Madden Monday: Steelers' team-building approach only good enough to beat lesser NFL teams

There’s no doubt what the main topic is heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2023 training camp. It’s tracking the growth of the offense as the franchise embarks on its second year with Kenny Pickett as the quarterback.

As Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, every other storyline “pales in comparison” to that one.

However, Madden has concerns on the other side of the ball too.

“They don’t have an elite defense because they have a bunch of holes — not least at middle linebacker — and probably, to start the season, at nose tackle too,” Madden said. “I don’t like their general team-building philosophy. I don’t like the attachment to possessing the ball and playing defense. That’ll beat the (lousy) teams. If you play that way against Kansas City, you will lose 50 times out of 50.”

Madden is most dubious of Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb at inside linebacker. They are taking over for the duo of Myles Jack and Devin Bush, neither of whom was retained by the Steelers after the 2022 campaign concluded. Mark Robinson, Tanner Muse and Nick Kwiatkoski (Bethel Park/West Virginia) will also be in the mix.

“You’ve got these two new guys they brought in, but they’re no better than the two old guys. There’s zero depth at inside linebacker. There isn’t a Pro Bowl between the guys they brought in. I just don’t see them having solved that problem or anything but move sideways to the same problem with different people,” Madden insisted.

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The new spin on the Steelers’ lack of star power at inside linebacker is that the position isn’t really all that important. That inside linebackers are essentially the defensive equivalents of running backs. That NFL teams can just get by with mediocrity unless you stumble into a really good one. And, if so, that’s just a bonus.

Although no one was saying that when the Steelers had Levon Kirkland, James Farrior or Ryan Shazier, were they?

“They spoon-fed us when they had good inside linebackers,” Madden quipped. “I just think it’s really flawed at that position, and I think teams will be able to target their weaknesses.”

Also, during this week’s podcast, Madden and I discuss the ongoing carping from disgruntled NFL running backs, Alex Highsmith’s contract extension, Mitch Keller’s recent struggles on the mound for the Pirates and the latest surrounding the Erik Karlsson trade talks.