Podcast appearances and mentions of jeff capel

There have been some interesting developments on the Pitt basketball front, with a pair of high school recruits shedding light on what Jeff Capel and his staff are working on. We're breaking down all the latest news on today's Morning Pitt.

Pope Francis (ATH, Vatican City) has entered the transfer portal. Will Pat Narduzzi & Co be able to land this star in the making? Anyway, Returning Champion Ian Labatch is back on the mic. We're talking spring game, and transfer portal, Pitt related and not. Anyway, welcome to Season 4. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter or Bluesky and rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com

Pitt landed its second transfer from Iowa State on Monday when guard Nojus Indrusaitis committed to the Panthers. What will Indrusaitis bring to Pitt? How does he fit with the roster? And what's next on the list for Jeff Capel? All that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. What should we make of Steelers owner Art Rooney II telling reporters Tuesday he feels "pretty good" about the team signing Aaron Rodgers to be its starting quarterback? How long should Rooney, general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin wait before moving on from Rodgers, either for internal candidate Mason Rudolph or external options like Joe Flacco, Drew Lock and Carson Wentz? And what does Paul think of some of the rule changes Rooney is voting for at the NFL owners meeting? Paul tackles those topics; the demotion of the Pirates' David Bednar to the minor leagues; and news that star guard Jaland Lowe will be transferring from Pitt basketball after Jeff Capel once again failed to get the Panthers into March Madness.

Rest in Peace, Mason Alexander.Pitt hoops is over, congrats to wrestling's ACC champs & WBB on their highest ever rated recruit. But let's be real. It's time to talk football, spring has sprung. Let's break down the position battles in the upcoming spring game. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter or Bluesky and rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com

Pitt's season came to an end yesterday, and it happened in possibly the most ridiculous way: with a buzzer-beater free throw. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about that game and what lies ahead for Jeff Capel and the Panthers.

Big Ben wants the Steelers to sign Justin Fields and still has some ability as a young, athletic QB to be a starter. George doesn't think Jeff Capel is on the hot seat and wouldn't be the right way to spend money for the program to buy Capel out at this financial time. Jeff Patton of Baseball Card Castle has a hoops card for Starkey's Card of the Week

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: Is there a team that will guarantee Justin Fields pull position to start? Will we be reminiscing on past memories for the next five years with our teams? Jeff Capel discussed how the ACC is down in basketball. Joe would scratch Rickard Rakell tonight and thinks the Penguins NEED to trade him even though a lot of people think he needs to stay to help keep Sidney Crosby's point-per-game streak.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Specifically, he gives his thoughts on a report from MMQB's Albert Breer that the Steelers have shown interest in a possible trade for Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford. Does Stafford fit what the team is trying to do on offense under OC Arthur Smith? What will the cost of a trade be and will it be too high for coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan? And how does Stafford stack up with other NFL free agency options including Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones? Paul tackles those questions, then reacts to an ugly weekend for the Penguins and Pitt basketball. Is there any hope for the goalie situation with Joel Blomqvist and Alex Nedeljkovic? And are Jeff Capel and the Panthers in genuine danger of missing March Madness for the second year in a row?

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Andrew Destin doesn't think signing Andrew Heaney means the Pirates will trade a starting pitcher. Andrew thinks it's between Henry Davis and Jason Delay for the backup catcher job. New Pitt AD Allen Greene is in a difficult spot with Pat Narduzzi and Jeff Capel signed through 2030.

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Chris Carter doesn't see Pitt moving off Pat Narduzzi or Jeff Capel for at least two more seasons because of financial implications and this will require much more fundraising. The Pirates signed Andrew Heaney to a one-year deal to be in the starting rotation. Does this mean the Pirates could trade a young starter to enhance the offense??

Chris doesn't see Pitt moving off Pat Narduzzi or Jeff Capel for at least two more seasons because of financial implications and this will require much more fundraising. There is some frustration around the basketball program after a hot start but falling apart and not going to make the NCAA Tournament. Chris would not trade a first-round pick for Stafford and the process in the draft should be the front 7.

New Pitt AD Allen Greene is in a difficult spot with Pat Narduzzi and Jeff Capel signed through 2030. This is a financial dilemma for Pitt where there is a risk some donors might not want to pay for the quality of play under the two coaches.

On their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Does the Panthers offense move the ball more effectively without Jaland Lowe in the lineup like Saturday vs. Miami? Why aren't Amsal Delalic and Brandin Cummings receiving more playing time from coach Jeff Capel? Did Pitt really gain anything from its win over a bottom-dwelling Miami team? And is there enough meat left on the bone for the Panthers to claw their way back into the NCAA tournament conversation? Our duo answers those questions and more.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin miss an opportunity to add an innovative young coach to OC Arthur Smith's staff, now that former Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik has joined the Miami Dolphins? And what should we make of coaching hires across the NFL, now that former Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore has filled the last empty job by joining the New Orleans Saints? On the baseball front, how bad do the GM Ben Cherington, manager Derek Shelton and the Pirates look amid news that key offseason acquisition Spencer Horwitz will miss the beginning of MLB spring training with an injury? And what will the team do at first base now? Paul answers those questions, then weighs in on Pitt basketball's Tuesday night loss at SMU. Should Jeff Capel now be squarely on the hot seat, with March Madness hopes in severe doubt?

Who is going to play first base? Pitt basketball has lost 8/10 games. Chris Carter of the Post-Gazette believes financially it's not feasible for Pitt to buy out Pat Narduzzi and/or Jeff Capel until the end of the 2027 season. Jeff Patton of Baseball Card Castle joined the show for Starkey's Card of the Week.

On their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Who will coach Jeff Capel turn to for minutes after the Damian Dunn injury? And how will they supplement the core of Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and Zach Austin? Do the Panthers still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament as an at-large team amid their recent losing skid? What will they need to do in the remainder of ACC play to see March Madness? And would the program accept an NIT invitation if it falls short? Or opt instead to focus on recruiting, especially in the transfer portal?

He kneeled down that ball so damn good. Talking Super Bowl, Football Schedule, and Jeff Capel's Basketball Clown Show shitting clean through their pants. If you liked the podcast, be sure to follow us on Twitter @semplefipod rate us on your podcast app of choice! It helps out the show tremendously. Hosted & Produced by Zack Kaminski, who writes on Substack and has been featured on Meet at Midfield. Co-hosted by Kent VanderWoude and Mason Kling. Podcast Art & Logo were commissioned from friend of the show Birdblitz.Contact us by email at semplefipodcast@gmail.com

George Michalowski of Pittsburgh Sports Now joined the show to talk Pitt basketball. He thinks Pitt's game against the Virginia Cavaliers was the worst performance he's seen from a Jeff Capel team, given the circumstances.

Jerry thinks Pat Narduzzi probably has less rope than Jeff Capel with Capel's extension not kicking in yet. It's a difficult road financially for Pitt. What do they need to do?

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Jerry thinks Pat Narduzzi probably has less rope than Jeff Capel with Capel's extension not kicking in yet. Jerry would not move on from Capel and thinks they can still make some damage down the stretch. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Arthur Smith did not allow Russell Wilson to audible at the line of scrimmage and when Wilson did audible late in the season.

College Basketball Minute – Pitt was embarrassed last night by Virginia. Are the March Madness dreams over? This would be 5 of 6 years under Jeff Capel that Pitt misses the dance.

A report from Gerry Dulac that there was a major falling out between Arthur Smith (Mike Tomlin) and Russell Wilson following the Steelers win in Cincinnati – one of the team's final victories. It is suggested that Wilson went rogue in the game and that didn't go over well. The offense looked great that day, but that quickly met its demise. The guys think if this is true, how can you possibly bring Wilson back? What kind of positive is there to the Russell Wilson fallout with Arthur Smith? College Basketball Minute – Pitt was embarrassed last night by Virginia. Are the March Madness dreams over? This would be 5 of 6 years under Jeff Capel that Pitt misses the dance.

Pitt has the chance to win multiple games in the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Capel stays steady as a coach and is curious about the game. Jeff thinks it's going to be best for the Penguins to make a decision on rebuilding their team.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: The NFL scoring average is one point higher than it was in the 70s and early 80s. Running games have never really left. Should the Steelers draft a running back in the first or second rounds? Pitt has the chance to win multiple games in the NCAA Tournament.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Could the Steelers lose QB Russell Wilson via NFL free agency to a reunion with former coach Pete Carroll and the Raiders? Would the duo be able to recreate the Super Bowl-winning magic they had in their time together with the Seattle Seahawks? Or are those days long gone? And should GM Omar Khan, coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers prefer Justin Fields paired with NFL draft options like Alabama's Jalen Milroe anyway? Paul tackles those questions and more on the Steelers front then looks toward Pirates and Pitt topics. Will GM Ben Cherington's signing of Adam Frazier via MLB free agency make any difference to this team's trajectory? Or should they have pursued a name like Austin Hays instead? And how important was Pitt basketball's win vs. the North Carolina Tar Heels, as coach Jeff Capel, guards Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett and the Panthers look to bolster their March Madness resume?

On their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Who deserves the most blame for the recent offensive slump? Coach Jeff Capel? Or a lack of shooting prowess from key offensive pieces like Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and Zack Austin? Why is forward Cam Corhen playing 35-plus minutes per game despite frequent struggles? And on the football side, what are reasonable expectations for coach Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers with key pieces including QB Eli Holstein and RB Desmond Reid set to return?

We've got some great questions in this week's Mailbag. Which transfers will make the biggest impact? Should there be a commissioner of college football? And what's up with Jeff Capel's Wikipedia page? All that and more in the Morning Pitt Mailbag.

On their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Amon them: How many more wins does coach Jeff Capel's team need to secure a March Madness bid now that the Panthers have lost four in a row in ACC play? Does Papa Kante deserve more playing time over brothers Guillermo Diaz-Graham and Jorge Diaz-Graham? And should Capel deploy a guard-heavy lineup led by Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and Zack Austin more often?

Post-Gazette Pitt basketball insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson recap an ugly loss against Florida State, which ended with a fight as frustrations for coach Jeff Capel's team reached a breaking point amid a now three-game losing streak. When will we see consistency and discipline out of the veteran guard trio of Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and Damian Dunn? Will Jorge Diaz-Graham be able to build on a strong performance against the Seminoles? What's wrong with the 3-point shooting? And what happened in the post-game scrape involving Cam Corhen, Brandon Cummings and others? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

Pitt has a big opportunity tonight when the Panthers take on Florida State in Tallahassee. What does Jeff Capel's crew need to do against the Seminoles? And could the NCAA be on the verge of making a notable change to the transfer portal? All that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

On their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Panthers insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: How worried should coach Jeff Capel be about the team's March Madness chances amid its two-game ACC losing streak? Why did Capel stick with the same five players for extended periods in the loss to Louisville this past weekend? Is something wrong with Ishmael Leggett? Is it time to see more of Damian Dunn now that he's healthy? And could Zack Austin and Guillermo Diaz-Graham come off the bench?

On his daily first 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to Pitt basketball's loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. What does Jeff Capel's squad need to fix as ACC play kicks into high gear? And can we at least be encouraged by the performance of Cam Corhen in defeat? Later, Jason gets into the Steelers' NFL playoffs matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Specifically, he ponders things OC Arthur Smith can do to get QB Russell Wilson, WR George Pickens, RB Najee Harris and the offense going in the first quarter after first-quarter struggles against the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs and Bengals over the past month. Jason closes the show with his thoughts on the Penguins' loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday that included goalie Tristan Jarry giving up yet another multi-goal lead.

Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson react to Pitt basketball's 29-point loss Tuesday night vs. Cooper Flagg and Duke. Was the blowout representative of where coach Jeff Capel's team stands at the start of ACC play? Or were there enough positives in the form of Cam Corhen and a competitive first half that fans shouldn't panic? How much concern would we have about Ishamel Leggett, who led the upset of the Blue Devils last season but struggled Tuesday? What about the lack of aggression from guards including Jaland Lowe and some poor shooting numbers? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

On a Tuesday Drive, Josh tells why there's never been a more positive time for the Carolina Panthers under David Tepper and why it's time to give Tepper his flowers, explains why he thinks SMU will upset the Tar Heels at the Smith Center, tonight, Tom Haberstroh, of Yahoo Sports, joins the show to help preview Duke-Pitt as well as his cause with Jon Scheyer and Jeff Capel to help fight ALS, and Josh gives out three ACC basketball picks in Best Bets.

The Duke Blue Devils return home tomorrow to take on the Pitt Panthers, and we preview the Quad 1 game on DBR Bites Episode 80. Duke and Pitt both enter with 12-2 records overall and undefeated in the ACC, and this is a strong Pitt team led by a beloved member of The Brotherhood in Jeff Capel. Capel has a team that has quite a bit of continuity, which makes their elevation to one of the best teams in the ACC. They have some length and some toughness, and they have some guys who can put the biscuit in the basket. Donald and Jason go through what Pitt brings to Cameron and how Duke can continue their unbeaten start to the ACC schedule. Before the break, we also do a little word on The Duke Effect and how many people tuned into Duke Basketball in 2024. After the break, we switch to football, where Duke lost to Ole Miss last week in the Gator Bowl. Despite the 52-20 scoreline, there was some things to be proud of from Duke on both sides of the ball. We discuss how Henry Belin IV did throwing the football and how Duke is set up to be a contender for the ACC title next year with their schedule and many of the players coming back, including All-American Chandler Rivers. Make sure you're following us! Head to our Linktree to get all our available social media and links to follow and subscribe to the show. That includes our affiliate partnerships, from Homefield Apparel (use the code DBRPODCAST to save 15% off your first order) and Fanatics to the NBA Store, NFL Shop, and even Fubo TV. And...we have some more coming! Save some cash on the latest gear or follow the Blue Devils on the go by hitting those affiliate links and it helps support the show as well. We are now on YouTube! Subscribe there, rate, and review our episodes on there and everywhere you get your podcasts. Also, follow us on Twitter ⁠@DukeRoundup⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is Panthers standout Damian Dunn healthy enough to play Tuesday night vs. Duke? And do coach Jeff Capel, star Jaland Lowe and the squad have a chance to upset Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium? And on the football side, they ponder what transfer portal additions including Joey Zelinsky (Eastern Michigan), Andy Jean (Florida), Jayden Bonsu (Ohio State) and Blaine Spires (Utah State) could mean for coach Pat Narduzzi's program.

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is football coach Pat Narduzzi winning the overall transfer portal battle after retaining the likes of Eli Holstein and Kyle Louis but losing players like Sincere Edwards and Ryland Gandy? Would our opinion of the season have been any different if the Panthers had won the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Toledo? When will the men's basketball team see guard Damian Dunn back on the court after he's missed the last month with an injury? And what is the biggest thing Jeff Capel's team needs to improve as it heads into ACC play? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: What did Jeff Capel's men's basketball team do differently during this nonconference season that has the Panthers set up so well in the NET rankings? Will that help when it comes time to seek a bid to the NCAA tournament? What should fans expect from the matchup between Pitt and Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl? What young players could we see in action that haven't gotten a chance yet? And should Damian Dunn slot back into the Panthers' starting lineup when he returns from injury or has Zack Austin earned the right to stay there? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Is RB Desmond Reid's return a good sign for coach Pat Narduzzi and OC Kade Bell as NCAA transfer portal season gets into full swing? Will others including Eli Holstein and Kyle Louis stay put as well? And what are the guys' picks for the College Football Playoff this weekend? Our duo tackles those topics and more on the basketball front. Should coach Jeff Capel give Brandin Cummings a spot in the starting lineup? And how much longer will he allow Guillermo Diaz Graham to struggle?

On their weekly Pitt football podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them. Are transfers including Nate Yarnell, Nahki Johnson and Daejon Reynolds major losses for the program? Does coach Pat Narduzzi need to take more accountability for the state of his offensive line? Is there any upside to facing Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit? What's going on with backup QBs David Lynch and Ty Dieffenbach? And were Jeff Capel, Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and the men's basketball team unfairly dropped from the AP top 25 poll this week?

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Christopher Carter break down the Panthers' 64-59 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon, with Stephen reporting from Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va. How were the Panthers able to get a win in a place they hadn't won in since 2003? How did Jaland Lowe lead the Panthers with his scoring down the stretch? What defensive adjustments did coach Jeff Capel make that led to tighter second-half defense? And what does the team's resilient comeback say about it as it moves forward without starting guard Damian Dunn? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

On their weekly Pitt spots mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Will the ACC's relative weakness in the non-conference slate hurt Jeff Capel's men's basketball team in its bid to vindicate last season's March Madness snub? Or will wins against Ohio State and West Virginia be plenty to get them over the top at their current pace? And how is the competition between Amsal Delalic and Zach Austin shaping up after Austin's five 3-pointers and game-winning shot against the Buckeyes over the weekend? On the football side, what should we make of coach Pat Narduzzi calling his team's 7-5 record a success, especially after a five-game losing streak to finish the regular season? And what are Pitt's biggest needs as the football transfer portal opens, with CB Noah Biglow, DT Nahki Johnson and OL Terrence Moore having already entered it?

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Did coach Pat Narduzzi leave the door open to Eli Holstein returning from injury in 2024? Either for the regular season finale this week against Boston College or the Panthers' bowl game? What is RB Rodney Hammond's future with the program? And on the basketball side, who does coach Jeff Capel need to step up amid the injury to Damian Dunn with a big game against Ohio State looming?

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: Could coach Pat Narduzzi be on the hot seat if the Panthers' losing skid continues through the end of the season? Is his apparent criticism of OC Kade Bell warranted? And should young offensive linemen get some chances to play before the end of the regular season? Our duo tackles those topics, then transitions to basketball. Is coach Jeff Capel missing out on too many recruits amid names including Derek Dixon, Amari Evans and Meleek Thomas committing elsewhere in recent weeks? And how many wins do Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and Co. need to get from their upcoming stretch of five games against power-conference opponents?

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson break down the Panthers' 86-62 win over West Virginia on Friday night at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh. How did the Panthers dominate the 191st edition of the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl? How did Pitt show maturity after Guillermo Diaz Graham took an elbow to the face in the game's opening minutes? How can coach Jeff Capel continue to unlock transfer guard Damian Dunn's scoring ability? Did Jaland Lowe make up for his rough shooting night with a well-rounded performance? And what does this rivalry game win mean for Pitt moving forward? Our duo tackles those topics and more.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news. Is the Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick still worth his gaudy contract amid a pronounced downturn in takeaways? Are he and the Steelers' defense ready for the challenge of facing Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens in NFL Week 11? And what should we make of linebacker Patrick Queen's statements that he has scores to settle with his former team? Paul tackles those topics and more around the sports scene. Including: Why aren't the Penguins using Tristan Jarry in goal despite his return to the active roster? What can we expect from Jeff Capel and Pitt basketball in the upcoming Backyard Brawl game against West Virginia? And will the Pirates' hiring of Matt Hague as hitting coach and Brent Strom as pitching coach make any difference for young players including Henry Davis, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Paul Skenes?

On their weekly Pitt basketball mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: What are the best and worst things coach Jeff Capel's team has going for it heading into a crucial Backyard Brawl rivalry matchup with West Virginia? Are Jaland Lowe, Ishmael Leggett and the Panthers ready? And what is guard Amsal Delalic's ideal role with this team when healthy? Then on the football front, what has gone wrong for coach Pat Narduzzi, QB Eli Holstein and the Panthers in their back-to-back losses to SMU and Virginia after a 7-0 start? And how much blame does OC Kade Bell deserve for a lack of innovation during the season?

On their weekly Pitt football mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Stephen Thompson answer reader questions. Among them: What is Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi's biggest problem following a blowout loss to SMU and with tough games against Clemson, Louisville and Boston College looming? Is it quarterback Eli Holstein's play? Or is it poor tackling and offensive line play? How soon could Holstein be benched in favor of backups including Nate Yarnell? Later, they get into some basketball topics. How deep will coach Jeff Capel's rotation go this season? Will Brandin Cummings prove to be a big-time shot maker like his brother Nelly? And will Pitt have another ACC sixth-man award winner in 2024-25 after Nike Sibande and Ishmael Leggett won the honor the past two years?

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to Pitt basketball's season-opening win Monday vs. Radford. Is this coach Jeff Capel's deepest roster since arriving in Pittsburgh? And how good can the lead scoring duo of Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett be in 2024-25 as they take on bigger roles following the departures of Bub Carrington and Blake Hinson? Jason tackles those questions, reacts to Pirates infielder Jared Triolo winning a Gold Glove; looks ahead to the Steelers' NFL Week 10 matchup with the Washington Commanders; and ponders the Penguins future now that they appear to be playing a more responsible brand of hockey, led by captain Sidney Crosby.