Tim Benz Columns category, Page 83
Tim Benz: Steelers embrace ‘moving target’ versatility for defensive backfield
On the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, head coach Mike Tomlin gave an in-depth breakdown of how the slot position has changed for wide receivers over the years. “Years ago, there was a designated slot guy,” Tomlin said at Saint Vincent College. “And that was the only guy...
Penguins forward Teddy Blueger involved in summer league’s first-ever on-ice fight
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Teddy Blueger just made a little history. He is currently participating in Da Beauty League. It’s a summer league that features many NHL and top-notch college and amateur players. Founded in 2015, it is believed that the league has never featured a fight. Until Monday. And Blueger...
Duquesne quarterback Joe Mischler looks to return from injury, regain starting position for opener at Florida State
In Pittsburgh, we’ve spent a lot of time this summer talking about quarterbacks. The Steelers have a new rookie in Kenny Pickett, a new free agent in Mitch Trubisky and a returning incumbent in Mason Rudolph vying for the job. At Pitt, new transfer Kedon Slovis will likely to take...
Tim Benz: Ways to address Steelers offensive line? Coach around it in 2022, make it better in 2023
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen have nowhere to hide. After the unit’s shaky performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Saturday’s 16-15 preseason win, the players are taking heat from fans and media outside the team facility and their own head coach within it. Consider this anecdote from guard Kendrick Green after...
Madden Monday: Steelers offensive line ‘might be worse’ than last year — and it may impact the QB thinking too
There have been plenty of positives to discuss regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victories in each of their first two preseason games. • All three quarterbacks — Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph — have performed very well. • The wide receivers — namely rookie George Pickens — have impressed....
Tim Benz: Steelers go 2 for 3 on Mike Tomlin’s checklist in Jacksonville. The miss was a big one
After the Steelers’ 32-25 victory in their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, coach Mike Tomlin identified three specific areas of improvement that he wanted to see in Game 2. They were: • Sharper two-minute execution on both sides of the ball • Improved pass protection • Better run...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans split on booing Mason Rudolph, Pirates fans on edge about Dennis Eckersley’s comments
Some people are mad that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph got booed Saturday night. Others seem to think he got off easy. Some people are angry at what Red Sox broadcaster Dennis Eckersley said about the Pirates. Others seem to think he could have poured it on more. Some people...
Tim Benz: Talk of trading Chase Claypool for Roquan Smith is one thing, dealing him for the sake of it is something else
I’ve been pretty hard on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool over the past year and a half. But even I’m a little hesitant to jump on all the recent talk about him being traded. The latest salvo in that regard came from ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio. Speaking Wednesday on 93.7...
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Minkah Fitzpatrick: ‘I’d like to see him get back to the turnover ways’
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin broached the topic on his own Tuesday. So it must be something top of mind for him and the rest of the Steelers coaching staff. How do they rediscover the natural playmaking ability of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick? How do they put him in positions...
Tim Benz: Red Sox broadcast team humiliates Pirates — and hopefully everyone in Pittsburgh applauds what they said
Just another night covering Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Latrobe. The workday is done. The quotes are transcribed. The photos are attached. The stories are filed. Let’s have a beer or two at Sharky’s, watch the Pirates lose again and call it a night. Rinse. Wash. Repeat in the morning....
Mike Tomlin addresses 3 points of concern for Steelers after win over Seattle
In the wake of the Steelers’ preseason-opening victory against the Seattle Seahawks, most of Pittsburgh seems enthused by the outcome because of how well all three quarterbacks played. Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett combined for a 124.9 passer rating en route to the 32-25 win. They totaled 224...
Madden Monday: As far as Mason Rudolph goes, ‘best thing for the Steelers this year’ is keeping all 3 QBs
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE agrees with the main sentiment in Pittsburgh that emerged after the Steelers preseason opener Saturday night. For the most part, all three quarterbacks — Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett — played well. In fact,...
Kordell Stewart still relishes ‘Slash’ role
When former Pittsburgh Steeler Kordell Stewart thinks back to training camp at Saint Vincent, one word comes to mind. “Hot,” Stewart exclaimed during a phone call Wednesday. “Slash” joined me for Thursday’s Bella Construction “Letters from Camp” podcast to discuss a broadcast venture of his own. Stewart is launching a...
Tim Benz: All 3 Steelers QBs deserve praise. And Mason Rudolph deserves a break
It’s not like the boos were raining down from Acrisure Stadium when Mason Rudolph was introduced as the second quarterback during the Steelers preseason opener Saturday night. It was more of a grumbling murmur. A disgruntled undercurrent. Whatever you wanted to call it, it got louder when Rudolph took his...
Football Footnotes: Browns may go after Jimmy Garoppolo; Malik Willis’ debut; Antonio Brown’s witty response to meme
This week’s “Friday Football Footnotes” has an update on Cleveland’s plans at quarterback if Deshaun Watson’s suspension becomes longer. Malik Willis had some highlights in his NFL preseason debut with the Tennessee Titans. The NFL finally does something right in terms of quarterback contact. And Antonio Brown actually did something...
Tim Benz: A Pirates-worthy set list for ‘The Stadium Tour’ at PNC Park
I’ve been sitting on tickets for the Stadium Tour concert at PNC Park since it was announced in December 2019. Motley Crue, Poison, Def Leppard and Joan Jett? C’mon! It’s the 1980s and ‘90s soundtrack of my youth. Of course, I’m going. But it’s been delayed twice because of coronavirus....
Tim Benz: Kordell Stewart discusses his time in Pittsburgh as ‘Slash,’ his outlook for ‘rebuilding’ Steelers in 2022
When former Pittsburgh Steeler Kordell Stewart thinks back to training camp at Saint Vincent College, one word comes to mind. “Hot,” exclaimed Stewart during a phone call Wednesday. “Slash” joined me for Thursday’s Bella Construction “Letters from Camp” podcast to discuss a broadcast venture of his own. Stewart is launching...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans simmer over stadium name, safety helmets, ESPN ‘GOAT’ list; Pirates fans fume about Hall of Fame
You might think that by this point, Pittsburgh Steelers fans would get over their angst surrounding the Heinz Field name change, the Guardian Caps on NFL helmets and Diontae Johnson’s contract. You might think that. You’d be wrong. Way wrong. That’s to say nothing of their opinions surrounding the NFL...
Considering recent precedent, was Diontae Johnson’s Steelers contract struck with long-term future in mind?
Diontae Johnson’s time with the Pittsburgh Steelers doesn’t have to end when his new contract extension expires following the 2024 season. At least that appears to be the sentiment of the team’s general manager Omar Khan. Last week, Johnson signed a two-year, $36.7 million extension, which gave him a $17...
Tim Benz: Reasons for optimism about Steelers offensive line — beyond the belief that 2021 was as bad as it could get
If there is a reason to predict optimism about the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line in 2022, it can be boiled down to the simple explanation of, “Well, it can’t be any worse than last year. So I guess it has to be better.” Based on some of the stats from...
Tim Benz: Larry Ogunjobi shows Steelers — and himself — that his injured foot is ready to go
Post-practice media interviews at Steelers training camp certainly aren’t Mike Tomlin’s favorite part of the day. But after Monday’s workout at Latrobe Memorial Stadium, an ear-to-ear grin slowly crept across Tomlin’s face when he realized one of the questions was about Larry Ogunjobi’s debut. “It didn’t take long for his...
Tim Benz: 1st Pirates Hall of Fame class has an important inclusion, a glaring omission and a contentious debate
Looking at the list of inaugural Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame inductees, my immediate thought was that the decision makers involved got one important name right, one omission glaringly wrong, and there is one debate that could get harder to reconcile the longer the player in question stays out. In...
Friday Football Footnotes: Ben Roethlisberger’s name dragged into Deshaun Watson mess; J.K. Dobbins, Saquon Barkley making comebacks
“Friday Football Footnotes” this week looks at how Ben Roethlisberger’s name is getting dragged into the suspension wrangling of Deshaun Watson. J.K. Dobbins and Saquon Barkley are looking to make big comebacks in 2022. And there are legal problems in Arizona. Watson’s ‘whataboutism’ Apparently, Deshaun Watson’s legal camp is going...
First Call: Najee Harris called top-10 in NFL; Jose Quintana shines in Cardinals debut; Joe Musgrove’s struggles mount
A former NFL star at running back has a favorable view of Steelers’ 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris. Jose Quintana was great in his first start after leaving the Pirates. Another ex-Pirate, Joe Musgrove, is going through tougher times. And a former Penguin is getting a coaching job. All that...
Tim Benz: Steelers, Diontae Johnson had to give up a lot to settle on contract
The Steelers’ new contract with wide receiver Diontae Johnson sums up that old adage from business negotiations. A fair deal for both sides probably means that neither side is completely happy with the contract that has been signed. I don’t think that always has to be true. Look at Sidney...
