Haley Deserves (Gasp) Some Credit

Quote :

By Colin Dunlap

You aren’t going to want to do this.

Actually, you are loathe to do this — downright hate doing it and abhor arriving at this point.

But you have to, if only for one day.

Are you ready?

Take a deep breath then exhale.

OK, here we go with it … time to give Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley some credit.

Say it again, just to make sure you believe those words — it is time to give Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley some credit.

Alright, don’t go overboard, don’t go crazy and think about throwing him a parade, but make no mistake, for what he did on Sunday as the Steelers notched their first win of the season in a 19-6 victory over the Jets, Haley needs to be lauded.

At least a little bit.

It’s a start for him, right? For your performance to be liked a little is better than for it to be hated a lot, which had been the pervasive theme for Haley last year and then over the first four games of this season before the Steelers got that first win on Sunday.

No one has any idea what will happen to Haley as this season progresses, what fate he might meet at the end of the season if the Steelers continue to win just once in five chances or if his name keeps appearing on court documents, but one thing is certain: In the victory against the Jets, he actually looked like he knew what he was doing at times.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/10/14/colin-dunlap-haley-deserves-gasp-some-credit/

I always felt that Arians was a good coach in the first half, but didn't know how to call a game in the second half, especially with a lead. Haley seems just the opposite ... good in the second half, but no idea how to call plays early.

I think the line is sometimes taking an entire quarter to warm up. Seems Ben is running for his life for most of the first half, and because of that, screens and dump-offs are all the more frequent. Second half seems to bring less sacks and more quick passes for big gains, and as seen last Sunday, a bomb for the TD. The first-half offensive line Ben has had this year has been one of the worst lines he's ever had. They always block well late in the game, and as long as the quick-passing game can get going early I think we'll be fine down the stretch.