PITTSBURGH -- For weeks, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley has gotten questions about Le'Veon Bell's expanding role, which includes 166 touches over his last five games.
Haley is treating Bell like the workhorse that he is.
"We're worried about winning games and doing things necessary to win games," Haley said after Thursday's practice. "Le'Veon's been playing at a high level. He's in great condition. He's worked very hard to get there."
Bell, 24, has garnered darkhorse MVP consideration for his monster season, averaging 161.6 total yards per game over 10 games. Bell, who missed the season's first three games for violation of the league's substance abuse policy, rushed for a franchise-record 236 yards Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Fitz Toussaint, Bell's primary backup the last five games while DeAngelo Williams recovers from a knee injury, has seven carries during that span. In Buffalo, the Steelers spread out the Bills' secondary with early-game passing, then pounded the running game in the second half.
NFL teams often tinker with an offense early in the year, then accentuate their identity late. Recently, that's meant the Steelers want to "possess the ball," as coach Mike Tomlin likes to say.
Bell's hot, so the Steelers are riding him. Plus, Bell wants the ball.
"Each and every game is a new game and a new plan," Haley said.
Haley, who in five seasons in Pittsburgh has overseen a top-shelf NFL offense that features less sacks for Ben Roethlisberger, said he's not focused on potential head coaching jobs. Haley went 19-26 with one playoff appearance in three seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach.
"I'm not one of those guys who's preparing, putting books together, thinking about any of those things," Haley said about preparing for new jobs in-season. "I think the only right thing in respect to these guys and the coaches deserve a full 100 percent commitment. My focus has always been on my job, and it will continue to be. I love being here. Best organization in football in my opinion."