Haley knows Belichick all too well from days with Jets
Todd Haley’s first coaching gig in the NFL started in 1997 with the New York Jets. As a young receivers coach, one of his duties was running the scout-team offense at practices. The Jets defensive coordinator was Bill Belichick, who often got upset when Haley’s players weren’t following the details on the play cards.
“I had a coach screaming at me that he lined up one yard outside numbers instead of two, and I’m like, ‘What the hell is the difference?’ “Haley said Thursday, laughing at the memory. “It tells you why he’s been one of the best coaches in the league. And why some coaches are good coaches and some guys aren’t so good. It’s the details and continuing to harp and push. Sometimes it involves a little yelling and screaming to make guys understand.”
Haley and Belichick were together on Bill Parcells’ staff from 1997-99. Belichick left the Jets after the 1999 season to coach New England, where he has won five Super Bowls.
“I was a young coach with a great amount of respect for him,” Haley said. “Just sitting in all the meetings … I was a young receivers coach, so I had to deal with him a lot. He was very particular about what he wanted. As a young coach, I didn’t always understand that. As I got older and more experienced I understood why he was yelling me all the time for.”
Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field, Haley, the Steelers offensive coordinator, will match wits with Belichick and try to solve his defense.
Haley knows one of Belichick’s coaching tenets is taking away the other team’s best offensive player and forcing secondary players to make plays. That means the plan likely will be double-teaming Antonio Brown and making others in the offense beat him.
“I coached with him for three years so I’m very aware of that,” Haley said. “They worry about the people they think can beat them. That’s why it comes down to other guys making plays. That’s just the way it is and the way it always has been.
“They’re capable of taking two guys away. As the game progresses, you figure some of those things out and make the necessary adjustments. The bottom line is you have to make plays, stay on the field and you have to score points.”
Butler hopeful on Haden
Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said he’ll have a better idea Friday whether cornerback Joe Haden will play against the Patriots. Haden went through his first rigorous practice Thursday since breaking his fibula Nov. 12 against the Indianapolis Colts.
“I don’t know. Boy, I hope he does,” Butler said of Haden’s availability for Sunday. “We’ll see.”
Haden did not speak with reporters Thursday, but his plan was to get through full practices Thursday and Friday and wait to see how his leg felt afterward. The first practice of the week Wednesday was a walk-through.
“He looks good to me,” Butler said. “I told him that the other day: Really what’s going to happen is how does he feel [Friday]? That’s going to be the biggest thing, how does he feel [Friday]? We’ll play as we go.”
JuJu tweaks hamstring
Rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was limited in practice Thursday with a hamstring injury. SmithSchuster, who missed the Ravens game due to a suspension, missed the Nov. 22 game against the Tennessee Titans with a hamstring injury.
Smith-Schuster was not allowed to practice with the team during his suspension. Thursday was his first practice in two weeks.
Cornerback Coty Sensabaugh missed practice for a second consecutive day with a hamstring injury as did tight end Vance McDonald, who has a shoulder injury.
Center Maurkice Pouncey (hip), linebacker TylerMatakevich (shoulder) were limited. Receiver Martavis Bryant and defensive end Stephon Tuitt were full participants after missing practice Wednesday.