Post-Gazette Sports Network: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko take a look at where the Steelers sit heading into their bye week. Are the Steelers good enough to win the AFC North, with Lamar Jackson injured and the Baltimore Ravens struggling? Or is this 3-1 start just a mirage buoye...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette columnist Paul Zeise will talk about the status of the Steelers at the bye week. How good can this defense led by T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey and Co. be when at full strength with the likes of Alex Highsmith ? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable preview the Panthers' noon contest on Saturday against Boston College at Acrisure Stadium. Is this a must-win game for the Panthers after their disappointing defeat to Louisville last week? Should we believe coach Pat Narduzzi when he says he's sticking with Eli Holstein as his starting quarterback? Will electrifying All-American Desmon...

On this week's episode of Chipped Ham and Football, Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Jimmy English of Gaelic Gridiron, discussing the Steelers in Dublin, more NFL international expansion and T.J. Watt's candidacy for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Did Steeler Nation leave a lasting impact on Ireland during their trip? What would a return to Dublin look like? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

In this episode of her Serving Up Pitt volleyball podcast, Post-Gazette insider Abby Schnable welcomes Panthers freshman Izzy Masten. Izzy talks about the reasons she decided to graduate high school early and the ways she's had to adjust to collegiate, high-level volleyball. Izzy also talks about her role so far this season, as she's made waves from the service line and even made "SportsCente...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise looks at the state of the AFC and why the Steelers have an actual shot to win the whole conference. Will injuries to Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson essentially hand the AFC North to the Steelers? Just how scary are the Chiefs, Bills and others? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collecti...

On the Wednesday episode of The North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo analyze the team at the bye week. Will Calvin Austin III's injury lead to more playing time for the likes of Roman Wilson? And have injuries to the Bengals and Ravens opened the door for an AFC North title? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

On the Tuesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to ponder the sustainability of some standout performances from the NFL Week 4 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. Can names like DK Metcalf, Kenneth Gainwell, Nick Herbig and Payton Wilson keep producing as they did Sunday? Why was OC Arthu...

Heading into the seventh week of the football season, Post-Gazette high school insiders Keith Barnes and Mike White examine the subject of WPIAL teams looking for mercy. Also, exactly who is the No. 1 team in Class 4A? Anyone? It's time to say who the top 10 teams are in the first 25 years of this century. Trinity's Jonah Williamson and Hempfield's Dom Detruf are shining stars. While "Famous&...

Post-Gazette insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable tackle the biggest questions around Pitt football following an ugly loss to Louisville over the weekend. Does coach Pat Narduzzi have a QB controversy on his hands amid Eli Holstein's recent struggles? When could we see more of Cole Gonzales or Mason Heinstchel? What's the plan at left guard after Kieth Goueva went down with a season-ending...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to the Steelers' NFL Week 4 victory against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. Did coach Mike Tomlin's team establish its desired identity in stopping Jordan Mason and the Vikings running game; getting heave p...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Brian Batko break down the team's 24-21 win over the Vikings on Sunday morning at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. What went right for the Steelers? How did the defense improve to stop the run and stuff the Vikings on third downs while also continuing to force turnovers? With Jaylen Warren out due to a knee injury, how was Kenneth Gainwell able to shoul...

Insider coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Post-Gazette insiders who know them best: Gerry Dulac, Ray Fittipaldo, Brian Batko, Christopher Carter, Jason Mackey and Paul Zeise. From Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jaylen Warren and the offense. To T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey, Cam Heyward and coach Mike Tomlin's defense. They have the up-close view of the team that you can only get from the Post-Ga...

Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Penn State insiders Isaiah Maldonado and Lyle Alenstein break down the Nittany Lions' 30-24 double-overtime loss to Oregon on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. What led to the defeat? How should we rate QB Drew Allar's performance after he struggled for much of the game but helped erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and nearly clawed Penn State to a victory? How concerne...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the Panthers' 34-27 loss to Louisville on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. What went wrong for Pat Narduzzi's team after the Panthers leapt out to a 17-0 lead in the early going? What's next for the quarterback position in Kade Bell's offense after Eli Holstein was benched in the fourth quarter? Could we really see Cole Gonzales...

On the Saturday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko break down the team's Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin. Will Mike Tomlin's handling of this week's Ireland trip end up becoming a benefit or a failure in logistics? And with the Steelers' current defensive weaknesses, does the Vikings' upstart offense featuring Carso...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable preview the Panthers' ACC opener against Louisville at noon Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. Will Desmond Reid be able to go for Pitt, and if he does, will it be in a full capacity? How can players like Juelz Goff and Ja'Kyrian Turner step up if the All-American is unable to play? How should Pat Narduzzi's team prepare, with the status of...

In this episode of their Serving Up Pitt volleyball podcast, Post-Gazette insider Abby Schnable and former Panthers player Cat Flood break down the team's five-set win over No. 11 SMU on Wednesday night. How important was it for Pitt to get off on the right foot during ACC play? How did reigning AVCA National Player of the Year Olivia Babcock step up to lead the Panthers to victory? How was Brooke...

On the Thursday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey to react to comments by former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger fearing that Mike Tomlin, OC Arthur Smith and DC Teryl Austin could be outcoached in the NFL Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Irela...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian Nittany Lions insider Isaiah Maldonado preview this week's White Out matchup against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Is Drew Allar the better QB in this game in his third year as a starter? Or does Ducks QB Dante Moore have the edge after posting superiors stats in the early going? How should we siz...

The high school football regular season is at the halfway point, and Post-Gazette high school insiders Keith Barnes and Mike White turn professor and give out mid-term grades for student (player) of the half year, teacher (coach) of the half year and more. Peters Township’s Reston Lehman and Lucas Shanafelt get their flowers, but so does Upper St. Clair’s Ethan Hellmann. South Allegheny’s Brian Ha...

The high school football regular season is at the halfway point, and Post-Gazette high school insiders Keith Barnes and Mike White turn professor and give out mid-term grades for student (player) of the half year, teacher (coach) of the half year and more. Peters Township’s Reston Lehman and Lucas Shanafelt get their flowers, but so does Upper St. Clair’s Ethan Hellmann. South Allegheny’s Brian Ha...

On the Tuesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey and insider Ray Fittipaldo gauge the Steelers' growth through three games. Is coach Mike Tomlin's defense improving, even if it's still giving up too many yards? How encouraged should we be that T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward produced like the stars they're sup...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable continue to sort through the issues the Panthers' Backyard Brawl loss to West Virginia revealed. And look ahead to the start of ACC play this week against the Louisville Cardinals. Was Pat Narduzzi's coaching or player execution the bigger issue against the Mountaineers? Can fans reasonably expect the team to improve when veterans like...

Post-Gazette Pirates beat reporter Noah Hiles names his top five prospects from the team's minor league system this year. Can Brandan Bidois continue to assert himself as a potential MLB arm despite his relative unknown status? Why have Esmerlyn Valdez and Edward Florentino emerged as two of the top hitting prospects in the system? And why were Hunter Barco and Konnor Griffin the obvious top choic...