Tim Benz Columns category, Page 61
Tim Benz: ‘We played Wiffle Ball almost every day … When you were pitching, you were Teke’
A young baseball player in the 1970s, John Wehner grew up in Pittsburgh as a massive fan of the Pirates and their 1979 World Series championship team. Now a broadcaster for the Pirates after wearing the uniform himself for nine years, those memories have not faded for the Carrick High...
First Call: ESPN projections for Steelers’ playoff chances; ex-Steeler already trade bait?
Monday’s “First Call” pins a percentage on the Steelers’ playoff chances. A former Steeler may be on the way out with his new team. The Pirates are about to battle one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball, and Robert Morris’ hockey teams are officially back at practice for...
Madden Monday: ‘There’s just not anything to dislike’ about Kenny Pickett’s preseason for Steelers
After a 3-0 preseason for the Steelers, many in Pittsburgh are bumping up their 2023 win total predictions by multiple games. Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X has a more conservative approach. “I might be coerced into 10-7 instead of 9-8. But, for me, there’s still plenty of...
Tim Benz: Reestablishing ‘the standard’ for ascending Steelers — and let’s remember it all the way through January
Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers are giddy in anticipation of the opening game for the 2023 season on Sept. 10. Based on how the preseason went, they should be. Not only did the club win all three of its games, but the first-team offense sparkled under the direction of the...
First Call: Ex-Steelers QB could start in Arizona; pricey Roberto Clemente bat auction; Aaron Donald’s new ring trend
Friday’s “First Call” sees a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback on the move. John Lynch’s real opinions on the Nick Bosa situation may be shining through in San Francisco. A piece of Roberto Clemente memorabilia is up for auction. And Penn Hills product Aaron Donald may have started a very unique...
Feats of Strength: Perfect Pickett delivers unbeaten preseason
I’m not going to be the one to remind you that the Steelers went 3-0 in the preseason last year, too, and missed the playoffs. Wait, I did that already. This feels different, though, doesn’t it? The Steelers sparkled in all areas, sweeping through their three-game preseason. It culminated with...
Tim Benz: Fantasy football tips, Steelers projections, as draft season is upon us
The Steelers and the rest of the NFL are wrapping up the preseason this weekend. That means it’s fantasy football draft time. My team, “Hodgepodge of Nothingness” (thanks for the inspiration, Dennis Eckersley), won my league last year. I could offer you some advice. Or I could offer you the...
First Call: 49ers reveal QB depth chart for opener vs. Steelers; new ACC expansion talk; will McCutchen hit 300th vs. Cubs?
Thursday’s “First Call” gets the full breakdown of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback depth chart as they prepare for the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have the network broadcast team for that game, and a little Steelers-Niners history from an opening-day perspective. Plus, we examine the latest...
U mad, bro?: Steelers preseason hype, RB1 debates, SMU in the ACC and lanternflies
There is only one thing that has truly made me mad this week. Lanternflies. Gawd, do I hate those things! I feel like I’m in the Battle of Stirling scene from “Braveheart.” “We’re outnumbered … at least three to one!” Watch the video I posted of the war zone that...
Pumped-up Steelers optimism not yet impacting gambling lines
Two strong preseason results and a training camp free of injuries to star players has yielded wild optimism about the Steelers within the team’s fanbase. On Monday, I was listening to our colleague Mark Madden on his talk show on 105.9 The X. He was taking numerous calls from fans...
First Call: 49ers sign ex-Steeler in advance of opener; Antonio Brown in trouble yet again
The San Francisco 49ers don’t have Nick Bosa in the fold yet, but they do have a pretty good resource for information on the Steelers. Antonio Brown is in hot water again, and the Steelers may be on their way to tackling the NFL’s next marketing genius. All that in...
Tim Benz: This position group will result in the hardest cuts for Steelers coaches
Heading into Thursday night’s preseason finale in Atlanta, one good thing about the 2023 Steelers is that it doesn’t appear there will be many players kept on cutdown day (Aug. 29) just to round out the depth chart. That hasn’t necessarily been the case at the bottom of the roster...
Tim Benz: Steelers defense views preseason finale against Falcons as ‘great test’ for 49ers in regular season opener
On the surface, one might think that a road game in Atlanta may not be the most effective tune-up for the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary in its final preseason game. After all, no team in the NFL ran the ball more times (559) than the Falcons did last season. With the...
Matt Canada on carries for Steelers RBs: ‘Najee (Harris) is our 1. There’s no doubt about that’
Something pretty well-known about Pittsburgh sports fans is that we really do love our backups. The backup quarterback. The backup goalie. The young prospects on the farm for the Pirates. Players who we have seen in brief flashes that we immediately believe will be better than the guy who is...
Tim Benz: Even with fast start, Steelers coaches have plenty to examine during preseason finale vs. Falcons
Everyone in Pittsburgh seems excited about how the Steelers have looked so far, and rightfully so. In their two victories to open up the preseason, the Steelers offense has been potent. The defense has created numerous splash plays. The special teams have been a plus. Considering the amount of good...
First Call: Surprising retirement for an ex-Steeler; Brock Purdy gets a preseason start; will Steelers see Bijan Robinson?
Monday’s “First Call” has word of a surprising retirement for a former Pittsburgh Steeler. We find out how the San Francisco 49ers are shaping up in advance of their regular-season debut at Acrisure Stadium. We check in on Atlanta’s plans when it comes to Bijan Robinson’s playing time against the...
Feats of Strength: Steelers’ first-teamers decidedly win ‘sparring session’ against Bills
The Steelers and Buffalo Bills wanted to see “good-on-good” at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday night. So both clubs started most of their first-team players for the second preseason game of 2023. Well, half of that ended up happening. The Steelers were good. Buffalo was not. The Steelers dusted the Bills,...
Steeler-Bills preview: Bills provide test for Steelers starters; Damar Hamlin returns to Pittsburgh
If there was a “yeah, but …” to be had from the Steelers’ 27-17 preseason-opening win in Tampa Bay last week, it was that their solid all-around performance came against primarily the Buccaneers’ reserves (particularly on defense). That won’t be the case this week against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach...
First Call: Bills will play their 1st-teamers vs. Steelers; Browns-Eagles slopfest
The Pittsburgh Steelers will see some of the Buffalo Bills’ starters on Saturday. It would have been nice to watch some starters at quarterback in the Browns-Eagles game Thursday. The Pirates play the streaky Twins this weekend. And we remember a hockey play-by-play favorite. All that in Friday’s “First Call.”...
Tim Benz: Steelers offensive line better suited to endure injuries it managed to avoid a year ago
Throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2022 preseason, the offensive line was such a concern that it almost equaled the scuttlebutt surrounding who would replace Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. That continued into the regular season where, slowly but surely, the Steelers offensive front managed to gain a little traction. Familiarity eventually led...
First Call: Steelers vet backs Ryan Clark’s claim about George Pickens; injury concerns at corner for Ravens
Thursday’s “First Call” has quite a comparison for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens. We track some news and notes about the Steelers’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. And the Baltimore Ravens are getting depleted at one specific position. Is Ryan right? Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings...
Tim Benz: Former Steelers nemesis offers high praise, big predictions for a specific player
A former Pittsburgh Steelers-killer is all in on the Black and Gold for 2023. Also rookie tight end Darnell Washington is getting high praise from one of the best ever at his position. All of that is coming from the same guy. It’s former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay...
U mad, bro?: While Steelers look good after preseason opener, there’s still plenty to make Pittsburgh sports fans angry
When the Pittsburgh Steelers win their first preseason game, the first-team offense looks smooth, the defense makes a few plays, and none of the stars get hurt, there is very little to complain about. Because we had plenty of angst and agitation from readers this week, but very little of...
Steelers’ Hawaiian, Samoan players plan efforts to aid Maui following tragic wildfires
Shortly after his eye-opening debut in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason game, rookie linebacker Nick Herbig got on Instagram to celebrate the win and his 1.5 sack, three-tackle performance. But Herbig also made sure to subtweet the NFL’s efforts to raise funds for wildfire relief on Maui. Please help my...
First Call: Kenny Pickett wins Steelers HR derby again; Bills have fight-filled practice in advance of Pittsburgh trip
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us Kenny Pickett’s continued dominance of the Pittsburgh Steelers home run hitting contest at training camp. Plus, Steelers coaches look to boost James Pierre’s game. Also, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be in the clear with an injury scare to Micah Parsons, and James Washington needs...
