Sports category, Page 1216
Pitt defense makes positive strides while mindful of its mistakes
If you told Randy Bates his Pitt defense is fourth in the 14-team ACC in yards allowed, his answer would be predictable. Something like: “Why aren’t we No. 1?” Pitt’s defensive coordinator demands perfection from his players, no matter the circumstances they must overcome. But perhaps the defense is quietly...
Steelers rookie George Pickens a harsh critic when judging his catch against Browns
The falling, one-handed catch that made George Pickens the talk of social media last Thursday night impressed just above everyone. Well, everyone but Pickens. The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver confided after practice Thursday that — even with a week of contemplation — it didn’t register in the top five catches...
Steelers will try to clear up tackling issues against Jets running back tandem
At first blush, the New York Jets would seem to be the antidote for the ailing Pittsburgh Steelers run defense. As much as the Steelers have struggled trying to establish a running game, the Jets have fared worse. They have totaled 18 fewer rushing yards than the Steelers during a...
In search of elusive win without T.J. Watt, Steelers keep experimenting on defense
It’s a question the Pittsburgh Steelers players face every game T.J. Watt sits out because of injury: What do they have to do to win without the NFL Defensive Player of the Year? Six years into the star outside linebacker’s career, the answer is like Pi. It can’t be calculated....
Familiarity brought goaltender Dustin Tokarski back to the Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins learned the hard way about the value of goaltending depth last postseason. With starter Tristan Jarry (right foot) and backup goaltender Casey DeSmith (groin) sidelined because of various injuries, they were forced to rely on reserve Louis Domingue in their first-round loss to the New York Rangers....
New Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta knows a contender when he sees one
When Jan Rutta labels a team as a Stanley Cup contender, he speaks from an area of expertise. After all, he has played in the past three Stanley Cup Finals and was successful in two of them. A member of the Tampa Bay Lightning for parts of the past four...
Steelers 4 Downs: New advanced metric suggests Diontae Johnson an elite receiver
1. Among the best ESPN this week unveiled a new advanced metric to quantify the value of NFL receivers. The network calls its tool “Receiver Tracking Metrics” and describes it as using tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats “to analyze every route run — including those that are untargeted...
First Call: 1 Steeler wants less talk, more action on offense; Myles Garrett may play after crash; NHL health updates
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we have a blunt review of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense from one of their alumni in the media. Diontae Johnson has a succinct message for all the players on offense. Myles Garrett is recovering from his injuries sustained in a car wreck earlier this week; we...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans load up an (almost) ‘all Kenny Pickett, all the time’ edition
I have a concern about the Pittsburgh Steelers. What if coach Mike Tomlin does replace Mitch Trubisky with Kenny Pickett? And then, what if Pickett stinks and Tomlin goes back to Trubisky? I mean, what are people going to complain about? This column is going to run out of material...
Tim Benz: When does ‘steady, stable’ become ‘stubborn’ for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin?
The big story in the world — actually, in the universe — this week is that NASA has figured out a way to fly a projectile into an asteroid with the intent of rerouting it. That’s right. NASA actually flew something the size of a “vending machine” into a harmless...
Pirates pitcher Wil Crowe hopes rocky September doesn’t define his entire season
As the ball sailed over the left-field fence and into the stands, Wil Crowe bent down into a catcher’s crouch on the mound, his body language oozing major frustration. He had good reason to be upset. The home run was a no-doubter, a 3-1 changeup Aaron Judge demolished at an...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 28, 2022: Endy Rodriguez hits 1st Triple-A homer in Indy’s last game
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 74-75) finished off its season with another loss to Columbus (Guardians), 11-3. C Endy Rodriguez (.455) smacked his first home run in Triple-A with a solo shot in the top of the sixth, finishing the scoring for the Indians. Over three levels, Rodriguez slashed .323/.407/.997 with 25 home...
Yankees star Aaron Judge hits 61st home run, ties Roger Maris’ AL recordVideo
TORONTO — Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 home runs in a season, going deep for the New York Yankees against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old slugger drove a full-count pitch from Tim Mayza over the left-field fence in the seventh inning...
LIV Golf denies report of deal to buy TV time on FS1Video
Saudi-funded LIV Golf denied a report Tuesday that it was close to a U.S. television deal in which it would buy time to be shown on FS1. Golfweek cited multiple sources it did not identify in saying the agreement is still being finalized. It would go against what Greg Norman,...
Bills’ Dane Jackson returns to practice week after neck injuryVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills’ injury report was lengthy on Wednesday. However, it couldn’t compete with the width of Dane Jackson’s smile. In a little more than a week, the Bills starting cornerback and Pitt product went from feeling helpless in having his head immobilized while being rushed...
Chargers place Joey Bosa on injured reserve with torn groin
COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers placed outside linebacker Joey Bosa on injured reserve with a torn groin on Wednesday. He will undergo surgery and coach Brandon Staley said that he is hopeful Bosa can return at some point later in the season. Bosa tore his groin during...
While waiting for downfield catch opportunities to surface, Pitt wide receivers learn the importance of blocking
Tiquan Underwood was a star wide receiver at Rutgers, where he caught 132 passes for 1,931 yards and 16 touchdowns. Over five NFL seasons, he caught another 63 balls for 1,006 yards and six scores. Nice playing career, for sure. Yet Underwood — now coaching wide receivers at Pitt —...
Minkah Fitzpatrick practices for Steelers; Ahkello Witherspoon misses with hamstring injury
Minkah Fitzpatrick remains in concussion protocol but took an important step toward receiving medical clearance Wednesday when he was a full practice participant for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time All-Pro safety played every defensive snap last Thursday in the 29-17 loss at Cleveland but reported concussion symptoms after the game....
Days after birth of son, punter Jordan Berry rejoins familiar Steelers
Getting signed to an NFL roster wasn’t even the most eventful part of the past week for Jordan Berry. The veteran punter signed on to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad Tuesday. Six days prior, he and his wife, Emily, welcomed a son, Cooper, into the world. “It’s been a busy...
Barring no setbacks, Steelers will face 2nd-year QB Zach Wilson in his season debut with Jets
All that stands between Zach Wilson making his first start of the season when the New York Jets play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday are two more practices. Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft, was medically cleared Wednesday to return from a knee injury that kept...
SEC could boast best QB crop in conference history
For four quarters, Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker and Florida counterpart Anthony Richardson went back and forth before more than 100,000 fans packed inside Neyland Stadium in one of the most entertaining games of the season. It was a game of one-upmanship: Hooker threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns without...
Browns’ Garrett recovering from crash, unclear if he’ll playVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Browns defensive end Myles Garrett stayed home to rest and recover from injuries suffered in a car crash as his status for Cleveland’s game Sunday at Atlanta remains in doubt. Garrett was not at the team’s facility Wednesday, two days after the All-Pro rolled over his Porsche...
It’s ‘back to the drawing board’ for NT Tyson Alualu after losing his starting job with Steelers
Tyson Alualu met with coach Mike Tomlin on Wednesday morning to learn the reasons he has been demoted to second string on the Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart. A day earlier, Montravius Adams was listed as the first-team nose tackle, a pronouncement that comes at the expense of Alualu, who has...
Kevin Newman’s 10th-inning walk-off single saves Pirates, helps sweep Reds
Just how they drew it up. That could not be said of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ extra-innings win over Cincinnati on Wednesday afternoon. Kevin Newman’s 10th-inning walk-off single to center field sealed a 4-3 victory and completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Reds. The last time the two teams met,...
Progress made but how soon CFP expands still up in the air
ROSEMONT, Ill. — The administrators who’ve been given the task of expanding the College Football Playoff from four to 12 teams left their latest in-person meetings Wednesday with the biggest question unanswered: How soon? “Making progress,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said after the meetings near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport....
