Mark Kaboly | Tribune-Review
Everybody has heard about (and sometimes saw) the explosive personality of Todd Haley before his arrival in Pittsburgh.
There’s no denying that.
Even Haley’s quarterback last year with Kansas City Matt Cassel admitted so during Wednesday’s teleconference with the Pittsburgh media in preparation for Monday’s game against the Steelers.
“Coach Haley is a demanding coach,” Cassel said. “He expects a lot out of his players. He will challenge you. He is not afraid to get in your face and let you know … I guess hold you accountable is the best way to put it.”
Did Cassel ever take exception to Haley’s methods?
“There were probably times that there I did but there were other times that you respect the process and respect the coaching that is taking place,” he said.
But that Todd Haley is no more.
He has barely even raised his voice in more than nine months as a Steelers employee which leads to the question if the organization (Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert) strongly suggested before hiring Haley to tone down his antics.
What other explanation do you have?
It wouldn’t be unprecedented for a coach to change his style from year-to-year while with the Steelers.
There wasn’t a more dynamic of a special teams coach than Bob Ligashesky. He was animated, he screamed, he yelled, he was high-energy and he was expressive on the field.
Then, all of a sudden after his first year with the Steelers (2007) to his second (2008), he barely said a word – no more screaming, yelling and gyrations.
Did the Steelers tell him to knock it off?
Did the Steelers tell Haley to knock it off as well?
We will never know the answer to that, but don’t you think it’s unusual for coaches to change their coaching personality that got them to the pinnacle of their career?
