Breakfast With Benz category, Page 35
Where Bill Cowher got it right (and wrong) with his top 5 Steelers defensive players
While he was a part of CBS’ NFL coverage Sunday, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher was asked to give his top 5 Steelers defensive players of all time. This was Cowher’s list, and his explanations for his rankings: 5. Troy Polamalu: “Defensive player of the year (2010). This guy created...
First Call: Rough injury prognosis for Troy Fautanu; ex-Steelers WRs score TDs
Monday’s “First Call” has an update on Troy Fautanu’s knee that Steelers fans won’t like. Dionate Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster both scored touchdowns Sunday. And next week’s opponent needs to get some things right at cornerback. Feelin’ bad for Fautanu Steelers first-round draft choice Troy Fautanu is done for the...
Madden Monday: If Justin Fields stays at QB, ‘Russ is going to want out… and I won’t blame him’
The Steelers have now won all three of their games so far this year, the most recent of which was a 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-1). All three wins have come with Justin Fields at quarterback. The presumptive 2024 starting QB, Russell Wilson, has yet to take...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Second-half defensive dominance, WR contributions keep Steelers unbeaten
We’ve all been saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) can’t keep counting on scoring in the teens and relying on the defense to win games. On Sunday, though, they could’ve again as the Steelers held a third straight opponent to 10 points or fewer, beating the Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)...
First Call: Justin Herbert partially practices; Chargers’ social media brings up bad Steelers memory
Friday’s “First Call” has video of Los Angeles Chargers’ injured quarterback Justin Herbert warming up as his team gets ready for a trip to Acrisure Stadium to play the Steelers Sunday. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ social media team had a little dart for Steelers fans on Thursday. We provide an update...
Football Footnotes: Steelers, Panthers, Dukes and Colonials look for another sweep of a weekend
Pittsburgh football teams swept through last weekend as the Steelers, Pitt, Robert Morris and Duquesne all posted notable wins. The Steelers enjoyed a rare victory in Denver, just their fourth in Colorado since the 1984 playoffs. Pitt posted an electric comeback over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. Duquesne’s surprising...
Tim Benz: Steelers insist rush attack has more to give
Given the lack of precipitation in Western Pennsylvania in recent weeks, the timing may be a bit off for rookie tackle Troy Fautanu’s analogy about the Steelers’ offense. But you’ll get the point. “The dam is ready to break,” Fautanu said Wednesday. “We’re right there. We’re right on that edge....
Tim Benz: Rutger McGroarty worth a look as Penguins consider candidates to play with Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust
Now that we know Sidney Crosby’s contract is ironed out with the Penguins, the next thing to speculate about is who his linemates will be. Bryan Rust is the most obvious choice to be on Crosby’s right wing. Rust played with Crosby for a total of 762 minutes of five-on-five...
First Call: Update on Justin Herbert, other injured Chargers; Joey Porter Jr. discusses assignment for Sunday
Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on how the Los Angeles Chargers are dealing with injuries in advance of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. We also look back at the Chargers’ recent history at Acrisure Stadium. We get a preview of what Joey Porter Jr.’s assignment might...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans antsy about offense, Pirates fans ready for season’s end
Despite a 2-0 start to the 2024 season, all is not right in Steelers Nation. And after being officially eliminated from the playoff race for the 29th time in 32 years, nothing feels right in Pirates Nation. Actually, is there really such a thing as “Pirates Nation?” If so, how...
Despite inconsistent run support, Paul Skenes among pitchers projected to be on All-MLB team
Since 2019, Major League Baseball has put together an All-MLB team. On Tuesday, MLB.com posted a projection of who may make this year’s squad. Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes is on it. The 22-year-old pitcher made his big league debut on May 11 at PNC Park. Since then, the 2023...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin hates QB hypotheticals, but this is one he must consider
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hates hypotheticals. Especially when it comes to the quarterback position. He tells us that every week. Meanwhile, I love hypotheticals. Especially about the quarterback position. I try to come up with a new one every week. Sorry, “Coach T.” It’s sorta part of this job. Here...
First Call: Jim Harbaugh expresses respect for Pittsburgh football; interesting advanced stats for T.J. Watt
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some interesting numbers on Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt. The franchise also made some moves to offset some injuries on special teams. Jim Harbaugh has a lot of love for Pittsburgh as his Los Angeles Chargers are set to arrive in the city this weekend. And a...
Sidney Crosby’s contract extension provides clarity, pressure for Kyle Dubas
With Sidney Crosby’s contract extension now known, the Pittsburgh Penguins have clarity. General manager Kyle Dubas knows he has at least this season and two more after it to make one more run at a Stanley Cup with Crosby in Black and Gold. Theoretically, there could be more chances. On...
First Call: Update on Justin Herbert’s X-rays as he preps for Steelers; Big Ben changes tune on Justin Fields
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an update on Justin Herbert as his Los Angeles Chargers are poised to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger has a new opinion on the Steelers’ quarterback situation. A Baltimore Raven turned Steeler is heading back to the Birds. An ex-Pitt Panther basketball star...
Tim Benz: Don’t make Broderick Jones’ postgame comment into something more than it was
Offensive tackle Broderick Jones is going through enough right now given how poorly he is playing and how badly he has been misused by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He doesn’t need what looks like an inflammatory comment being misinterpreted. Jones was pulled from the starting lineup leading up to Sunday’s game...
Madden Monday: Steelers have killed Broderick Jones’ confidence and lowered his expectations
For as happy as Pittsburgh Steelers fans might be about the team’s 2-0 start, a few concerning trends exist. The offense doesn’t score, the team is committing too many penalties and offensive tackle Broderick Jones is a mess. Even with questions existing over who should play quarterback despite two wins...
First Call: Complaints from Denver about the officiating in Steelers game; Justin Herbert injured prior to visit to Pittsburgh
Denver’s star player has some complaints about the officials following Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a leg injury in advance of his team’s visit to Acrisure Stadium next week. James Conner continues to stand out in Arizona, and Paul Skenes hopes to...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Defense, special teams win the day again as Steelers buck Broncos
As the hip kids on social media like to say when a cool sports highlight is posted, “You can hang it in the Louvre.” When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 13-6 win in Denver on Sunday, I’m not sure if I’d hang it on my refrigerator. It’d look bad...
First Call: Steely McBeam’s new commercial; Pressley Harvin III works out for Browns; Paul Skenes visits Steelers
Friday’s “First Call” details Paul Skenes’ visit to Pittsburgh Steelers practice. There was a scary moment on Thursday Night Football. A former Steeler is getting checked out by the Cleveland Browns. And a surprising Steeler is at the center of a new television ad campaign. Skenes sees Steelers Paul Skenes...
Football Footnotes: AFC North looks to rebound; WVU’s Marc Bulger recalls Backyard Brawls; ACC transfer QBs making impact
This week’s Friday “Football Footnotes” post examines how AFC North teams besides the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to respond to a winless opening weekend. Kirk Cousins may have tipped-off lingering issues from his recovery during Atlanta’s loss to the Steelers last week. Central Catholic graduate Marc Bulger recalls his Backyard...
Tim Benz: With George Pickens battling Patrick Surtain II, other Steelers receivers can’t be ignored in Denver
Many observers of the Pittsburgh Steelers spent a healthy portion of the past six months fretting over the lack of wide receiver options aside from George Pickens. Then the Steelers themselves spent most of the first 60 minutes of the season proving why those concerns were valid. Pickens had a...
Tim Benz: Newly configured Steelers secondary coming together quickly
If there are two position groups on the field that NFL coaches consistently insist are in need of cohesion, chemistry and communication, it’s the secondary and the offense line. For the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the O-line held up well enough to win despite...
U mad, bro?: A Steelers victory, a Pirates win streak — yet plenty of complaints from Pittsburgh sports fans
A Week 1 victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Pirates’ four-game win streak have done very little to quell the pessimism running rampant through the Pittsburgh sports scene. Mercifully, I provide for you “U mad, bro” as macabre therapy. You can thank me later. We begin with an email...
First Call: Joey Porter Jr.’s confidence for matchup with Courtland Sutton; Chargers changing travel for Week 3 in Pittsburgh
Thursday’s “First Call” shows us how the Los Angeles Chargers are already thinking ahead to their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, even though they haven’t even gotten through planning for Week 2 versus Carolina. Joey Porter Jr. is confident about his next wide receiver matchup in Denver....
