Breakfast With Benz category, Page 113
Tim Benz: Practice music won’t save Steelers’ season. Their best hope may be even more obscure
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool thinks the team needs music at their practices. “I think some music would help,” Claypool said Monday. “That stuff is fun. People are dancing, having fun, so I think maybe music would make practice a little more fun and a little more up-tempo.” When...
First Call: Mike Hilton says Steelers’ familiarity aided pick-6; significant injury for upcoming Steelers’ foe; Penguins head west
An ex-Steeler talks about how knowledge of his former team helped during a showdown Sunday. We look at a significant injury concern for an upcoming team on the Steelers schedule, odds for the ACC championship game and some similarities between the Penguins and their next opponent. All that in Monday’s...
Madden Monday: ‘What you saw the Steelers do is what the Steelers are’
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 41-10 defeat in Cincinnati Sunday was distasteful on every level. An anemic offense. A Swiss cheese defense. Silly penalties and ill-timed drops. But as Mark Madden pointed out during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, one particular element sticks out beyond all else. “It’s the Bengals. It’s the...
Airing of Grievances: Bengals humiliate Steelers in every possible way
During his Tuesday news conference, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stopped short of calling Sunday’s game in Cincinnati a “must win.” Barely. Good thing. Because if he really felt the Steelers absolutely had to have that game, they failed miserably. The Bengals thrashed the Steelers, 41-10, Sunday afternoon, dropping them to...
U mad, bro?: Loss to Chargers has Steelers fans grousing about Mike Tomlin, defensive depth, red-zone play-calling
Here is something to be thankful for, Steelers fans. Because of Thanksgiving this Thursday, you get “U mad, bro?” a day early. You also don’t have to deal with my snark, sarcasm and general crotchety disposition to upset your stomach before your turkey dinner. Instead, I’ll just set the table...
Tim Benz: Praise for Steelers’ gutsy effort in Los Angeles is warranted but comes off as empty
I’d love to pound out a column applauding the Steelers even though they lost 41-37 Sunday night in Los Angeles. Since coach Mike Tomlin’s squad was missing five starters on defense, they should be praised for making a valiant comeback against a quality Chargers team, with a blossoming young quarterback...
First Call: Ex-Steeler makes unlikely play on ‘Monday Night Football’; Steelers’ remaining odds are growing; latest path for Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” shows a lack of faith in the Steelers at the betting window. An ex-Steeler makes a surprising play on “Monday Night Football.” Saquon Barkley’s return was underwhelming. And the Penguins are being nasty to our northern neighbors. Fading faith: BetRivers.com has the Steelers (5-4-1) as early underdogs...
Madden Monday: Mark Madden says Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada is ‘incompetent,’ ‘an amateur’
After the Steelers scored 37 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, you might think the only complaints coming out of the game would be about the defense. You might think that — if you didn’t watch it. Because there are plenty of things to gripe about when...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers loss to ChargersVideo
Columnists Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 41-37 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night on this edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLIVE’s Facebook page. “For a while the only thing that could stop the defenses was Matt Canada’s play-calling,” Benz says to open the show,...
First Call: Odd Steelers streak ends in loss to Chargers; James Conner stays hot; stats behind Tristan Jarry’s shutout string
A strange Pittsburgh Steelers streak was snapped during the Sunday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers. James Conner keeps finding the end zone. We watch a particular Cincinnati Bengals player as they get set to host the Steelers. And we examine the Penguins’ next opponent. All that in Monday’s...
Airing of Grievances: Wasted comeback, defensive debacles, red-zone mishaps stand out in painful Steelers loss to Chargers
I can sum up Sunday night’s Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1) loss to the Los Angeles Chargers (6-4) in three words: What a waste! A game-long defensive debacle by a diminished Steelers depth chart wiped out what may have gone down as one of the great Steelers comebacks in team history, as...
Former Steelers, Penguins, Pirates pitch in to help save Robert Morris hockey
Former Pittsburgh Penguin Ryan Malone didn’t play college hockey for Robert Morris. He played at St. Cloud State. Colby Armstrong, another former Penguin, didn’t play college hockey at all. He played junior hockey in Red Deer. Brett Keisel and Shaun Suisham played football for the Steelers. And Neil Walker was...
First Call: Former All-Pro Shawne Merriman tried to recruit Bill Cowher to coach Chargers, praises T.J. Watt, Najee Harris
As the Pittsburgh Steelers get ready to play the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, we’re doing something different for this edition of “First Call.” Former Chargers pass-rusher Shawne Merriman joined me for Friday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. The three-time All-Pro connected with us to preview Steelers-Chargers and to promote...
Tim Benz: Steelers about to face dramatically better quarterback play, beginning with Chargers’ Herbert
Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans have expressed concerns about their team’s rush defense lately. As they should. Subpar opponents such as the Detroit Lions (0-8-1) and the Seattle Seahawks (3-6) have pushed the Steelers to overtime based largely on their ability to run the ball. In those two games combined, the...
First Call: Far-too-early ESPN mock draft has Kenny Pickett gone before Steelers; Le’Veon Bell may not be done with Ravens
Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell has fallen on hard times but may not have fallen out of favor with the Baltimore Ravens. An “all-too-early” NFL mock draft has Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett off the board before the Steelers have a chance to select him. A former WPIAL and Penn State star...
Fox’s Jay Glazer on Steelers’ exit plan for Ben Roethlisberger, succession strategy at quarterback, Mason Rudolph’s future
Fox NFL analyst Jay Glazer is known to have a good connection with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. A month ago, Glazer insisted that Tomlin doesn’t want to start over with a rookie quarterback next year if Ben Roethlisberger does retire at the end of 2021. While appearing on...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans enraged, defensive, confused after disheartening tie against Lions
The Pittsburgh Steelers tied the 0-8 Detroit Lions at home in a game that featured 15 total penalties, injuries to star players, three Steelers turnovers and some rotten play calling. Exactly how else did you think this week’s “U mad, bro?” was going to go? Take it away, Stiller nation....
Tim Benz: Penguins players grasp recent struggles — now it’s time to follow their own advice
Is Fenway Sports Group really sure it wants to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins? Based on the way things have gone on the ice of late, principal owner John Henry might want to keep his money in his wallet. If Henry does still feel like spending, though, maybe he can buy...
First Call: Ugly tie affects Steelers’ odds; Penguins’ latest chance to get right; Loyola Chicago joins A-10
Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us that the Steelers’ 16-16 tie against Detroit has influenced some gambling odds. The Lions have some significant injury concerns after that game as well. Plus, we serve up some local college basketball news and a potential tonic for the lackluster Pittsburgh Penguins. After effects It...
Chargers’ covid-19 news about Bosa, Tillery could hone Steelers’ offensive game plan
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be the only team at SoFi Stadium worried about coronavirus absences. We know that they might be playing without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick due to positive tests. Now the Los Angeles Times is reporting that L.A. Chargers’ Pro Bowl edge...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers’ tie with LionsVideo
Columnists Tim Benz and Mark Madden talk about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tie with the Detroit Lions on Sunday on this edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLIVE’s Facebook page. While Steelers running back Najee Harris didn’t realize teams could tie in the NFL, Benz says that that’s OK, since most Steelers fans...
First Call: Steelers already positioned as underdogs against Chargers; Penguins’ next opponent battling similar tough stretch
Monday’s “First Call” turns the page on the 16-16 Steelers tie against Detroit. We look at Sunday night’s game between the Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers. We check on the Penguins’ next opponent and look for plenty of points in Pitt’s next game. And the Duquesne Dukes have another home...
Madden Monday: ‘It’s time to stop pretending the Steelers are all that good, because they are not’
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ apologist spin cycle is in full gear after the team’s embarrassing 16-16 tie against the Detroit Lions Sunday. “It’s no big deal. The Steelers played with their backup quarterback. Every other top team in the AFC has suffered a surprising loss within the last few weeks. At...
Tim Benz: Horrible tackling, untimely turnovers among grievances to air after Steelers’ rotten tie against Detroit
On a few occasions before the 2021 season began, I sarcastically predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers would go 8-8-1 in the NFL’s first 17-game regular season. That way, we could still say, “Well, you know, Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season!” I thought I was kidding. Now, after Sunday’s...
First Call: Steelers hope to continue minimizing opponents’ top threats; John Harbaugh says Ravens ‘outplayed’ in loss
In Friday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers know where to focus their defensive attention when the Detroit Lions come to town Sunday afternoon. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is upset with someone very specific in the wake of his team’s loss in Miami on Thursday night. The Penguins’ next opponent is...
