Todd Haley All Smoke and Mirrors

The new Offensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers might just be the next David Copperfield.  No, I'm not talking about his ability to make Army tanks disappear (I don't think Haley can do that though), but about the way Haley is manipulating the fans and the media in Latrobe, PA.  He is doing a magician's work as the is saying just the right things, and having his players do just the right thing so that all the media out there get the word out...what is the "word"?  The "word" is this: THE STEELERS ARE RUNNING THE BALL! 

Haley put an emphasis on the running game in the team's first 11 v 11 scrimmage on Saturday, and now every writer in Pittsburgh is writing how the Steelers will be running the ball more this season.  Haley has been around a while, and he knows this town as he grew up as a ball boy when his dad was employed by the Steelers.  He knows how crazed the media and the fans are about this team, but he also is smart enough to know that he has a personnel that isn't just going to run the ball.   As fans / media we can't be stupid enough to think that because one day in camp he ran the ball every time means he is going to duplicate that this regular season.  Media and fans alike need to calm down and realize that Haley's job is to get the team into the endzone by any means necessary.

As a guy who enjoys a good laugh, I would LOVE it if the next 11 v 11 scrimmage that was open to the public the offense threw the ball on every single play.  What would the media say then??  I can see the headlines now: "Haley Abandons Run" "Haley Looks Like Bruce Arians" and they could go on and on.  I almost hope that happens because then hopefully the talking heads and the moron writers would realize that he is preparing his team one step at a time.  He is putting his system in and it doesn't have anything to do with what will happen in the regular season.

I am a Head Boys Lacrosse Coach in High School in the state of Maryland.  If I had media coverage at my practices leading up to the regular season there would be some practices where the media would write "Hartman Plans on Passing The Ball the Entire Game".  It makes me shake my head in disgust as these fans and writers can't read between the lines.  I like the way Haley goes about his job, and he knows how to manipulate the people who cover the team.  I was happy when the Steelers hired Haley, and am excited to see what he does in the preseason with the offense even then it won't be indicative of what will happen in the regular season.  Only time will tell what this offense will look like come September, but I'm pumped to find out first hand!