Mark Madden: Offensive line is a monument to Steelers mismanagement

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a host of good players, not least their three defensive standouts: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt. They also have a lot of promising young talent on offense, including Najee Harris, George Pickens and Kenny Pickett.

But the Steelers have a lousy team. It’s poorly assembled. Their priorities are out of whack.

It raises questions about their method of management, which has too many people sticking fingers into the decision-making pie: The coach, the owner, the GM, the assistant GM. Too much debate and too many opinions lead to a blurred vision. The Steelers’ roster is proof.

The Steelers have focused on drafting shiny new toys while ignoring the trenches. They took skill-position players in each of the first two rounds in each of the last two drafts.

Which begs discussion about the offensive line, a monument to Steelers mismanagement.

The Steelers added guard James Daniels and center Mason Cole via free agency during the offseason. The line got younger. There seemed to be room for improvement.

But the line hasn’t improved. If anything, it got worse. That’s amazing because it might have been the worst offensive line in the league last season.

That can be obscured by offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s gameplan, but not enough. That can be obscured by quarterback mobility, but not enough. Just like Ben Roethlisberger’s quick releases obscured it, but not enough.

In terms of run-blocking, Harris again will find himself hit behind the line of scrimmage far too often.

How could this be allowed to happen? How could that offensive line not be fixed more?

As good as Pickens may be, how could the Steelers not get help on the offensive line in the second round of this year’s draft? Or even instead of Pickett in the first round?

More specifically, how could the Steelers not draft Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey in the second round of last year’s draft instead of tight end Pat Freiermuth? Freiermuth is good. Humphrey would have provided an anchor on the offensive line for a decade. Humphrey made the NFL’s All-Rookie team last year.

Passing on Humphrey is particularly galling considering the Steelers emphasize the center position more than most franchises: Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Maurkice Pouncey, etc.

The Steelers draft like it’s fantasy football.

Kendrick Green might have been the worst offensive lineman in the NFL last year. How could the Steelers figure switching positions would fix that? Green was a terrible center. Now he’s a terrible guard.

The Steelers’ offensive line has a second-round pick, three third-round picks and two fourth-round picks.

They drafted Pouncey in 2010’s first round and David DeCastro in 2012’s first round. Those two provided twin anchors. You need at least one lineman with true pedigree. The Steelers have castoffs and curtain-jerkers.

It should have been fixed. It wasn’t. Now it can’t be.

The offensive line will ruin the Steelers’ season.

But let’s talk about the quarterback position instead. Don’t look here. Look over there.

Add Tony Boselli, Colin Cowherd, Tim Hasselbeck and Chris Simms to the list of analysts who think Pickett should be the Steelers’ starter. Robert Griffin III, Pete Prisco and probably a bunch of others already said so.

This was divined by looking at a few highlights and ignoring what Mitch Trubisky did.

I’d like to know what Johnny Depp thinks. Or a Kardashian. Or Pittsburgh Dad. Since it’s up for vote.

Whoever the quarterback is, the offensive line won’t give him much chance.