New coordinator heads new-look offense for 2012
Pittsburgh will have a new-look offense in 2012 thanks to the changing of the guard at coordinator. Bruce Arians was not offered a contract renewal and Mike Tomlin hired Todd Haley as his replacement.
Team president Art Rooney forced Arians out after coach Mike Tomlin said he wanted him back. There is some sentiment that Tomlin also received an assist from Rooney and general manager Kevin Colbert in hiring Haley, a Pittsburgh native, former Steelers ballboy and son of Dick Haley, their player personnel director for two decades through 1991.
Rooney and many others in the front office did not like Arians' play-calling skills, nor his lukewarm commitment to the run. They do not want to return to a run-dominant team but would like more balance and more than a passing glance in a commitment to the run, even in practice.
The strange thing about all of this is that Tomlin has yet to say a word about either the Arians ejection or the hiring of Haley. At a press conference Feb. 9, Tomlin introduced Haley but declined to take any questions -- he has not talked since Jan. 9, the day after his team was upset in the playoffs in Denver.
Haley has shown an ability to adapt his offense to the talent at hand. In Arizona, with Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals leaned on the pass and nearly upset the Steelers in the Super Bowl with it. In Kansas City, his Chiefs led the league in rushing in 2010 with an average of 164.2 yards per game.
The question facing Haley in Pittsburgh is whether the Steelers have the talent to make that kind of commitment to the run. Rashard Mendenhall, injured in the final regular season game, had ACL surgery after the season and there's some question when he might be ready to go. That leaves Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and John Clay. Mewelde Moore is a free agent.
Their offensive line also will undergo yet another restructuring. Left tackle Max Starks, who also had ACL surgery after the season, is a free agent. It appears they will move rookie Marcus Gilbert from right tackle to left and go at right tackle with veteran Willie Colon, who has played one game in the past two seasons because of injuries.
Maurkice Pouncey, who made it 2-for-2 in Pro Bowls, anchors them at center but their guards are not strong at all. They may let left guard Chris Kemoeatu go and have Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster as their starters. They need an upgrade at guard and they also could use another tackle.
Pittsburgh is in good shape at wide receiver, although Mike Wallace becomes a restricted free agent and his production in the second half of the season nose-dived. Antonio Brown burst through with a fantastic second half and joined Wallace with 1,000 yards receiving. Emmanuel Sanders overcame injuries to finish strong.
However, Hines Ward slipped in 2011 and the coaches wound up reducing his status and receptions. He wants to return and likely will at a lower salary and lower rung on the depth chart. Emmanuel Sanders emerged from multiple injuries late to finish strong in his second season. Veteran Jerricho Cotchery is a free agent after one season with the Steelers.
They are strong at one tight end, Heath Miller, but desperately need backups there.
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