Tim Benz stories, Page 65
Tim Benz: This position group will result in the hardest cuts for Steelers coaches
Heading into Thursday night’s preseason finale in Atlanta, one good thing about the 2023 Steelers is that it doesn’t appear there will be many players kept on cutdown day (Aug. 29) just to round out the depth chart. That hasn’t necessarily been the case at the bottom of the roster...
Tim Benz: Steelers defense views preseason finale against Falcons as ‘great test’ for 49ers in regular season opener
On the surface, one might think that a road game in Atlanta may not be the most effective tune-up for the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary in its final preseason game. After all, no team in the NFL ran the ball more times (559) than the Falcons did last season. With the...
First Call: Star is returning to future Steelers opponent, while another stays away; Ravens finally lose in preseason
Tuesday’s “First Call” eyes up some opponents on the Pittsburgh Steelers schedule. The Baltimore Ravens saw an end to their record-setting preseason win streak. Nick Bosa may be in jeopardy of missing the season opener at Acrisure Stadium for the San Francisco 49ers. The Las Vegas Raiders should be getting...
Matt Canada on carries for Steelers RBs: ‘Najee (Harris) is our 1. There’s no doubt about that’
Something pretty well-known about Pittsburgh sports fans is that we really do love our backups. The backup quarterback. The backup goalie. The young prospects on the farm for the Pirates. Players who we have seen in brief flashes that we immediately believe will be better than the guy who is...
Tim Benz: Even with fast start, Steelers coaches have plenty to examine during preseason finale vs. Falcons
Everyone in Pittsburgh seems excited about how the Steelers have looked so far, and rightfully so. In their two victories to open up the preseason, the Steelers offense has been potent. The defense has created numerous splash plays. The special teams have been a plus. Considering the amount of good...
First Call: Surprising retirement for an ex-Steeler; Brock Purdy gets a preseason start; will Steelers see Bijan Robinson?
Monday’s “First Call” has word of a surprising retirement for a former Pittsburgh Steeler. We find out how the San Francisco 49ers are shaping up in advance of their regular-season debut at Acrisure Stadium. We check in on Atlanta’s plans when it comes to Bijan Robinson’s playing time against the...
Madden Monday: Not buying into the calls for Jaylen Warren to replace Najee Harris as Steelers’ 1st-team RB
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is the flavor of the month in Pittsburgh. After his 62-yard touchdown run in Saturday’s 27-15 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, you can certainly understand why. Warren averaged 4.9 yards per carry last year. Meanwhile, starting running back Najee Harris was at 3.8. The...
Feats of Strength: Steelers’ first-teamers decidedly win ‘sparring session’ against Bills
The Steelers and Buffalo Bills wanted to see “good-on-good” at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday night. So both clubs started most of their first-team players for the second preseason game of 2023. Well, half of that ended up happening. The Steelers were good. Buffalo was not. The Steelers dusted the Bills,...
Steeler-Bills preview: Bills provide test for Steelers starters; Damar Hamlin returns to Pittsburgh
If there was a “yeah, but …” to be had from the Steelers’ 27-17 preseason-opening win in Tampa Bay last week, it was that their solid all-around performance came against primarily the Buccaneers’ reserves (particularly on defense). That won’t be the case this week against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach...
First Call: Bills will play their 1st-teamers vs. Steelers; Browns-Eagles slopfest
The Pittsburgh Steelers will see some of the Buffalo Bills’ starters on Saturday. It would have been nice to watch some starters at quarterback in the Browns-Eagles game Thursday. The Pirates play the streaky Twins this weekend. And we remember a hockey play-by-play favorite. All that in Friday’s “First Call.”...
Tim Benz: Steelers offensive line better suited to endure injuries it managed to avoid a year ago
Throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2022 preseason, the offensive line was such a concern that it almost equaled the scuttlebutt surrounding who would replace Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. That continued into the regular season where, slowly but surely, the Steelers offensive front managed to gain a little traction. Familiarity eventually led...
First Call: Steelers vet backs Ryan Clark’s claim about George Pickens; injury concerns at corner for Ravens
Thursday’s “First Call” has quite a comparison for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. We track some news and notes about the Steelers’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. And the Baltimore Ravens are getting depleted at one specific position. Is Ryan right? Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings...
Tim Benz: Former Steelers nemesis offers high praise, big predictions for a specific player
A former Pittsburgh Steelers-killer is all in on the Black and Gold for 2023. Also rookie tight end Darnell Washington is getting high praise from one of the best ever at his position. All of that is coming from the same guy. It’s former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay...
U mad, bro?: While Steelers look good after preseason opener, there’s still plenty to make Pittsburgh sports fans angry
When the Pittsburgh Steelers win their first preseason game, the first-team offense looks smooth, the defense makes a few plays, and none of the stars get hurt, there is very little to complain about. Because we had plenty of angst and agitation from readers this week, but very little of...
Steelers’ Hawaiian, Samoan players plan efforts to aid Maui following tragic wildfires
Shortly after his eye-opening debut in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason game, rookie linebacker Nick Herbig got on Instagram to celebrate the win and his 1.5 sack, three-tackle performance. But Herbig also made sure to subtweet the NFL’s efforts to raise funds for wildfire relief on Maui. Please help my...
First Call: Kenny Pickett wins Steelers HR derby again; Bills have fight-filled practice in advance of Pittsburgh trip
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us Kenny Pickett’s continued dominance of the Pittsburgh Steelers home run hitting contest at training camp. Plus, Steelers coaches look to boost James Pierre’s game. Also, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be in the clear with an injury scare to Micah Parsons, and James Washington needs...
Steelers Super Bowl champ turned scout raves about Nick Herbig’s potential
One of the buzzworthy performances from the Steelers’ Friday night preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was that of outside linebacker Nick Herbig. The rookie out of Wisconsin had 1.5 sacks and three tackles during the 27-17 victory. Got him @nickherbig_: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/VsotfBUecA— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers)...
Tim Benz: ‘Stiff and rigid’ Quinn Priester has diagnosed his problems — now he has to fix them
For Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Quinn Priester, it’s not a matter of trying to figure out what’s happening. The young right-hander certainly seems to have a handle on what’s going wrong. The diagnosis isn’t a mystery for the former first-round pick. It’s the remedy that remains a puzzle. Through six...
Former MLB GM says Pirates ‘not far from being an elite challenging team’
Perceived goals for the 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates certainly have shifted over the course of the season. When they broke spring training, the target simply seemed to be to show a little bit of improvement on a 100-loss campaign from the previous year and avoid finishing in last place. By the...
First Call: Ex-Steeler looks to land with Jets; Bradenton preps for Paul Skenes’ debut; Browns and 49ers injury updates
Tuesday’s “First Call” has news about a potential new home for a former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman. Bradenton is getting excited for the debut of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. There’s injury news from Cleveland and San Francisco. And the NFL mourns the loss of a former player who died far...
First Call: Steelers coach IDs player who ‘left some plays out there’ against Bucs; 2 Pitt alumni start NFL comebacks
A lot of positives came out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason game. But one defensive back had a rough night. And defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is well aware of the struggles. Also, two former Pitt players are on the NFL comeback trail. The Cleveland Browns suffered an injury setback...
Madden Monday on Steelers offense: ‘I’m asking it to be daring’
It was just one drive for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-team offense in the club’s preseason debut Friday night. But it went for a touchdown and laid the groundwork for a 27-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: 1st-team offense shines, new defenders pop in Steelers’ preseason win
Embracing the “it’s preseason for all of us” concept, our first Pittsburgh Steelers postgame “Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances” for 2023 isn’t exactly going to be biting or overwhelming. NFL preseason games are scattered. As a result, I am as well. But I think I hit most of the highlight...
Tim Benz: Steelers defensive line a ‘sneaky good’ spot for competition at training camp
Coming into the Steelers 2023 training camp, there were many storylines to track. • Who would win the left tackle job on offense? • Could all those new faces in the secondary come together on defense? • Will the offense become more explosive with Kenny Pickett at the helm in...
First Call: New Bill Cowher documentary; Benny Snell has a new team; ex-Steelers WR breaks wrist
Friday’s “First Call” is full of Steelers-related notes, including a new film project centered around former coach Bill Cowher. A pair of former Steelers running backs have new homes. The franchise seems to have interest in a running back cast aside by the Dallas Cowboys. And the team won’t face...
