Steelers/NFL category, Page 441
Steelers daily preview: Wide receivers try to build off productive preseason opener
Each day of Steelers training camp, the Trib rounds up some things to pay attention to during practice at Saint Vincent: WHAT TO WATCH Unsung wide receivers: While JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief and rookie third-rounder Diontae Johnson were rested for the preseason opener against Tamp Bay, fringe players such as...
Towering Zach Gentry gives Steelers clarity in tight end pecking order
A familiar scene unfolded in the third quarter Saturday night at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback scrambled around in the pocket, searching for a target in the back of the end zone. He let loose a high throw, and the tall, lanky tight end wearing a No. 81 jersey...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers need James Washington to build on preseason performanceVideo
James Washington knows what you’re thinking, even shooting a side-eye to the suggestion that his performance in the preseason opener was exactly what he needed. That the second-year receiver had four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in a 30-28 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night at Heinz...
Tim Benz: Unbalanced ‘Duel of the Devins’ goes to Steelers’ Devin BushVideo
In our first chance to see the “Duel of the Devins,” there was a clear answer as to which one had the best NFL debut at inside linebacker. The answer? Mack Wilson of Cleveland. Mack Wilson having himself a GAME. 2nd pick of the night pic.twitter.com/UK6gtVOBPf— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) August...
Rookie guard Fred Johnson plays more than 3 quarters of Steelers’ preseason opener
Fred Johnson wasn’t told prior to his NFL game debut that he’d play in almost all of it. “They just kept telling me I wasn’t coming out,” Johnson, a rookie offensive lineman, said of his Pittsburgh Steelers coaches. “So I didn’t (argue). The more reps, the merrier.” So, there Johnson...
Whirlwind day takes Homewood’s Trevon Mathis to Steelers
Trevon Mathis was volunteering to help coach kids on the same Homewood field where he learned to play. Little did he know Thursday he would quickly go from the Homewood Community Sports Bulldogs to the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It still hasn’t hit me all the way,” Mathis said late Friday night...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Devin Bush’s debut, QBs highlight Steelers’ victory in preseason opener
You know it’s only the NFL preseason when there are more fans in their seats at Heinz Field at the start of the second half than for the opening kickoff. Then again, there might have been more fans in their seats after the 2018 season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals...
Backup QBs, Washington help Steelers win preseason opener vs. BuccaneersVideo
The chance to be No. 2 was twice as nice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night at Heinz Field. Joshua Dobbs and Mason Rudolph did little to hurt their chances of winning the No. 2 quarterback job, and wide receiver James Washington took a step toward earning the second...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger might earn NFL MVP, but he won’t win it
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is Las Vegas’ favorite to be NFL MVP. His odds are 11-2. Mahomes won MVP last year. Baker Mayfield did well as a rookie last season, but Cleveland finished 7-8-1. Yet Mayfield inexplicably ranks fourth among MVP favorites at 11-1. Those odds are too short....
First Call: Ravens pitch preseason shutout; Cubs’ Javier Baez bats lefty
Friday’s “First Call” features a first report on the Ravens, Kyler Murray’s debut, another preseason pass-interference review and a little fun for the Reds and Cubs — before and during the game. Meanwhile in Baltimore We showed you how the Browns showed up with a 30-10 win in the preseason...
Donning a literal hard hat, workmanlike Eli Rogers re-claiming his role in Steelers offense
It was not uncommon for Eli Rogers to be spotted in a construction hard hat around UPMC Rooney Sports Complex last fall, and he showed up to training camp last month in the cab of a big rig. Rogers clearly wants to advance he is all about business, and he’s...
Fantasy sports podcast: How RB holdouts affect drafts; Pirates free fall
In this week’s fantasy sports podcast, Jeff Erickson of Rotowire helps guide us through draft advice. The most pressing question this year is similar to one at this time a season ago: Do I draft a holdout running back in the first round? Last year, it was Le’Veon Bell. This...
Tim Benz: Best in Steelers camp so far? An obvious, but important, answer
At the end of the first week of Steelers training camp, I get the same question every year. Friends, family, acquaintances, emails, tweets. “So, who looks good up there?” That. And, “How they gonna be?” I better have a prediction ready. And it better not be off. Not by one...
Steelers’ Matt Feiler pulling away with starting right tackle job
It was billed as the lone winner-take-all starting position battle during this Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. But has Matt Feiler’s strong play on the practice fields of Saint Vincent already rendered the Steelers’ starting right tackle verdict moot? The man with perhaps the most input into that decision smiled when...
Chris Boswell among 5 players to watch in Steelers’ preseason opener
Since the day the 2018 season ended short of a playoff appearance, the Pittsburgh Steelers have waited for the opportunity when they could start making amends. That process begins Friday in the form of the preseason opener that will help define the makeup of the 53-man roster the Steelers will...
With LeVeon Bell, Antonio Brown gone, will ‘D’ again be Steelers identity?
For each of the past five seasons, the Steelers have had a better ranking in total offense than in total defense. How rare is that for a franchise far more identified for its defense? The Steelers’ ‘D’ ranked higher than its offense 58 of the previous 74 seasons, according to...
In 4th Steelers season, Jerald Hawkins out to show he’s healthy, worthy
By official NFL accounting, Jerald Hawkins is in his fourth season. Only four of his fellow Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen have more tenure. Then again, Hawkins has only five games and 47 snaps of professional regular-season experience. That makes the offensive tackle a unique player to watch in Friday’s preseason...
Woodland Hills’ Trevon Mathis joins Steelers; RB Ralph Webb waived
Beset by injuries at cornerback during training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed free agent Trevon Mathis, a Western Pennsylvania native who attended Woodland Hills before enrolling at Toledo. Mathis is 5-foot-10, 186 pounds. He was signed to provide depth in the wake of injuries to Justin Layne, Brian Allen, Artie...
U mad, bro?: Readers defend Mike Tomlin and the Browns, attack replay and the Bucs
This week’s “U mad, bro?” features Pirates angst, frustration over the brawl suspensions, replay rage, Mike Tomlin defense, and Browns hysteria from Cleveland. Todd is a Cleveland Browns fanboy. And he did not like the fact that I poked some fun at a little training camp turmoil surrounding his team....
Tim Benz: A lesson in hope versus blind faith for the Steelers, Pirates
I want to expand on a thought that I heard from my ESPN Radio Pittsburgh colleague Adam Crowley. And by “expand on a thought,” what I’m trying to say is, I want to steal his idea. Which I will. To be fair, I think Adam stole it from me. Because...
USA Today’s Nate Davis talks about his Top 100 teams list, picks Steelers in AFC North
Here at “Breakfast With Benz” on Wednesday, we posted a link to Nate Davis’ USA Today story that ranked the Top 100 teams in NFL history. The Steelers were well-represented. Seven different editions of the franchise were on it — all six Super Bowl champs and the 1976 team that...
Undrafted Steelers rookie QB Devlin Hodges draws rave reviews
As Devlin Hodges spoke to reporters after practice Wednesday at Saint Vincent, a pair of rookie teammates laughed and made loud quacking noises as they walked past. Hodges didn’t miss a beat, remaining undeterred, similar to a quarterback patiently staying on his reads while pass-rushers approach. It takes a lot...
Kevin Gorman: With Sean Davis out, free safety becomes a storyline for Steelers
Sean Davis isn’t happy about being stuck on the sidelines for the majority of training camp, a self-described cheerleader for the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary. While recovering from a fractured ring finger on his left hand — taped to cover what Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called “an open wound” — the...
Steelers Inside the Ropes: Boswell sharp again, makes 2 beyond 50 yards
In the final practice before the preseason opener, the Pittsburgh Steelers put their kickers to one more test Wednesday at Saint Vincent. Chris Boswell and rookie Matthew Wright alternated attempts toward the goalpost at the hillside of Chuck Noll Field. The kickers then concluded practice by kicking in simulated “mayday”...
Brian Allen, Jerald Hawkins added to Steelers’ lengthy injury list, albeit most considered minor
Another practice at Saint Vincent, another large group of Pittsburgh Steelers players who were not in pads and watching from the sidelines. Other than the scare caused by Joe Haden leaving the field on a cart, the list of those who sat out practice Wednesday on Chuck Noll Field mostly...
