Mark Madden: More needed from Steelers' defensive leaders to beat Colts

Mario Lemieux was known to say, “I make the most money. I need to do more.” Sometimes after he racked up five points but the Penguins lost 9-6.

T.J. Watt’s contract with the Steelers is worth $112 million. Minkah Fitzpatrick’s will pay him $73.6 million. Cameron Heyward’s is $71.4 million.

Perhaps those three should go out and win Saturday’s game at Indianapolis.

If the Steelers’ fate was in the hands of the quarterbacks from season’s start, they never had a chance to begin with.

So how about those three produce a bunch of sacks, or a pick-six, or a scoop-and-score, or a fistful of turnovers?

Fitzpatrick led the NFL with six interceptions last year. He hasn’t been involved in a takeaway yet this season. He has a big, fat goose egg after playing in nine games: No picks, no forced fumbles, no fumbles recovered.

Fitzpatrick is playing OK. The excuse often made on his behalf is the Steelers’ defense is so banged up, not least in the middle, that his duties constantly vary. He’s got to be here, there and everywhere.

But that’s nonsense. Fitzpatrick is paid big money to make a tangible impact on winning, and he hasn’t done that.

Watt has done his part: He’s got 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a fumble return for a touchdown. He hasn’t missed games because of injury.

But Watt can do more. Right now, it looks like he’s got to. Necessity is a mother.

The Steelers, however outdatedly so, emphasize defense. They spend more money than any other NFL team on that side of the ball.

Yet, when the Steelers lose, the citizens never target the defense for blame. (It’s the “like” factor. You blame who you don’t like, not necessarily who’s responsible.)

Watt, Fitzpatrick and Heyward were all out there when New England, with the NFL’s worst offense, marched 75 yards on eight plays for a touchdown on the game’s first series in the Steelers’ last game. When the Patriots scored 21 points in the first half after totaling 13 points in their prior three games. (Watt left that game briefly after taking a knee to the head.)

Watt and Fitzpatrick have never won a playoff game. Heyward last participated in a playoff victory following the 2015 season.

Some lament that the Steelers are wasting the careers of Watt, Fitzpatrick and Heyward. But those three have contributed to that waste. The defense has allowed 135 points in Watt’s three playoff games.

So if Watt, Fitzpatrick and Heyward want to win more, here’s suggesting they do more. Starting at Indianapolis. Go out and terrorize Gardner Minshew.

Or just hope Mitch Trubisky does better.

It’s not exactly a stellar quarterback matchup, is it?

If the Steelers lose, or ultimately don’t make the playoffs, we will further lament the death of the “Steeler way.”

But what the Steelers need to revive the “Steeler way” is better players who are coached better.

The Steelers aren’t very good, but it’s not an attitude failure. Most of the NFL flunks in that regard. It’s a talent failure, a coaching failure and an execution failure. The Steelers are simply a mostly rotten team. It’s a failing organization.

I believe whatever Ben Roethlisberger says on his podcast. I love it. He is 100% accurate and generates monster buzz. My lone remaining professional goal is to appear on that podcast. (I probably won’t.)