Tim Benz Columns category, Page 72
Draft prep 101: Deep group of tight ends, shallow pool of wide receivers may influence Steelers’ strategy
Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host, Matt Williamson, joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups. Thursday’s...
Draft prep 101: Offensive tackles the Steelers can’t pass up
Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host, Matt Williamson, joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups. Wednesday...
Draft prep 101: Potential draft picks speak to evolving look of Steelers defensive frontVideo
Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups. Tuesday...
Draft prep 101 (secondary): If Joey Porter Jr. is available at pick No. 17, is it a lock the Steelers take him?
Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups. We...
Tim Benz: Logan Cooley’s NCAA success a highlight for Pittsburgh’s youth hockey development
To this point, it’s tough to envision a scenario in which Logan Cooley’s debut season in NCAA hockey could’ve gone any better. As the No. 3 overall pick (Arizona Coyotes) in last summer’s NHL Draft, much was expected of the West Mifflin product — and he has delivered. The 18-year-old...
U mad, bro?: Penguins fans seeing red, Steelers fans in a funk, Pirates fans ticked even before 1st pitch
Pittsburgh Penguins fans have reached peak angst. Steelers fans are languishing. And Pirates fans are already ticked off — even though the season hasn’t even started yet. Here’s something else to get mad about. There will be no “U mad, bro?” next week as “Breakfast With Benz” is on vacation....
First Call: Another cornerback Steelers may consider in draft; bad night for Penguins in playoff race; Pirates bets
With the draft about a month away, we keep surfing through potential cornerback picks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Penguins had a tough night when it came to their playoff chances. A former Pitt basketball rival now seems to have interest in transferring to the Panthers. And we look at...
Tim Benz: After Penguins’ costly loss in Detroit, Casey DeSmith’s comment resonates
What Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith said about Tuesday night’s 7-4 loss in Detroit was 100% true. “We didn’t miss the playoffs because we lost tonight,” DeSmith said after the defeat. Indeed. Technically, Casey, that’s accurate. In fact, the Penguins (82 points) still hold the Eastern Conference’s second of two...
As Robert Morris hockey relaunches, Colonials get Fox Chapel goalie transfer who beat them in the program’s last game
For a while, it looked like Chad Veltri would go down in college hockey history as the goaltender who wound up ending Robert Morris’ hockey program. Now he might be the goalie who helps resurrect it. On March 14, 2021, Veltri made 44 saves at the Island Sports Center as...
First Call: Mike Tomlin discusses safety plans; Steelers work out tackle; a team admits interest in Lamar JacksonVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” features Mike Tomlin’s plans for the safety position. At least one team is letting it be known that it will consider acquiring Lamar Jackson, while another franchise says it’s out of the mix. The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out a massive offensive tackle. And the Penguins had a...
Tim Benz: Penguins should take advantage of upcoming schedule, fans should be nervous
The Pittsburgh Penguins, for a moment, have given themselves at least some space to breathe. The teams chasing them for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot are helping out as well. By virtue of the Pens’ electrifying yet excruciating 4-3 regulation win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday, the club...
First Call: Mike Tomlin on board with Mitch Trubisky as backup; NFL considers Thursday Night flex option
Monday’s “First Call” features Mike Tomlin’s view on Mitch Trubisky’s future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s talk of flexing “Thursday Night Football” games. Logan Cooley is leading his college team to the Frozen Four. An ex-Pitt Panther imprints his team’s NCAA Tournament run. And it’s an important night of hockey...
Tim Benz: Steelers haven’t changed free agency approach to the degree we pretend
A lot has been made about how active the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in free agency this offseason. In my opinion, too much. Let’s be real. The Steelers have basically replicated their approach from a season ago. Not only in terms of how many players the club has signed but...
Madden Monday: On Penguins’ win over Capitals, ‘Losing that game ends the season’
Of all the roller coaster rides the Pittsburgh Penguins have put their fans through this year, Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena was like Kennywood, plus Six Flags, multiplied by Universal Studios. A 3-0 third period lead became a 3-3 tie, only to see Evgeni...
Tim Benz: World Baseball Classic raises a debate about MLB’s pitch clock worth discussingVideo
Major League Baseball is already making tweaks to the pitch clock. ESPN’s Jeff Passan outlined all of them contained in a memo published by MLB. Most of it is common sense minutia. Things like allowing more time for batters to get set after getting brushed back or pitchers to get...
Tim Benz: Penguins put a lot of pieces together in a ‘go figure’ type of win in ColoradoVideo
Heading into Wednesday night’s game in Denver, the Pittsburgh Penguins needed all the stars to align to get a win. It would have to be the ultimate, “Hey, go figure! That’s hockey, eh?” kind of victory. Sure enough, that’s what happened. The Penguins, losers of four in a row, were...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans shout pros, cons of free agent moves; Penguins fans just shout
Free agency praise and angst from Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Plenty of blame to go around from Penguins fans. Barbs for Mike Tomlin. Shots at Tristan Jarry. And a call for a fresh pair of Depends. All that and more in this week’s “U mad, bro?” For the second week in...
First Call: Steelers reveal numbers for new players; Steelers lineman visits Giants as team visits Ohio State Pro Day
Thursday’s “First Call” features the jersey number announcement for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recently signed free agents. A Steelers former restricted free agent turned UFA made a visit to the Big Apple. Plus, we check on the lengthy list of draft-eligible players the Steelers have been scouting at Ohio State, Iowa...
Tim Benz: Sting of Ottawa loss provides perspective as Penguins face Stanley Cup champs in Colorado
As the Pittsburgh Penguins prepare to play Wednesday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, they’ll do so with Monday’s loss to the Ottawa Senators hanging over their heads. Unfortunately for the Pens, that checkmark in the loss column isn’t going anywhere, no matter how much the club feels like it...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger shares odd Super Bowl XLV injury, take on JuJu Smith-Schuster to New EnglandVideo
As if Ben Roethlisberger didn’t make enough news with his appearance on 105.9 The X on Tuesday, his latest “Footbahlin’” podcast made a lot more. The former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback discusses an odd injury that almost kept him out of Super Bowl XLV, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s fit in New England, and...
Ben Roethlisberger reveals talks with 49ers about NFL return, thoughts on Kenny Pickett
During a radio interview Tuesday afternoon, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger revealed that he had conversations with the San Francisco 49ers about coming out of retirement for at least a portion of the 2022 season. While speaking with TribLIVE’s Mark Madden during his afternoon show on 105.9 The X,...
First Call: Ex-Steelers QB finds new home; Steelers Pro Day stops suggest an eye toward front-7 prospects
Tuesday’s “First Call” suggests the Pittsburgh Steelers are heavily scouting defensive front-seven prospects in the NFL draft. An ex-Steelers quarterback has a new home. The Penguins have a Florida Panthers problem. And Duquesne’s football team better get used to playing on the road. Eye on the Hawkeyes Mike Tomlin and...
Bryan Rust takes blame for Penguins loss: ‘I’ve got to get that puck out of the zone’
Bryan Rust was the last player to get out of his gear and leave the locker room. After speaking with the media, he sat at his stall, staring into emptiness. Probably replaying the game’s pivotal play, if not the entire game itself. Rust’s performance during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2-1 loss...
‘Madden Monday’ on struggling Penguins: ‘Part of this is on (Mike) Sullivan too’
After the Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the New York Rangers 6-0 on Saturday, Mike Sullivan had a fervent defense of Jeff Carter and Brian Dumoulin — essentially deflecting media criticism of those two players and their struggles. “(Media) like to pick on certain guys,” Sullivan said. “You like to go...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ failures against own division highlight big-picture problems
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, their woes against the Metropolitan Division are emblematic of the bigger picture problems facing the team. The most pressing of those problems for the Penguins is simply that they just aren’t very good. After two losses to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden last...
