Pittsburgh Steelers hopeful of boost in form under revamped coaching department-NFL news
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hopeful of improvement in their performance under the revamped coaching staff, with a couple of new officials on the panel coming into the 2012-13 National Football League (NFL) season when it starts in September.
Kansas City Chiefs’ former head coach, Todd Haley is Steelers’ new offensive co-ordinator. He replaced Bruce Arians, who became a subject of controversial retirement from the game soon after their 2011-12 NFL season’s run ended.
Haley was sacked by Chiefs following their dismal form in the season and now said to be excited about working with the head coach, Mike Tomlin.
His appointment became a focal point of the debate as certain reports had hinted that the decision of brining him to Pittsburgh was taken by the franchise’s president, Art Rooney II.
The president, however, denied the reports and said that Haley was the choice of Mike Tomlin, and the decision of hiring him was a collective process, not of any individual’s.
Earlier, Rooney was also described to be the main force behind the so called retirement of Bruce Arians, who later came out of it to join the Indianapolis Colts for the similar role.
Haley is expected to join the team in the near future, and Steelers hope his presence will boost their attack. The head coach said he was looking forward to working with Haley.
Tomlin said:
"Obviously, I think we need to have a defined personality, but that's centered around playing to our strengths. That changes, of course, depending on what our strengths are. Obviously, we have a solid, franchise-type quarterback. We have some emerging outside
talent at wide receiver. Our personality, obviously, is going to be one that is built and geared toward our strengths."
At the same time, the head coach admitted that he was unaware of Haley’s strategy on offence, but said he would be interested to see what sort of arrangement the new official comes with.
Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin is optimistic about the next season’s return of their assistant staff, Kirby Wilson, who was burnt in a fire at his house in the later part of last season.
The coach said that Wilson’s recovery is on target and he is most likely join the team before the start of next season.
According to the coach:
"He [Wilson] has surprised the doctors with the rate of recovery. Obviously, we still have a long way to go, but it has been just awesome to watch him go through this process and see the improvement."
Steelers have also reshuffled a couple of coaching positions since Bruce Arian’s departure, and have appointed Amos Jones as running backs’ coach.
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