Tim Benz Columns category, Page 2
Football Footnotes: Steelers’ approach if T.J. Watt can’t play; 3rd-down play-calling; Miami’s strengths
As everyone associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers waits for health updates on T.J. Watt, the team has to create plans if he can’t play Monday night against the Miami Dolphins. Given the personnel the Steelers have at outside linebacker, those contingencies would seem obvious. Then again, have you seen the...
Tim Benz: Penguins reverted to the Dark Side on ‘Star Wars’ nightVideo
There was a great disturbance in the force during Thursday’s “Star Wars” night game for the Pittsburgh Penguins. “It was horrible,” defenseman Kris Letang said. “It was not good at all.” Letang was a big part of the Planet Alderaan-esque disintegration during a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. It...
First Call: ESPN projects T.J. Watt’s playing status; ex-MLB GM rips Pirates ‘eye wash’ free-agent offers
Friday’s “First Call” paints a bleak picture when it comes to T.J. Watt’s playing status for Monday night. A former MLB general manager is mocking the Pirates’ alleged contract offers to some significant free agents. The Penguins need to salvage their homestand against some teams from the Western Conference this...
U mad, bro?: Steelers media, NFL officials, Pirates front office on the naughty list this holiday season
When the calendar turns to December, there are always three things you can complain about every year. 1. The cold weather. 2. Mall traffic on McKnight Road. 3. The Steelers. This week reminded me to add two more to the list. • NFL officiating. • What the Pirates are doing...
Mike Tomlin’s ‘hot seat’ response has more layers than you might think
In the last few minutes of Mike Tomlin’s news conference Tuesday, WTAE’s Ashley Liotus asked the Steelers’ coach if he felt like he was on the hot seat heading into last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. “Man, I’ve been in the hot seat for 19 years,” Tomlin responded. Before...
Tim Benz: If Kyle Schwarber bid signals dive into deep waters, Ben Cherington can’t wear a life vest
At his weekly press conference, the only thing Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was not asked about was his level of surprise at the news that the Pirates’ “bid” to sign free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber came up short. My guess is that he is as completely stunned as the rest...
First Call: NFL admits blown call in Steelers-Ravens game; key Miami injury update; Tristan Jarry trade rumor
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an admission from the NFL about blowing a call in the Steelers-Ravens game. There is a key injury update surrounding Steelers-Dolphins on “Monday Night Football.” The Penguins open a long home stand against a high-scoring opponent, and we have some Tristan Jarry trade rumors. Walking it...
NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore explains where officials were right, wrong in Steelers-Ravens game
“NFL on CBS” rules analyst Gene Steratore is sticking by his original analysis from Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens game. When it comes to those three controversial calls that helped Pittsburgh win 27-22, the officials got two of them right. Even if Baltimore hates how the rules are written. Making his weekly appearance...
Tim Benz: So much from Steelers-Ravens was overshadowed by officiating debates
During a full day of debate surrounding three huge officiating calls that benefited the Steelers in their 27-22 win over the Ravens on Sunday, Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. gave his blunt assessment of the pass breakup he got on a play that was initially ruled a fourth-quarter touchdown for...
First Call: John Harbaugh struggles with officiating after loss to Steelers; examining Pirates’ reported offer to Kyle Schwarber
Monday’s “First Call” has John Harbaugh’s reaction to those officiating controversies in the Steelers-Ravens game Sunday. We look at the Steelers’ next opponent on “Monday Night Football,” and we have odds on the Penn State and Pitt bowl games. Plus, we examine that alleged contractual offer to Kyle Schwarber from...
Madden Monday: ‘The Ravens were worse, more than the Steelers were better’
During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X had plenty of good things to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-22 victory in Baltimore. “I thought they did a good job rushing (Lamar) Jackson. I thought Jackson was awful, but I thought that they contained...
Feats of Strength: Rodgers-Metcalf connection, late defensive plays save Steelers in Baltimore
It wasn’t quite Charlie Batch leading a stunning upset with a limping Pittsburgh Steelers team in Baltimore in 2012. No. That year, the Ravens were actually good. They were 9-2 at the time and ended up winning the Super Bowl. This year’s Baltimore Ravens team (6-7) is every bit as flawed...
Football Footnotes: A lot to digest in advance of Steelers-Ravens beyond the Mike Tomlin debate
Everyone is talking about Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh. It’s to the point that even the X’s and O’s of a crucial Steelers-Ravens game have been muted during the dialogue of this week’s Steelers coverage. So for this Friday’s “Football Footnotes,” we get into a bunch of other topics surrounding...
First Call: Ravens OC expects Lamar Jackson to play vs. Steelers; George Pickens called ‘uninterested’ in Cowboys’ ‘TNF’ loss
Friday’s “First Call” has Lamar Jackson’s latest health update in advance of his game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. George Pickens was labeled “uninterested” and “disengaged” in Dallas’ “Thursday Night Football” loss in Detroit. The Penguins face another tough opponent after a seesaw win in Tampa. Plus, we lay out the...
First Call: Darius Slay claimed off waivers; Browns open practice window for Deshaun Watson; Pens start rugged stretch
Thursday’s “First Call” has a new destination for former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Darius Slay. The prospect exists that the Steelers might get to face Deshaun Watson when they visit Cleveland after Christmas. The Penguins open up a brutal stretch of games against one of the NHL’s division leaders Thursday...
U mad, bro?: Angry Steelers fans blame everything from coach to weather to ‘Renegade’
I don’t even need to ask. I know you’re mad, bro. The Pittsburgh Steelers have now lost 11 of their last 17 games. It’s their record. It’s their effort. It’s their coaching. It’s their roster construction. It’s the franchise’s lack of urgency. It’s the feeling that things are only going...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger suggests Mike Tomlin would win big at Penn State; PSU vs. Pitt bowl projection
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Ben Roethlisberger thinks it’s time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to split from head coach Mike Tomlin — and he suggests that Tomlin should move on to coach Penn State. There is at least one projection that has Penn State playing Pitt in a bowl game. A...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s ‘belief’ will be tested by his own run defense in Baltimore
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ run defense stinks. Many times this year, that statement has been true. Like over the first three weeks of the season, when it yielded a combined 418 yards to the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Or when Cincinnati’s Chase Brown raced to 108...
First Call: James Harrison says Mike Tomlin isn’t ‘a great coach’; Flyer says team was ‘flat’ vs. Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some grumbling reaction from Philadelphia after the Flyers’ loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. James Harrison pans Mike Tomlin. We get injury updates from Baltimore on a few players as the Ravens prepare to host the Steelers. And we preview snowy college basketball showdowns for Pitt and...
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport: ‘Even discussing firing Mike Tomlin is completely ridiculous’
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, despite noticeable crowd unrest at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not entertaining the idea of firing head coach Mike Tomlin. “Even discussing firing Mike Tomlin is completely ridiculous,” Rapoport said during “NFL Gameday Kickoff” on Monday. “I don’t see any...
Tim Benz: 66,068 people heard ‘Fire Tomlin’ chants at Steelers game. Well, 66,067 anyway
There were 66,068 people at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Buffalo Bills. They all heard the “Fi-re Tom-lin” chants and the boos for “Renegade.” Actually, I should say only 66,067 people. Because we all know Steelers owner Art Rooney II didn’t hear them. He...
First Call: James Cook’s blunt assessment of Steelers’ CBs; Aaron Rodgers bothered by postgame question; Pens vs. Flyers
Buffalo’s star running back tells the world why his team was able to exploit the Pittsburgh Steelers on the ground. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t like a question from the media. Linebacker Patrick Queen snaps at a former Steeler via social media. And the Penguins renew acquaintances with the Flyers in Philadelphia....
Madden Monday: There’s no nice way to put it — the Steelers are ‘gutless’
I’ll admit it. This is an oversimplification of how to critique the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-7 dud of an effort against Buffalo on Sunday, but I’m most disappointed in how the players played on defense, and I’m most disappointed in how the players were coached on offense. Sure, there is some...
Airing of Grievances: 3rd quarter catastrophe, run defense debacle lead to humiliating Steelers loss
Watching the Steelers on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills made me wonder if they all ate some Thanksgiving leftovers that had gone bad in the refrigerator. Because the entire team threw up all over itself during a 26-7 loss to fall to 6-6. The offense was bad. The defense was...
Football Footnotes: The most surprising stat of Steelers-Bills reveals a lot about Mike Tomlin’s team
The most amazing stat heading into the Steelers-Bills game Sunday at Acrisure Stadium is 30:0. Thirty is the number of questions that were asked at head coach Mike Tomlin’s press conference Tuesday. Zero is the number of questions that had to do with the Steelers’ opponent, the Buffalo Bills. Those...
