Haley, Steelers are rushing to make a point

[Vis]

Todd Haley has heard plenty about needing to run the ball more since being hired as Steelers offensive coordinator six months ago.
While agreeing with the premise, Haley would rather focus on something more precise than simply needing to call more runs.

Haley is adamant the Steelers run the ball better in the most critical situations — when the opposition knows they will.

“That’s the name of the game offensively,” Haley said. “You need to be able to get the yards that you need on the ground when the defense knows you are running, wherever that falls in the game — if it is a critical short-yardage or if it is a four-minute situation.”

That’s what Haley hopes to see starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, when the Steelers open the preseason against Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Steelers weren’t able to run when they wanted last season, which led to an offense ranking in the bottom third in scoring.

It was partly because former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians fancied passing over running in third-down, short-yardage and four-minute situations. But it also was that the Steelers weren’t very good in those scenarios.

The Steelers faced third-and-2 or less 35 times last season. They ran 19 times (converting 68 percent) and passed 16 times (converting 50 percent).

When the situation was third-and-3, the Steelers threw all 19 times (converting 58 percent).

Tackle Max Starks blamed the struggles on the offensive line not getting the job done and Arians’ offensive philosophy.

“At the points they called certain plays, we might not exactly have been prepared for it, or we were expecting something else to be called, or we weren’t physically ready,” Starks said.

“To be honest, we weren’t doing enough before then to make the defense respect the run. If we are passing the entire game, then when four minutes hit and we have to run it, it’s not going to happen.”

The Steelers ran 29 percent of the time on first down last season, down nearly 12 percent from the year before, and ran 42 percent of the time overall (down 15 percent from 2007, Tomlin’s first season).

Haley doesn’t necessarily want to run more than the Steelers did last season but would like to be more balanced to go with being effective in critical run situations.

“We want to be able to run the ball when we have to throw it and throw it when we have to throw it,” Haley said. “That’s really a key in being a successful offense.”

Haley put an emphasis on physicality within the offensive line so the unit would be more prepared for situations like short yardage and the final four minutes of the game.

“Anytime the defense knows you are going to pound the ball and you are successful, that kind of takes away their heartbeat,” guard Willie Colon.

“That’s what we want to do better this year, and we will do better this year.”


http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...ituations-ball

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Vis

The Steelers faced third-and-2 or less 35 times last season. They ran 19 times (converting 68 percent) and passed 16 times (converting 50 percent).

68%>50%= simple

When the situation was third-and-3, the Steelers threw all 19 times (converting 58 percent).

other teams watch and chart film. part of an offensive coordinators job is to do the same and self scout, or ATLEAST have a quality control assistant do it. = Arians wasnt doing his job.

Tackle Max Starks blamed the struggles on the offensive line not getting the job done and Arians’ offensive philosophy.

HATER!

“At the points they called certain plays, we might not exactly have been prepared for it, or we were expecting something else to be called,



“To be honest, we weren’t doing enough before then to make the defense respect the run. If we are passing the entire game, then when four minutes hit and we have to run it, it’s not going to happen.”

The Steelers ran 29 percent of the time on first down last season, down nearly 12 percent from the year before, and ran 42 percent of the time overall (down 15 percent from 2007, Tomlin’s first season).

When the Steelers DID run on first down they gained over 5 yards per carry.


Haley put an emphasis on physicality within the offensive line so the unit would be more prepared for situations like short yardage and the final four minutes of the game.

"We're talking about practice, man... PRACTICE"

“Anytime the defense knows you are going to pound the ball and you are successful, that kind of takes away their heartbeat,” guard Willie Colon.

“That’s what we want to do better this year, and we will do better this year.”


http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...ituations-ball

i cant wait to see a competent, explosive, and legitimate offense this year that isnt constantly tripping over their own dicks.

[MACH1]

So glad the colts have to deal with the arians ineptitude and not us.

Of course it all could have been due to lack of execution.

[steelfury02]

to paraphrase the Airhead approach when asked about the running game and running backs:

"I'll start running the ball when they prove to me they can."

Well Airhead, when you aren't even letting them practice it, its not gonna come out so hot during the game. Of course, that isn't your fault - they didn't practice it because they couldn't prove to you they could. Or wait, wasn't it that you just wouldn't practice it?

Quite the wordsmith Arians. And quite the finger pointer.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Originally Posted by Vis

“To be honest, we weren’t doing enough before then to make the defense respect the run. If we are passing the entire game, then when four minutes hit and we have to run it, it’s not going to happen.”

]

What? Starks didnt think the offense ran enough?? That makes Joe Greene, Art Rooney, Polamalu, Willie Parker, Mendenhall and countless others that didnt think the run game was used enough to make teams respect it???

But, but, but ......."this is a passing league", this aint your dads steelers team, 3 yards and a cloud of dust Cowherball. Why do so many fans not understand that you need to be able to run the ball in the game of football.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Originally Posted by MACH1

So glad the colts have to deal with the arians ineptitude and not us.

Of course it all could have been due to lack of execution.

...

[GoFor7]

Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

What? Starks didnt think the offense ran enough?? That makes Joe Greene, Art Rooney, Polamalu, Willie Parker, Mendenhall and countless others that didnt think the run game was used enough to make teams respect it???

But, but, but ......."this is a passing league", this aint your dads steelers team, 3 yards and a cloud of dust Cowherball. Why do so many fans not understand that you need to be able to run the ball in the game of football.

Might have something to do with the fact the team that was dead last in rushing won the Super Bowl.

I don't think anyone is saying "don't run the ball." Just don't run the ball because you feel like you have to in order to please the fans stuck in the 70's. Quality is more important that quantity when running.

[lardlad]

Haley is adamant the Steelers run the ball better in the most critical situations — when the opposition knows they will.

This is it! You know, I love running the ball, I loved the 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Mostly I loved running the ball, the other team knew we were going to run, and they couldn't do anything about it.

But hat is all a personal thing and I realize it is not the only way to win, as the Steelers were able to show with Arians (mostly). I do not insist that we run 80% of the time. In fact I was fine with the balance we had last year. But MF-er if we needed two yards, we had/chose to line up in shotgun. If you can't line 'em up and at least make it look like you MIGHT run, get off the freakin' field. Arians fit the golf cliché, drive for show, putt for dough. Our short game has SUCKED for at least 5 years.

[Fire Arians]

tonight should be good for both teams. philly can't ever stop the run and prolly made it their #1 priority on defense to stop the run. and the steelers want to run better so we're gonna dial up some running plays

[Fire Arians]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

"We're talking about practice, man... PRACTICE"

not the game, not the game that i play every one like it's my last, we talkin bout practice, man.