Thoughts on the Haley offense

[SteelBobbleHead]

Originally Posted by WokeUpWithaWoodley

The problem with our offense stems from Mr Rooney. He wants the Steelers to be like the Steelers of the past. Which is run heavy and the idea of you controlling the clock. Which is not how this league operates. I feel like Haley is in a situation in which he wants to obey what Mr Rooney wants to keep his job. Haley was very successful as the cards Oc because he was allowed to pass as many times as he wanted to. And the Steelers front office needs to realize that now a days you pass to set up the run later on. We should be throwing the ball 35 plus with our talent at wr.

Another thing is In order to have a 2 back system you must have a speed guy and power guy. We currently have to slow power guys with mendy on the bench. Mendy needs to be back in the game cause he had the ablility to break a long run or screen pass. Dwyer and Redman will not provide us with that splash play we are looking for. Mendy must be given chance to prove what he can do. Just give him the ball 12 to 15 times against the cowboys. Remember his first game back everyone on this board noticed the difference in having a speed back who could bounce out when the middle was clogged which it is most of the time. Watching Dwyer is frustrating cause you know he doesn't gave the speed to bounce out thus teams aren't scared of that and they stack 8 guys in the box to stuff the middle

I'm really not sure how you can call this offense a "run heavy" offense. Right now this offense has attempted 483 passes and 336 rushes. That's a 59%/41% pass to run ratio. If you take out Antonio Brown's 2 pass attempts but then also take out the 21 QB rushes and 1 idiotic kicker attempt, on a over the head toss from the holder, the ratio becomes even more pass heavy.
This offense utilizes the short passing game to control the clock.

[SteelBobbleHead]

For what it's worth, it also utilizes that short passing game to keep Ben from taking hits.

[Rick5895]

The sacks and hits on Ben are down this season. I think the scheme by Haley is fine. But recently and this coincides with the lack of production of our O, we are playing with a 3rd string RT, we have had our all pro Center playing Guard, our OL seems to be continually in flux, we are continually rotating RB's,(as much as continuity along the line is important, so is continuity of the RB) our receivers are dropping too many damn balls, and it's not just dropping the passes, its the timing of it. (eg: both Wallaces and Browns drops on Sunday, if nothing else the catches if made change field position)
Every time we lose, people keep looking for excuses...it's the defense Lebeau must go or it's haleys O, this team lost because the came out on Sunday and thought "we're the Pitsburgh Steelers and we can't be beat" they were flat as a team, no fire, no emotion, no intensity. There is no excuse for that. They blew there emotional "wad" so to speak against the ratbirds and came up flat. Just like all of us they have "off " days too. I am less concerned about the piss poor performance on Sunday than most , I want to see how they come out against Dallas and then the Bungles and Cleveland. That will be more than telling on the type of team and players we have. Playoffs are still ours to lose.
If they shit the bed in the next 3 games then this ownership group needs to look at the coaches , players and potential for locker room problems (Wallace?) in the off season.
This has been a goofy season in the NFL, bizarre outcomes of games.
Lets see how we bounce back from this!!

[Stairway to 7]

Originally Posted by TRH

it certainly started off good, but has tailed off considerably.
Our line has been riddled with injury, Pouncey has been playing below the standard, and those have helped diminish our run game.

The one aspect of the "Haley" offense i'm disappointed with is our complete lack of utilizing the outside. We run up the middle, Then we run up the middle again. Then we once again...run up the middle...even if it means running into our own guys where there's no hole.
And the passing. Most all the calls are down the field or slants of some sort in the middle. Rivers and the Chargers absolutely killed us on Sunday by having the receivers run turning routes to the outside and they kept completeing passes near the sideline over and over and over. I'm not understanding why we can't incorporate these type of routes either. Thats how Romo uses Dez Bryant.

I hate to say it, but once again - we are the leagues most predictable offense - often one can call plays from the comfort of your own couch at home. Hell, analysts in the booth do it.
I was hoping for more of a "surprise" attack but we seem to be doing the same thing. Still hoping this will change.

Think about it, we're using Dwyer as a starter, and Redman is backing him up. They could try Rainey outside, but thgis line is not athletic at all, and of course Spinthenfall is a waste of oxygen.

I always thought this year would be a transition year and here we are, with a team that bears all the hallmarks of a work in progress. Great one week, sucking ballz the week after.

[WokeUpWithaWoodley]

Originally Posted by SteelBobbleHead

I'm really not sure how you can call this offense a "run heavy" offense. Right now this offense has attempted 483 passes and 336 rushes. That's a 59%/41% pass to run ratio. If you take out Antonio Brown's 2 pass attempts but then also take out the 21 QB rushes and 1 idiotic kicker attempt, on a over the head toss from the holder, the ratio becomes even more pass heavy.
This offense utilizes the short passing game to control the clock.

The reason for more pass attempts is because they try to establish a running game In the first half which doesn't happen so we fall behide and have to pass more in the second half. In today's nfl you have to pass to setup the run. We fall to these terrible teams because we try to run the ball and we get no where punt and give the other team pretty good field position.

[SteelBobbleHead]

Originally Posted by WokeUpWithaWoodley

The reason for more pass attempts is because they try to establish a running game In the first half which doesn't happen so we fall behide and have to pass more in the second half. In today's nfl you have to pass to setup the run. We fall to these terrible teams because we try to run the ball and we get no where punt and give the other team pretty good field position.

Just going from recollection I don't think that is the case. Don't have time now but I will research it later. Just off the top of my head I can't remember that many games where we fell that far behind that we were forced to pass to try to make a quick comeback. I do remember atleast 3 games where Ben hit 8 different receivers. I highly doubt they were all in the 2nd half.

[maddog78]

Liked the way it started, but it was quickly derailed by injuries. Now that guys are getting healthy, they'd better get it together.

[GoFor7]

For those saying how this offense is meant to keep Ben upright - it has already failed in that regard.

I am hesitant to give Haley 100% blame because I too get a sense he's under orders from Art Rooney about what he can and cannot do. I know pass/run ratio for the Steelers still leans towards the pass, but how many of those are just check downs and bubble screens? Don't put too much stock in that.

I was very disappointed when the Steelers actually were running the ball well that they weren't taking shots down field using play action. I got crucified for saying it before, but to me the lack of down field plays says the Steelers think possession is more important than scoring. The Steelers really need to let go of the past, as they have proven they can lose a game when they own TOP anyways. They have drafted the weapons necessary to be an explosive down field passing team, yet for some reason they don't want to take advantage of it. Where the hell is the sense in that?

I say score more points as quickly as possible, then worry about possession and killing the clock in the fourth quarter. Let Ben do more early on in a game, then he doesn't have to try and bail out the team when they are down by multiple possessions.

[Stairway to 7]

Originally Posted by GoFor7

For those saying how this offense is meant to keep Ben upright - it has already failed in that regard.

I am hesitant to give Haley 100% blame because I too get a sense he's under orders from Art Rooney about what he can and cannot do. I know pass/run ratio for the Steelers still leans towards the pass, but how many of those are just check downs and bubble screens? Don't put too much stock in that.

I was very disappointed when the Steelers actually were running the ball well that they weren't taking shots down field using play action. I got crucified for saying it before, but to me the lack of down field plays says the Steelers think possession is more important than scoring. The Steelers really need to let go of the past, as they have proven they can lose a game when they own TOP anyways. They have drafted the weapons necessary to be an explosive down field passing team, yet for some reason they don't want to take advantage of it. Where the hell is the sense in that?

I say score more points as quickly as possible, then worry about possession and killing the clock in the fourth quarter. Let Ben do more early on in a game, then he doesn't have to try and bail out the team when they are down by multiple possessions.

Good post, football has changed, you need to score TD's and kill teams off. The Steelers don't do either. every game it seems is down to the wire common sense tells you that you're not going to go 12-4 playing that way, even the crap teams in the NFL are too good to let them hang round.

[steelfury02]

I am extremely concerned about the lack of time Ben will have now - the Chargers were absolutely all over his ass all day long - the effing Chargers. Can you imagine this line going up against Miller and Dumervil? Jesus.

And, as far as the types of passes, it doesn't really fuckin matter when the WRs aren't dependable. AB seemed really humble after that loss - good. It is time for him to emerge as a leader. RIGHT NOW. There is no time left.