Breakfast With Benz category, Page 118
Tim Benz: Steelers run game is so bad it’s impacting the rest of the team
Some put woes of the run game far down on the list of problems facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. To a certain extent, that’s understandable. There are plenty of other things to worry about. Injuries to star players. A passing game that’s struggling on offense, too. Spotty play in the secondary....
First Call: One report says Steelers’ T.J. Watt ‘has a chance to play’ Sunday; another says Trai Turner unlikely to face suspension
After getting ejected from Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Steelers offensive lineman Trai Turner still may be allowed to play this week. At least one reporter is hearing some news on T.J. Watt’s status. We get injury updates on two important AFC quarterbacks. And ex-Pirate prospect Shane Baz...
Some Bengals want to expand offensive attack heading into Steelers game
As the Cincinnati Bengals get ready for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it sounds like a few of their young offensive skill position players weren’t exactly thrilled with last week’s play calling. The Bengals (1-1) will come to Heinz Field fresh off a 20-17 loss to the Chicago Bears....
Tim Benz: Steelers injuries are a concern. Not an excuse. Just ask some of their AFC rivals.
During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, expect Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to be asked about the state of his team’s injury-depleted roster. You should expect an answer similar to this. “Such is life in the National Football League. Attrition through injury is inescapable in every NFL locker...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers loss to RaidersVideo
Mark Madden and Tim Benz discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday on this week’s edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLIVE’s Facebook page. The guys start by looking at the Steelers wide receivers and Madden says that with no real No. 1 receiver, it’s hard to...
Madden Monday: Steelers receiving corps ‘is overrated’ and ‘there is not a No. 1 receiver there’
For all the problems that exist with the Pittsburgh Steelers run game — and there are many — 105.9 The X radio host and TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden is also concerned about the passing game. During the Steelers’ 26-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got hit...
First Call: Steelers still favored for next game; Shane Baz set for MLB debut; Gerrit Cole crushed
Monday’s “First Call” has an early look at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ odds of bouncing back from Sunday’s loss when they host the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Another chapter in the Chris Archer trade is about to be written. Gerrit Cole had a rough outing at Yankee Stadium. And we found...
Airing of Grievances: Penalties; injuries; ill-timed big plays highlight Steelers’ latest upset loss to Raiders
On Saturday at Heinz Field, it was S.O.P — same old Pitt. On Sunday at Heinz Field, it was S.O.S — same old Steelers. Yet another upset loss to the Raiders franchise, their sixth in eight games since 2006. Yet another offensive catastrophe. Yet another give-back game in the standings...
First Call: Hall of Fame WR critical of Ben Roethlisberger; more Ravens injuries; regular season ‘Hard Knocks’ series
Friday’s “First Call” features a harsh rebuke of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The injuries keep mounting in Baltimore. A shakeup for HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series. And cornhole is trying to become an Olympic sport. Seriously. I think. Tell us what you really feel NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter didn’t...
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr reignites old Steelers-Raiders rivalry with jab at Immaculate Reception
Part of the reason why some Pittsburgh Steelers fans are convinced that their team has had so much trouble with the Raiders in recent years — five losses in seven tries since 2006 — is that the Steelers haven’t been emotionally prepared for the Raiders. The theory being that the Steelers...
Tim Benz: By need or design, Steelers’ 3-man weave at outside linebacker needs to stay
For the Steelers, it could have been a case of necessity being the mother of invention. Or maybe a successful rollout of a grand plan. Either way, Mike Tomlin doesn’t want to talk much about the three-man rotation at outside linebacker we saw from his defense during Sunday’s Week 1...
Mike Tomlin had a creative message for his rookies before their 1st road game in Buffalo
All nine of the Steelers’ 2021 draft class members came from Power 5 conference programs. One benefit of that is the players come to the NFL having a feel for big-time football. The daily mechanisms and framework that exist on that scale. The pressures and expectations associated with being a...
‘U mad, bro?’: Steelers fans want more faith; Pitt fans want more coverage; Pirates fans want more wins
The Steelers season is just starting. The Pirates season is finally ending. Pitt’s fan base is starting to wake up. And the emotions from all sides are equally raw. That’s abundantly clear in this week’s “U mad, bro?”. After their win Sunday over the Buffalo Bills, this Twitter follower remained...
First Call: Kevin Colbert may be scouting QB prospect; ex-Steeler signs with Bengals; Dan Marino’s milestone
The Steelers may already be scouting a quarterback for next year’s draft. The Bengals have signed a former Steelers free agent. The Raiders Maxx Crosby raised eyebrows with his performance Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens. And we celebrate a Pitt football legend’s birthday. All of this in today’s First...
First Call: Steelers-Bills help generate huge NFL TV ratings; Raiders injury update; James Franklin fails to sidestep USC rumors
Wednesday’s “First Call” shows us some remarkable television ratings for the Steelers-Bills game and the rest of the NFL. The Vegas Raiders get bad news on the injury front as they prepare to face the Steelers Sunday at Heinz Field. Penn State coach James Franklin makes a poor attempt to...
NFL reactions — and overreactions — for Steelers and other AFC contenders after Week 1
The opening Pittsburgh Steelers game of the season isn’t just fun because of those three hours of excitement on that first Sunday afternoon. Or Monday night. Or even the occasional Thursday night. It’s fun because of the ensuing week when we endure those massive swings of emotion and adjustments of...
Tim Benz: Sports world should mourn loss of Norm Macdonald as entertainment world is
If you are a fan of stand-up comedy or “Saturday Night Live,” Tuesday was a hard day. Comedian Norm Macdonald died after a battle with cancer. The former SNL “Weekend Update” host was 61 years old. Macdonald was also inexorably linked to the sports world during his career. Macdonald was...
Duquesne football players, coaches soak in history-making victory before bye week
A smile stretches across the face of Duquesne running back Garrett Owens as he’s asked about what the campus reaction has been like since the Dukes made NEC conference history with their 28-26 victory over Ohio Saturday. “We have all had family members say, ‘Great win,’” Owens said Monday. “Walking...
First Call: Bills coordinator takes blame for bad call versus Steelers; Raiders get banged up before trip to Heinz Field
Tuesday’s “First Call” puts the debut of Steelers rookie Najee Harris into context. Ex-Steelers punter Jordan Berry makes a strong impression with his new team. The Las Vegas Raiders had a wild “Monday Night Football” game and lots of injuries in advance of their visit to Heinz Field Sunday. And...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ inability to finish a sweep is something to behold
I have 15 windows open on my browser as I write this post about the Pittsburgh Pirates. The first one is the Google Doc I’m using to write my initial draft. The next 13 are box scores of the 13 losses from the Pirates this year as they have unsuccessfully...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden break down Steelers win over BillsVideo
Mark Madden and Tim Benz discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers season-opening 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday on this week’s edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLIVE’s Facebook page. While he tries not to judge too much based on Week 1, Madden says that the Bills reverted back to the same...
First Call: Bills coach frustrated with holding penalties versus Steelers; Raiders running back questionable versus Ravens
Monday’s “First Call” shows us that the Buffalo Bills are bothered by one particular aspect of their upset loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. The Steelers’ next opponent may be dealing with some problems at the running back position Monday night. The Pirates and Reds are about to get very...
Madden Monday on Steelers win in Buffalo: ‘The better defense won. The offense was a passenger’
For as much as things coalesced in the second half for the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in Buffalo, TribLIVE’s Mark Madden says the offense can do more. The Steelers fell into a 10-0 hole at halftime. Yet they ended up beating the favored Bills 23-16 thanks to a second-half explosion. In...
Tim Benz: Cameron Heyward, pass rush prowess, special teams adventures tell the story of Steelers’ upset win over Bills
Uh, oh. The Steelers are going to be that kinda team again in 2021, aren’t they? That “30-Minute Men” team we talked about at length last season. Especially during that opening stretch of 2020 when Mike Tomlin’s crew won 11 in a row, largely by playing “above the line” football...
Tim Benz: Dawna, the 3 horses and Flight 93’s ‘ambassadors’ of heroism
There is a language at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stonycreek Township. A way of talking. No one actually whispers, but no one uses their full voice either. Every conversation is in hushed tones. Emotions seem to be communicated in the silence in between thoughts. And that’s just the...
