The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled to score points when it counts in recent weeks, which has led to the heat being turned up on offensive coordinator Todd Haley. The Steelers have been able to rack up plenty of yards, but they can’t seem to put the ball in the end zone. If you ask Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger is to blame for that — not Haley.
Ward, who recently said he believes the Steelers are “very close to hitting the panic button,” reminded everyone Wednesday on NBCSN’s Pro Football talk that Roethlisberger is responsible for calling plays when the Steelers go no-huddle.
“I put the blame on Ben Roethlisberger,” Ward said. “Todd Haley’s not calling the plays [in the no-huddle], Ben is.”
While that is true to some extent, Haley is the one that draws up a select number of plays the Steelers are supposed to use when they go no-huddle. It’s not like Roethlisberger is walking up to the line of scrimmage and selecting any play he wants from the team’s entire playbook.
Having said that, Haley has shouldered a lot of the blame for what is a team issue. Heck, just look at what Snoop Dogg said about Haley earlier this season. Both Haley and Roethlisberger have called some bad plays at crucial moments, and it doesn’t help that the Steelers aren’t executing. If they can’t find ways to score points within the next few weeks, they’ll fall out of contention in the AFC North.
