Tag: Mark Madden

George Pickens: A ‘ticking time bomb’ the Steelers can’t afford to keep

George Pickens shows brilliance for the Steelers, but his antics on and off the field raise serious concerns about his long-term value.

George Pickens has shown flashes of brilliance with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his antics on and off the field raise serious concerns about his long-term value to the team.

In the recent game against Cincinnati, Pickens managed 74 receiving yards, yet his contributions were marred by two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that negated 30 yards. This trend of undisciplined behavior not only diminishes his impact but also puts the Steelers in difficult positions.

Mark Madden has harsh words for Steelers’ George Pickens

Pickens’ behavior has prompted Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden to call him a “ticking time bomb” ahead of his final contract year with the Steelers.

Wideout George Pickens isn’t very bright and lacks accountability. He had 74 yards receiving at Cincinnati but gave back 30 via unsportsmanlike conduct flags. The Steelers need to draft a receiver, find another in free agency and ditch Pickens in the offseason. His contract expires after the 2025 campaign, but extending him for big money would be stupid. Pickens’ idiocy too often undoes his ability. (Pickens can’t be a lame duck on an expiring contract next season. He’d go totally cuckoo.)

Mike Tomlin has publicly called for Pickens to “grow up,” acknowledging the need for maturity. However, Tomlin also noted that Pickens “has a target on his back,” which Madden believes Pickens asked for.

Mike Tomlin said Pickens needs to “grow up” but also said Pickens “has a target on his back.” Tomlin should note Pickens put that target there himself. It hurts the Steelers. Pickens got illegally wrenched to the turf prior to Cincinnati’s first-quarter pick-6 but no call. Pickens is a proven pain in the backside that won’t get an officiating break. Which further dilutes what Pickens does.

Steelers face tough decision on George Pickens in 2025

The Steelers face a tough decision regarding Pickens. His rookie contract extends through 2025, but extending him with a lucrative deal would be risky. Given his lack of accountability and recurring issues, Pittsburgh would be wise to explore other options. The offseason could present opportunities to draft a new receiver or target a free agent who brings both talent and discipline to the roster.

Pickens undeniably has the physical tools to be a top-tier receiver, but until he addresses his maturity and consistency, he risks being more of a hindrance than a help. For the Steelers to move forward, they need a reliable player in that role—not someone whose potential is continually undermined by poor decision-making. Letting Pickens go before his behavior further impacts the team might be the most prudent move.

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T.J. Watt’s struggles spark debate: Can the Steelers’ star regain form?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are accustomed to explosive performances from EDGE rusher T.J. Watt, but he’s been less dominant this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are accustomed to explosive performances from EDGE rusher T.J. Watt on defense. Still, fans and analysts notice a quieter, less dominant presence from the former Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Watt, who earns a hefty $30 million annually, has been unusually quiet in the sack department (12 in 2024), and his recent performance against the Washington Commanders added fuel to the conversation.

“Witness one pass defended, two quarterback hits, zero sacks, and zero tackles,” Mark Madden wrote in his recent TribLive column. “Sure, he’s being double-teamed and held a lot. Too bad. When you make $30 million, plays are required. Not excuses.”

Despite facing heavy blocking schemes designed to limit his impact, Watt’s production has noticeably dropped from his career-best standards. It leads Madden and others to question whether it’s time for him to vary his approach to avoid being too predictable. A defensive force like Watt is expected to find ways to adjust, especially as elite players adapt to changing coverage strategies against them.

The Steelers need Watt at his best as they push toward the playoffs. Whether he can regain his explosive impact and silence critics may be key to the Steelers’ defensive success this season. Fans are watching and waiting for their star to rise again.

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Steelers writer says the quiet part out loud about this team

It is time for the Steelers and their fans to raise their expectations.

You can always count on Pittsburgh Steelers writer Mark Madden to write something controversial. But at the same time, Madden always finds his way to making a lot of sense in his critiques of this team but his detractors never give it that much thought.

This is what happened with his latest column where he lays out that the best thing for the Steelers future is a losing season in 2024.

The best thing that could realistically happen for the Steelers is to go 8-9 or worse.

To get out from under the phony non-achievement of Coach T never having a losing season. To then set the bar higher and take a hard look at the team as it really is, adjusting accordingly.

The Steelers have become a team content with mediocrity. The fans are just as guilty. It’s hard to argue that a four or five-win season might not be the best thing for this franchise. It could serve as a wake-up call that being middle of the road doesn’t lead anywhere.

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Pittsburgh media personality calls for firing of Steelers new strength coach

The injury that limited Russell Wilson in the early stages of Steelers’ training camp could have been avoided. 

The injury that limited Russell Wilson in the early stages of Pittsburgh Steelers’ training camp could have been avoided.

Pittsburgh media personality Mark Madden called involving Wilson in a sled push drill a fireable offense.

Here’s what Madden wrote in his latest TribLive column, “Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Russell Wilson has no business on a blocking sled“:

Making Wilson push a blocking sled is abject stupidity on the part of Phil Matusz, the Steelers’ new strength and conditioning coach. It’s not a stretch to say Matusz should be fired for such idiocy.

The Steelers brought Matusz in as head strength and conditioning coach (to replace Marcel Pastoor) in February.

The Greenville, Pa. native spent the last four years serving as the head strength and conditioning coach at Boston College. Matusz’s previous six seasons were spent on the Ohio State University coaching staff.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tweeted on X on Sunday night that Wilson is expected to practice this week. Should that happen without a hitch, the Steelers are no worse for wear.

Firing Matusz does seem a tad overblown, but it wasn’t a smart move either. No doubt Mike Tomlin told Matusz in so many words that quarterbacks don’t belong on a blocking sled.

Let’s just hope Matusz understood and call it good.

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Mark Madden says what all Steelers fans are thinking about Russell Wilson injury

It’s not often Steelers fans agree with Mark Madden, but with the Russell Wilson injury situation, this is one of those times. 

It’s not often Pittsburgh Steelers fans agree with Mark Madden, but with the Russell Wilson injury situation, this is easily one of those times.

As Wilson missed his fourth consecutive practice on Sunday, let’s revisit how he got here.

Following a Wilson-less first practice on Thursday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin explained that his quarterback woke up with calf tightness and he was withholding him from practice as a precaution. The following day, however, Wilson revealed he’d hurt it early on day one during a conditioning drill — specifically on the sled push.

TribLive’s Mark Madden had this to spout about the source of Wilson’s calf injury:

What’s gained by making a 35-year-old QB push a blocking sled? How much blocking will Wilson have to do?

That thought popped up in the heads of every Steelers fan after hearing why Wilson was being held out of practice.

Why in the world was Russell Wilson pushing a sled?!

If the Steelers are going to be any good this season, Wilson will have to stand in the pocket and deliver dimes (to everyone besides George Pickens because he’ll be triple-covered) or scramble as quickly as a 35-year-old quarterback can. He won’t be blocking, and, on the unfortunate occasion he needs to, pushing a sled in practice won’t be the reason he fails or succeeds.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wilson is expected to start practicing this week. The Steelers return to Chuck Noll Field on Tuesday.

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