Hit it! Hit it! Hit it!
The words reverberated in Todd Haley's headset as he stood on the Pittsburgh Steelers' sideline for the 2014 opener. The anxious voice in his ear belonged to Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak, the offensive line coach. New to the staff, Munchak wasn't accustomed to Le'Veon Bell's deliberate running style, which tested his patience and led to some early outbursts when Bell didn't hit the hole as quickly as designed.
"Munch has been coaching the line forever, and played it, and he knows where the hole is supposed to be on each play -- and Le'Veon was just sitting back there," Haley, the former offensive coordinator, said with a laugh on Wednesday.