Mark Madden: Patience wears thin after Steelers' inexcusable struggles continue

The excuses, okey-dokeys and empty platitudes are piling up in the wake of the Steelers’ odious 31-17 home loss to Seattle.

“It’s only two games! Be patient!”

We’ve been patient for eight years, each without a playoff win.

“Broderick Jones needs time to adjust to left tackle.”

That time should have been 2023 and ’24. But after being drafted 14th overall in ’23 to be the Steelers’ long-term left tackle, Jones got moved to right tackle by way of veteran respect for ham-and-egger Dan Moore Jr., who stayed at left tackle during those years and repaid coach Mike Tomlin’s loyalty by leading the NFL in sacks allowed last season. Jones is currently getting reacclimated to his preferred spot at the expense of a 41-year-old quarterback who is running for his life. (Or maybe Jones is just terrible.)

Let’s push aside the word-drool and spit some truth:

The defense stinks.

The offensive line stinks.

The coaching stinks.

The Steelers play stupid, undisciplined football.

The players don’t even know the rules.

Witness rookie Kaleb Johnson blithely allowing Seattle to fall on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown after the Seahawks kicked off.

If the ball crosses the goal line on a kickoff in college football, it’s a touchback. In the NFL, it’s a live ball as long as it lands between the 20-yard line and the end zone.

If Johnson didn’t know that, shame on him. But shame on the coaches, too. Maybe special-teams boss Danny Smith is too busy mugging and gesticulating to actually teach.

Johnson might be this year’s third-round pick, but he should have been cut before he got to the sideline. If you want to get their attention, shoot a hostage.

The defense’s rotten performance to date is inexcusable.

Seattle gained 395 yards. The New York Jets gained 394 yards in Week 1.

The defense has allowed 13 conversions on 28 third-down attempts.

It’s the highest-paid defense in NFL history; $158 million doesn’t buy what it used to.

Tomlin said before the season that the defense had a chance to be “historic.”

Mission accomplished. For the first time in Tomlin’s 19 seasons, the Steelers have allowed 31 or more points in the schedule’s first two games.

Not the kind of “historic” Tomlin was hoping for.

T.J. Watt has zero sacks, none in six consecutive games.

Cam Heyward has zero sacks. (He might not reach those incentives. Time to hold in!)

Jalen Ramsey got an interception Sunday but also got burned deep.

So much for the big names.

Tomlin frequently says the Steelers don’t live in their fears. But he doesn’t practice what he preaches.

Late in the third quarter, the score was tied 14-14. The Steelers faced fourth-and-1 at their own 48. Tomlin punted. He didn’t trust his offense to get a lousy yard.

Instead, he trusted a defense that had been pushed around for seven straight quarters.

Seattle drove for a field goal, then cashed in Johnson’s error on the subsequent kickoff. Game over.

Tomlin cited injuries on defense, saying, “I wanted to protect that group.”

The best way to protect that group would have been to convert a fourth-and-1. Gain a yard.

Tomlin should figure out how to protect Aaron Rodgers. Grandpa is under siege out there.

That’s not meant to ridicule Rodgers. He’s playing decent, with courage and despite what must be incredible and constant frustration.

Rodgers might be the lone sympathetic figure in this drama.

Can the Steelers fix it?

Sure. Enough to narrowly squeak into the playoffs and lose in the wild-card round, anyway.

But it’s only two games. Be patient.

Things are just as likely to get worse than better.

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