Being the offensive coordinator of a football team is essentially the exact opposite of being the backup quarterback. Everyone loves the backup because nine times out of ten they think he can do better than the starter in cities where number one quarterback is struggling.
For the offensive coordinator however, there is little if any love. In fact, there is probably no love at all and instead we measure our approval of this position in different levels of hatred. Ladies and gentlemen of Steeler Nation, I give you Todd Haley.
I don’t care for Haley and this is not a secret but he is the current offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh and there isn’t a darn thing I can do about that. What I have to be when it comes to Haley is honest. If I can rip him at times then I need to praise him when necessary and it certainly was on Sunday.
To say that Haley wasn’t involved with the offensive explosion this past weekend wouldn’t be fair. Did he have everything to do with it? Not at all, but he deserves some credit.
The real challenge now for Haley is being able to sustain what his offense started. It’s no secret he was brought to Pittsburgh to “tweak” Ben Roethlisberger’s game, keep him healthy and re-establish the running game. Sometimes, however, you have to be willing to admit that what is “supposed” to work isn’t going to 100 percent of the time. Great coaches adapt to their players’ strengths, not the other way around.
Haley has to recognize by now, like many of us have, that having Matt Spaeth and Will Johnson on the field individually or at the same time just isn’t productive. While I understand there are always situations that one or both are needed, the Steelers have proven time and time again that this offense does better when they aren’t part of the general gameplan.
So here we are with the hated Baltimore Ravens coming to town for what amounts to a massively important game. A loss puts the Steelers at 1-3 in the AFC North and 0-2 against the Ravens giving Baltimore the tiebreaker. A win evens their division record with the final two divisional games against Cincinnati in the final four weeks of the season.
If we learned anything on Sunday it’s that this team will only go as far as the offense can take it. Yes, Andrew Luck and the Colts are no ordinary offense but the fact remains the defense just can’t be relied on each week. They continue to give up too many big plays and the consistency just isn’t there.
Therefore, Todd Haley has to see the forest through the trees and realize what works for the offense. While the addition of Martavis Bryant is a significant part of the offensive and red zone resurgence, Haley has to be ready for what defenses may do to limit Bryant’s effectiveness.
Going back to two and three tight end formations is not the answer to the questions that Haley will face in the final half of the season.
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