Live around 5 p.m. Eastern, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to recent comments by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin in which he suggested his defense has "historic" potential.

Why would Tomlin -- who's known for choosing his words carefully -- make such a bold declaration publicly? Is he trying to motivate or set a standard for his unit let by Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Jalen Ramsey? Or does he simply like the pieces he has in place that much? And can the unit really live up to those expectations? Especially with younger players like Joey Porter Jr., Payton Wilson and Derrick Harmon playing key roles?

Paul weighs in on those questions and the Pirates' blowout loss Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers that marked yet another low point in an ugly season for GM Ben Cherington's team.

In this clip from the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette insider Christopher Carter to ponder the losers at Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Could Robert Woods miss the team at receiver, having possibly been surpassed on the depth chart by names like Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller? Or does he still have a chance to find chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers? Where does Isaiahh Loudermilk fit in the pecking order on the defensive line after rookies Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black had strong outings? Is Cory Trice Jr. in danger of losing a roster spot amid yet another injury? And with competitors like Beanie Bishop and James Pierre putting solid tape together? And could Skylar Thompson be a threat to Will Howard as the No. 3 QB behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

In this clip from the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette insider Christoper Carter to ponder winners from Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Why was Payton Wilson able to meet sky-high expectations at middle linebacker? How has Darnell Washington asserted himself in the passing game alongside names like Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith? Has Yahya Black proven that he's the top reserve offensive lineman behind Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon?

Is Scotty Miller now a lock to make the team after demonstrating chemistry with Aaron Rodgers? How much does Jalen Ramsey appear poised to transform this defense after the late offseason trade that brought him to Pittsburgh in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick? And has Broderick Jones successfully shaken off a rough first week to show he can be a strength for the offensive line? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise gives his thoughts on the Cam Heyward contract dispute with the Steelers live around 5 p.m. Eastern.

Does Heyward really have leverage after the moves GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin made to solidify the defensive line this offseason? From drafting Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black to signing free agents like Daniel Ekuale, does the team have the necessary depth should Heyward decide to sit out regular season games? And how much worse would DC Teryl Austin's unit be overall without Heyward but with names like T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey, Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay Jr., Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson?

Paul tackles those questions and more.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley recaps the last week in Pirates minor league action, including top prospect Konnor Griffin and High-A Greensboro's 27-4 win on Saturday. Colin gives some insight from his recent trip to Triple-A Indianapolis and shares updates on all four full-season affiliates. Then he highlights nine standout Pirates prospects: Hunter Barco, Jase Bowen, Esmerlyn Valdez, Omar Alfonzo, Callan Moss, Jared Jones, Easton Carmichael, Edward Florentino and Tony Blanco Jr.

On the Tuesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette sports columnist welcomes insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to Cam Heyward's comments about his contract dispute with the Steelers.

Did Heyward have valid critiques of dealing with GM Omar Khan's front office, a year after signing a contract extension? Why don't his comments seem to have helped his favorability among fans? And will he find a resolution that prevents him from missing regular season games?

Later, the guys analyze the preseason victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars and what it tells us about the offense. Specifically, they discuss how valuable Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu can be if they're both healthy and playing well at tackle this season; the encouraging contributions of receivers including Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller; and the importance of quick throws from QBs Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and, eventually, Aaron Rodgers.

They also give their thoughts on the overall roster depth and small offseason improvements that may have been overshadowed by big moves for Rodgers, Jonnu Smith, DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey.

Did Rudolph deserve more consideration as the starter from coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan prior to the signing of Aaron Rodgers? Are his preseason results worth taking seriously, especially without key offensive pieces like DK Metcalf and Jonnu Smith in the lineup? And if Aaron Rodgers struggles to lead OC Arthur Smith's offense, how quickly should Tomlin consider turning to Rudolph? Paul tackles those questions and more from the win against the Jaguars. What should we make of big nights from Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson and Darnell Washington? How good can Payton Wilson be at middle linebacker? And should Skylar Thompson get a chance to make the roster at QB amid Will Howard's injury?

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles examines what the club's starting rotation will look like next season. While the organization boasts notable arm talent, many pitchers also have an unfavorable injury history. With workload restrictions expected to be a big part of the equation, Hiles looks to see who can exactly be expected to take on a true season's worth of innings in 2026. Noah gives his thoughts on options including Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Mike Burrows, Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, Hunter Barco, Carmen Mlodzinski, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones and Johan Oviedo.

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo discuss burning topics heading into the final week of Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

Is depth at receiver still a concern behind DK Metcalf? Or have Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller done enough in the eyes of GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin to resist a free agent signing or trade involving veterans such a Amari Cooper or Allen Lazard? And where does the injured Calvin Austin III fit into that conversation?

Then later, the guys ponder which depth corners are best positioned to make the 53-man roster behind Darius Slay Jr., Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey. Will Brandin Echols or Beanie Bishop ultimately get the nod as DC Teryl Austin begins the process of paring down his roster in the coming weeks? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

On the Sunday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko break down the team's 31-25 win over the Jaguars on Saturday night.

Which players helped their case for a roster spot and which ones saw their stock fall? Did Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson make the most of their opportunity with Aaron Rodgers unlikely to play much, if at all, during the preseason? Did Arthur Smith's revamped play calling make a difference? How did Roman Wilson look in his first game action as a Steeler? How did Roman Wilson look in his first game action as a Steeler? Did Darnell Washington show progress as a pass catcher?

On the defensive side of the ball, how did Payton Wilson look in his brief time on the field with the green dot on his helmet against the Jaguars starters? Did Beanie Bishop Jr. make a case for more playing time in a crowded Steelers secondary? And how did first-round pick Derrick Harmon look in his NFL debut?