Breakfast With Benz category, Page 111
Tim Benz: Enjoy Steelers’ win over Ravens, but don’t make it into something it wasn’t
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ nail-biting 20-19 victory over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday was invigorating. In fact, it was season-saving. But let’s not assign more to it than that until the Steelers earn it. On social media, talk radio and in general conversation around Pittsburgh Monday, I kept hearing the rhetorical question...
Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Steelers win over RavensVideo
Columnists Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 20-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday on this edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLIVE’s Facebook page. Benz says that facing the Ravens at this point in the season was probably a good thing for the Steelers. And Madden compares...
First Call: A story about Nick Saban, Mick Jagger and Jack Lambert; John Harbaugh’s reason for 2-point try vs. Steelers
In Monday’s “First Call,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh explains why his team went for two points at the end of their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. The Steelers next opponent may still be smarting from their loss by the time kickoff rolls around Thursday. Pitt is an early...
Madden Monday on the end of Steelers-Ravens: ‘I didn’t like (Baltimore) going for 2, and I didn’t like the call’
Every week during football season for our “Madden Monday” podcasts, we focus on the machinations of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ result from the previous day. Every now and then, though, the opposing team has to be at the center of the analysis, too. Such is the case this week. That’s because...
T.J. Watt, Chris Wormley, depth offensive players highlight Steelers ‘Feats of Strength’ during upset of Ravens
As we discussed at “Breakfast With Benz” leading up to Sunday’s latest chapter of Pittsburgh Steelers versus Baltimore Ravens, these two teams can’t help themselves. They don’t know any other way than to play each other close, even if what’s happening on paper suggests the game should be an easy...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans fuming at Chase Claypool, Mike Tomlin; Pirates fans angry about Jacob Stallings trade
Over the last three weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers tied the woeful Detroit Lions and allowed a combined 82 points in losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals. Next up, they are about to play as home underdogs to the hated Baltimore Ravens for the first time with Ben...
First Call: Cam Heyward dismisses Chase Claypool’s idea for music at practice; Rocky Bleier rips recent Steelers efforts
Wednesday’s “First Call” features some less than friendly Steelers reaction to Chase Claypool’s idea of injecting music into practices. Steelers alumni continue to sound off about the troubles facing their former team. The Ravens are already making history in Pittsburgh and their game against the Steelers is still five days...
Mike Tomlin’s extended push for Hines Ward’s Hall of Fame candidacy
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t said — or done — a lot to make Steelers fans happy. But his recent soliloquy endorsing Hines Ward’s Hall of Fame candidacy will certainly have football fans in Western Pa. waving their Terrible Towels and humming “Renegade.” Last week, Ward was named as...
Tristan Jarry has done plenty to help Penguins this season. His skaters need to help him against the Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry has been excellent lately. In his last seven starts, Jarry has allowed two goals only once and one goal three times and has posted three shutouts. Five of those starts have resulted in victories. But the team would be best served to lean on him...
First Call: Vikings star will reportedly miss Steelers game; new Pirate makes good 1st impression; praise for Duquesne hoops player
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some ugly statistical framing of the Steelers rush defense against Bengals star Joe Mixon Sunday. However, that unit may get a bit of a break in Week 14. We’ll tell you why. Also, some praise for Duquesne basketball. And the newest Pittsburgh Pirate appears to have...
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...
