Mark Madden: Steelers’ offense in shambles heading into season

It is fair to say that exhibition games have no impact on the NFL regular season.

It’s easier to anticipate a shift in form from exhibition games to real games by remembering that Kenny Pickett had a passer rating of 158.3 in the 2023 preseason, then collapsed when live rounds were fired.

To think that the Steelers show any sign of being a good team is just optimistic thinking, because they are not.

Except for the player who plays with the ball, he looks good, and he probably has to play a lot too.

The Steelers didn’t score a goal against Buffalo on Saturday night at Akershuur Stadium. Russell Wilson played five series at quarterback, Justin Fields played five series. If there was a competition for the starting quarterback job, Saturday’s result was more like a scoreless tie. Bad football.

Never mind the stats, though, they were bad: For example, the offense averaged just 1.4 yards per play with Wilson at quarterback. He was sacked three times.

But behind the numbers, the story is worse: The offense doesn’t look sharp or organized, even in a few games here and there. We’re not seeing any of the creativity or intensity that Oppenheimer’s appointment as offensive coordinator promised. And Matt Canada never seems to leave.

Exhibition matches don’t mean much, but they mean nothing at all.

The Steelers overestimate their weapons. So do you. They’re a diverse team.

If Brandon Aiyuk saw the offensive disaster that happened Saturday, it would surely convince him to stay in San Francisco. But Aiyuk hasn’t been able to make a big difference. He’s likely to become just another addition to the stinky sandwich.

One midfielder is past his prime, the other is a first-round flop. Both are holding onto the ball too long.

One running back appears to be the lame duck the Steelers don’t really want, while the other is out with a hamstring injury.

Has anyone noticed that the best passes caught by the #1 wide receiver are off the field?

The No. 1 linebacker is supposed to be the No. 2 receiver. But he’s not a very good linebacker. And if he’s the No. 2 receiver, who’s the No. 1 linebacker? The guy they never throw the ball to?

The offensive line was rebuilt in the draft and had a chance to be good. But that was marred by poor coaching practices.

The team’s left-back has been at right-back for over a year now since he was selected in order to maintain the comfort level of the poor left-back.

Broderick Jones was badly treated at right-back on Saturday, getting hit several times. He is said to be suffering from an elbow injury. He may have been confused by changing sides in training.

Dan Moore Jr. can’t play right back, so he should be dropped. If Moore can’t play right back, his usage will be limited.

Moore has started 49 games at left back in the NFL. Maybe he shouldn’t have. That’s what his performance says.

Jones was supposed to play at left back, which is the position he was selected to play.

The Steelers tried to play a non-center at center, but he got injured. It’s unfortunate, but now a true center can play that position.

From the first day of training camp, the first-team offensive line was supposed to be Jones at left back, Isaac Seumalo at left guard, Zach Fraser at center, James Daniels at right guard and Troy Votano at right back. Give your best talent some reps, and give them some reps together. Build cohesion and rhythm.

All this blatant stupidity is masked by the belief that a person who makes no mistakes never makes mistakes. Even though he hasn’t won a playoff game in seven years.

Here are a series of bold predictions that aren’t really bold:

• The Steelers will lose Week 1 to Atlanta. Kirk Cousins ​​at defensive back is all about points and stats. The Steelers won’t out-score him. The Steelers might not score at all.

The Falcons added linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons last week. Judon was named to the first team in 2022, while Simmons was named to the second team in four of the past five years.

The Falcons have done some good, and Aiyuk is still a 49er.

• Mike Tomlin will go to Justin Fields earlier than expected, and will likely back out of Wilson’s promise just like Mitch Trubisky did in 2022.

There is one more preseason game and about three weeks before the regular-season opener in Atlanta. Things could get better.

But we don’t see any signs of that. And if the Steelers are going to achieve anything, this poor start is something they can’t afford.

But did you know that Coach T has never lost a season?

The third prediction:

• Cameron Johnston will become the team’s most valuable player.