Tim Benz Columns category, Page 87
Ben Roethlisberger wants more ‘shots down the field’ from Steelers offense, less heat from fans on Mitch Trubisky
Big Ben wants bigger plays from the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. In the latest edition of his “Footbahlin’” podcast, the team’s former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a conversation with former Steeler and NFL analyst Merril Hoge. Roethlisberger said that he’d like to see the Steelers be more aggressive on offense. “Go...
Madden Monday: ‘Steelers offense has the stench of death. … They should fire Matt Canada’
Here is what we know about the Pittsburgh Steelers offense so far: • The run game isn’t any better than what it was a season ago. In fact, it looks worse. Najee Harris has only 72 yards over two games. • None of the receivers have really found a rhythm...
Tim Benz: ‘Airing of Grievances’ as Steelers struggle in all phases against Patriots
NFL coaches love to talk about “all three phases” of their team. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is no exception. Although Tomlin probably didn’t want to talk about them much Sunday evening. Because even though his team’s 17-14 loss to New England was a close game, all three phases got...
Friday Football Footnotes: Photo of Ja’Marr Chase, Minkah Fitzpatrick during Steelers win goes viral; ex-Pitt Panther rips Bill Belichick
This week’s edition of “Friday Football Footnotes” has a viral moment from last week’s Steelers-Bengals game. A former Pitt Panther tears into Bill Belichick. Aaron Rodgers looks to keep his run of dominance going against the Chicago Bears. And Duquesne may not be the huge underdog you’re expecting them to...
Malik Reed appears to be top choice to replace T.J. Watt, but Steelers may have other options
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is now officially on injured reserve. So he is out of action for at least the next four weeks. How do they get around the problem at left outside linebacker? Well, we know recently acquired former Denver Broncos linebacker Malik Reed is the first option....
Growing up in New England during Super Bowl years, Pat Freiermuth adjusts Steelers-Patriots rivalry perspective
Whenever Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth catches a pass Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, expect the now familiar “Muuuuth” chants to be even louder than normal. Well, that’s if the 50 to 60 friends and family showing up to watch him play this week are actually going to be rooting...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are wound up about T.J. Watt’s injury, Mitch Trubisky’s 1st game, Pittsburgh sports media
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost T.J. Watt on Sunday. The offense doesn’t look great. And the media is working against them. Now, to be clear, the Steelers did win their first game against the Bengals, 23-20. But, c’mon! Who am I kidding? You didn’t come here for pesky details like that....
Tim Benz: Malik Reed’s immediate promotion from ‘welcomed addition’ to ‘scrutinized replacement’ for T.J. Watt
If you are looking to blame someone for the pectoral muscle injury suffered by T.J. Watt, blame me. I jinxed it. I accidentally thought it into existence. I saw former Steeler Tyrone Carter at practice last week. He came back for a visit before the club’s opener in Cincinnati. Carter...
CBS rules analyst says 2 crucial plays from Steelers-Bengals carry important NFL officiating lessons
According to one former NFL referee, two important officiating lessons could be learned from key moments during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 23-20 overtime win Sunday in Cincinnati. During his weekly WDVE radio hit Tuesday morning, retired NFL referee turned CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore (Washington, Pa.) said one controversial call may...
Tim Benz: Amid confusing reports on T.J. Watt injury, 1 thing should be clear to Steelers fans
It seems like every time Pittsburgh Steelers fans log on to Twitter there’s a new, nebulous report about the status of T.J. Watt’s pectoral injury. On Monday afternoon, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said Watt isn’t expecting firm word on his status until Tuesday and that his prognosis could be anywhere between...
Madden Monday: ‘The season is over’ if T.J. Watt is out long-term
Many Steelers fans are trying to separate the bad news about T.J. Watt’s injury Sunday from the thrilling overtime win in Cincinnati. Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X isn’t buying that. “If Watt is out, the season is over,” Madden said in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. The...
Tim Benz: First ‘Feats of Strength,’ ‘Airing of Grievances’ after emotionally conflicting Steelers victory in CincinnatiVideo
Our “Breakfast With Benz” tradition of logging the “Feats of Strength” following Pittsburgh Steelers wins and listing the “Airing of Grievances” after they lose continues in 2022. However, in a game like the one we saw Sunday, we have to include both. I was ready to do so anyway because...
3 things Steelers defense must do to prevent a 4th straight loss to Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers should have two goals heading into their season opener Sunday in Cincinnati. • Make this opener look as much like the one last year in Buffalo as possible. • Make this game as unrecognizable as possible when comparing it to the two games against the Bengals last...
Tim Benz: How the Steelers can replicate the 2021 season-opening upset in Buffalo this year in Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers began 2021 on the road in Buffalo as a 6 ½ point underdog against a Bills team that was coming off a division championship and was among the AFC Super Bowl favorites. Yet Mike Tomlin’s team won 23-16. This year they are opening on the road in...
Tim Benz: How Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt thinks he can improve upon an award-winning season in 2022
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and his brothers (J.J. and Derek) weren’t just youth football players growing up in Wisconsin. En route to their NFL careers, they played a lot of hockey, too. So Watt can appreciate an NHL analogy when there is one to make. That’s good because Watt...
U mad, bro?: Fans rally around Mike Tomlin and Kedon Slovis, lash out about Pirates and … craft beer?
The No. 1 tip I give to young sports journalists entering the workplace these days is to diversify. Get experience in front of the camera, on the radio and in print. Do some play-by-play. Try anchoring. Host a talk show or podcast. Join the student newspaper. Apparently, my readers are...
Should the Steelers stop after retiring Franco Harris’ No. 32 or add more numbers to the list?
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris summed up what it meant to learn that his number was going to be retired by the franchise this September. “It’s like giving you flowers while you’re still around to smell them,” Harris said. I get that. In fact, I just recently wrote about that...
Tim Benz: ‘Clerical error’ or change of mind, Kenny Pickett as 2nd QB streamlines depth chart
I can empathize with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. In my line of work, I’ve certainly flubbed occasional cut-and-paste commands in documents, too. A misidentified name. A stat line in the wrong place of the column. A quote in a story gets moved and doubled up. Hey, it happens. But...
Tim Benz: 50 years after retirement, Bill Mazeroski uses his Pirates Hall of Fame induction to campaign for teammates
As Saturday’s master of ceremonies for the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame inductions, team play-by-play announcer Greg Brown delivered his best line as legendary second baseman Bill Mazeroski was receiving his commemorative gold jacket. “Maz asked me to read his speech. He didn’t want to get up here to do...
Madden Monday: Steelers season prediction ‘leaning toward 7-10’ because offensive line will be the NFL’s worst
If you asked a lot of Pittsburgh Steelers fans in February for their opinion of how the team would fare in 2022, they likely would have said, “I don’t know. That depends on who ends up being the quarterback.” Once it was known that Mason Rudolph would be joined by...
Tim Benz: YAC drives comeback as Pitt passes first post-Pickett test
The image of Kenny Pickett was hovering over Pitt’s season opener Thursday night. Literally. During the first timeout against West Virginia, the former Heisman Trophy candidate was in one of Acrisure Stadium’s open-end rotundas, unfurling the team’s 2021 ACC title banner as a crowd of 70,622 wildly applauded. All new...
U mad, bro?: Fans say stop being so hard on Mike Tomlin, Oneil Cruz — but get tougher on Pirates, Steelers
I’m not hard enough on the Pittsburgh Pirates. But I’m too mean to Oneil Cruz. The Steelers didn’t get better during the preseason. But I should stop giving Mike Tomlin a hard time. Dang it! I can’t get anything right. That’s why I post “U mad, bro?” every week, just...
Tim Benz: Oneil Cruz’s highlight night puts the whole ‘exit velocity’ debate in focusVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz did it again Monday night. Another laser of a home run. This time, 118 miles per hour during a 5-3 loss in Milwaukee. Impressive. HOW 'BOUT A CRUZ MISSILE?! pic.twitter.com/AGQ8sVg3zb— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 30, 2022 You know what might be more impressive? His game...
Backyard Brawl: Memories of 13-9 in ’07 with Pitt’s Chris McKillop — ‘We played a perfect game’
When it comes to Chris McKillop’s freshman year as a Pitt Panther, there is at least one aspect of coach Walt Harris’ daily practices that the defensive lineman will never forget. “Walt Harris had a ‘West Virginia’ period,” McKillop said during Wednesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. “In an 18-period practice....
Backyard Brawl: WVU players ‘recognize their legacy could be authored on Thursday night’
Jed Drenning knows how West Virginia football fans talk about the Backyard Brawl. He was a backup quarterback for the Mountaineers, and he has been part of their game-day broadcast crew for 20 years. Those games are spoken about in snapshots. In individual moments. In specific final scores. “Where were...
