Tim Benz stories, Page 113
Tim Benz: Chris Boswell, T.J. Watt, Pat Freiermuth lead ‘Feats of Strength’ after harrowing Steelers win over Bears
It could’ve been a pedestrian win for the Pittsburgh Steelers, right? A plain old 20-something to 12 or 13 victory against a sub-mediocre Chicago Bears team. I mean, that’s the way it was pacing on “Monday Night Football” late in the third quarter when the Steelers went up 20-6. But...
First Call: Steelers already big favorites for next week; James Conner and Le’Veon Bell star in wins with new teams
Monday’s “First Call” is already looking ahead to the Steelers game next week before they play the Chicago Bears Monday night. A pair of former Steelers running backs made the highlight clips Sunday. And the next opponent for the Penguins finally made things go right. Let’s not get ahead of...
Madden Monday: Penguins should sub out goalie Tristan Jarry for shootouts
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry has struggled in shootouts so far this year. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X says the Penguins can’t tolerate that shortcoming. “When you are a borderline playoff team, you can’t have a goalie that (stinks) in shootouts,” Madden said....
Tim Benz: Steelers can now use positive reinforcement for run game — on both sides of the ball
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were scuffling at 1-3, there was plenty of room for negative reinforcement from the coaching staff if it decided to go that route. “Here is what you are doing wrong. Go fix it.” Well, some of that must’ve worked, as the Steelers have won three in...
First Call: Browns assistant coach questions Steelers’ fake field-goal try; Khalil Mack doesn’t practice for Bears
Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting account of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ botched fake field goal. And it comes from the Browns coaching staff. We have odds on where Odell Beckham Jr. may wind up. Andrew McCutchen bids farewell to a former teammate. Plus, the Chicago Bears have injury updates on...
Melvin Ingram doesn’t rip Steelers but admits his situation ‘wasn’t what I thought it was going to be’
Melvin Ingram has arrived in Kansas City. And he’s already practicing with the Chiefs. Boy, amazing how quickly that groin injury healed, huh? The Pittsburgh Steelers shipped the disgruntled linebacker to K.C. in a trade for a sixth-round pick Tuesday afternoon. Ingram visited with the Chiefs this offseason before eventually...
Penguins play-by-play legend Mike Lange discusses retirement, new network broadcasts, Sidney Crosby’s wrist
While I was filling in for Mark Madden this week on 105.9 The X, I had a chance to catch up with former Pittsburgh Penguins play-by-play man Mike Lange. The legendary voice of the franchise stepped away from the broadcast booth before this season started. But he is still keeping...
Tim Benz: Derek Schooley prepares for Robert Morris hockey’s ‘championship game’ this Sunday
Autumn weekends have become very difficult for Derek Schooley. The Robert Morris University men’s hockey coach has a void in his life right now. Those days are usually dedicated to coaching his Colonials in Atlantic Hockey contests. In a normal season, his team would have six to eight games under...
First Call: Chase Claypool’s shot at Cleveland’s Dawg Pound; Bears sign ex-Steeler in advance of Monday night’s game
In Thursday’s “First Call,” a Steelers wideout has some fun at the Dawg Pound’s expense. A former Steeler signs with the Chicago Bears as the two teams prepare to play each other Monday night. Andrew McCutchen reacts to being released by the Phillies. And a few other former Pirates may...
Fake field goal furor, misplaced Pitt angst dominate this week’s ‘U mad, bro?’
This week’s “U mad, bro?” is all about Pitt’s flameout against Miami and the Steelers’ botched fake field-goal attempt. Oh, and one guy who is still angry that I asked Mike Tomlin about those college coaching jobs. Maybe I should change the name of this column to “Let it go,...
Penguins want to avoid getting behind early season Metro Division logjam
How’d that happen so fast? It seems like yesterday when we were praising the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning games and scoring lots of goals without many star players available. Now the team has lost three in a row and is grinding on offense. Over their past three games — all...
First Call: More updates on Melvin Ingram’s trade request; Steelers’ opponents face significant injury concerns
Tuesday’s “First Call” has the latest Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumors regarding linebacker Melvin Ingram III. Some upcoming Steelers foes are dealing with significant injuries. And we look at Pitt’s next opponent. Angry Ingram Trade rumors continue to swirl around Steelers pass rusher Melvin Ingram III. The latest comes from the...
Tim Benz: Steelers back on schedule, despite winding road to get there
A month ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base would’ve gladly signed up for this. In blood. At 1-3, with two AFC losses at home under their belts already, the notion of the Steelers being 4-3 with a win over the Cleveland Browns sounded too good to be true. Especially with...
First Call: Chris Boswell mocks himself with injury update; ex-Steelers in headlines; Pitt out of Top 25
Monday’s “First Call” has an update on Chris Boswell’s health after the Pittsburgh Steelers kicker was injured Sunday afternoon. Also, one ex-Steeler scores a touchdown. Another gets busted for a bad penalty call. And Pitt is out of the Top 25. All is well Despite having to leave Sunday’s game...
Madden Monday: Steelers are lucky failed fake field goal didn’t lead to ‘unmitigated disaster’
The Pittsburgh Steelers managed a 15-10 win against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, despite a first-half fake field goal attempt going horrifically wrong. Not only did the attempt fail, but kicker Chris Boswell got injured in the process. the hit on boswell on that fake field goal pic.twitter.com/40jrRVpZ6Z— Benstonium (@Benstonium)...
Tim Benz: Rush defense, rookie stars top this week’s ‘Feats of Strength’ as Steelers score gutsy win in Cleveland
I’m not sure how the Pittsburgh Steelers got there. But they did. They somehow closed out a gutsy, important 15-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. They lost kicker Chris Boswell to a concussion on a fake field goal. They had more third-down issues on offense. And they committed eight penalties....
First Call: Steelers could face familiar foe vs. Browns; celebrating Sidney Crosby anniversary; James Conner keeps scoring
Friday’s “First Call” tells us that the Steelers better be prepared for a familiar foe when they visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Another Browns player is already planning his post-touchdown celebration. We recognize a Sidney Crosby memory. And a former Steeler keeps ringing up points on the scoreboard. Ready...
Tim Benz: Unless Steelers have a better option, don’t give in to Melvin Ingram’s trade request
I apologize. You’ve read this Steelers column from me before. I first wrote it on Aug. 9. Three days earlier, ESPN reports surfaced stating that wide receiver James Washington had asked for a trade. My belief back then was that the Steelers shouldn’t acquiesce to Washington’s request because he’s a...
The 2 biggest issues facing the Steelers coming out of the bye and heading into Cleveland
There are plenty of areas where the Steelers can improve coming out of their bye week as they head into a crucial game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Let’s pick two. One on offense. One on defense. One — theoretically — is fixable. The other? I’m not so sure....
Tim Benz: Penguins lineup battles get interesting as stars work their way back to health
It’s impressive that Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was even able to spit out the soundbite with his tongue planted so firmly in his cheek. “I’m pretty confident that Sid is going to get a spot back in the lineup,” Sullivan joked after Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay...
First Call: Browns getting healthy ahead of Steelers game; troubling Pitt-Miami trends; Penguins prepare for red-hot Flames
Thursday’s “First Call” lets us know which Cleveland Browns are tracking to play against the Steelers Sunday. T.J. Watt’s brother, J.J., may be done for the rest of the season. The Calgary Flames are on fire heading into Thursday’s game against the Penguins. And Pitt’s game against Miami may be...
U mad, bro?: Readers dislike my Pitt column, questions for Mike Tomlin and college football OT format
This week’s “U mad, bro?” is peppered with Pittsburgh Steelers fans who resent me for asking Mike Tomlin about some vacant college coaching jobs. Others voice their displeasure with the new college football overtime format. And prickly Pitt fans are … well … just being true to who they have...
Tim Benz: Question about college coaching rumors was appropriate. So was Mike Tomlin’s response.
It sure seemed like Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hated one of my questions at his weekly press conference Tuesday. That’s OK. I loved his response. After 21 minutes of on-field and health-related inquiries in advance of the team’s game in Cleveland, I figured an appropriate amount of time had...
Penguins get a different view of Lightning in early rematch
Coming into Tuesday night’s game against the Penguins, the Tampa Bay Lightning had one of the more bizarre stats in the NHL. They had yet to enjoy a lead in a game before it ended. The two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions arrived at PPG Paints Arena 2-3-1. But one of...
Carson Palmer adds Mike Tomlin, James Franklin into the mix for USC job
On Monday, former USC quarterback Carson Palmer appeared on the “Dan Patrick Show” and said that Mike Tomlin is a “wild card” for the vacant coaching position at his alma mater if Tomlin “wants out” of his current job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler also...
