Mark Madden Columns category, Page 35
Mark Madden: T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward have played great, but Steelers’ defense isn’t elite
The Steelers’ “elite” defense crumbles at inopportune times. Is the defense about the excellence of edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive end Cameron Heyward, or is that offset by, say, defensive back Arthur Maulet getting beat like a rented mule late in Monday night’s near-loss to Chicago? (A win is...
Mark Madden: Missing playoffs would hurt Penguins economically but be ideal for rebuild
For the Penguins, the best thing would be to miss the playoffs and begin a rebuilding process that gets pushed back and made harder every year they strive in vain for “one more run.” The absolute worst-case scenario is to be in contention for a postseason spot come the NHL’s...
Mark Madden: In win over Flyers, Kris Letang showed again that he’s a one-of-a-kind talent for Penguins
Center Sidney Crosby is the Pittsburgh Penguins’ best player. Defenseman Kris Letang is their least replaceable player. That was evident in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime victory over Philadelphia at PPG Paints Arena. Letang won that game by any and every means that it’s possible to do so. Letang literally decided the...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: No chance of Andrew McCutchen returning to Pirates
The Philadelphia Phillies declined their 2022 option on Andrew McCutchen’s contract. So, naturally, a flurry of “reporting” launched that theorizes McCutchen’s path back to Pittsburgh. (Did you know McCutchen named his son “Steel”? WELCOME BACK, CUTCH!) Forget it. That has no chance of happening. It’s another example of the local...
Mark Madden: Path to playoffs doesn’t look as daunting for improving Steelers
The Steelers are 4-3 going on 6-3. If they don’t beat Chicago and Detroit to get to 6-3, this next question answers itself. The Bears and Lions both stink. But are the Steelers any good? You can answer that via a couple of other questions. One is, is the NFL...
Mark Madden: What was Mike Tomlin thinking on Steelers’ fake field-goal attempt?
When the Steelers visited Cleveland on Sunday, it was a battle of traditional rivals, mediocre teams and a whole lot of idiocy. The dumbness manifested itself at many levels: • Thirteen penalties in all, a few more that canceled each other out and a few more that went uncalled. (It...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Playing Baker Mayfield against Steelers complicates Browns’ attack
Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield wants to be a warrior. If he could, he’d wear the shoulder harness that protects his injured shoulder outside his jersey. Create a “Spirit of ’76” vibe. Turn it into a commercial. Mayfield has a torn labrum and a fracture in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He...
Mark Madden: When needed most, Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen just can’t turn the corner
When Mike Sullivan occasionally benched winger Kasperi Kapanen last season, I thought then that the Penguins coach overreacted. Just let Kapanen play. Now I don’t understand why Sullivan hasn’t yet benched Kapanen this season. Injuries leave little choice in that regard. But Kapanen’s career to date has been a bust,...
Mark Madden: Rumors of Mike Tomlin being linked to college jobs was nonstory from the start
Mike Tomlin blew a gasket when he was asked about rumors linking him to the coaching positions at LSU and Southern Cal. Tomlin overdid it. It seemed he might start pounding the podium with his shoe. But the scene had value. It had a feel-good “Steelers for life” ring at...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Astros’ appearance makes World Series must-miss TV
Don’t watch the World Series. I won’t. Not one pitch. The presence of the Houston Astros guarantees that. There was a good chance I wouldn’t watch, anyway. MLB stinks for many reasons, not least that efficiency has quashed entertainment and robbed baseball of action and romance. But Houston cheated, most...
Mark Madden: If Aaron Rodgers lands in Cleveland, could Baker Mayfield find his way to Pittsburgh?
No matter how much Aaron Rodgers flirts with Pittsburgh on Pat McAfee’s satellite radio show, he won’t play for the Steelers next season. He’s a tease. If Rodgers leaves Green Bay, he will go to a team that’s poised to win a Super Bowl. The Steelers are not that team....
Mark Madden: T.J. Watt worth every red cent, but others on Steelers defense raise red flags
T. J. Watt got $80 million guaranteed when he signed his contract extension. He is the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. So far this season, despite injury, Watt has earned his keep. The Steelers have won three games. Watt won two of them: Week 1 vs. Buffalo and this past Sunday...
Mark Madden: Despite Penguins’ marquee absences, Mike Sullivan pushing right buttons with lineup
With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin hurt, and with Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust each missing a game to date, two fears loomed large as the Penguins’ season began. Could they score? Would they dig themselves an early hole despite playing eight of their first 10 at home, putting themselves...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers defense needs to have bigger impact
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is supposed to carry the team. So far, it’s not. It’s been crippled by injury. Stephon Tuitt hasn’t played a game. Tyson Alualu is out. Many are playing hurt, most notably T.J. Watt, the leader of the groin gang. But an elite defense manufactures results, not...
Mark Madden: It shouldn’t be this difficult for the Penguins to sell tickets
Ten thousand ticket-holders no-showed the Steelers’ second home game. The Penguins have 632 straight home sellouts but haven’t yet sold out Saturday’s home opener — which features Chicago and beloved ex-Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. PNC Park is empty because the Pirates don’t try to win. Pitt football and basketball don’t...
Mark Madden: Jon Gruden shouldn’t be coaching, but NFL’s hypocrisy is undeniable
Jon Gruden referred to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell by a homophobic slur. Gruden decried the drafting of a homosexual player. Gruden mocked transgender personality Caitlyn Jenner. Because of all of that — and much more, as revealed in a series of emails between Gruden and Washington Football Team executive Bruce...
Mark Madden: Given Penguins’ injuries, here’s what must go right to keep playoff streak intact
If the Penguins were 100% healthy all season, they would definitely make the playoffs for a 16th straight year. But, as the campaign opens, they’re not. Evgeni Malkin had knee surgery. He will miss two months, maybe three. Sidney Crosby had wrist surgery. He was supposed to be out of...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry has to earn back trust
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ decline can’t be traced directly to their goaltending situation. But the timeline certainly parallels. The Penguins went from Marc-Andre Fleury, who lit up the dressing room, to Matt Murray, aka Eeyore with a blocker. Murray had to be nurtured constantly. They went from Murray to Tristan Jarry,...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ next quarterback is already on the roster
Aaron Rodgers has been publicly flirting with the Steelers on Pat McAfee’s satellite radio program. (McAfee knows good shtick when he hears it. I do, too.) But there’s no chance Rodgers moves from Green Bay to Pittsburgh next offseason. Why would Rodgers want to play behind that offensive line? Why...
Mark Madden: Ben Roethlisberger is playing poorly, but his legacy among Steelers greats is secure
If you’re upset because the Pittsburgh Steelers are having a bad season, don’t be. No team is good indefinitely. The Steelers started 11-0 last year, then lost five of six and showed clear symptoms of disintegrating. So did quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Their already-bad offensive line further imploded via retirement and...
Mark Madden: Steelers have many problems on offense, but the elite defense is average at best
The Steelers flat-out stink. They may use their illusion next Sunday at Heinz Field by beating a Denver team that’s not near as good as its 3-1 record. But, after a Week 1 upset at Buffalo that now looks totally illogical, the Steelers have been mostly non-competitive in losses to...
Mark Madden Hot Take: Brady-Belichick meeting has massive hype but won’t prove anything
Sunday night marks the Super Bowl in October. It will be disappointing, like many actual Super Bowls, but for different reasons. Tampa Bay’s visit to New England has little chance to be a good game. It’s billed as the showdown between the greatest quarterback ever and greatest coach ever. But...
Mark Madden: Dominoes falling unfavorably for Penguins season
As the Pittsburgh Penguins prepare to open a new season, a lot of dominoes seem poised to fall, not all of them good. With Evgeni Malkin out for two months (probably three) and Sidney Crosby out for four games (probably eight to 10), the Penguins must avoid not burying themselves...
Mark Madden: Remaining Steelers games are about humility, survival, avoiding embarrassment
Yinzer Nation got chapped when ex-Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Mike Hilton danced, waved and took a theatrical bow to fans at Heinz Field (not including the 10,000 no-shows) when his current team, Cincinnati, was finishing an easy 24-10 victory this past Sunday. Locals also took offense when Bengals receiver Tyler...
Mark Madden: Steelers season figures to end poorly for Ben Roethlisberger
Before the season, I wondered whether the Steelers would regret bringing back Ben Roethlisberger and whether Roethlisberger would regret returning. That time may have arrived. Roethlisberger’s stats are rotten. For every good pass, he makes two that are bad. Roethlisberger’s throws have zip and accuracy only sporadically. He’s pushing the...
