Mark Madden: Kenny Pickett will get better but progress will be slow and Steelers will lose a lot of games

Ben Roethlisberger now, at 40, would have won at Miami this past Sunday.

Had Mitch Trubisky played like he did at home against Tampa Bay the prior Sunday, he would have also won at Miami.

Kenny Pickett started, lost, and was a big part of losing.

That’s OK. He’s a rookie quarterback. Talented, but hardly a phenom. His progress figures to be slow, hindered by the Steelers not having more than a modicum of ability on the offensive side of the ball and an unqualified offensive coordinator.

But Pickett has the tools. He will get better.

Pickett is also going to lose a lot of games.

That’s the decision the Steelers have made. They are prioritizing Pickett’s development over their (slim) chances of winning now. It’s probably the right decision.

But, oftentimes, it won’t feel that way.

So far, Pickett has done lousy by every metric available.

He was certainly rotten at Miami, not least at crunch time.

Pickett had a chance to win the game on each of the Steelers’ last two possessions and threw interceptions. Not exactly great defensive plays, either, though Miami’s Noah Igbinoghene did well to get his feet in bounds on the second without being misspelled.

Both picks were at ‘em balls: Right at ‘em. Pickett made brutal decisions.

Pickett was 32 of 44 for 257 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His passer rating was 66.2. Pickett made some decent throws to keep those last two drives going but couldn’t finish. Nothing matters if you don’t finish.

Pickett has thrown seven interceptions in 12 quarters.

That’s a ton of picks. What would you say if Trubisky did that? Pickett is on pace to throw 40 interceptions in a 17-game season.

Related:

• Madden Monday on Steelers' defeat in Miami: 'I thought (Kenny) Pickett lost the game'
• Steelers' lack of splash afflicts offense, defense in loss to Dolphins
• Airing of Grievances: After an inspiring win against Tampa Bay, Steelers return to losing ways with a thud in Miami

The Steelers only scored 10 points at Miami. Veteran Steelers reporter Ed Bouchette tweeted, “This may be the worst Steelers offense I’ve ever seen.”

The Steelers have scored 30 points or more just once in their last 31 games.

The Steelers’ second-half drives at Miami were punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, pick, pick.

Of course, the citizens think that none of this is Pickett’s fault. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be the primary scapegoat before he rides that title into unemployment. Not that Canada does anything besides stink. He’s too conservative for Fox News.

But Pickett has played poorly. That’s undeniable, except you will.

Blame Najee Harris. He doesn’t quite stink, but never does enough. There are times when Harris looks like he forgot how to run the football. He seems confused.

Blame the defense. The defense stinks. Everybody should agree on that.

The defense allowed 13 points in the first quarter, letting Miami fairly sashay 71 yards on nine plays to score a touchdown on the game’s first possession. It was way too easy.

The defense got zero sacks and one quarterback hit. Perhaps they were concerned about further concussing Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The defense dropped either four or five interceptions. So many picks clanged off the hands of Steelers defensive backs, it was easy to lose track. (I counted four.)

The defense gets paid $108 million, most in the NFL. It is nowhere close to elite. It lost its star edge rusher and turned into excrement.

T.J. Watt got a four-year contract extension worth $112 million before last season. He’s since been unavailable for eight games (out of 24), limited or knocked out of the game by injury in four more. The Steelers are 2-9-1 in those games.

Teams don’t pay players for individual stats and accolades. Players get paid to impact winning. Watt isn’t worth his paycheck. He’s hurt too much.

But in your eyes, Watt is beyond reproach. Just like Pickett.

Pickett probably wasn’t ready to play when coach Mike Tomlin thrust him into the game at halftime of the Week 4 loss to the New York Jets in a transparent, self-serving effort to save the season. Pickett has mostly proven he isn’t ready.

But the Steelers have decided. There’s no going back. The season’s lost anyway, and you can’t yo-yo your first-round rookie quarterback in and out of the lineup.