April 25, 2024NFL draft: Steelers might want an OT, but NEED a C like Graham Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson?On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey gives his thoughts on the Steelers' wants vs. needs in the NFL draft. Is the hole at center one that simply must be filled by a player like Jackson Powers-Johnson or Graham Barton? Or could this draft class still be a successful one of a less glaring need like tackle is addressed with names like JC Latham, Amarius Mims, Taliese Fuaga or Troy Fautanu?
Jason tackles those questions, then pivots to Pirates. Is Paul Skenes' MLB debut creeping forward a bit, possibly to as soon as next weekend? Are changes coming with young players who aren't performing, including Jack Suwinski and Henry Davis? And could we see the return of Nick Gonzales sooner than later, now that he's tearing up Class Triple-A pitching with the Indianapolis Indians?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 24, 2024Steelers NFL mock drafts: OTs Taliese Fuaga, Amarius Mims are final picks for NSD crew?On the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter and Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko issue their final NFL mock draft picks ahead of the first round Thursday night in Detroit. Why does Chris think Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga will still be available when the Steelers pick at No. 20? Might Amarius Mims be the one of the only impact OTs left at that spot, as Brian projects? Why did both of the guys pass on trendy Steelers mock picks like Graham Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Cooper DeJean? And how do they see the rest of the draft shaking out, from quarterbacks including Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye to receivers including Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Oduze? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 24, 2024Penn State NFL draft preview: Can Olu Fashanu prove late critics wrong? Chop Robinson rising?On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian insider Seth Engle preview the NFL draft for Nittany Lions prospects. Can Olu Fashanu shake of some late whispers from critics about his readiness to earn a top 10 selection? Has Chop Robinson done enough at the NFL combine and Nittany Lions pro day to assuage concerns about his production in college? Is Adisa Isaac underrated? What do the later rounds hold for names like Theo Johnson, Hunter Nourzad, Caedan Wallace, Curtis Jacobs and Daequan Hardy? And did Kalen King and Johnny Dixon make mistakes by skipping the Peach Bowl and leaving college early? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 23, 2024Why do Steelers' NFL draft strategies work? Will top OTs like Olu Fashanu, Amarius Mims all be gone?On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Andy Phillips, author of "Round Zero: Inside the NFL Draft," to preview this year's event. Why do the Steelers' strategies of finding receivers in middle rounds, Hall of Fame centers and consistently great EDGE rushers stand the test of time? How is the draft process changing, and how do the Steelers, coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan fit into that? And how many of the Steelers' top potential targets will be available at No. 20? Will the likes of Tailese Fuaga, JC Latham, Troy Fautanu and Olu Fashanu all be gone? Will that level them with Georgia OT Amarius Mims? Or could they be forced to draft a center like Jackson Powers-Johnson or Graham Barton? And should Steelers fans root for QB names like Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix to go early to avoid that fate? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 23, 2024Pitt football: Will Pat Narduzzi replace Dayon Hayes, Solomon DeShields via transfer portal?On their weekly Pitt football mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Abby Schnable answer reader questions. Among them: Will coach Pat Narduzzi replace the departed Dayon Hayes and Solomon DeShields via the transfer portal? How can the Panthers hold off programs capable of offering their players better NIL offers? And on the basketball front, how much can transfer additions Cam Corhen and Damian Dunn help Jeff Capel's squad?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 23, 2024What's made Pirates' No. 1 MLB draft pick Paul Skenes so dominant in minors?On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes Indianapolis Indians communications director Cheyne Reiter to analyze the dominant start that Pirates No. 1 overall MLB draft pick Paul Skenes is off to in the minor leagues. What's made him so effective in his early starts? And how is he interacting with fans and teammates in the Indians clubhouse? Our duo tackles those topics and more as Pirates fans await his pending MLB debut.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 22, 2024NFL draft: Will Steelers trade 20th pick? Or stay put? Top questions for Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin?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 Steelers' trade options in the NFL draft. Could they trade up for names like Washington OT Troy Fautanu or Oregon State OT Tailese Fuaga? Or trade back from No. 20 overall in the first round, depending upon which of their targets they feel will still be available? Could they move their top pick for a player like San Francisco 49ers receivers Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel? Or Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson? What are the top questions facing GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin heading into the draft? And what surprises could they have in store on Day 2? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 22, 2024Pirates spiraling: Is offense fixable? Could Henry Davis lose roster spot to Yasmani Grandal?In his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey breaks down an ugly weekend for the Pirates against the Boston Red Sox and their current six-game losing streak. What issues are fixable offensively? And which are more lasting red flags? How can SS Oneil Cruz get back on track? What about OF Jack Suwinski? And is C Henry Davis in danger of being option to the minor leagues when Yasmani Grandal is activated from the injured list?
Jason tackles those questions, then talks a little Penguins. What did he make of GM Kyle Dubas' season-ending comments Friday? Why don't Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan appear predisposed to make any major changes despite missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs? And why do Sullivan and Dubas seem to be on different pages regarding goalies Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 21, 2024Red Sox sweep Pirates: What's wrong with Oneil Cruz? | Rowdy Tellez a bust so far?Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Andrew Destin and Noah Hiles react to the club's 6-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday that culminated a three-game sweep for the visitors. What's wrong with shortstop Oneil Cruz, whose OPS has slipped below the .600 mark? What's the reason for the club's general lack of power at the plate? What's caused 1B Rowdy Tellez to get off to such a slow start after he was signed in MLB free agency? Can anyone other than Bryan Reynolds and Connor Joe get momentum at the plate? And is Quinn Priester's ugly start Friday a cause for concern? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesApril 20, 2024Steelers mock drafts: National pundits too focused on guard as a need, Graham Barton as solution?The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner, Christopher Carter and Brian Batko react to the week in Steelers mock drafts, specifically numerous projections that GM Omar Khan will select Duke's Graham Barton as his first-round pick because of his versatility to play guard and center. Why are national pundits so focused on guard as a need while James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo are both under contract? What are the chances Barton would play any other position than center here? And hat are the chances we could see the Steelers chase a guard like TCU's Brandon Coleman in the later rounds?
Our duo tackles those questions, then dives into mock draft selections at other positions. Why is so much consensus building around Michigan WR Roman Wilson as a potential Day 2 fit? Is there any chance Penn State OT Olu Fashanu could fall to the Steelers at No. 20? Why are we seeing numerous mock picks for EDGE players like Washington's Bralen Trice even as the Steelers have T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig in the fold? And are the guys interested in secondary options like Auburn's D.J. James, Wake Forest's Caelen Carson, Louisville's Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Utah's Cole Bishop?
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Music from https://filmmusic.io "RetroFuture Clean" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)