First Call: Steeler voices optimism about run game; Bengals coach under scrutiny; McCutchen, Meadows go deep

Thursday’s “First Call” tries to provide optimism for the Steelers run game. We found a little extra stress for Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor before his trip to Pittsburgh.

Two former Pirates homer as their teams jockey for the postseason. And ex-Penguin Beau Bennett never ceases to entertain.

Positive attitude

Despite all the problems of the Steelers run game, guard Kevin Dotson isn’t giving up hope.

“It’s always one thing that’s messing us up,” Dotson said Wednesday. “It could be the O-line misses a block. Tight end misses a block. Somebody misses a hole. It’s always one thing. When we get that one thing figured out, it is definitely going to be a great run game.”

Actually, that sounds like more than one thing. That sounds like a little bit of everything, doesn’t it? Just one mistake at a time on just about every play. But I get Dotson’s point.

In any case, the mistakes need to stop. The Steelers’ 3.3 yards per carry over the first two games is even worse than that of last year’s team (3.6), which finished last in the NFL in rushing.

Heinz Field hot seat?

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor is the current favorite (7/2) among NFL coaches to be fired.

That is according to BetOnline.ag. Taylor’s Bengals visit the Steelers Sunday afternoon.

New York Giants coach Joe Judge and Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer are next at 9/2. Then Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy at 11/2 and first-year Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer (6/1).

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is eighth at 18/1.

Tampa Bay bomb

Most of the buzz this week surrounding the Tampa Bay Rays has been about former Pirates first-round draft pick Shane Baz.

The right-hander won his Major League debut Monday night.

But another former Bucco who was part of that infamous Chris Archer trade made headlines Wednesday.

Designated hitter Austin Meadows hit his 26th home run en route to a 7-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Let's take care of this today

- @austin_meadows pic.twitter.com/2bWBwXBxe7

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 22, 2021

That gives Meadows 103 RBIs, eighth in MLB. The Rays clinched a playoff berth with a win. They lead the American League East by six games in front of the Boston Red Sox. Tampa has nine games remaining — three each against the Marlins, Astros and Yankees.

Toronto is a half-game behind the Yankees for the last wild card spot.

Cutch can

Another former Pirate — Andrew McCutchen — hit a big home run as well.

The Philadelphia outfielder hit a two-run shot against the Baltimore Orioles to help them win 4-3.

Can't spell clutch without Cutch. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/5XE5VkHTgv

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 23, 2021

That was McCutchen’s 25th on the season. His Phillies have now tied the Cincinnati Reds 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card slot.

The problem for the Phillies and Reds is that the Cardinals just won’t lose. They won 10-2 in Milwaukee Wednesday. That’s 11 consecutive victories for the Cards.

Oh, Beau

Beau Bennett may have lost a step.

But he hasn’t lost his sense of humor. The oft-injured, offensively oriented former Penguins forward tweeted out his first adult-league hockey experience.

It must have felt vaguely familiar.

Just played my first ever adult hockey league game. We lost 7-3, I was minus 3 and I have to get an mri on my hip. All in all, solid start to my post career career.

— Beau Bennett (@BeauBennett19) September 22, 2021

Bennett wound up with 64 points in 200 games in his NHL career. And, by his own admission, he had about 64 injuries along the way. Hopefully, Bennett will give us an update on his hip and a postgame recap for Game 2 as well.