Tim Benz Columns category, Page 43
5 on Fautanu: Steelers ‘got a steal’ in their 1st-round pick
Everyone in Pittsburgh seems to love the first-round NFL Draft selection of Troy Fautanu. But let’s get the opinion of someone who covered Fautanu during his entire career at the University of Washington. Dick Fain hosts the afternoon show at 93.3 KJR in Seattle with Dave “Softy” Mahler. He is...
First Call: Ex-Steeler says team is ‘close to landing a significant playmaker’; Bill Cowher staying with CBS as changes swirl
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” a former Steeler has everyone playing a guessing game about who the club may be trying to acquire via trade or free agency. Bill Cowher is staying on CBS’ NFL pregame show as other significant changes are happening. The Steelers are bringing a former Baltimore Raven...
First Call: Steelers reportedly reached out about a Courtland Sutton trade; Joey Porter Jr.’s cousin getting Steelers camp invite
At least one report says the Pittsburgh Steelers did make a trade inquiry about Denver receiver Courtland Sutton. Another supposed Steelers draft target says he was expecting to wind up in Pittsburgh when his phone rang in the second round. A cousin of Joey Porter Jr. is getting a camp...
Tim Benz: Subtle nuggets for each Steelers draft choice that could help them make an impact
We’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the Steelers’ new draft class based on how they performed at the college football level. But what will make them good fits in Pittsburgh, specifically with the current roster constructed as it is? Let’s go pick-by-pick with some subtleties and nuggets...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ solid draft won’t yield a spike in win total
According to Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE, the Pittsburgh Steelers checked some important boxes when it comes to the NFL Draft. Specifically, adding a lot of talent up front on offense by drafting Washington tackle Troy Fautanu and West Virginia center Zach Frazier. “I think they did...
Tim Benz: Our annual ‘What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft’ recap
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are basking in the sunset of a draft that is largely deserving of applause — and here I come with your yearly rain cloud of discontent. It’s my annual I don’t want to write it, you don’t want to hear it, but someone has to say it,...
Tim Benz: Our annual ‘What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft’ recap
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are basking in the sunset of a draft that is largely deserving of applause — and here I come with your yearly rain cloud of discontent. It’s my annual I don’t want to write it, you don’t want to hear it, but someone has to say it,...
Tim Benz: Playing young linemen well worth the risk for Steelers
Steelers fans are getting exactly what they wanted so far in the 2024 NFL Draft. In the ramp-up to this selection weekend, I posted a social media poll asking what position the Steelers should address in the first round on Thursday. After 1,000 votes, 47.4% of respondents wanted a center...
First Call: Troy Fautanu has harsh words for those who think he’s really a guard; Cam Heyward’s health update
Friday’s “First Call” has a firm retort from new Pittsburgh Steelers draft choice Troy Fautanu about some doubts surrounding his game. We have a health update on Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Another Bengal is unhappy in Cincinnati. The Pirates are heading west. And an ex-Pirate is getting ready for...
Tim Benz: Plenty to like about Steelers’ 1st pick, but there’s 1 way they can make us love it
There is a lot to like about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 first-round draft pick, Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. “He has unusually long arms. He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen play the position,” former pro and college scout Matt Williamson told us during our draft preview series....
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger’s draft tip for Steelers; ESPN says Steelers ‘team to watch’ for a Courtland Sutton trade
Thursday’s “First Call” features Ben Roethlisberger’s suggestion for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. We try to connect some dots between Alex Highsmith’s contract restructure and what that means for the Steelers on the wide receiver trade front. A potential second-round draftee talks about why one...
U mad, bro?: Pens fans fed up with Mike Sullivan; Pirates fans peeved over pitch counts; loud Kenny Pickett loyalists
At the time of this post, the Steelers haven’t made their first-round pick in the NFL Draft. So no one in Pittsburgh can be angry about that. Yet. Check back here next week. However, we do have Pitt fans prickly about Kenny Pickett, Penguins fans piping up about missing the...
Tim Benz: Steelers should address positional priority over bulk needs in draft
Apparently, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin feels properly hydrated heading into the start of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. “We’ve been very active in free agency,” Tomlin said Monday. “That makes you really comfortable as we lean in on draft weekend. We’ve addressed a lot of needs, and you...
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: QB class will impact Steelers even if they don’t take one
After replacing Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen, the Pittsburgh Steelers are unlikely to draft a quarterback of consequence in this weekend’s NFL Draft. However, this doesn’t mean the Steelers are immune from the impact of the quarterback draft market over...
First Call: Levi Wallace leaves in free agency; medical concern for potential Steelers draftee; bizarre MLB ejection
Tuesday’s “First Call” features news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. A potential Steelers draft target may have a medical concern. The Brandon Aiyuk trade conversation has more oxygen. And a Pittsburgh-area native was a star during a crazy day at Yankee Stadium. Losing Levi Cornerback Levi Wallace is...
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: Despite Steelers’ need at center, ‘anomaly’ of elite tackles may be too much to pass up
As we discussed in our NFL Draft preview podcast series with former pro and college scout Matt Williamson, the Pittsburgh Steelers have significant needs at defensive back and wide receiver. But in both cases, the truly top-notch players at those positions are likely to be gone by the time they...
Tim Benz: Pirates should give Jared Jones more pitches if he earns them
Russell Wilson’s first throwing attempt in Pittsburgh was a success. The new Steelers quarterback tossed out the first pitch at PNC Park on Friday night. The former minor league baseball player got a warm ovation as he delivered a strike from the top of the mound. Russell Wilson with a...
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: ‘Awesome’ receiver class awaits Steelers to address significant need
I was never the world’s biggest Diontae Johnson fan. But I still wasn’t wild about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent trade which shipped him off to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson. For all of Johnson’s inconsistencies, I still think he was a better receiver than Jackson is a corner. And, while...
First Call: Steelers may have 1st-round trade-down partner, if they want; another team fends off WR trade rumors
Monday’s “First Call” has a draft day trade idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers. More news on a potential Steelers trade target from the wide receiver talent pool. The Pirates may be facing the wrong team at the wrong time. And an ex-Pirates pitcher is mowing down the National League. Something...
Madden Monday: ‘Unprofessional, inexcusable’ moments that wrecked the Penguins’ season
When the Pittsburgh Penguins cleaned out their lockers Thursday after another failed attempt to make the NHL playoffs, forward Lars Eller was asked where this season went wrong. “I think we had some times during the season where we just got too low — emotionally and quality of play,” Eller...
Tim Benz: Penguins brass whistling a familiar tune when it comes to Tristan Jarry
Here’s a quick synopsis of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltending situation. Stop me if this sounds vaguely familiar to any other recent sports storyline in Pittsburgh. The Penguins invested a lot of faith in Tristan Jarry and positioned him as their goaltender of the future and the present. As the season...
First Call: Steelers QB Russell Wilson to throw out Pirates’ 1st pitch; watch Paul Skenes sparkle again in IndyVideo
In Friday’s “First Call,” new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is getting back to his baseball roots. Paul Skenes makes another minor league start. A local pitcher is tearing up the American League in Oakland, and we preview this weekend’s Pirates-Red Sox series at PNC Park. Russ is with us...
Breakfast With Benz NFL Draft preview: Front 7 fits and misses for Steelers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were truly elite at team-building, they could afford to spend high draft choices on front-seven defensive players who didn’t necessarily have to come in and start right away but could contribute and evolve into long-term defensive stalwarts. Particularly along the defensive line. Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt,...
Tim Benz: Penguins leave management with one last reality check to end 2023-24
I’ll give the Pittsburgh Penguins this. At least they’ve been consistent. Even in how they ended the 2023-24 season during a 5-4 loss on the road against the New York Islanders. One more blown lead. One more goal allowed just before the buzzer of a period. One more goal was...
Breakfast With Benz Steelers draft preview: Matt Williamson on defensive backs
As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the NFL Draft (April 25-27), we are doing the same here at Breakfast With Benz. That means it’s time for our annual draft preview series with pro and college scout Matt Williamson. I’ve worked with Williamson for many years on Fox Sports Radio 970...
