Madden Monday: Between WR, O-line concerns, Steelers fans 'have every right to be worried'

It’s finally a regular season game week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2024 opener is Sunday in Atlanta. During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive says there are plenty of reasons for concern.

“You have every right to be worried. I think that’s the worst wide-receiving core in the league. I don’t know what to expect from that offense. I think it’s devoid of weaponry. I think the offensive line is in shambles, and not just due to injury,” Madden said.

“The Steelers are badly managed. They’re badly coached, and after seven years without a playoff win, nobody, still, is willing to accept that, let alone say it out loud.”

In particular, Madden says that how the Steelers constructed the wide receiver depth chart should cause anxiety among fans of the organization.

“That receiving room, it’s their own fault,” Madden insists. “They traded Diontae Johnson haphazardly without having a nailed-on Plan B. You can trade Dionate. I was sick of him, too. But it was a trade made in a bit of snit, without knowing for sure what they could do to remedy the whole of that position. Don’t they look stupid now the way the (Brandon) Aiyuk thing fell through?”

More sports

• Mark Madden's Hot Take: Fantasy football is serious business in this Pittsburgh league
• Patrick Queen, Elandon Roberts become fast friends, ideal complements in middle of Steelers defense
• Pirates GM Ben Cherington emphasizes the 'need to be better' in international scouting

The banged-up and reconfigured offensive line is another point of emphasis that Madden expects the Falcons to exploit on Sunday.

“You can’t fault the Steelers for injuries on the offensive line,” Madden continued. “I can fault the Steelers for not putting their talent in the best positions to succeed and building on them from the start of preseason — which would have been (Broderick) Jones at left tackle, (Troy) Fautanu at right tackle, (James) Daniels and (Isaac) Seumalo at the guards, and Zach Frazier at center. That should have been their line from Day 1. Now injuries have skewed that no matter (if) those guys have been there or not. I think it’s kind of a chintzy offensive line now. I think Seumalo, who is out a month, is a huge loss. You’ve got a lot of inexperienced rookies on that O-line.”

Right now, the Falcons are a three-point favorite. That’s despite the fact that, unlike the Steelers, Atlanta failed to make the playoffs in 2023. And, like the Steelers on offense, the Falcons have also changed their quarterbacks and coaching staff.

Yet, Madden isn’t surprised the Steelers are underdogs. He thinks a loss in Atlanta could prove pivotal when it comes to the Steelers’ playoff chances five months from now.

“I expect them to cover and win handily. I don’t see this game as being a problem for them. I think they’re more prepared for the start of the season than the Steelers,” Madden said.

“I think the Steelers are going to make the playoffs, or miss the playoffs, by a game. Ergo, if you lose a game that you probably ought to win — in the context that you should make the playoffs — Atlanta is one of those games. If you lose that game, you have to make it up later by winning a game that maybe you shouldn’t.”

Also, in the podcast, Madden and I discuss the recent Penguins-Jets trade, the woes of the Pirates, his new contract at 105.9 The X and the start of college football season.