John Madden

Each week John Madden answers readers questions. To ask Coach a question, e-mail him at:

Coach, does this Steelers defense remind you of any of the great defenses of the past?
Tony from New Jersey

Madden: I can't think of one Tony. You would want to say the Steelers of the past, but the Steel Curtain was not like this team. They were a four-man line. You think of the Chicago Bears in the 80’s, they were big strong guys, but a four-man line. You think of Tampa Bay when they were really good, they were a four-man line team. These guys play with just a three-man line and do so many things from it. I think instead of saying they are like this team this defense is going to be like other teams are going to be like them someday. They are special in a lot of areas. They are special in their front line and that's where it all starts. Their linebackers, and not only Harrison and Woodley who are having a great year, but the two inside guys and of course their secondary, led by Troy Polamalu. Dick LeBeau is their defensive coordinator and they have a real good scheme, but that is not enough. They need real good players and that is what the Steelers have. 

I wouldn't compare this defense and the things that they do and the players that they have to any other great defense in history.

Do you think the Atlanta Falcons will make the playoffs? What do you make of Matt Ryan?
Wallace Reed

Madden: I think the Atlanta Falcons have a good shot at making the playoffs, Wallace, because they have put themselves in good position to make a run now. Matt Ryan is extraordinary and whatever the Atlanta Falcons thought he was going to do when they drafted him, or whatever the fans thought he was going to do when he was drafted number one, he has exceeded it by 10.  This guy doesn't look like a rookie and the things that he does and how he can hold up his end of the deal. In the NFL you have to be able to throw the ball and be able to throw it in tough situations and if you can't, you really can't be a tough offense. And Matt Ryan has been able to do all those things. 

Coach, what do you make of the Broncos? Can they do some damage in the playoffs?
Steve, Indianapolis

Madden: I don't think so Steve. They are not consistent enough. They are going to be a playoff team basically because they are in a weak division. They are too inconsistent. One week you look at them against the Jets and they look great and the week before that they lose to Oakland.  When you get into December you have to be peaking and you have to be playing very consistent and I don't know that the Broncos are going to get to a point where they are consistent enough.  They are going to be consistent enough to get to the playoffs, but I don't know that they are going to be consistent enough to win playoff games. 

What happened to the Bills? Seems like they just fell apart after a quick start?
Pat in Toronto

Madden: Pat, they did. They had a quick start and then they fell apart. That is exactly what happened.

Who would be your coach of the year?
Jesse from Wisconsin

Madden: It would be tough right now Jesse. You have to wait until the end of the year. Like I have always said you put yourself in position to get in the playoffs from how you play from the beginning of the season until Thanksgiving. Then after Thanksgiving you make your run. December football is tough football and there are a lot of coaches that have put themselves in good positions. 

Tom Coughlin has done a great job with the Giants. Then there’s Mike Smith in Atlanta, John Harbaugh in Baltimore, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh and Tony Sparano in Miami. There have been a lot of coaches this year that I think are at this point deserving to be Coach of the Year, but they don't give the Coach of the year out now. It is what you do from here on. As I said December football it the toughest football and that's when the Coach of the Year is determined, how he coaches in December.

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