March 18, 2024Can Penguins really still make the NHL playoffs without Jake Guentzel? Impact of Michael Bunting?On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Andrew Destin and Matt Vensel analyze the team's chances to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Are Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang Erik Karlsson and Co. a real threat to steal a wild-card spot now that they've pulled within five points? Or will the loss of Jake Guentzel at the NHL trade deadline and a recent spate of bad defensive play be too much to overcome? What kind of impact is Michael Bunting having on the race after joining the team in the Guentzel trade? And will top prospect Sam Poulin be promoted from the minor leagues any time soon? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 18, 2024Steelers free agency: Will Omar Khan's aggression with Justin Fields, Russell Wilson pay off?On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze GM Omar Khan's aggressive new approach to NFL free agency and trades. Did the fast overhaul of the quarterback room -- with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields coming in from the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears and Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph going out -- show needed risk tolerance this franchise has lacked? Or is a new willingness to acknowledge and correct mistakes the bigger change with so much of previous GM Kevin Colbert's roster already turned over?
Later, our duo dissects the QB moves more. Does the Wilson/Fields tandem give the Steelers a chance at continuity? And how important is the tone Wilson is already setting compared to Pickett's actions late last season? Then finally, Chris and Ray address the future of the defense with Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott in the fold. Does this unit have a chance to be the Steelers' most complete in years?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 16, 2024Steelers trade reaction: Justin Fields arrives from Bears. How does he fit with Russel Wilson?Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittpaldo joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers' trade with the Chicago Bears for QB and former first-round pick Justin Fields. How does he fit in the remade quarterback room with Russell Wilson now, and in the future? How was GM Omar Khan able to acquire a player of Fields' pedigree for just a conditional sixth-round pick? Will Fields or Kenny Pickett -- traded to the Eagles on Friday -- end up having the better career? And will Khan look to acquire a third QB in NFL free agency or the NFL draft? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 15, 2024Steelers trade bombshell: Kenny Pickett goes to Eagles for very little. Why now? What's next at QB?Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers decision Friday to trade QB Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles following the signing of free agent Russell Wilson. Why did the team make this move now? What should we make of the light return of a pick swap into the third round and two 2025 seventh-round picks? Where will general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin go from here at quarterback? Are NFL draft options like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. now priorities? Will they sign another veteran like Ryan Tannehill? Or could they still trade with the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 15, 2024Pirate spring training: Will Ben Cherington add to rotation? Or could Jared Jones break through?On the Pitching In podcast this week, Post-Gazette insider Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to break down all the biggest storylines from Pirates spring training in Bradenton, Fla. Will GM Ben Cherington add to this rotation in meaningful ways before the season begins? Or will names like Chase Anderson and Jared Jones be the most likely to join the likes of Mitch Keller, Marco Gonzales and Martin Perez on the opening day staff? Are prospects like Roansy Contreras and Quinn Priester squandering their opportunities? And how did guys like Paul Skenes look in the MLB Breakout game against the Orioles?
Our duo tackles those topics as well as some lineup questions. How seriously should we take strong springs from Henry Davis and Oneil Cruz? Is a quiet spring from Rowdy Tellez and concern? How are things shaping up in right field? What about the second base competition between Liover Peguero, Jared Triolo and others? And is this team poised to go over or under the Vegas win total of 74.5 wins?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 15, 2024Biggest Steelers free agency surprise? Russell Wilson, Patrick Queen, Diontae Johnson or TBD?On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to talk about the team's moves in NFL free agency so far. Which has been the biggest surprise? The signing of Russell Wilson to possibly replace Kenny Pickett? Trading Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson? Giving Patrick Queen a substantial deal at ILB? Or is it a move the team has yet to make?
Later, they discuss the future at wide receiver with Johnson out of the picture. What does Khan need to add alongside George Pickens? And how has free agency shifted NFL draft priorities for coach Mike Tomlin's teams? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 14, 2024How have Steelers' NFL free agency moves affected draft needs? Should Brock Bowers, TEs be options?In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to discuss the Steelers' moves in free agency so far and how they impact the team's NFL draft needs. Does GM Omar Khan still need to draft a receiver early, even if he makes a move for free agent WRs like Tyler Boyd or Josh Reynolds following the Diontae Johnson trade? Should QBs like Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. be options to compete with Kenny Pickett next year even after the Russell Wilson signing? Is tight end an area of focus after new OC Arthur Smith spoke to Brock Bowers at Georgia's pro day? Especially in light of uncertainty around Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington? How does the cornerback group look after the acquisition of Donte Jackson? And what are Paul's reactions to moves around the division, including Baltimore's signing of Derrick Henry and Bengals WR Tee Higgins' request for a trade?
Our duo tackles those questions and more, including: Did Penn State's James Franklin get himself in hot water over comments about the Eagles' Saquon Barkley? Is Pitt's March Madness resume better than bracketology experts like ESPN's Joe Lunardi give them credit for? Will strong springs from Pirates including Henry Davis, Oneil Cruz and Chase Anderson extend into the season? And did Penguins GM Kyle Dubas do enough at the NHL trade deadline in moving Jake Guentzel and a few other minor pieces?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 13, 2024Penn State football: What do Drew Allar, Abdul Carter, Julian Fleming & WRs need to show this spring?On their weekly Penn State football podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette/Daily Collegian insider Seth Engle preview spring practice for coach James Franklin's team. Are the Nittany Lions talented enough at wide receiver with the addition of Julian Fleming from Ohio State? What does Drew Allar have to do to take the next step at QB in his second season as a starter? How is Abdul Carter's transition from linebacker to defensive end going? And how are new coordinators Tom Allen on defense and Andy Kotelnicki implementing their visions?
Our duo tackles those topics and more in the football realm, including Saquon Barkley's NFL free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, then gets into some basketball topics. What grade does Mike Rhoades deserve for his first reason after replacing Micah Shrewsberry as men's coach? And what kind of heat should coach Carolyn Kieger face after her Lady Lions' collapse that will likely cost them a March Madness bid?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 13, 2024Steelers free agency: Concerns from Russell Wilson's Denver tenure? What went wrong?On the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Cody Roark from Mile High Sports and the Locked On Broncos podcast to discuss new Steelers QB Russell Wilson's tumultuous tenure in Denver. What went wrong for him under coach Sean Payton? Were there problems in the locker room? What are Wilson's biggest strengths and weaknesses at this stage of his career? And how will he fit in a quarterbacks room with Kenny Pickett? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMarch 12, 2024Steelers trade reaction: Diontae Johnson goes to Panthers for Donte Jackson. Was it a good move?Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to the Steelers' decision to trade WR Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for CB Donte Jackson on Tuesday night. Did GM Omar Khan make the right move to ship out the disgruntled receiver? What will the impact on new coordinator Arthur Smith's offense be? And George Pickens ready to be the unquestioned No. 1 receiver?
Our duo tackles those questions and also analyzes Jackson's impact on the team's secondary. Can he be a No. 2 to Joey Porter Jr.? Or is he more of a depth piece than anything else given his recent injury history? Should his presence affect the team's NFL draft plans? And how does he stack up with internal options like Cory Trice and Darius Rush?
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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/)