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Tim Benz Columns category, Page 78

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
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...
Tim Benz: Penguins players grasp recent struggles — now it’s time to follow their own advice
Is Fenway Sports Group really sure it wants to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins? Based on the way things have gone on the ice of late, principal owner John Henry might want to keep his money in his wallet. If Henry does still feel like spending, though, maybe he can buy...
Tim Benz: Horrible tackling, untimely turnovers among grievances to air after Steelers’ rotten tie against Detroit
On a few occasions before the 2021 season began, I sarcastically predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers would go 8-8-1 in the NFL’s first 17-game regular season. That way, we could still say, “Well, you know, Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season!” I thought I was kidding. Now, after Sunday’s...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans prickly about Tristan Jarry criticism; Najee Harris taking heat; Pitt fans percolating
In this week’s “U mad, bro?”, Penguins fans defend Tristan Jarry. Pitt fans are agitated. And at least one Steelers fan is already turning on Najee Harris. Now I think we’ve gone too far! Who am I kidding? We go too far in this post every week. So, let’s have...
NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore on taunting penalty, other controversies from Steelers vs. Bears
Former NFL official and CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore made his weekly appearance on WDVE on Tuesday morning and addressed the many rules debates that took place during the Steelers’ controversial 29-27 win over the Chicago Bears. The most hotly contested of many calls — or non-calls — was the...
Tim Benz: Chris Boswell, T.J. Watt, Pat Freiermuth lead ‘Feats of Strength’ after harrowing Steelers win over Bears
It could’ve been a pedestrian win for the Pittsburgh Steelers, right? A plain old 20-something to 12 or 13 victory against a sub-mediocre Chicago Bears team. I mean, that’s the way it was pacing on “Monday Night Football” late in the third quarter when the Steelers went up 20-6. But...
Tim Benz: Steelers can now use positive reinforcement for run game — on both sides of the ball
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were scuffling at 1-3, there was plenty of room for negative reinforcement from the coaching staff if it decided to go that route. “Here is what you are doing wrong. Go fix it.” Well, some of that must’ve worked, as the Steelers have won three in...
Tim Benz: Derek Schooley prepares for Robert Morris hockey’s ‘championship game’ this Sunday
Autumn weekends have become very difficult for Derek Schooley. The Robert Morris University men’s hockey coach has a void in his life right now. Those days are usually dedicated to coaching his Colonials in Atlantic Hockey contests. In a normal season, his team would have six to eight games under...
Fake field goal furor, misplaced Pitt angst dominate this week’s ‘U mad, bro?’
This week’s “U mad, bro?” is all about Pitt’s flameout against Miami and the Steelers’ botched fake field-goal attempt. Oh, and one guy who is still angry that I asked Mike Tomlin about those college coaching jobs. Maybe I should change the name of this column to “Let it go,...
Tim Benz: Rush defense, rookie stars top this week’s ‘Feats of Strength’ as Steelers score gutsy win in Cleveland
I’m not sure how the Pittsburgh Steelers got there. But they did. They somehow closed out a gutsy, important 15-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. They lost kicker Chris Boswell to a concussion on a fake field goal. They had more third-down issues on offense. And they committed eight penalties....
First Call: Steelers could face familiar foe vs. Browns; celebrating Sidney Crosby anniversary; James Conner keeps scoring
Friday’s “First Call” tells us that the Steelers better be prepared for a familiar foe when they visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Another Browns player is already planning his post-touchdown celebration. We recognize a Sidney Crosby memory. And a former Steeler keeps ringing up points on the scoreboard. Ready...
Tim Benz: Unless Steelers have a better option, don’t give in to Melvin Ingram’s trade request
I apologize. You’ve read this Steelers column from me before. I first wrote it on Aug. 9. Three days earlier, ESPN reports surfaced stating that wide receiver James Washington had asked for a trade. My belief back then was that the Steelers shouldn’t acquiesce to Washington’s request because he’s a...
The 2 biggest issues facing the Steelers coming out of the bye and heading into Cleveland
There are plenty of areas where the Steelers can improve coming out of their bye week as they head into a crucial game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Let’s pick two. One on offense. One on defense. One — theoretically — is fixable. The other? I’m not so sure....
Tim Benz: Question about college coaching rumors was appropriate. So was Mike Tomlin’s response.
It sure seemed like Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hated one of my questions at his weekly press conference Tuesday. That’s OK. I loved his response. After 21 minutes of on-field and health-related inquiries in advance of the team’s game in Cleveland, I figured an appropriate amount of time had...
Tim Benz: As Pitt beat Clemson, the better team just took care of business, now it needs to keep doing so
Saturday’s game against Clemson wasn’t the kind of showdown where Pitt’s football team had to rise to the occasion. It was a day when the Panthers just needed to take care of business. Pitt came in as a three-point favorite. With the higher ranking. A better spot in the ACC...
Tim Benz: Penguins enjoying scoring from unlikely sources when it is most needed
Once you get beyond the names Kris Letang and Jeff Carter atop the Penguins score sheet, you’ve got to be impressed with how the team has managed to start the season 2-0-1. After all, a line chart featuring the likes of Drew O’Connor, Dominik Simon, Evan Rodrigues and Danton Heinen...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances after Steelers beat Seahawks: Replay controversy, missed tackles, T.J. Watt’s heroics
I’m still trying to wrap my brain around how that Steelers-Seahawks game ended Sunday night. I’m still trying to figure out how the Steelers blew that two-touchdown lead to a backup quarterback, yet still managed to win And I’m still trying to figure out how a team this flawed has...
Tim Benz: Story of Steelers-Seahawks game will be written by wide receivers
Much of the attention heading into Sunday night’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Seattle Seahawks game has focused on who is throwing the football for both teams. For Seattle (2-3), it’ll be Geno Smith instead of Russell Wilson at quarterback. For the Steelers (2-3), it’ll be Ben Roethlisberger, coming off of his most efficient...
Tim Benz: Lightning coach’s quotes tell story of Penguins’ win in Tampa — and how they need to play moving forward
What a win for the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night. They went on the road in front of a hostile crowd for the season opener and convincingly upset one of the favorites to win at least the conference championship. I now fully expect them to lose to Vegas, Cincinnati and Green...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ win over Broncos wasn’t a swing game, but a win over Seahawks could be
If the phrase has been used once about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday, it’s been used one thousand times. It was a “swing game”! Nah. It wasn’t. But if it makes Steeler Nation enthused, reinvigorated and reinvested in what appeared to be a lifeless 2021 season,...
Tim Benz: 2 Penguins that must fill the net while stars are sidelined
With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin sidelined to start the 2021-22 season, points will have to come from somewhere for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Who the Pens lean on to generate that offense — and how they do it — are key points of discussion. After all, Bryan Rust can only...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Plenty of both after Steelers barely hold on to beat the Broncos
It took a few minutes to find my Steelers “Feats of Strength” file on my computer. I couldn’t remember where it was saved. It’s been a while since I’ve needed to access it. It’s been difficult to find many good things to write about after Steelers games the past three...
Tim Benz: Perceptions of Steelers and Broncos set to be tested Sunday
The better the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing, the more likely coach Mike Tomlin is to discuss the opposing team during his weekly Tuesday press conference. You know, talk up the opponent. Especially if that team is an underdog. Don’t let the locker room get too high on its early accomplishments,...
Tim Benz: With MLB playoffs underway, Pirates’ roster is as far away as ever
If you spent any time in the Pittsburgh sports Twittersphere last Friday, you saw a lot of chatter about the eighth anniversary of the 2013 National League Wild Card Game. The Pirates’ first postseason game in Pittsburgh since 1992. PNC Park. Blackout. Johnny Cueto drops the ball on the pitcher’s...
Airing of Grievances: Steelers’ loss in Green Bay highlights Holy Trinity of fan complaints: play calling, refs, QB
There was plenty to vent about in the wake of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Most of the gripes involved the holy trinity of Steelers fan agitation. • Blame the refs. • Blame the quarterback. • Blame the play calling. In the case...


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