Madden Monday: Steelers are 'a bunch of bad players. They're inconsistent. They're poorly coached'

It’s easy for 105.9 The X’s Mark Madden to explain how the Pittsburgh Steelers regressed so dramatically Sunday night in Los Angeles, following their big win over Indianapolis last week.

“I could drive a truck down Main Street, U.S.A., and come back with 11 guys who could stop that Steelers offense,” Madden said in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.

“Here is the sad truth about the Pittsburgh Steelers: they’re just not a very good team. They have a bunch of old, washed-up guys. They have a bunch of bad players. They’re inconsistent. They’re poorly coached. They’re poorly assembled. They’re just not a good football team.”

Madden thought quarterback Aaron Rodgers was below the line in the 25-10 loss to the Chargers. On the night, Rodgers finished 16 of 31 for 161 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. That resulted in a passer rating of 50.6.

“Did I expect Aaron Rodgers to have a game that was New York Jets-level bad? No, not really. Maybe he was due for one,” Madden said. “Maybe it was inevitable at some point for a guy that old playing for a team that isn’t very good with limited weaponry. But no matter how you slice it, they’re just not a very good team. No matter why you think it is, they’re just not a very good team.”

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Madden didn’t want the defense to walk away scot free either.

“The Indy game, they did outplay them, but still only won by seven points after getting six takeaways. That’s great, but it’s not going to happen every week,” Madden said. “In fact, it’s not going to happen very often. And today, it didn’t happen at all. On my show this week, I said, ‘Let’s see if they win when they get zero turnovers, because sometimes you have to do that too.’ They didn’t. Didn’t come close.”

According to Madden, we should put the blame at the feet of the coaches.

“If you want to pile on the coaches, feel free. I don’t think they look prepared. I don’t think they looked ready. I thought they came out extremely flat,” Madden said. “The game was pretty much decided, not in the first quarter, but at halftime. It’s 12-3, and the Steelers’ offense showed no signs, all night long, of ever getting going.”

Also during the podcast, Madden and I talk about a newsworthy week from the Penguins, the Ravens winning again, and Penn State’s late collapse against Indiana.