Madden Monday: Mark Madden says Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada is 'incompetent,' 'an amateur'

After the Steelers scored 37 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, you might think the only complaints coming out of the game would be about the defense.

You might think that — if you didn’t watch it. Because there are plenty of things to gripe about when it comes to the offense, too.

After all, one of the Steelers’ touchdowns in their frantic fourth-quarter rally was set up on the Chargers’ 3-yard line thanks to a blocked punt by Miles Killebrew. That sequence even needed a fourth-down pass interference penalty to keep the possession alive.

Another Steelers touchdown drive began at the Los Angeles 11-yard line after an interception by Cameron Sutton. So even though the offense put up 27 points in the fourth quarter, more than half of those points were set up by the defense and special teams.

There was another drive where the Steelers started on the Los Angeles 34-yard line when the Chargers failed on a fourth-down attempt. All the Steelers did with that was hold onto the ball for a meager 19 seconds and kick a field goal to gain a momentary 37-34 lead.

Hardly inspiring stuff.

L.A. got the ball back and regained the lead three plays later with a 53-yard touchdown pass for the eventual 41-37 margin of victory.

During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X points the finger at Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

“Matt Canada is incompetent. He is an amateur,” Madden said. “I hate coming back to something that has become cliché in Pittsburgh. And I do think we blame the coordinators because we know the (head) coach is never going to get fired.”

But in the case of Canada, Madden said, the criticism is warranted. Not just because of play calling and play design but also because of a lack of willingness to attack the middle of the field consistently.

“The Steelers never use the middle of the field more than two or three yards down the field. Ben made some really good throws (Sunday). But he didn’t even attempt those,” Madden said.

One positive Madden had about the offensive coaching staff was its decision to eschew a field goal in favor of going for it on fourth down in the first quarter, even though the Steelers were stopped on the fourth down attempt.

“I agreed with that because I just didn’t believe you were going to beat the L.A. Chargers — missing who you were missing on defense — three points at a time,” Madden said. “Actually, that played out to be true but in a different fashion than I envisioned.”

Like, for instance, just kicking a field goal after 19 seconds of possession time after being set up inside the Chargers’ 35 for a third time.

Aside from ripping the offense, Madden and I discuss the obvious defensive woes, the state of the Steelers in the AFC standings, regression with the offensive line and the lingering effects of last week’s tie against the Detroit Lions.

Then we get into the Penguins’ recent good play in Canada, his Ric Flair podcast debut and touring Washington, D.C.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden break down the Steelers’ loss to the Chargers