the air.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy has absolutely NO CLUE about what he is talking about. Some of it I can agree with, but the majority is him spitballing right now and bringing up false beliefs simply because the Steelers are 2-3. Here are my main problems.
1. Do not blame the 16th ranked Offense on Ben, Brown and Wallace. The Steelers Passing Offense is 7th in the NFL. Their Running game is 31st in the NFL. If they had Mendenhall all season, they could EASILY be a Top 5 Offense in the NFL right now.
2. Oh Please. FUCKING ENOUGH with this media-fueled BS about Ben and Todd Haley. So what if Ben used hand signals from BA's system. I haven't heard anything about it not going over well with Haley. In fact, if I remember correctly, Haley came out and said it was okay because the Offense was familiar with them. If the trend with the Offense continues, then Haley is going to get a big fat contract extension. He has done wonders with the Passing Game. Under Arians, by now Ben would probably have 6 or 7 Interceptions (In fact, by Week 7 of last year, Ben had 6 Interceptions). He only has 2.
3. How the hell do you know how Haley's interview with Tomlin went? Were you there in the room with them? Has Tomlin told you personally that it wasn't good? Did he tell you if he was pressured from Art Rooney II to hire Haley? Then shut the fuck up because you are just talking out of your ass.
If the Steelers were 5-0 or even 4-1 with the same Offensive Statistics(and they very well could be), this article wouldn't have even been written. NFL.com makes me sick when they come out with complete Horse shit like this. There is no proper research or professionalism in this article whatsoever.