Wednesday is Valentine’s Day, which is when – at 2 p.m. – Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley will have his introductory press conference at team headquarters in Berea
With that, then, you have to believe that Haley is loving this opportunity he’s getting in Cleveland.
Haley got pushed out the door by Pittsburgh at the end of the season, just after the Steelers were stunned 45-42 – at home, no less — by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC divisional playoffs. It was their highest point total of the year.
The Steelers, in addition to scoring six touchdowns, rolled up 545 total yards, tied for their second-highest total of the year. They passed for 462 yards, also their second-highest total of the season.
On the year, the Steelers were eighth in the NFL in scoring with 406 points, averaging 25.4 points a game.
Yeah, I can certainly see why Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin jettisoned Haley after all of those anemic numbers.
Excuse me for injecting some common sense into all this, but is Tomlin aware that his defense, coordinated by former Browns linebackers coach Keith Butler, gave up 164 rushing yards and four touchdowns to the Jaguars and made quarterback Blake Bortles look like Mark Brunell?
The Pittsburgh defense got worse as the season wore on. And it saved its worst for last when it counted the mot.
So Butler keeps his job while Haley loses his?
Hmmm.
If I’m Todd Haley, I’m not happy at all for being the scapegoat for the Steelers losing their opening playoff game.
And also, if I’m Haley, I am very happy – thrilled, really – that I got a job coordinating the offense for another team in the AFC North. The Browns have only one way to go, and that’s up.
Plus Haley will get to face the Steelers twice a year, every year. Don’t you think he would like to stick it to them? It’s always nice to have a coach – or player – with some motivation, something to prove.
In addition, I can see a scenario where, if Hue Jackson ends up getting fired, Haley ends up getting the Browns head coaching job.
In any event, it will be interesting to hear what Haley has to say in his presser, for the Browns aren’t going to get any better as a team in this offensive-driven league until their offense gets better. Haley just might be the right guy to spark that improvement.
Stay tuned.