Breakfast With Benz category, Page 85
Steelers guard Kevin Dotson admits blame for sack that injured Kenny Pickett, pushes back on social media critics
Steelers guard Kevin Dotson knew he had gotten the play wrong immediately. “After I took my set, I saw (left tackle) Dan (Moore) coming my way. So I was like, ‘Dang, they must’ve said the other digit. Once I knew what it was, I knew where I messed up,” Dotson...
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger hits the mark when discussing lack of crackle in Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game
If you watched the Steelers-Ravens game on Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium, you probably noticed Baltimore’s 16-14 win was missing something. Offense. But, hey, that’s nothing different from when these two franchises usually face one another. This rivalry is rooted in a history of hard-hitting, defensive wars of attrition. Unfortunately,...
Madden Monday: Just blaming Mitch Trubisky for Steelers’ loss is the easy way out
The lowest of low-hanging fruit is available for Steelers analysis in the wake of the team’s 16-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky entered the game for an injured Kenny Pickett and threw three interceptions. End of story. But if you do that, it would be...
First Call: Ravens Pro Bowler admits being exposed by Steelers; John Harbaugh hypes up late drive; Jaromir Jagr’s latest exploits
Despite a loss, the Steelers’ wide receivers are forcing a Ravens Pro Bowler to do some introspection. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is gushing about his team’s game-sealing drive at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers are already underdogs for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. The Penguins have a stiff test at...
Airing of Grievances: Mitch Trubisky’s interceptions, regressing run defense define Steelers loss’ to Ravens
I guess the Pittsburgh Steelers only ordered a short stack of wins. After weeks of discussing “stacking victories” down the stretch of this rudderless season, the Steelers only could manage two in a row against equally listless foes in the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons. That winning streak ended Sunday...
Friday Football Footnotes: Dueling views on Steelers’ chances for a late-season surge
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” takes a look at some dueling views on the state of the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin’s place in it. The team is 5-7 with five games left. It needs to win at least four (or go 3-1-1) to avoid Tomlin’s first losing season...
U mad, bro?: George Pickens’ outburst, Mike Tomlin-fan video, Kasperi Kapanen have Steelers, Penguins fans on tilt
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers getting a second straight win for the first time all year, the temperature is hot in Steelers Nation. Lots of folks are taking heat. George Pickens. Mike Tomlin. Diontae Johnson. Me! Even Kasperi Kapanen of the Penguins is getting dragged. And he just had his best...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger on George Pickens’ sideline sulking; 2 surprising Steelers on ESPN’s ‘overrated’ list
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Ben Roethlisberger gives his reaction to the sideline histrionics of Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens. ESPN is calling Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt overrated. And while one former Pirates star has a new home, another may be on the move once again. Seen this fish before...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s deaf ear to criticism of George Pickens shows he’s not listening to his quarterbacks either
I’m sure Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin thought he was simply supporting George Pickens by turning a deaf ear to criticism of the rookie wide receiver. But in doing so, Tomlin also turned a blind eye to the needs of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickens took some fan and media...
First Call: Ravens add QB in case Lamar Jackson can’t face Steelers; AL East team may want Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds
As a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers approaches, the Ravens are stocking up at quarterback in case Lamar Jackson is sidelined. Teams are lining up to take a run at acquiring Bryan Reynolds from the Pirates. Duquesne’s men’s basketball team is getting some national attention. Logan Cooley is back on...
Tim Benz: 12-team college football playoff will solve some complaints, create others
Now that we know what to complain about regarding this year’s College Football Playoff, let’s compare that to what we’ll be griping about in 2024 — when the format expands from four to 12 teams. Oh, because, trust me, we’ll still be complaining. The only question is, will the complaints...
First Call: Hazy prognosis for Lamar Jackson’s knee before Steelers game; potential Bryan Reynolds trade targets
Monday’s “First Call” has John Harbaugh’s murky forecast for Lamar Jackson as “Steelers week” looms in Baltimore. A former Penn State standout stars in the NFC East. So does a former WPIAL great. Plus, we give you some Bryan Reynolds trade talk, and we consider Meg McConnell’s latest accomplishment at...
Madden Monday: Back-to-back Steelers wins are ‘not the beginning of a new season’
The Pittsburgh Steelers have their first winning streak of the season. It’s now … well … two games long. But they’ll take it. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, though, Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X said don’t get too fired up about it. “They are 5-7,” Madden...
First Call: Lamar Jackson health update as Steelers game nears; Penguins host ‘streaky’ Blues; NHL star on fire
Friday’s “First Call” previews the next opponent for the Pittsburgh Penguins. We check out the hottest player in the NHL. Lamar Jackson is trying to stay healthy in Baltimore as a game against the Steelers looms. Also, the Pitt and Duquesne men’s basketball teams look to keep their winning ways...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ work deep in offensive end biggest reason for comeback victory
For the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, it was their work beneath the goal line that eventually resulted in pucks crossing it. The Pens came back from a 3-2 third-period deficit to grab a 4-3 decision from the Las Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena. Their work beyond the...
Friday Football Footnotes: Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson to test Steelers’ shaky kick coverage
Atlanta Falcons return specialist (and second-leading rusher) Cordarrelle Patterson returned to practice Thursday. He was given a rest day Wednesday. That’s unfortunate news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A rested Patterson sounds like a nightmare scenario for Danny Smith’s special teams unit. The 31-year-old recorded his NFL-record ninth kickoff return touchdown...
First Call: Could Tom Brady return to New England? Aaron Donald out; Phil Kessel back to face Pens
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming opponent got some bad news. Aaron Donald is injured. Phil Kessel is slumping. Joey Porter’s son is going pro. And could Tom Brady really go back to New England? All that and more in Thursday’s “First Call.” Donald down Former Pitt Panther Aaron Donald is going...
Tim Benz: Kenny Pickett identifies significant rookie season challenge — and how he’s handling it
Troy Aikman returned to the same conversation with Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett multiple times throughout the broadcast. During the “Monday Night Football” game between the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts, the ESPN analyst frequently referenced how Pickett had a different take than what the usual rookie QB has to...
U mad, bro: Despite Steelers win, fans still taking shots at Diontae Johnson, Matt Canada, Najee Harris
The Pittsburgh Steelers won a game. Kenny Pickett and the offense actually looked capable. The defense turned in a few clutch plays. And the other team’s coaches were the ones who mangled the clock at the end of the game. I bet you think that means my “U mad, bro?”...
Duquesne’s strong start helping to erase memories of last year’s struggles
In one sense, it’s a sign of real progress for the Duquesne basketball team. In another, it’s a reminder of how far the program needed to come. “It means we (stunk) last year,” coach Keith Dambrot said. “Six wins. What the heck?” No. Six wins don’t sound like a lot....
First Call: Jeff Saturday regrets decision vs. Steelers; more talk about ‘same plays’ from opposition
Indianapolis Colts coach Jeff Saturday is second-guessing a decision he made during Monday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, a Colts defensive player sounds like he is echoing something one of the Cincinnati Bengals said last week about the Steelers offense. Also, we have info about some Atlanta Falcons injuries...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ depth running backs make case to be trusted again
For months, part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive agenda has been to get running back Najee Harris in a rhythm. Now the agenda is to keep the run game in rhythm overall, regardless of who is carrying the ball. After back-to-back games with 90-plus yards, Harris appeared to enter Monday’s...
Tim Benz: First quarter grades and a look at calendar produce hazy forecast for Penguins
Every year, hockey outlets love to throw out the stats about how much the season-ending playoff bracket tends to mirror what we see by the time the calendar hits “American Thanksgiving.” That one was for you, Sportsnet and TSN.Ca. Last week, former Penguin Mark Recchi penned a piece as a...
First Call: Early odds on Steelers-Falcons; Aaron Donald injury; ex-Steeler cut to make room for Deshaun Watson in Cleveland
Tuesday’s “First Call” has the early line for the Steelers-Falcons game on Sunday. We also have some injury news about former Pitt star Aaron Donald. A former Steeler is out in Cleveland. We take a look at Tuesday night’s game for the Penguins, and Duquesne’s seventh game of the season...
Feats of Strength: Kenny Pickett, reserve running backs, timely defense erase Steelers’ shortcomings in win over Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin did what he needed to do. Maybe better said, he avoided doing what he couldn’t allow himself to do. That would have been losing to the Indianapolis Colts (4-7-1) and their human publicity stunt of an interim head coach, Jeff Saturday. It was just Saturday’s...
