1 week Ago By Tim Benz
What a difference a year makes! Right about this time in 2023, the Steelers were 6-3, but no one was happy because we were all in full-blown “FIRE CANADA” mode. Now the Steelers are a mere one game better at 7-2, yet it feels 180 degrees different around the city. Pittsburgh appears to be overwhelmingly optimistic about the local football team.
So much so that this week (for the most part), the majority of the complaints I received were about the media asking questions surrounding one rarely-seen play that actually worked and pushing back on criticism of another trick play that didn’t during the team’s 28-27 win in Washington. Meanwhile, a year ago, the Penguins were plodding along at 9-8 through 17 games. And this year .
.. eh, well, never mind.
This year, things with the Pens are actually even worse. So we’ve still got plenty of fodder for this week’s “U mad, bro?” A lot of people were angry with me because I was critical of the Steelers running a fake punt from their own 16-yard line Sunday. It would have worked if James Pierre didn’t drop the pass from Miles Killebrew .
But I thought the risk of running that play from their own 16 was unnecessary. As for Rich, he liked the call. No.
It wasn’t a bad play design. But if that play design relies on one DB throwing to another DB, I’m not calling it on my own 16 because ..
. well, you saw why. Jesse was also on board with the decision.
Because the swap of possession became at least a free field goal and eventually a free touchdown. That’s why. The defense had just forced a pair of 3-and-outs to begin the game.
When there is a full field to defend, punt the ball. Maintain the lead. Jake is calling me out for “second-guessing.
” Ummm, no. It was first-guessing. My first guess is always to punt from your own 16.
• After switching sides, Steelers ILB Patrick Queen ready to play villain against rival Ravens • Penguins see hope in overtime loss to Red Wings • Who can replace forward Lars Eller for the Penguins? Al sent me this message after the Dallas Stars scored six times against the Penguins in the first period of Monday night’s game. Based on how bad the Penguins were that night , honestly , those three guys would’ve been an upgrade. A significant upgrade.
This guy thinks the Penguins are in need of an old-fashioned coaching rant the likes of which we used to get from Michel Therrien . Forget Therrien and the “ soff yelling. ” What this team really needs is Jim Rutherford and some hard roster reconstruction.
This is a message from Michael. He apparently doesn’t understand the concept of a postgame interview. He is upset that someone asked Steelers center Zach Frazier about how they baited Washington to jump offside on that fourth down play with a minute left in the game Sunday.
So you are upset that a reporter ...
asked a question? Oh, my! God forbid! Well, I have no idea how old you are. But maybe someday you’ll learn that asking questions is a kind of important part of being a journalist. Finally, Dennis was — how can I put this — less than impressed with the Steelers win in Washington.
Lousy! Lousy? Washington is 7-3. The Steelers came back from 10 points down on the road. I don’t think “lousy ” is the right word.
Occasionally flawed? Yes. Inconsistent? Sure. Uneven? You bet.
But, “lousy? ” If 28 points is lousy, based on what we’ve seen offensively the last few years, I’ll take “lousy.”.
