Mark Madden: Steelers don't have solution for Broderick Jones' struggles

The Pittsburgh Steelers have problems. Some can be fixed.

The eventual return of injured rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon should help the run defense, which got gashed this past Sunday at New York.

The rushing attack has two established pros in Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. If neither step forward, perhaps rookie Kaleb Johnson will get the opportunity. Maybe it can be done by committee. There are options.

But it looks like Broderick Jones can’t be fixed.

The third-year pro struggled mightily at left tackle in the Steelers’ Week 1 victory over the Jets, so badly that it was easy to spot on the network telecast.

Jones was responsible for three sacks and four pressures. He looked lost.

Former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex was harsh in his appraisal.

Essex criticized Jones’ technique and “football smarts,” adding that Jones “didn’t look like he belonged in the NFL.”

That’s a problem.

Jones has often been rotten and very rarely better than average.

But no fix is available.

The Steelers traded up to take Jones with the 14th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, swapping the 17th choice and a fourth-round selection to do so. That’s got to be justified.

The backups are a bunch of guys named Anderson. Nobody of pedigree.

The Steelers could line up hulking tight end Darnell Washington next to Jones. That effectively provides a sixth offensive lineman and doubles the left tackle position.

But that would be sacrificing a weapon to cover up the incompetence of a first-round draft pick who should be in his prime or approaching it.

Jones has to sink or swim.

Jones will line up against Seattle defensive end Leonard Williams when the Steelers host the Seahawks this Sunday.

Williams had 11 sacks last season. Uh-oh. (Will McDonald of the Jets posted two sacks and generally ate Jones alive this past Sunday.)

As with any situation in sports, it’s important to assign blame for failure.

Jones’ best position is left tackle. That’s where he played at Georgia. But Jones only started 19 collegiate games, so he didn’t come to Pittsburgh with a wealth of big-time experience.

Since joining the Steelers, Jones has mostly played right tackle. He started last season as a backup. As the swing tackle.

But right tackle Troy Fautanu, the Steelers’ first-round pick last year, got hurt after playing just one game and was out for the season. Jones resumed starting at right tackle, like he did as a rookie. Dan Moore Jr. continued to start at left tackle, leading the NFL in sacks allowed.

Jones was drafted to play left tackle. That’s his pedigree. Moore (now with Tennessee) wasn’t good enough to delay Jones’ insertion at his proper spot.

But that’s what happened.

Was Jones’ confidence shaken during his first two campaigns? Did he get confused? Was trading up to draft him that high a mistake? Was drafting him at all a mistake?

None of that matters now.

Regardless of errors made in development, Jones is a third-year pro and responsible for his own success or failure.

If Jones doesn’t start succeeding, the Steelers are in trouble. So is Rodgers.

If there’s any current blame to be assigned to anybody besides Jones, it’s the Steelers for not having better depth at the offensive line’s most important spot.

But it’s much easier to ignore the franchise’s constant mismanagement.