Mark Madden: Steelers keep sinking but won't change course

Dating back to last season, the Steelers have lost 10 of their last 16.

Despite lots of personnel changes, many significant, the Steelers have the same feel: Stale, outdated and in possession of a one-way ticket to Palookaville.

The players who get paid the most aren’t doing the most, or even enough.

The Steelers are stuck in the mushy middle, more entrapped with every moment of mediocrity. When they host the NFL Draft next April, their big pop at the podium will see them select somebody ordinary with, say, the 20th pick. (Worse yet, somebody like Broderick Jones.)

The Steelers are samey-same to an alarming degree. Not at all fetch.

It’s not getting better, or even changing.

The Steelers aren’t very good. Not as a team, or an organization.

It’s time for a titanic overhaul.

None is forthcoming.

It’s the Titanic, all right. But the Steelers will just keep rearranging the deck chairs. The band plays on, because the ship will never quite sink. But it won’t reach port, either.

It’s all Mason Rudolph’s fault.

Sunday’s loss at Chicago was, anyway.

The citizens determined that before the ball was even kicked off. X was calling for Will Howard to play as soon as Rudolph threw that early pick. (Maybe I just have a rotten X feed.)

Rudolph was no mad bomber.

But he fulfilled his duties, completing 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a passer rating of 86.9. He only threw five passes of 10 yards or more, but that’s not up to him.

Rudolph didn’t win the game. But he didn’t lose it, either.

Aaron Rodgers sat because of his bum left wrist. It’s good big-picture thinking to get grandpa out of harm’s way for a week, not least when he’s banged up.

But what if Rodgers had a shot at those last two possessions?

The QB situation wasn’t why the Steelers lost. Not Rodgers’ absence, nor Rudolph’s performance.

The offensive approach is prehistoric. In an era of score faster and more, the Steelers rely on long drives.

The Steelers are stupid. Like when Rudolph’s 22-yard scramble in the fourth quarter got negated by an illegal formation. Pro football players should at least know how to line up.

That high-priced defense stinks: Allowing 31 points and 328 yards is bad, even with two takeaways.

The Steelers don’t have a legit No. 2 wideout.

But it’s all Rudolph’s fault.

If you want to blame individuals, blame T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and DK Metcalf.

Yeah, Watt got the strip sack that led to Nick Herbig’s touchdown. He passed his brother J.J. in all-time sacks, which only matters to the Watts.

But T.J. has seven sacks on the season, tied for 16th in the NFL. Myles Garrett had three sacks yesterday and Cleveland actually won. (The Browns just needed to start playing Shedeur Sanders.)

T.J. signed a three-year extension worth $123 million. He’s not providing proper bang for the buck. (Garrett is. Watt got a bit more money, but Garrett has a lot more sacks: A league-high 18. Watt’s single-season record of 22½ is in Garrett’s sights.)

Heyward has 1½ sacks after holding in and whining about being underpaid. For a second straight year. He’s not going to reach his face-saving, okey-doke bonuses.

Metcalf has 42 catches for 573 yards. That’s tied for 48th and 31st in the NFL, respectively. He drops balls and chronically commits offensive pass interference and stinks at combat catches. That’s after inking a four-year extension worth $132 million.

Place blame squarely on the big-money bozos who don’t do enough.

That includes Mike Tomlin, who makes $16 million per year.

On second thought, don’t bother getting mad.

Because things won’t change this year, or next, or ever.