A year ago the Steelers sat at 2-4 after six games, much of which was a shock based on the fact that the team started 0-4, and then rallied for two wins over the Jets and Ravens.
This season, with increased speed on defense and a returning Pro Bowl center, the team was expected to be better, possibly much better, but after six games are 3-3.
And all the blame for three wins in six games as well as the latest disaster, a 31-10 loss to their red-headed stepkids, the Cleveland Browns, seems to be right at the feet of Pittsburgh’s favorite whipping boy – Todd Haley.
Sunday the Steelers offense put up over 350 yards, rushed for 138 and held the ball for over 33 minutes, yet failed in the biggest of ways when it had a shot to put points on the scoreboard.
The team was 0-3 scoring touchdowns in the red zone after entering the game ranked 26th in that department.
Pass or run inside the 20, it doesn’t seem to matter, the offense seems stuck in quicksand.
So while all this was going on Sunday, the fire of Steeelrs Nation seems directed at one man – Haley.
No matter how many times Lance Moore dropped a pass or an offensive lineman missed a block, Haley was the guy who should have made a different call or put in a different wrinkle to the play during Sunday’s 21-point blowout.
Mind you Haley is as guilty as the rest of the Steelers when it comes to being 3-3 and having already suffered losses to the Bucs and Browns, but keep in perspective the reality of the situation with the black and gold in 2014.
The players are as much to blame as the coaches.
The coaches can only do so much, so proclaiming that they should all be shown the door while the players get no blame at all is simply insane.
Haley, Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau along with the rest of the coaches can’t tackles, catch passes, or make blocks.
All they can do is put the players in the best position to win, and declaring that they should (or at least Haley) should be fired, means fans think the coaches that have been hired by Rooney’s have lost the ability to do that.
Fault is all the way around on this 3-3 football team, from poor passes thrown by Ben Roethlisberger, to missed assignments by future Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu, to poor calls by not only Haley but LeBeau, who seems to get a free pass no matter how many big plays the team gives up.
Face it and argue all you want, Haley isn’t getting fired. Not on a team where the offense is putting up 350 yards a game with a running back setting records and a wide out in the midst of a catch per game record.
Be upset about it all you want – there’s a lot more on this team to be upset about than the play-calling of Todd Haley.
5 Comments
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
Bill Costello
October 13, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Blame not Haley. Steelers have been in consistent for several years now which suggests the leadership whether it be ownership, coaches or players within are not unified. Someone within the ranks needs to set the standards higher because they have been very low the years since last super bowl appearance. That is how it looks to this Steeled fan. I guess problem could be they are not getting enouggh good players on the field but I do not think that is the issue.
Joe Simko
October 13, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Clobert and Tomlin have dealt us this crap sandwich in regards to talent. Free agents signings have been a terrible failure . Team appears to have accepted the culture of losing!
DrGeorge
October 13, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Gene Collier (Post-Gazette.com) wrote today that Haley should “take a hike.” Frankly, I disagree with Gene and agree with your assessment, Matt. It would be extraordinary for the Rooneys to fire anyone in mid-season, especially a family friend like Haley. But if the season is to be salvaged, someone must intervene to:
1. Explain why Ben and his receivers aren’t on the same page;
2. Explain why little Dri Archer is being run between the tackles;
3. Explain why LaGarette Blount, our 250 pound power back, was on the sideline when it was first and goal on the one;
4. Explain why Ben R. passed into double coverage when it was first and goal on the one;
5. Explain why Ben R. is still holding the ball and taking sacks, which the new offense was supposed to correct; and
6. Explain why our offense cannot score TDs in the red zone.
All of these are within Haley’s scope of responsibility as offensive coordinator. I opined in an earlier comment that there appears to be a disconnect between Ben and Haley; I don’t know which one is calling the plays, but we are seeing some very strange play calling and an offense that is inconsistent in its execution. Haley is responsible for calling the game (or should be); Ben is responsible for the execution. Both must be held accountable. The Rooneys need act quickly in order to salvage the season; the team is still 3-3, after all; we still have a chance to right the ship. But right now the team looks divided,confused, and dispirited.
Haley and the offense must also bear part of the blame for the 31 points Cleveland scored on Saturday against our Defense. The defense was on the field way too long. And don’t blame LeBeau. He is missing three starters and trying to cobble together a defense, using the inadequate talent Tomlin and Colbert handed him. It’s going to take time for the new players to learn their assignments and more time for the veterans to learn to trust them. There is little anyone can do to accelerate the process. In the meantime, the offense must control the clock and score points to give the defense a fighting chance. That means the Steelers must commit to the running game, even over Ben’s objections, to balance the offense. That much the coaching staff can and ought to do this week.
jeff
October 14, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Haley is so bad it is not even funny. He can’t coach or call plays. He has a job only due to his dad. Tomlin is gonna get fired becuase he won’t dismiss Haley.
Mario
October 15, 2014 at 8:29 pm
It all fall on the head coach. That is his job and if he doesn’t want to take the blame start pointing fingers and play the race card. That one seems to always work!