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

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Christopher Carter answer reader questions. Among them: What impact will the departure of defensive line coach Charlie Partridge have after a successful stint that saw him help players such as Calijah Kancey, Jaylen Twyman and Rashad Weaver reach the NFL dreaft? And how will coach Pat Narduzzi replace him? Hosted b...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette Andrew Destin and Matt Vensel reflect on an eventful NHL All-Star weekend for captain Sidney Crosby. How did he look skating with All-Star teammates Nate MacKinnon, Cale Makar and others? And can he keep up his elite production in the second half of the season?   They also analyze potential difference makers on the roster: Could Reilly Smith be one in...

In this clip from the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to recap his trip to scout top NFL draft prospects at the Senior Bowl this past weekend in Mobile, Ala. Are general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin locked into taking an offensive lineman like Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton or Oregon C Jacks...

Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to react to the latest mock draft picks for the team from around the web. Could big, athletic Alabama OT JC Latham fall all the way to GM Omar Khan's No. 20 overall drafting position? Is Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton -- whom coach Mike Tomlin scouted this week at the Senior Bowl -- a viable option at the position on Day 2? Would Khan ever...

On their weekly Pitching In Pirates podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Andrew Destin and Jason Mackey tackle some hot offseason topics. Where has general manager Ben Cherington made the team better this offseason than where it ended 2023, following acquisitions of names including Rowdy Tellez, Aroldis Chapman, Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez? And where is the team possibly worse? What roles will forme...

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to discuss his observations from Senior Bowl practices this week in Mobile, Ala. Who has stood out in drills, especially at the Steelers' positions of need in the NFL draft that include offensive tackle and center? Why did coach Mike To...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to discuss the negative reaction to the Steelers' hiring of Arthur Smith as OC. Why have many fans reacted negatively to him? Were expectations for a young, innovative playcaller like the Texans' Jerrod Johnson or the Rams' Zac Robinson always off the mark? What does Smith's hiring mean for key offen...

On their weekly college basketball show, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Abby Schnable give Pitt a report card for January. Did coach Jeff Capel's Panthers do enough? Or will they have to have a nearly perfect February and early March to make the NCAA Tournament? They also discuss the things that have worked for coach Keith Dambrot during Duquesne's three-game winning streak. And predict how...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian insider Seth Engle preview the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl for former Penn State stars with eyes on the NFL draft. Can players like Adisa Isaac and Kalen King impress scouts enough to become early Day 2 picks? Could off-the-radar players like Caedan Wallace and Hunter Nourzad play their way in...

On the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to react to coach Mike Tomlin's hiring of former Falcons coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. Will running backs including Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris shine in his news system? How will things look in the passing game for nam...

Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers' hiring of former Atlanta Falcons head coach and Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. Why did Smith make sense, given coach Mike Tomlin's stated criteria that included experience in the role? Did the criteria itself make sense? Or should the Steelers have chosen a less experienced candidate like the Texans...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes ESPN's Brooke Pryor to analyze owner Art Rooney II's season-ending news conference. Is he starting to feel the fans' frustration at seven seasons without a playoff win? Or is he still satisfied fielding a team that can at least be in the mix every year? What did he have to say about coach Mike Tomlin...

In their weekly Pitt football mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Christopher Carter answer reader questions. Among them: How would coach Pat Narduzzi have handled the fourth down decisions that the Lions' Dan Campbell faced in the NFC championship against the 49ers? Is Narduzzi already micromanaging new offensive coordinator Kade Bell by naming Nate Yarnell to be the starting quar...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Matt Vensel and Andrew Destin analyze a trying week for the team that included an embarrassing own-goal by Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin in a loss at Arizona. What has to change for this team to make the Stanley Cup playoffs? Will GM Kyle Dubas make a decision about buying or selling at the NHL trade deadline by the All-Star break? And what c...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to discuss the team's OC search and the candidacy of former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. How does he compare to previously named candidates including the Texans' Jarrod Johnson and former Panthers OC Thomas Brown? How could his succ...

On the Post-Gazette's weekly Steelers mock draft tracker video, Christopher Carter joins Adam Bittner to analyze the latest batch of picks for coach Mike Tomlin's team from around the Internet. Why are so many mocks pointing toward Georgia OT Amarius Mims early in the process? Should a name like Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga be on the radar as well? Why don't many mocks see defensive line as a weak...

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to discuss a range of issues on the team's coaching front. Were general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin right to give DC Teryl Austin a two-year extension this week? Is Panthers OC Thomas Brown an underrated candidate for the Steel...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to react to suggestions from Peter King, Ed Bouchette, Joe Starkey and others that the Steelers could pursue veteran QB Russell Wilson in NFL free agency if he's cut by the Broncos. Would Wilson's presence put too much pressure on Kenny Pickett's development within a new offense? Does Wilson have muc...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes former Steelers and Penn State standout Justin King to break down the Steelers' OC search so far. Are interviews by the Rams' Zac Robinson and former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury good signs? Which would be the better choice between the two? And which other possible candidate...

On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Daily Collegian/Post-Gazette insider Seth Engle issue grades in their 2023 season report card. What mark does James Franklin deserve for an offense that failed under coordinator Mike Yurcich but a defense that soared under DC Manny Diaz? How did QB Drew Allar fare in his first season as a starter? What credit do running backs Nick...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Pirates' signing of Aroldis Chapman in MLB free agency. How much can he help manager Derek Shelton's bullpen at this stage of his career? Does the signing signal that relievers including David Bednar and Colin Holderman could be on the trading block? Or is it setting up a deal by GM Ben Cherington for possible starti...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Andy Benoit of the 33rd Team to discuss the team's offensive coordinator search. Can whomever the Steelers hire salvage Kenny Pickett's career? Could Mason Rudolph be an effective starter in the right system over the long-term? What are Andy's final thoughts on Matt Canada's tenure as OC? And is coac...

In their weekly Pitt sports mailbag, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Christopher Carter answer reader questions. Among them: How many games does Pitt have win to reach the NCAA tournament after upsetting No. 7 Duke over the weekend? Could coach Jeff Capel use more three-guard lineups with Bub Carrington, Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett now that they're all showing progress? What does the foot...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to discuss his trip to the club's facility in the Dominican Republic and his exclusive interview with owner Bob Nutting. Does Nutting expect more moves on the pitching from from general manager Ben Cherington in MLB free agency or on the trade market? Why are the Marlins' Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera ideal trade targets? What...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Andrew Destin and Matt Vensel analyze midseason decisions looming for general manager Kyle Dubas. Will the team hold onto to Jake Guentzel, who's in the final year of his contract? Or could he be dealt to bring some talent to the roster? What are the team's biggest needs ahead of the trade deadline? And are they on track to be buyers or selle...