Tim Benz Columns category, Page 79
Tim Benz: Reasons behind Bill Cowher’s angry Jeff Saturday rant go beyond the obvious
On the surface, the reasons why ex-Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher ranted against the Indianapolis Colts’ coaching hire are obvious. Not to mention, completely understandable. But there may have been a little bit more to the subtext that is worth investigating. In case you missed it, Indianapolis fired head coach...
Madden Monday on Kenny Pickett: ‘Right now, I think he stinks’
There were a lot of positives to take away from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 20-10 win on Sunday over the New Orleans Saints. • The Steelers managed to hold the Saints offense to 186 total yards as T.J. Watt returned to action. • The Steelers offense rushed for 217 yards. •...
Feats of Strength: Steelers defense, running game come up big in much-needed win over Saints
Even in a season when optimism has been scarce for the Steelers, there was plenty of reason for some heading into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. The 2-6 Steelers were playing at home, in the cold, after a bye. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt was scheduled to suit...
Tim Benz: Duquesne follows up impressive opener with massive challenge at Kentucky
It’s tough to find anything negative coming out of Duquesne’s first game of the 2022-23 season. The Dukes shot a blistering 64.4% from the floor en route to a 91-63 blowout of Montana. It was a game they led by 42 at one point. They won the rebounding battle by...
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers-Saints by the numbers — and some of the numbers are kinda weird
Here are the most important numbers leading up to the Steelers-Saints game Sunday at Heinz Field. The Steelers are 2-6. The Saints are 3-6. So both clubs are desperate for a win. It’s been five years since New Orleans has had a losing season. It’s been 18 years since we’ve...
Tim Benz: Circumstances of how Penguins snapped losing streak could prove meaningful
No one on the Pittsburgh Penguins bench — or in the entire fan base — could’ve been faulted for being nervous all the way through Wednesday night’s game in Washington. A seven-game losing streak was hanging over their heads. The second-string goalie was playing. They were down two — and...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pop off about Matt Canada, the Chase Claypool trade, criticism of Najee Harris
The Steelers took a week off for their bye. Steelers fans did not. My Twitter feed and inbox are proof of that. At 2-6, I didn’t expect that they would. Here’s this week’s “U mad, bro?” A guy named Tim did not appreciate us posting the comments ex-Bengals cornerback Adam...
First Call: Kenny Pickett emulated this Saints player; bad memories for Steelers against Saints coach
Thursday’s “First Call” has an interesting anecdote from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. There is some unfortunate history against the Saints and their head coach that Mike Tomlin is going to have to overcome. Micah Parsons is trying to lure a free-agent star to Dallas. And a few of Duquesne’s former...
Penguins, Capitals seeing similar struggles to start the season
Even skeptics of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ plan to keep its aging core together for 2022-23 could rely on one angle for optimism heading into the season. If you looked at the Eastern Conference in 2021, there was a 16-point gap between the last playoff spot (the Washington Capitals with 100...
Tim Benz: Based on expectations, Najee Harris is Steelers’ biggest disappointment at halfway mark
During the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye week, a lot of column space and talk-show air time has been dedicated to conversations about what aspect of the team’s performance has been the most disappointing in 2022. The offensive design, play calling, or quarterback execution? Offensive line play? The defense — especially the...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris’ men’s, women’s hockey teams practicing together for next year’s return
Latrobe’s Serena Slusarczyk clearly remembers where she was when she got the news about Robert Morris University cutting its hockey programs. “I was trying on my high school graduation gown,” Slusarczyk recalled. “I get a text message to get on this Zoom call. And they say the RMU hockey program...
Madden Monday: For scapegoats during Penguins’ losing streak, ‘you have got to start with the Big 3’
At the start of the NHL season, I praised the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning the games they needed to win in an effort to bank points early. In other words, build a cushion before the oldest team in hockey wore down late in the season and suffered too many injuries....
Friday Football Footnotes: Pittsburgh native in charge of Bears’ plans for Chase Claypool; Steelers’ next opponent faces Ravens
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a bye this Sunday. But there is plenty of NFL action to keep you intrigued this weekend. For this week’s “Friday Football Footnotes,” we tell you what the plans are for Chase Claypool’s debut in Chicago. Monday night’s game has lots of Steelers implications. And...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans have their say on Chase Claypool trade, Najee Harris, criticism of Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers got blown out again. They made a trade. Despite being 2-6, head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t making changes to his staff, and the former No. 1 pick running back is struggling and carping about the blocking. So, yeah, I had plenty of material at my disposal for...
Fixing how the Penguins play with the lead begins with diagnosing the root of the problem
I know what went wrong with the Pittsburgh Penguins en route to blowing a three-goal lead Tuesday night. During their “Pittsburgh Night” festivities, with the team up 5-2 in the second period over the Boston Bruins, the Pens decided to play “Renegade” as an homage to the Steelers. Let’s just...
Tim Benz: Chase Claypool trade is a win for Steelers’ front office, a loss for Steelers’ image
The trade of wide receiver Chase Claypool looks like a win for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ front office. It’s also a loss for the entire narrative surrounding Steelers football. Both outcomes are the result of the same necessary reality check this organization just made at the halfway point of its rotting...
Tim Benz: Even the most optimistic spin on Steelers after bye rings hollow
There are two main bullet points when it comes to Pittsburgh Steelers fans talking themselves into how their team can be competitive after this bye week. My suggestion is to enjoy the bye while it lasts. At least it’s an entire weekend when you know the Steelers can‘t possibly lose....
Airing of Grievances: Steelers standards sink so far that blowout in Philadelphia seems expected
Fortunately for the Steelers, as heavy underdogs, their 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday didn’t go all that much worse than expected. Unfortunately, it just went — well — exactly as expected. That’s how much the Steelers have fallen and how good the 7-0 Eagles have gotten. The...
U mad bro?: Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett shouldn’t worry — Steelers fans are sinking their teeth into other folks instead
When I started covering the Pittsburgh Steelers more than 20 years ago, I learned two things very quickly. 1. Steelers fans bask in criticizing the quarterback and offensive coordinator. 2. The only thing Steelers fans enjoy more than criticizing the quarterback and the offensive coordinator is criticizing the media for...
Tim Benz: Mike Sullivan points out must-fix flaws after Penguins’ losses in western Canada
The Penguins’ hot start to the 2022-23 season quickly brought visions of a Metropolitan Division title and a deep playoff run to the minds of hockey fans in Pittsburgh. A 4-0-1 start. Scoring over five goals a game. The outset of this season felt like the end of 2016 or...
Tim Benz: Steelers need to get over fear of change at offensive coordinator
During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was reminded that a few weeks ago he said he would be open to changes — if he felt like those changes would yield better results. Now that the team has sunk to 2-5 and the offense is struggling...
Ben Roethlisberger’s latest ‘Footbahlin’ gives unique view of Steelers game-ending play in Miami
During his latest episode of “Footbahlin with Ben,” former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recorded himself and his co-host, Spencer Te’o, watching and analyzing Sunday night’s Steelers-Dolphins game in real time. It was interesting to see how he was taking in the game on television just like the rest of the...
Tim Benz: Chase Claypool wants more ‘go balls’ in Steelers offense — stats suggest he may be right
After another putrid result from the Pittsburgh Steelers offense Sunday night, Chase Claypool had a direct suggestion to help matters. Following the team’s 16-10 loss in Miami, the third-year receiver said the offense needs a few more deep shots. “I just think we need more go balls. Not enough go...
Madden Monday on Steelers’ defeat in Miami: ‘I thought (Kenny) Pickett lost the game’
In the wake of Sunday’s 16-10 defeat in Miami, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE has one very clear message about the play of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. He needs accountability. Not excuses. “I thought Pickett lost the game,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast....
Airing of Grievances: After an inspiring win against Tampa Bay, Steelers return to losing ways with a thud in Miami
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-10 loss in Miami was a prime example of what we’ve seen from them so far this year — even their good isn’t good enough. The defense held the Dolphins to 16 points but dropped at least five interceptions and didn’t come up with any sacks. The...
