Tim Benz Columns category, Page 74
Tim Benz: For Pitt basketball — seize upcoming chances to win and play ‘blame game’ later
For fans of the Pitt Panthers basketball team, complaining about the poll voters has proven fruitless. Blaming flawed computer-ranking models — or at least flawed interpretations of them — is doing no good. Jeff Capel’s attempt to take a jab at the ACC Network for weak promotion on Monday was...
First Call: 1 Steeler free agent sounds inclined to stay; Penguins’ FSG ownership discusses future of other investments
At least one Pittsburgh Steelers free agent sure sounds like a guy who wants to stay in Black and Gold. The Florida Panthers and New York Islanders are making waves in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins continue to dominate atop the NHL standings. And the Penguins...
Madden Monday: ‘If it was totally up to me, I would trade (Jason) Zucker and (Brian) Dumoulin. I would be a seller’
The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost the first two games in their critical three-pack of contests against Metropolitan Division rivals. They dropped a 5-4 decision to the New York Islanders on Friday. They fell 5-2 at home to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Game 3 of that batch is Monday...
Tim Benz: Questions remain around Kenny Pickett — and many other quarterbacks
At this time a year ago, pretty much any Pittsburgh Steelers conversation was focused on the quarterback position. Would Aaron Rodgers really retire or leave Green Bay? What’s happening with Russell Wilson and Derek Carr? Do the Steelers have any faith in Mason Rudolph? How serious is the team about...
NFL may ban Eagles’ QB sneak, making some current, former Steelers very happy
Here’s a potential NFL rule change some Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players will actually embrace for a change. Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cameron Heyward recently ripped the idea of the NFL implementing a “hip-drop tackle” ban. But he may like the latest possible addendum to the rule book. Heyward is one...
Tim Benz: Atop ACC — yet unranked — perception of Pitt raises questions about NCAA hoops evaluations
It’s the week of Valentine’s Day in Pittsburgh. It’s been well above 60 degrees the last few days. And the Pitt men’s basketball team is tied for the ACC lead. What’s next? Snow on the Fourth of July and the Pirates leading the National League Central? Honestly, back in early...
Atlantic 10 commissioner, many coaches embrace NCAA Tournament expansion
It’s almost time for March Madness. So get your field-of-96 bracket ready to go! OK. Maybe not this year. But start warming up to the idea of an expanded NCAA Tournament field for the men and the women. Because it certainly feels like momentum is building within NCAA basketball circles...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fan still crusty; NFL referees absorb some shots; Pirates cynicism
Lingering bitterness from Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Agitation over NFL officiating. Cynicism about the Pirates. And disinterest in the Super Bowl. It sure seems like our readers weren’t hugged enough on Valentine’s Day. Or at all. Like, ever. I mean, going back to when they were kids. That’s why I put...
Commitment, tactical changes driving Duquesne’s defensive improvement
Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot grabbed his phone after Wednesday’s practice and opened up a spreadsheet that illustrated his team’s defensive improvement in recent weeks. Not to brag. Just to confirm the numbers. And maybe to convince himself a little bit that the jump in defensive performance is as legit...
Tim Benz: Preparing for XFL coaching debut, Hines Ward embraces Steelers ‘standards’ from Mike Tomlin, Bill Cowher
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward is doing that thing you do when you get older. That thing where you catch yourself saying something to your kids, and you realize you sound just like your mother or father. Except in Ward’s case, he’s not a parent educating a child. He’s a...
‘NFL on CBS’ rules analyst Gene Steratore on late penalty in Super Bowl: ‘It needs to be called’Video
Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35, there have been complaints from fans about the officiating. Specifically, a defensive holding call against Philadelphia’s James Bradberry on Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with 1:54 left in the game, deep in the Eagles defensive...
Tim Benz: Jerome Bettis’ critique of Mike Tomlin’s offense should resonate
In his post-retirement life, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis has done his fair share of media work at ESPN, NBC and locally at WPXI. At no point has anyone ever labeled Bettis a “hot-take artist.” At no point has The Bus garnered the reputation of a flamethrower, spewing...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster describes recruitment to K.C.; predictions for Cam Sutton’s contract; big Super Bowl TV ratings
Tuesday’s “First Call” features some interesting offseason predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers, including one about Cam Sutton’s future. JuJu Smith-Schuster describes how his recruitment to Kansas City began. The Super Bowl television ratings were gigantic. And the Pitt basketball team looks to stay hot against Boston College. Recruitment revealed Wide...
Tim Benz: Fancy stats prove a simple notion in Chiefs’ Super Bowl win — coach, QB shine en route to victory
Sometimes we oversimplify NFL coverage. We make everything about the coach and the quarterbacks. Sometimes, though, that is the case. And sometimes fancy stats can be used to highlight a simple premise. All that was proven true in Super Bowl LVII as the Kansas City Chiefs outscored the Philadelphia Eagles...
Madden Monday: After watching the Super Bowl, the Steelers are ‘nowhere close to being in a game like that’
Let’s try to view the results of Sunday’s Super Bowl victory for the Kansas City Chiefs over the Philadelphia Eagles through the lens of what it means for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE offers a rather blunt assessment....
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers not in the Super Bowl? Here’s how to gamble your way into a rooting interest
It’s another Super Bowl without the Steelers. The 12th in a row, unfortunately. And a clear rooting interest doesn’t seem to exist for Pittsburgh. On one hand, the Kansas City Chiefs are fast becoming the constant goliath out of the AFC. On the other hand, what are you going to...
U mad, bro?: Readers send Valentines on Steelers predictions, Mike Tomlin’s recent record, Ron Hextall’s roster
This is our final “U mad, bro?” before Valentine’s Day. Obviously, Pittsburgh sports fans are feeling the love. Some of you are fawning over Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Others are swooning over Penguins general manager Ron Hextall. And then there are all of you who just can’t get enough of...
Tim Benz: If anyone is happy about ‘hitting the reset button’ for Penguins, it should be Kris Letang
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was clear in his directive for his struggling players upon their return from the All-Star break. The Penguins limped into their week off by dropping two games in a row and four of six. So Sullivan told his squad to “hit the reset button” before...
Duquesne players look to serve coach Keith Dambrot some more ‘gravy’ with his 500th win
In a way, the ultimate compliment to Keith Dambrot as he approaches 500 college basketball coaching victories came from one of his peers in the Atlantic 10, LaSalle head coach Fran Dunphy. “To be perfectly honest, I’m surprised he doesn’t have it already because of all the great work that...
Tim Benz: NFL must listen to Cam Heyward and other defensive players on ‘hip-drop’ penalty consideration
If the NFL just wants to govern itself by Twitter, I hope it follows the account of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward. Because at least he’s tweeting something reasonable. No, seriously. Someone is actually doing that in 2023. It appears the NFL is strongly considering the elimination of the...
A trade scenario Ron Hextall is looking to avoid and some Penguins history he may want to replicate
While meeting with the media Sunday, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall had to deal with a lot of hypothetical questions. About how the team may create salary-cap room. About how it may approach various methods to make his roster better. About what he is going to do with the...
Madden Monday: Why Ron Hextall ‘shouldn’t trade a 1st-round draft pick under any circumstances’
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall met with the media Sunday, and he was asked about a wide range of topics. He didn’t necessarily answer all of the questions that were asked. At least not directly. But when it came to the idea of trading a first-round pick as a...
Tim Benz: We keep hearing about ‘volatility’ within Penguins’ performance — now it’s time to fix it
Before the Pittsburgh Penguins left town for the All-Star break, head coach Mike Sullivan did his best to summarize the way his team has been playing. “There’s been volatility in our game. We’ve got to bring a consistent game every night. We’ve got to put a game on the ice...
Friday Football Footnotes: If not for Tom Brady, how many more Super Bowl rings would Steelers have?
Every now and then, Pittsburgh Steelers fans love to put themselves through the exercise of determining how many Super Bowl trophies the franchise would have in its display case if it weren’t for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Usually that answer comes back at nine or...
Tim Benz: Pittsburgh native Jeff Bergman discusses emotions of ending 30-year NFL officiating career in Super Bowl LVII
As young kids playing football in the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh’s North Side, Jeff Bergman and his friends wanted to become “Johnny Unitas — The Pittsburgh kid with the golden arm.” Or any one of the of the region’s many other pro football legends. Instead, he became Jeff Bergman — a...
