Looks like Haley

[steelerfaninCO]

So it's looking like Todd Haley is the new OC..Nothing out of Pittsburgh yet, but as Brinker and Pain said in the other thread, word is leaking out that it is Haley.

I'm OK with it....

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7548154/source-pittsburgh-steelers-hire-todd-haley-new-oc

[Finnegans Wake]

Surprising. 

Bets on Fichtner leaving for some job in Indy now?

[aj_law]

 

See how it goes.

Overdue for some change.

[Joetorious]

I will be ecstatic once confirmed. Steelers have to be the hands-down favorite to win it all next year. All that was needed was a decent OC, and we got a solid/borderline great one. Kudos to Tomlin for such a good, and some might say, unconventional, choice.

[pensodyssey]

Surprising. 

Bets on Fichtner leaving for some job in Indy now?

He can have Jim Tressel's old job.

We shall see, we shall see.  Personally I was hoping for someone more "coordinator-y" and less "diva ex-head coach-y".

[jonzr]

I likes it.  Haley is plenty coordinator-y for me.

[Preacherman0]

I'm fully expecting a fist fight between Ben and Haley.  And perhaps Haley and Wallace!

In some ways, I don't find that to be a bad thing.

[Finnegans Wake]

I'm fully expecting a fist fight between Ben and Haley.  And perhaps Haley and Wallace!

In some ways, I don't find that to be a bad thing.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.  A man of the cloth promoting fisticuffs.

 

[Big Virgil]

I have been a Ben supporter until somewhat recently.  I'm tired of his whiny baby attitude.  I also can't stand aloof jerky coaches, like Arians, and hopefully Haley isn't that way, but some of that may be good for ben.

I don't see Haley as a big "running the ball" type of OC, which is what that CHEEPE AZS RONEIEYS want, so it should be interesting.  Seemed like the Cards had a pretty balanced attack with some good WR sets.  I think the solid 4 or 5 WR's in Pittsburgh are better than the duo he had there plus whoever else was behind them, and their helmets, on the depth charts.

[Joetorious]

I have been a Ben supporter until somewhat recently.  I'm tired of his whiny baby attitude.  I also can't stand aloof jerky coaches, like Arians, and hopefully Haley isn't that way, but some of that may be good for ben.

I don't see Haley as a big "running the ball" type of OC, which is what that CHEEPE AZS RONEIEYS want, so it should be interesting.  Seemed like the Cards had a pretty balanced attack with some good WR sets.  I think the solid 4 or 5 WR's in Pittsburgh are better than the duo he had there plus whoever else was behind them, and their helmets, on the depth charts.

Agree with a lot of this and Preach's points. (I'm not sold that the Rooneys are dead-set on running the ball. I just think that they/ARII clearly saw that being pass-happy wasn't producing a sufficient amount of points, was making Ben more injury-prone and wasn't helping out the D in any way. The natural alternative to suggest is increase running aspect. I'm pretty sure if the Steelers were throwing the ball and scoring at will, they'd be A.O.K. with it.)

But on to your other points. Agree that a non-coddling approach to dealing with Ben is exactly what is needed. In contrast to you, I've actually grown to appreciate Ben more in the past year or so (my appreciation curve for Ben throughout his career would look something like the blue line in the graph below).



He's a drama queen, but he's also pretty damn tough. Talent-wise, he's phenomenal. But he hasn't had any tough love [insert joke about involuntary sex here] the past five years or so, and this has set him back developmentally, IMO. Haley not putting up with his shit will be very refreshing. And once Ben sees that Haley knows how to put up points, I think he'll lose some or all of his stubbornness.

Also refreshing will be the lack of aloofness Haley will display, and his overall ability to not only move the ball, but also SCORE POINTS.

I could be completely wrong, but I think the perception among some that Haley is, in general, abrasive, isn't quite right. Seems to me that he doesn't tolerate laziness or repeated fundamental failures, and isn't afraid to voice his discontent with even the highest-paid of players. I'm of the school of thought that a coach is a coach, and not necessarily a friend. So if what I said about Haley is accurate, then I'm completely cool with this approach.

[aj_law]

I will be ecstatic once confirmed. Steelers have to be the hands-down favorite to win it all next year.

3rd at 6 to 1, to be exact.

Don't recall who the other teams ahead of them are, but I know one was 5 to 1 and another was 11 to 2 (5.5 to 1).  Probably the Pack and Saints, maybe?  Dunno.

[Brinker]

2012 Super Bowl Odds Pre-Free Agency


Green Bay Packers: 7/1


New England Patriots: 7/1


San Diego Chargers: 10/1


Pittsburgh Steelers: 12/1


Atlanta Falcons: 14/1


Baltimore Ravens: 14/1


Dallas Cowboys: 14/1


New York Jets: 14/1


Philadelphia Eagles: 15/1


New Orleans Saints: 16/1


Indianapolis Colts: 18/1


New York Giants: 20/1


Minnesota Vikings: 25/1


Chicago Bears: 28/1


Houston Texans: 30/1


Detroit Lions: 35/1


Kansas City Chiefs: 35/1


San Francisco 49ers: 40/1


St. Louis Rams: 45/1


Miami Dolphins: 50/1


Oakland Raiders: 50/1


Tennessee Titans: 55/1


Denver Broncos: 65/1


Washington Redskins: 65/1


Arizona Cardinals: 75/1


Cleveland Browns: 75/1


Jacksonville Jaguars: 75/1


Seattle Seahawks: 75/1


Cincinnati Bengals: 80/1


Buffalo Bills: 125/1


Carolina Panthers: 150/1


References:


Football Futures, 2012 Super Bowl Odds, Bodog.eu

[Joetorious]

So this is the year the Chargers might get over the hump, eh?

[jonzr]

Sandy Eggo?  Really?  Did Norv Turner die?  NE is tied with GB at the top but no respect for the Champs.  Didn't these guys watch the playoffs and the SB?

[Finnegans Wake]

So the Vikings and Giants are about equal in the eyes of Vegas?

HuhfuckinWHA...?

[aj_law]

Those have to be last year's odds for this past (2012) Super Bowl.

I mean, Detroit at 35/1 or San Fran at 40/1?

Think you have to look for odds for 2013 Super Bowl.

I'd look it up myself, but all those types of sites are blocked at work.

[Y2Joyce]

=========================== Team Odds ===========================
New England Patriots 5-1
Green Bay Packers 11-2
Pittsburgh Steelers 6-1
Philadelphia Eagles 6-1
New York Giants 8-1
 New Orleans Saints 10-1
 San Francisco 49ers 10-1
 San Diego Chargers 12-1
Houston Texans 12-1
Chicago Bears 17-1
Detroit Lions 18-1
Atlanta Falcons 18-1
Dallas Cowboys 20-1
Baltimore Ravens 20-1
New York Jets 20-1
Indianapolis Colts 25-1
Tennessee Titans 30-1
Cincinnati Bengals 30-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Kansas City Chiefs 50-1
Seattle Seahawks 50-1
Denver Broncos 50-1
Carolina Panthers 50-1
Miami Dolphins 50-1
St. Louis Rams 50-1
Oakland Raiders 60-1
Minnesota Vikings 60-1
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Cleveland Browns 75-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 100-1
Washington Redskins 125-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 150-1

[Finnegans Wake]

Better.

Still, Patriots on top again?  What, did Goodell legalize spy-taping?

[aj_law]

Yeah, that's it.

Even those future numbers are a little goofy, IMO.  Personally, I think the top 3 AFC teams going into next year are going to be (in no particular order) Pittsburgh, Houston and Balty.  Don't see how the Chargers are higher than the Ravens and equal to the Texans. 

Also, Ravens at 20-1, but Indy is at 25-1??  Cuh-razy.

[Brinker]

From Wiki


In 2006, Haley filed a 1.7 million-dollar lawsuit against McDonald's after his wife found a dead rat in her salad. The salad was purchased at a Southlake, Texas McDonald's restaurant while Haley was a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff. His wife and their live-in babysitter began to eat before noticing the rat. The case was settled out of court for a confidential amount.

[jonzr]

:ratsalad:

I remember that.  Haley was on Parcell's staff back then.

[jasonic]

seems like people hate the cowboys even in texas

[Y2Joyce]

http://picchore.com/funny/todd-haley-sausage-animated-gif/

[Joetorious]

I was working for a marketing agency whose largest client was McDonald's when this happened. I had completely forgotten about this, and didn't realize it was Haley's wife who was involved.

[aj_law]

http://picchore.com/funny/todd-haley-sausage-animated-gif/

That's hilAHrious.

Also funny how that guy stops in his tracks as she's doin' it too.

[jonzr]

How about the interview Haley granted to the Kansas City Star in December, shortly before the Chiefs fired him, in which he first swept a PR office for bugs he suspected were placed by upper management to spy on him?

Haley went on to tell that interviewer he also thought his cell phone, which he owned before joining that team, had been bugged by those same spies. Others have made similar accusations against the Chiefs' autocratic general manager, Scott Pioli, but no proof ever has emerged.

Read more: Kovacevic: Haley's hire a nutty narrative - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_780548.html#ixzz1loNfXnnI

Oh no ...

[jonzr]

Haley has built a reputation for having a keen offensive mind and an ability to adapt to his personnel.

Read more: Offensive coordinator Haley's abrasive style doesn't deter Steelers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_780546.html#ixzz1loaohv17

That's promising. 

[aj_law]

How about the interview Haley granted to the Kansas City Star in December, shortly before the Chiefs fired him, in which he first swept a PR office for bugs he suspected were placed by upper management to spy on him?

Haley went on to tell that interviewer he also thought his cell phone, which he owned before joining that team, had been bugged by those same spies. Others have made similar accusations against the Chiefs' autocratic general manager, Scott Pioli, but no proof ever has emerged.

Read more: Kovacevic: Haley's hire a nutty narrative - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_780548.html#ixzz1loNfXnnI

Oh no ...

I think Mendenhall may have found a new best friend.

[pensodyssey]

There's a lot of discussion about the Haley-Pioli relationship (with links to KC press items) over on Bob Smizik's blog.  The gist of it is, Haley's not the only one who thinks Pioli is a little too hands-on.  I'd post the links but most of you old farts need the exercise anyway.

[jasonic]

There's a lot of discussion about the Haley-Pioli relationship (with links to KC press items) over on Bob Smizik's blog.  The gist of it is, Haley's not the only one who thinks Pioli is a little too hands-on.  I'd post the links but most of you old farts need the exercise anyway.

i think the majority of people on here have biceps of steel due to the 12 oz curls for the past 4 months