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Tim Benz Columns category, Page 39

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Madden Monday: Steelers should start Mason Rudolph, Penguins Alex Nedeljkovic in their next games
Based on what he saw this weekend from the Steelers and Penguins, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X wants to see a shake-up. At both quarterback and goaltender. In the wake of their 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns Sunday, let’s start with the Steelers first. Madden says...
Airing of Grievances: Steelers impotent on offense, lack splash on defense in agonizing loss to Browns
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a football game in Cleveland on Sunday, 13-10. The offense only scored on two possessions and punted nine times. The Browns were starting a rookie backup quarterback. Star running back Nick Chubb and the starting offensive tackles didn’t play. Coordinator Matt Canada’s offense essentially had one...
Tim Benz: What’s behind the rise in production from the Steelers ground game?
The biggest reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ success over the past two weeks has been an uptick in the run game. Through the first seven games of the season, the Steelers averaged 79.7 rushing yards per game and averaged 3.4 yards per carry. In their most recent outings — victories...
Football Footnotes: Kordell Stewart’s advice for Kenny Pickett, thoughts on Matt Canada; Joe Burrow, Mark Andrews injured
In this week’s “Football Footnotes,” former quarterback Kordell Stewart has some advice for Kenny Pickett — and the entire Steelers franchise. There’s some potentially severe injury news coming out of Thursday night’s AFC North battle between the Bengals and Ravens. Plus, we look at the local college scene as the...
First Call: Cleveland rookie QB says Steelers game will be ‘night and day’ difference from 1st start; more Browns injury updates
Friday’s “First Call” finds a confident backup quarterback ready to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland. Both teams have important injuries from earlier in the season they are nursing in advance of Sunday’s rematch. The Penguins are facing a very challenging weekend set of games. And we lay out the...
U mad, bro?: Too much criticism of Mike Tomlin and George Pickens; more grievances from Packers game
Some people think I’m being too hard on Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Others think the media, collectively, is being too hard on wide receiver George Pickens. Still, others take sports writing a little too … hmmm … literally. These are all things we learn in this week’s “U mad,...
First Call: Tricky idea for Browns to address QB issue; injury concerns in Ravens-Bengals; honoring Franco Harris
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have to worry about this impacting them, but there’s a potential stopgap solution to the quarterback problem in Cleveland. We also examine Thursday night’s primetime AFC North matchup, share an honor for Franco Harris and look at Gerrit Cole’s Cy Young Award. All that in...
First Call: Patrick Peterson’s little jab at Packers after blocked kick; Mike Tomlin on Josh Dobbs’ success
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a little trash talk from Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Patrick Peterson after his blocked kick on Sunday. We get an update on Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin shares his thoughts on the rise of the “Pastronaut” (Josh Dobbs) in Minnesota. Also, a...
Tim Benz: Packers DB says Mike Tomlin ‘influenced the refs’ during controversial call
Understandably, everyone in Green Bay is still mad at Sunday’s NFL officials in the Steelers-Packers game. They didn’t overturn an incomplete forward pass from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett that was reviewed as a potential turnover. As discovered by SteelersDepot.com, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon appeared on the USA Today Network’s “Clubhouse...
NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore weighs in on 2 controversial plays from Steelers’ win over Packers
During his weekly appearance on WDVE, NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore (Uniontown/Washington, Pa.) weighed in on two controversial calls from Sunday’s Steelers-Packers game. One play went in favor of the Steelers that perhaps should have been overturned. The other, he believes, was a good call that significantly helped the Packers’...
Tim Benz: Despite negative hysteria or positive hyperbole, Steelers are right where they should be
For all the hyperbole and hysteria over how the Pittsburgh Steelers have performed this year, a funny thing has happened on the way to the second half of the schedule. The Steelers are precisely where they should be. In fact, they’ve even bought themselves a little cushion. Yes, folks, at...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ frequent close wins are ‘mostly just dumb luck’
Like many people who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers, 105.9 The X radio host and TribLIVE columnist Mark Madden is struggling to figure out how the club has gotten itself to 6-3 on the season. After Sunday’s 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers, Madden is resigned to bemusement at the...
First Call: Steelers are early underdogs in Cleveland; Josh Dobbs does it again
In Monday’s “First Call,” we look ahead to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming visit to Cleveland. We get into how some NFL returns could impact the Steelers. And Josh Dobbs flashes his skills in Minnesota. Looking ahead Despite being 6-3 and winning four of their last five, the Steelers (6-3) are...
Feats of Strength: Patrick Peterson’s big plays, resurgent run game overcome Steelers’ shortcomings vs. Packers
I’m not sure how many more weeks the Pittsburgh Steelers can survive on the last defensive possession as the opposing quarterback throws the ball to the goal line with the game in the balance. But they sure seem to be making a habit of it. The Steelers never win pretty....
Tim Benz: California sweep provides some ‘whiteout’ for Penguins after slow start to season
It’s not like the Pittsburgh Penguins’ California sweep this week erased everything that went wrong for the club on their recent four-game homestand. But it’s at least a little hockey whiteout. The Pens headed west, after having dropped three of four games at home in frustrating fashion. They were losers...
Football Footnotes: It’s about to get nuts in the AFC North
Here’s one thing we know about the AFC North heading into Sunday’s schedule for sure. It won’t be another perfect week for the division. After all four teams won last week, that can’t happen again this Sunday because two of the clubs — the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns —...
First Call: No position change coming for Steelers rookie; Duquesne football looks to claim conference crown
Friday’s “First Call” dismisses the idea of a Steelers position change. We also look at this week’s dud of a matchup for the Pitt football team. Plus, we preview what Penn State, Duquesne and West Virginia have on their respective schedules. And the RMU hockey team is already enjoying the...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin called George Pickens issue a ‘pebble in my shoe.’ His players are trying to prevent a rockslide
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin referred to last week’s social media distraction involving George Pickens as “a pebble in my shoe.” Apparently, some of his other players saw it as potentially a large thorn in the side of the team because they felt the need to address it. On...
U mad, bro?: Too much praise for Mike Tomlin. Too much blame for Mike Tomlin. Bad NFL refs and … popcorn balls
Praise for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Blame for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Sports Journalism 101. Steelers roster construction. Bad NFL officiating. And popcorn balls. This week’s “U mad, bro?” has it all. Let’s start with an important matter. In last week’s “U mad, bro?” I took a shot at popcorn...
Mike Sullivan, players praise sparring-match style win for Penguins in Anaheim
After the Pittsburgh Penguins won a close 2-0 contest in Anaheim on Tuesday night, Ducks coach Greg Cronin made a boxing analogy. “There wasn’t a lot of rhythm to the game,” Cronin said via the Associated Press. “There weren’t a lot of scoring chances either way. It was like two...
Tim Benz: ‘4th Quarter Kenny’ is making Pittsburgh smile, but Mike Tomlin can’t laugh off 1st-half concerns forever
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had a smile on his face. There was some levity to his retort. But as is often the case when someone makes a joke, there’s a lot of truth to it. And there’s usually a message to the delivery. During his weekly Tuesday press conference,...
First Call: Martavis Bryant has a new home; Kyler Murray likely to make return ahead of game against Steelers
Wednesday’s “First Call” features familiar Pittsburgh Steelers faces in new places. A big-time offensive tackle reveals how he nearly wound up in Pittsburgh. And the Steelers may be facing a former Pro Bowler at quarterback in a few weeks. Big deal in Big D According to multiple reports, including one...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ run game must seize on rare chance for positive reinforcement
When it comes to the run game, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has finally stumbled into something it can use. Positive reinforcement. Through most of the first seven games of the season, when examining tape, Steelers coaches and players could only walk away from what they witnessed and say, “We’re not...
First Call: Mike Tomlin credited for ‘most impressive coaching job’ in 2023; pending tryouts for Martavis Bryant
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some midseason accolades for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. We also look at the potential return of Martavis Bryant to the NFL, Tuesday’s rematch between the Penguins and Anaheim Ducks, and an AFC North team dealing with an ill-timed run of injuries. Pump the brakes NFL.com’s...
First Call: Steelers’ next opponent grabs victory; entire AFC North wins; wild win for Josh Dobbs with new team
While the Pittsburgh Steelers had Sunday to rest, it was a successful day for everyone else in the AFC North. Next week’s opponent at Acrisure Stadium chalked up a victory too, as did a former quarterback who used to wear the Black and Gold. But one former Steelers receiver found...


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