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Tim Benz Columns category, Page 96

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Tim Benz: Most pressing questions that need to be asked of Pirates’ Bob Nutting
The belief within the Pittsburgh media is that the Pirates will have a press conference of some sort Monday to introduce Travis Williams as the team’s new president. If that happens, it is also anticipated that owner Bob Nutting may be on hand to answer questions. That’s rare. If this...
Tim Benz: If Steelers lose on ‘MNF,’ turn out the lights. The party’s over. 
To borrow a phrase from “Monday Night Football” lore, if the Steelers lose to the Dolphins Monday at Heinz Field: “Turn out the lights. The party’s over.” To be honest, the party should’ve broken up the minute JuJu Smith-Schuster fumbled in overtime against the Baltimore Ravens. Maybe it did. But...
Tim Benz: Randy Fichtner gives us one way Dolphins could upset Steelers 
Whether Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner meant to, he essentially told us the only way the Miami Dolphins could possibly pull off an upset in the “Monday Night Football” game at Heinz Field. Before the bye weekend hit, Fichtner was asked about improvements that the Steelers’ offense could make. “We’ve...
Tim Benz: Travis Williams needs more than Penguins pixie dust to fix Pirates
“Welcome back, Travis! Now how long before you fix everything? It’s been 40 years since the Pirates’ last World Series. I’m starting to get a little antsy.” Of course, I’m exaggerating about how some Pittsburgh sports fans are reacting to the hire of Travis Williams as the new team president...
Tim Benz: Failure to add OLB depth catching up to Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers set themselves up for this. They had it coming. On Monday night when the team plays against Miami, it could be down to just one outside linebacker — Bud Dupree — with significant game experience. Anthony Chickillo was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list because of his...
Tim Benz: Steelers vs. Eagles annually at State College in 17-game NFL season? Maybe 
Roger Goodell reignited the conversation about a 17-game regular season this week. At the conclusion of the fall owners meetings, the NFL commissioner admitted that angle is part of the collective bargaining agreement conversations. How will that happen? Who knows. An unbalanced, 8-9/9-8 rotating road-home split per season is an...
Tim Benz: Gut reactions to following Gerrit Cole as opposed to Marc-Andre Fleury 
When the World Series starts Tuesday night, former Pittsburgh Pirate Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals in Game 1. Cole’s dominant run through the postseason hasn’t exactly been embraced in the same way that one-time Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s was when he...
Tim Benz: How awful ‘Mud Bowl’ Dolphins compare to awful team set to face Steelers
This Miami Dolphins team the Pittsburgh Steelers will face Monday night is bad. Really bad. Every bit as worthy of being 0-6 bad as you might assume. Offensively, the Dolphins are tied for last with the New York Jets in the NFL in points per game (10.5). They are 31st...
Tim Benz: An airing of grievances even without a Steelers game 
So I’m sure you’re thinking, with no Pittsburgh Steelers game this week, there will be no “Airing of Grievances” on “Breakfast With Benz.” C’mon. You know me better than that. Just because the Steelers give us so much to complain about, that doesn’t mean we can’t complain without them. Especially...
Tim Benz: Some Steelers superlatives as the bye week ends 
Now that the bye week is done, it’s time to look at some Pittsburgh Steelers superlatives thus far in the 2019 season. After all, Mike Tomlin always likes to say how much self-evaluation he likes to do of his team during the bye. So we did a little of our...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin makes right call on quarterbacks, despite odd logic
What Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin decided to do with his quarterback situation was the right move. I’m just not so sure about the logic he used to get there. Or why he is as secure in the decision as he appears to be. On Wednesday, Tomlin was asked if...
U mad, bro? Readers aren’t happy with Mike Tomlin’s coaches, referees, Steelers’ defense 
Stillers, Stillers, nuthin’ but Stillers, n’at! That’s where we are living in our “U mad, bro?” post for the week. Readers lob opinions on the Steelers defense, Mike Tomlin’s assistant coaches, referees and the field in Los Angeles. What? Nothing about the return the Pirates got for Gerrit Cole? Or...
Tim Benz: Did refs in Steelers’ game open replay wormhole to fix call? 
Because of all the bad calls in the “Monday Night Football” game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, NFL officiating is top of mind this week. So it got me flashing back to Sunday night’s confusing fair-catch moment between Los Angeles Chargers punt returner Desmond King II and...
Tim Benz: Dear NFL officials, you stink. Be brave. Do better. 
Dear NFL officials, This is Tracy Walker. He plays for the Detroit Lions. He was trying to intercept a ball on this play Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. This isn’t a penalty. Walker was playing the ball. But the NFL doesn't want to hear it. pic.twitter.com/OMdW5ZqoOV— Due# (@JDue51)...
Tim Benz: Steelers win, but some grievances to air: Injuries, wide receivers’ play, stopping tight ends 
Given that the Steelers have only managed to win twice this year, I wanted to allow a little time before our weekly “Airing of Grievances.” After all, we’ve got to pick our spots to bask in the warm afterglow of victory, don’t we? That said, the Steelers’ second win of...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris goalie Justin Kapelmaster off to strong start
When starting goaltender Francis Marotte transferred to Clarkson during the offseason, it created what appeared to be a massive void on the depth chart for the Robert Morris Colonials. Usually, problems like that aren’t patched over by the time the first weekend of conference play is concluded. Usually. Fortunately for...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ feats of strength after 24-17 win over Chargers 
The Pittsburgh Steelers were traveling to the West Coast — where they are always bad — to play the Los Angeles Chargers. They were banged up, absent eight regulars. And they had to start third-string quarterback Devlin “Duck Dynasty” Hodges. So I had the “Airing of Grievances” template ready to...
U mad, bro? Steelers are bad, so it’s all Mike Tomlin, all the time for readers
It’s all Mike Tomlin, all the time in “U mad, bro?” this week. His decision to kick away in overtime. His hypothetical relocation to Washington. His superiority to me as a head coach. All of these matters are clearly up for debate. Well, most of them anyway. Billy did not...
Tim Benz: Steelers are dealing with many unhappy returns
Mike Tomlin’s hunch about his dreadful kick return team was so bleak, the Steelers’ head coach felt the need to give up possession of the football after winning the overtime coin toss last Sunday. That was an overreaction from Tomlin. And it was the wrong move. Yes, I say that...
Tim Benz: If Devlin ‘Duck Dynasty’ Hodges starts for the Steelers, just let him fly 
My expectations weren’t high. But I allowed myself to be pleasantly surprised. Hey, I can do that. I witnessed the Pirates win three whole playoff games back in 2013, you know. With my own eyes! I had a micro-level response like that on Sunday. That’s when Devlin “Duck Dynasty” Hodges...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ inconsistent start leading to low-tension games
This year’s Pittsburgh Penguins team certainly doesn’t seem to be one that’s high on tension. It’ll let you beat the traffic out of the arena. In the club’s first game, it put forth a listless effort in a flat 3-1 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Sabres. In Game 2 Saturday,...
Tim Benz: What it would take for Steelers to trade Mike Tomlin to Redskins 
I’d do this. Would the Pittsburgh Steelers? No. Would Mike Tomlin want it? Unlikely. He shouldn’t. At least if football stability itself dictates his decision. For other reasons? Well, only he would know that. Since both ESPN and CBSSports.com are fanning the flames on this topic, let’s take a look...
Tim Benz: Evgeni Malkin, Nick Bjugstad injuries have ripple effect beyond their absences 
I’ll reiterate a sentiment I expressed last month. Someone please give me a giant sleeping pill so I can pass out until January 2020. It’s time to be done with 2019. This weekend the tone surrounding Pittsburgh’s pro franchises went from bad to worse to “I think need a new...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s OT call in Steelers loss was logical but lacked common sense 
Mike Tomlin’s decision to kick off to begin overtime against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday made perfect sense. If you are willing to ignore common sense. Which I am not. In case you missed what happened, the Steelers won the coin flip to start overtime, tied with their AFC North...
Tim Benz: Much airing of grievances as Steelers lose to Ravens 
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s turnover cost the Steelers the game. His overtime fumble allowed the Baltimore Ravens to kick a field goal and win 26-23 Sunday at Heinz Field. That’s an obvious grievance. Mike Tomlin’s call to defer after winning the overtime coin toss worked. By his logic anyway. But that decision...


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