Interesting Comments

From http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/819 ... ntasy-team

The Todd Haley Show

Todd Haley does not care about you, running back. He does not care if you are really talented. He does not care if you are paid an exorbitant amount of money. Todd Haley apparently takes great pleasure from rotating his running backs and making fantasy hearts cringe, based on his history as an offensive coordinator and head coach. In 2007, he let Edgerrin James run free for 3.8 yards per pop on 324 carries. Every year since has seen Haley rotate his backs, a plan that led him to bench James and give the incredible Jamaal Charles a smaller percentage of the workload than Thomas Jones. When Charles tore his ACL last season, Haley basically gave everyone a shot at running the football before he got fired.

This year, Haley's made his way to Pittsburgh as the offensive coordinator, where he inherits a running game in crisis. While the Steelers did draft offensive linemen with their first two picks in the draft, nominal starting halfback Rashard Mendenhall tore his knee up at the end of last season and will be alternately injured or ineffective during the 2012 campaign. He's bequeathed the job to backup Isaac Redman, but if Haley will bench the rich and successful, what's stopping him from benching Redman? That could open up an opportunity for Jonathan Dwyer, who had a 76-yard run against the Titans last year before breaking his foot. Dwyer's lost 20 pounds to get into the vaunted "best shape of his life," a move that could come in handy for a guy about to get his best chance at steady pro carries. The only downside is that Haley's guaranteed to take the job back from Dwyer eventually, no matter how well he plays.

I find this VERY interesting. I think we all know that his MO is to rotate guys. I know this is a fantasy article and all, but IMO, that isn't a bad thing....it is a good thing. He will go with the back that is getting it done....period. That makes me excited.

 

redman,clay,dwyer,rainey and batch all deserve carries. why not? why leave good talent sitting on the bench? every team uses at least two backs a year anyway and usually 3 with a 3rd down back. haley also had no qb to speak of and had to run the ball there. he has tons of talent here and i hope he does use it all.

 

Yep, definitely. Our corps are primed for rotational play in my opinion, especially with the absence of Mendenhall.

My concern here is that we will need a catchy nickname for any RB committee... Earth, Wind and Fire has gone...

 

What is happening with Batch. I haven't really been paying much attention lately. The jury is definitely out on pretty much all of these guys, but you can pin most of that on BA and his hate for the running game.

 

Maybe it's just me, but as it stands our running game is basically a whole pile of potential and not much more. Redman might have 120 carries in 3 years, Dwyer 10+-, Clay, 10+-, Batch 0, Rainey 0

 

Haley will bench any RB who is not giben 110%.....This is the way he should do it....He likes his RB'S to give it all they have on every play....Big name RB'S temd to take a lot of plays off.....Redman is the right guy because he always gives 110%....Redman has also shaved some weight from the way it looks....IMO he is around 225 instead of 245....

He has picked up the new Offense very well,,,Haley and Redman have said that.....Plus Haley wants to get the ball to the RB'S in the passing game.....Redman''s college tape shows he can be dangerous and his limited tape in the NFL shows he can be dangerous as well.....Redman will be the RB on the field most of the time....People are really underestimating his role in this Gap system.........

Redman will have 250 Carries and about 60 Catches or more this season...Redman will be the lead RB even when Mendenhall gets back.....

 

Thursday, July 26, 2012
Steelers complete first practices

Heath Miller left the Steelers practice this afternoon with a sprained left ankle. It's not considered serious.

Alameda Ta'amu also left with a foot injury. It, too, is not considered serious.

Other than that, the Steelers' practices today weren't a whole lot different than the OTAs. There's still a lot of learning to do with the new offense, which features more throws to the running backs on swing passes and screens than I have seen in my 20 years of covering this team.

Fans should be happy with that.

@ Fans will get their first look at the Steelers Friday afternoon when the team's practice is open to the public. I expect the team to be a little more spirited in that workout. The players seem to feed off the energy of the crowd.

@ Troy Polamalu looks a little heavier than usual. He's doing his usual work after practice and such, but he's starting to fight father time and genetics.

I still expect Polamalu to be a difference maker, however.

@ Don't be surprised if the Steelers bring in a veteran wide receiver or two for workouts in an effort to scare Mike Wallace into camp - Plaxico Burress anyone?

The team could also open negotiations with the agent of wide receiver Antonio Brown.


lots of passing to the RB's. thats going to determine alot of who plays more. whoever steps up in the passing game is going to see alot of time on the field. we used to be the best in the league at the screen game and got away from it. noll loved it.

 

Thank you ART II for firing BA!

 

I don't think we will have ANY RB who has over 200 carries this year. I just don't see it. Haley's past offenses have shown he likes to design the offense to its strengths. He will use Redman, but he will also use Rainey and Batch and Dwyer. His goal, as the goal of every OC should be, is to use them to their strengths. All reports show that we are doing swing passes and screen passes in camp. Would not surprise me if we see a LOT more of that this year. Look how efficient NO's offense is doing that. I think this offense has immense talent and will put up some points.

 

All I want to see is this team doing what the game dictates. If I ever see a pass heavy game plan in 40-50 mph and no adjustment when you see it isn't working, then I'll be firmly in the fire CH camp!

 

No doubt. I think TH is smart enough to know this. I won't swear by it, but I bet he has already designed a smaller, better playbook which is multifaceted. To me, the last book was called this way....if we line up X, we do Y, if we line up K we do Z. I think we will see the same set being used to run play X and play Z and play K. It will make us less predictable.

 

Batch is participating, I believe in 100% of the activity. Last year he was performing like the best rookie in the draft class before getting hurt. Not that he will be better than the guys drafted ahead of him, especially since his projected role is that of a 3rd down back, but he looked talented, professional, and ready. This year has barely started, but I read he's doing fine, although not setting the world on fire.

I'm betting if he stays healthy, he'll make the team and be active for most of this season in the Mewelde Moore role and special teams.