Tim Benz stories, Page 137
Tim Benz: Adopt the 2020 chaos! Include Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina in College Football Playoff.
The most overused phrase of 2020 is, “Hey, it’s 2020!” Well, allow me to employ it one more time while discussing college football. Hey, it’s 2020! So what better year to bust the College Football Playoff norms than this year? The selection committee should embrace the chaos and admit either...
First Call: Bengals warn JuJu of pregame dancing, Steelers won’t have to deal with Bengals top RB
The Bengals aren’t wild about Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and his pregame dancing. The Steelers won’t have to prepare for Cincinnati’s star running back. And some controversy surrounding the Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens game Monday night. That’s what we’ve got to wrap up the week for Friday’s “First Call.”...
AFC Playoff picture: Expect no help for Steelers this weekend
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take to the field Monday night, there will be many questions about their sputtering offense and their fatiguing defense. Even if coach Mike Tomlin’s team snaps its two-game losing streak in Cincinnati, the fanbase will take that result with a massive grain of salt. Which probably...
First Call: Steelers’ Super Bowl odds slip; Pirates draft options besides Kumar Rocker? NFL’s 17th game coming?
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks at where the Steelers stack up on the Super Bowl odds board. The NHL Trophy odds are out, too. Kumar Rocker may not be a lock as the Pirates top overall pick in June after all. And that NFL 17-game schedule may soon become a reality....
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s messaging is clear, but some answers are not
Most Steelers fans assumed that their team would fall from its unbeaten perch eventually. However, most didn’t expect to see them tumble down the NFL mountain so quickly. Over the last three weeks, they’ve looked more like a Super Bowl fraud as opposed to a Super Bowl favorite, thanks to...
U mad, bro?: A Steeler is mad at someone on ESPN; readers are mad at Tim Benz
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” post, it’s Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey who is mad. And you don’t want to see Maurkice Pouncey when he is mad. Actually, come to think of it, I do want to see Pouncey when he’s mad. On the field. Against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday...
First Call: Josh Allen pregame video about JuJu’s dancing; last date with a Steelers rival in Cincy?
Tuesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Buffalo Bills may have been a bit more perturbed about pregame activities from one of the Steelers players than we thought. The Steelers could see the last of a longtime Cincinnati Bengals rival on Monday. We check on the confidence level of Steelers...
Mark Madden on Ben Roethlisberger: ‘I thought he was MVP. Now I wonder if his career is over.’
Let’s be honest. There’s not much to feel good about when it comes to Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense these days. Even for those who have been in Roethlisberger’s camp throughout his whole Pittsburgh career. Mark Madden is one of those folks in the Pittsburgh media. On 105.9 The...
Tim Benz: The ‘new normal’ stinks, especially as a way to describe the Steelers’ rotten offense
Like everyone else, Steelers fans are enduring everyday existence with the “new normal:” face coverings, closed businesses, social distancing and Zoom holiday functions. Now the “new normal” is a way to describe their favorite NFL team. And it’s annoying in those terms, too. Because, for as much as I struggle...
College Sports podcast: Pitt’s 6-5 record is ‘a huge disappointment’
This week was as odd as it gets in college sports. Western Michigan and Ball State nearly recreated the Cal-Stanford “Band Game.” CHAOS ? Both teams ran onto the field before the play was ruled dead as Western Michigan attempted a last second TD.Ball State went on to win the...
First Call: JuJu irked Bills pregame; Bill Cowher on Jets rumors; Chris Archer back to Tampa?
Monday’s “First Call” gives us Bill Cowher’s take on those New York Jets coaching rumors. We look at the struggles of the Bengals as the Steelers get set for their matchup in Cincinnati next week. The Steelers need a better effort out of the New Orleans Saints versus the Chiefs...
Tim Benz: ‘Airing of Grievances’ starts with putrid Steelers offense, eroding defense in loss to Bills
For the third straight December in Pittsburgh, it doesn’t appear that Festivus is going to be very festive thanks to the Steelers. They lost three times in five weeks in December 2018. Last year, the team dropped three in a row between Dec. 15-29. Now Mike Tomlin’s team (11-2) lost...
First Call: Browns get loud after Steelers loss; playoff-clinching scenarios in Buffalo
The Cleveland Browns are getting awfully brave on Twitter after the Steelers’ loss Monday. Let’s see how their head coach responds. Aaron Donald is still in top form out in Los Angeles. Just ask the New England Patriots. We have gambling odds on the New York Jets going winless and...
Tim Benz: How big is the top AFC seed for the Steelers? Team history shows a mixed bag.
Washington’s victory Monday evening at Heinz Field hurt in ways beyond just ending the Steelers’ unbeaten season. The struggling offense was further exposed. The defense suffered two more injuries (Joe Haden, Robert Spillane). And the team fell into an 11-1 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC. Technically,...
James Washington explains Steelers’ drops; JuJu Smith-Schuster’s thoughts on WR routes
James Washington is one of the few Steelers wide receivers worthy of praise in recent games. The third-year Oklahoma State product caught a clutch pass from Ben Roethlisberger late in the victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 2. He caught two passes for 80 yards including a touchdown in...
Fantasy sports podcast: How the Steelers’ offensive woes are impacting fantasy leagues
It’s time for our weekly fantasy sports podcast with Jeff Erickson of RotoWire. We surf through lots of fantasy football topics as we approach the playoffs in most leagues. Are Buffalo Bills running backs smart plays after what Washington did to Pittsburgh last week? On the surface, no, because those...
First Call: More covid questions for Ravens, Steelers’ future at running back is cloudy
Thursday’s “First Call” has an ominous projection for the future of Steelers running back James Conner. Ben Roethlisberger’s praise for Josh Allen rings true. More covid-19 questions surrounding the Baltimore Ravens. And a look at how some of Baltimore’s returning players could actually help the Steelers. All about Allen On...
U mad, bro?: Steelers finally lost, and fans are mad! Because … we’re too hard on them?
The Steelers’ unbeaten streak ended with a thud Monday against Washington. Yes, that made me mad … bro. In fact, I was already on edge after two spotty offensive performances against the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars the two previous weeks. As a result, I’ve been critical of the team....
First Call: National host mocks Steelers loss, strange gambling odds for Steelers-Bills
A national television host is wallowing in the Steelers’ defeat Monday night. But Steelers fans remain optimistic. That’s how we start “First Call” Wednesday. Plus, we look at some strange gambling odds on the Steelers-Bills game. And we find out how the Washington head coach is reacting to his team’s...
Tim Benz: Steelers ‘popcorn’ problem exists with passing game too
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin dusted off one of his favorite “Tomlinisms” to describe his offense’s anemic run game. “The bottom line is popcorn,” Tomlin said Tuesday, just a few hours removed from his team’s first loss of the season. Tomlin often busts out the “popcorn” phrase when he wants...
Former NFL referee claims officials had ‘complete administrative breakdown’ during Steelers loss
Steelers fans who are angry about how the first half of the Monday evening game ended have every right to be. So does head coach Mike Tomlin. That’s the opinion of former NFL referee Gene Steratore. The Western Pa. native is now an officiating analyst for CBS. He called the...
Stoic WPIAL grad Amanda Kalin enjoys moment in the sun at Duquesne
By Amanda Kalin’s standards, it was an emotional outburst. I mean, the normally stoic Duquesne guard jumped up and down. Twice! On a buzzer-beating drive to the hoop against St. Francis on Wednesday, Kalin’s shot was batted right back into her hands. Undaunted, Kalin forced a second opportunity over 6-foot-4...
First Call: Bill Cowher, JuJu to the Jets? Washington, Miami, Cleveland celebrate Steelers loss
The Steelers lost their first game of the year Monday night. They got awfully mouthy about the result in the Washington locker room. And in Miami. And in Cleveland. Oh, and Bill Cowher and JuJu Smith-Schuster may both wind up in New York with the Jets. So there’s that, too....
Tim Benz: ‘Airing of Grievances’ after Steelers suffer first loss of 2020. Offensive imbalance, defensive fade
Most realists thought the Steelers would lose eventually. But I don’t think most expected their undefeated season to end against Washington at home. But it did Monday evening in a 23-17 loss. And for all the reasons we felt things starting to wobble. Mounting injuries. An imbalanced offense. A defense...
First Call: Steelers ‘overrated’? Then other NFL ‘elites’ have some explaining to do. Hockey talk, as well.
Think the Steelers are overrated? Well, what does that say for the rest of the NFL’s elite? How much are you willing to spend on a hockey card? What are you willing to bet on the College Football Playoff? And what local kid is making good in the hockey world...
