Breakfast With Benz category, Page 85
Tim Benz: How the Steelers can expect the Bengals to get around Ja’Marr Chase’s absence
During the recent bye week, Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin went to the other side of the ball to best illustrate what the return of T.J. Watt could mean to his unit. “I put it similar to a great receiver. If you don’t take care of him and let him...
Tim Benz: Recent increase in sacks not just about Steelers offensive line
While the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has received praise for improved run blocking since Sunday’s win against the Saints, now the pass blocking has come under scrutiny. For good reason. In both regards. The Steelers are coming off a game in which they ran the ball for a season-high 217...
U mad, bro?: On Kenny Pickett’s development, pass blocking, Bill Cowher’s rant about Jeff Saturday and … the Beatles?
For Thanksgiving, I like variety. Turkey. White meat. Dark meat. Maybe some ham. Mashed potatoes and stuffing. Carrots and peas. Apple and pumpkin pie. Just no sweet potatoes. I hate sweet potatoes. I hate the way they taste. I hate the way they smell. I don’t even wanna look at...
First Call: Ex-Steeler drafts Martavis Bryant in XFL; Penguins to face another former teammate in goal; Ja’Marr Chase update
Thursday’s “First Call” features the latest attempt to reignite the football career of former Steelers project Martavis Bryant. Antonio Brown is back performing in Pittsburgh. Ja’Marr Chase may not be back against the Steelers. But next week is a possibility. The Penguins aren’t done facing old teammates in goal. And...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger on the notion of becoming an offensive coordinator; Steelers looking at defensive backs
Ben Roetlisberger is talking about life after football. The Steelers are considering making another move to bolster their defensive backfield. The Prime Video ratings for “Thursday Night Football” are a struggle. And Duquesne’s next men’s basketball game looks like it could be a real test. All that in Wednesday’s “First...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s assessment of Kenny Pickett’s ‘growth’ more about strategy than evaluation
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin staunchly endorsed the development of rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett during his Tuesday press conference. “It’s been really impressive,” Tomlin said. “If you ask me to summarize the rate of growth and the range of growth, it’s been really impressive in all areas. I think it’s...
Matt Murray’s return ‘a great experience’ as he beats Penguins for 1st win with Toronto
Matt Murray has seen that kind of push from the Penguins in that building many times. He knows what it looks like — and what it sounds like — when Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and company decide it’s time to put the pedal down. It’s just that when...
Questions about Tristan Jarry’s health mirror conversations about Najee Harris’ earlier this year
It appears the Pittsburgh Penguins have themselves a Najee Harris-esque injury situation developing with goaltender Tristan Jarry. Jarry is saying that he is playing through injury while the head coach is downplaying it. That hasn’t worked out great for Harris and the Steelers much of the year at Acrisure Stadium....
First Call: Bengals health updates before Steelers matchup; Pat McAfee jabs Bill Cowher; Matt Murray to start vs. Penguins
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers will be keeping an eye on health updates coming out of Cincinnati in advance of Sunday’s showdown against the Bengals. The Ravens are getting healthy. Pat McAfee is defending the Jeff Saturday hire — and returning shots at Bill Cowher for criticizing it....
Tim Benz: Reasons behind Bill Cowher’s angry Jeff Saturday rant go beyond the obvious
On the surface, the reasons why ex-Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher ranted against the Indianapolis Colts’ coaching hire are obvious. Not to mention, completely understandable. But there may have been a little bit more to the subtext that is worth investigating. In case you missed it, Indianapolis fired head coach...
First Call: Bill Cowher rants about Jeff Saturday; JuJu Smith-Schuster knocked out; Matt Murray may face Penguins
Monday’s “First Call” features quite a rant by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher. JuJu Smith-Schuster was knocked out of Sunday’s game in Kansas City. The Penguins may get a shot at former teammate Matt Murray. And Duquesne’s basketball team is trying to rebound from their loss in Kentucky. Sour...
Madden Monday on Kenny Pickett: ‘Right now, I think he stinks’
There were a lot of positives to take away from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 20-10 win on Sunday over the New Orleans Saints. • The Steelers managed to hold the Saints offense to 186 total yards as T.J. Watt returned to action. • The Steelers offense rushed for 217 yards. •...
Feats of Strength: Steelers defense, running game come up big in much-needed win over Saints
Even in a season when optimism has been scarce for the Steelers, there was plenty of reason for some heading into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. The 2-6 Steelers were playing at home, in the cold, after a bye. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt was scheduled to suit...
Tim Benz: Duquesne follows up impressive opener with massive challenge at Kentucky
It’s tough to find anything negative coming out of Duquesne’s first game of the 2022-23 season. The Dukes shot a blistering 64.4% from the floor en route to a 91-63 blowout of Montana. It was a game they led by 42 at one point. They won the rebounding battle by...
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers-Saints by the numbers — and some of the numbers are kinda weird
Here are the most important numbers leading up to the Steelers-Saints game Sunday at Heinz Field. The Steelers are 2-6. The Saints are 3-6. So both clubs are desperate for a win. It’s been five years since New Orleans has had a losing season. It’s been 18 years since we’ve...
First Call: Jalen Hurts thought he was going to be a Steeler; Saints injury update; Matt Murray not ready for Pens vs. Leafs
NFL MVP candidate Jalen Hurts says he thought he was going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler coming out of college. Pat Freiermuth sings the praises of Heath Miller. The Saints are dealing with plenty of injuries as they head up to Pittsburgh. Matt Murray won’t be healthy enough to play...
Tim Benz: Circumstances of how Penguins snapped losing streak could prove meaningful
No one on the Pittsburgh Penguins bench — or in the entire fan base — could’ve been faulted for being nervous all the way through Wednesday night’s game in Washington. A seven-game losing streak was hanging over their heads. The second-string goalie was playing. They were down two — and...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pop off about Matt Canada, the Chase Claypool trade, criticism of Najee Harris
The Steelers took a week off for their bye. Steelers fans did not. My Twitter feed and inbox are proof of that. At 2-6, I didn’t expect that they would. Here’s this week’s “U mad, bro?” A guy named Tim did not appreciate us posting the comments ex-Bengals cornerback Adam...
First Call: Kenny Pickett emulated this Saints player; bad memories for Steelers against Saints coach
Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting anecdote from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. There is some unfortunate history against the Saints and their head coach that Mike Tomlin is going to have to overcome. Micah Parsons is trying to lure a free-agent star to Dallas. And a few of Duquesne’s former...
Penguins, Capitals seeing similar struggles to start the season
Even skeptics of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ plan to keep its aging core together for 2022-23 could rely on one angle for optimism heading into the season. If you looked at the Eastern Conference in 2021, there was a 16-point gap between the last playoff spot (the Washington Capitals with 100...
First Call: Steelers need to replicate Ravens’ work up front against Saints; JuJu Smith-Schuster pacing for payout in K.C.
Tuesday’s “First Call” sets the stage for the Steelers-Saints game after New Orleans looked overmatched against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have something going for them the rest of the season. The Duquesne men’s basketball team joins a lot of its local peers by starting the 2022-23 season Tuesday night....
Tim Benz: Based on expectations, Najee Harris is Steelers’ biggest disappointment at halfway mark
During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye week, a lot of column space and talk-show air time has been dedicated to conversations about what aspect of the team’s performance has been the most disappointing in 2022. The offensive design, play calling, or quarterback execution? Offensive line play? The defense — especially the...
First Call: Chase Claypool’s first game with Chicago; Pittsburgh native with Bears draw praise; ‘MNF’ game has Steelers ties
In Monday’s “First Call,” we examine Chase Claypool’s first game with the Chicago Bears. Another Bear with Pittsburgh ties is making headlines. We preview a “Monday Night Football” game with lots of Steelers implications. And a former Steeler in Tennessee had a rough week. First outing After last week’s trade...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris’ men’s, women’s hockey teams practicing together for next year’s return
Latrobe’s Serena Slusarczyk clearly remembers where she was when she got the news about Robert Morris University cutting its hockey programs. “I was trying on my high school graduation gown,” Slusarczyk recalled. “I get a text message to get on this Zoom call. And they say the RMU hockey program...
Madden Monday: For scapegoats during Penguins’ losing streak, ‘you have got to start with the Big 3’
At the start of the NHL season, I praised the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning the games they needed to win in an effort to bank points early. In other words, build a cushion before the oldest team in hockey wore down late in the season and suffered too many injuries....
