Breakfast With Benz category, Page 91
Madden Monday: Steelers ‘think they are far better than what they are’ — the offensive line may be their undoing
Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE was watching the coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game against the Detroit Lions, and he was struck by some of the things Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt said about the state of the team during interviews. “The thing with the Steelers...
Tim Benz: Despite 3-0 preseason record, very few Steelers questions have been answered
The NFL preseason did little to definitively answer many questions about the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers. Especially after the 19-9 slopfest of a victory against the Detroit Lions Sunday afternoon in the preseason finale at Acrisure Stadium. Some of those questions have grown into greater concerns. Other questions are now lesser...
First Call: Ike Taylor’s new Steelers job; ex-Pirate almost makes MLB history; Duquesne-Florida St. point spread
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Ike Taylor said he is getting a job with the franchise. A former Pirate almost made history at the plate, while a few others have been busy on the mound. And Duquesne’s athletic department celebrated a landmark win in soccer as it hopes for something similar in...
Friday Football Footnotes — Fantasy Football edition: When to draft certain Steelers, how to best construct your team
As the NFL preseason wraps up over the next 10 days or so, this is going to be a huge week for fantasy football drafts across Pittsburgh and the rest of the country. So for “Friday Football Footnotes” this week, we spoke with Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. He’s our long-time...
Tim Benz: If Pittsburgh thinks Aaron Donald shouldn’t be suspended, then we are moving the goalposts
A brawl between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams erupted during a joint practice session Thursday. Rams star Aaron Donald was caught on film swinging a helmet at Bengals players before getting thrown to the ground. #Rams Aaron Donald used a #Bengals helmet to hit Cincy players after a...
U mad, bro?: Steelers’ preseason anxiety meets Pirates’ late-season despair
It’s late August in Pittsburgh. For local sports fans, that marks the annual nexus of Steelers preseason obsession, meeting yearly late-season Pirates fan dejection. Preemptive quarterback concerns. Acute offensive line panic. Defensive back denial. All stirred with long-simmering Pirates angst and frustration. We mix it, shake it, chill it and...
First Call: ESPN projects Steelers to regress; Pirates’ brutal upcoming stretch; remembering Len Dawson as a Steeler
In Thursday’s “First Call,” ESPN.com is setting the bar low for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Tough times for the Pirates are about to continue. A trio of ex-Buccos pitchers are on the mound Thursday night. And we remember Len Dawson as a Steeler as the NFL mourns his passing....
Former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams: ‘Mark Robinson is better than I was as a rookie’
It appears that ex-Steeler Vince Williams is a big fan of a new Steeler at his former position. It’s rookie inside linebacker Mark Robinson. “Mark Robinson is better than I was as a rookie,” Williams said Tuesday on social media. “I hope he keeps #93.” Mark Robinson is better than...
Tim Benz: Steelers embrace ‘moving target’ versatility for defensive backfield
On the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, head coach Mike Tomlin gave an in-depth breakdown of how the slot position has changed for wide receivers over the years. “Years ago, there was a designated slot guy,” Tomlin said at Saint Vincent College. “And that was the only guy...
Penguins forward Teddy Blueger involved in summer league’s first-ever on-ice fight
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Teddy Blueger just made a little history. He is currently participating in Da Beauty League. It’s a summer league that features many NHL and top-notch college and amateur players. Founded in 2015, it is believed that the league has never featured a fight. Until Monday. And Blueger...
First Call: Joe Schobert already released; mixed injury news for Ravens; Tyler Glasnow attempting a comeback
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” a former Pittsburgh Steeler is struggling to keep a new job. The Baltimore Ravens are getting mixed results on the injury front. Tyler Glasnow is trying to return. And Duquesne’s football team has new captains. That was quick Joe Schobert didn’t last very long in Denver....
Duquesne quarterback Joe Mischler looks to return from injury, regain starting position for opener at Florida State
In Pittsburgh, we’ve spent a lot of time this summer talking about quarterbacks. The Steelers have a new rookie in Kenny Pickett, a new free agent in Mitch Trubisky and a returning incumbent in Mason Rudolph vying for the job. At Pitt, new transfer Kedon Slovis will likely to take...
First Call: Steelers won’t face Detroit’s starting QB; Duquesne offers scholarship to LeBron James’ youngest son
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t see the Detroit Lions’ best quarterback in their preseason finale. An interesting name is hitting the NFL free-agent market. Duquesne is recruiting one of LeBron James’ sons. And an infamous Pittsburgh movie villain is now a real athletic champion. No go for...
Tim Benz: Ways to address Steelers offensive line? Coach around it in 2022, make it better in 2023
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen have nowhere to hide. After the unit’s shaky performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Saturday’s 16-15 preseason win, the players are taking heat from fans and media outside the team facility and their own head coach within it. Consider this anecdote from guard Kendrick Green after...
First Call: Ex-Steeler shines at QB in Cleveland; Roquan Smith willing to stay in Chicago; Ravens extend preseason streak
An ex-Steelers quarterback is on fire with his new team this preseason. The Roquan Smith dream seems to have died for Pittsburgh fans. The Ravens just can’t lose in August. And Pittsburgh has two champions in a pair of very unique sports. All that in Monday’s “First Call.” And the...
Madden Monday: Steelers offensive line ‘might be worse’ than last year — and it may impact the QB thinking too
There have been plenty of positives to discuss regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victories in each of their first two preseason games. • All three quarterbacks — Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph — have performed very well. • The wide receivers — namely rookie George Pickens — have impressed....
Tim Benz: Steelers go 2 for 3 on Mike Tomlin’s checklist in Jacksonville. The miss was a big one
After the Steelers’ 32-25 victory in their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, coach Mike Tomlin identified three specific areas of improvement that he wanted to see in Game 2. They were: • Sharper two-minute execution on both sides of the ball • Improved pass protection • Better run...
Friday Football Footnotes: Myles Jack returns to Jacksonville; Deshaun Watson suspension shifts odds
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” features a new Pittsburgh Steeler talking about his old team. We find out about how the betting odds were impacted by Deshaun Watson walking away with an 11-game suspension in Cleveland. We even get into Gaelic football, and an ex-Duquesne player has officially signed with...
First Call: Antonio Brown goes after Tom Brady on Twitter; Fox’s Jay Glazer says Steelers are ‘Mitch Trubisky’s team’
Thursday’s “First Call” features Antonio Brown’s latest social media meltdown. Jay Glazer tamps down any quarterback controversy with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, we have updates on Joe Burrow’s health in Cincinnati and Baker Mayfield’s starting status with the Carolina Panthers. A.B. goes after TB12 Antonio Brown is using social media...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans split on booing Mason Rudolph, Pirates fans on edge about Dennis Eckersley’s comments
Some people are mad that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph got booed Saturday night. Others seem to think he got off easy. Some people are angry at what Red Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley said about the Pirates. Others seem to think he could have poured it on more. Some people...
Tim Benz: Talk of trading Chase Claypool for Roquan Smith is one thing, dealing him for the sake of it is something else
I’ve been pretty hard on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool over the past year and a half. But even I’m a little hesitant to jump on all the recent talk about him being traded. The latest salvo in that regard came from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. Speaking Wednesday on 93.7...
First Call: Omar Khan downplays Mason Rudolph trade talk; ex-lineman has underwhelming review of Steelers guard
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some interesting observations about a new Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman. Another quarterback is out of a job. Omar Khan is downplaying Mason Rudolph trade rumors. And an ex-Pirate sparkles on the mound in Atlanta. Baldinger not bullish on Daniels Appearing on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday,...
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Minkah Fitzpatrick: ‘I’d like to see him get back to the turnover ways’
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin broached the topic on his own Tuesday. So it must be something top of mind for him and the rest of the Steelers coaching staff. How do they rediscover the natural playmaking ability of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick? How do they put him in positions...
Tim Benz: Red Sox broadcast team humiliates Pirates — and hopefully everyone in Pittsburgh applauds what they said
Just another night covering Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Latrobe. The workday is done. The quotes are transcribed. The photos are attached. The stories are filed. Let’s have a beer or two at Sharky’s, watch the Pirates lose again and call it a night. Rinse. Wash. Repeat in the morning....
Neil Walker on Oneil Cruz: ‘He’s not making adjustments. That’s clear as day… He’s getting exposed.’
The struggles at the plate of Pirates rookie sensation Oneil Cruz can no longer be covered up by highlight clips of missile throws across the field or flashy exit velocity stats on his home runs. Those skill set measurable stats are wonderful. But we can’t pretend that those are the...
