Day 991, Quasi-Quarantine: Heroism In The Face Of Pervasive Evil Makes "Fairy Tale" A Worthy Entrant To Formidable King Canon

 

"I'm sure I can tell this story. I'm also sure no one will believe it. That's fine with me. Telling it will be enough."

Returning to the genres of the Dark Tower and "The Eyes of the Dragon," Stephen King has built a whimsical tribute to our literary origin stories in "Fairy Tale."

Split between small-town Illinois and the cursed Empis, this book follows a high school student as he seeks to redeem a childhood marked by loss, addiction, and isolation. 

"A brave man helps. A coward just gives presents."

After a chance meeting turns into the revelation of an alternate world stocked full of royalty, evil, giants, and mermaids, Charlie leans into his fate and balances the pull of his identities within the respective worlds.

"The first job was to get out of this unpleasant city, which wasn't deserted at all. And which wouldn't quite stay still."

While perhaps lacking the pull of immersion and the moment-by-moment anxiety of previous King novels, "Fairy Tale" still manages to feel like putting on a pair of slippers, pouring a cup of coffee, and settling into a familiar landscape.

Influenced by H.P. Lovecraft and marked by the character development that powers the author's genius, this tale represents an escapism and nostalgia that are all too rare in our current climate.

"We did the right thing, I know that. The only thing. And still my dad keeps an eye on the house at 1 Sycamore Street. I come back often and do the same, and eventually I will come back to Sentry for good. I may marry, and if I have children, the house on the hill will go to them. And when they are small, and wonder is all they know, I will read them the old stories, the ones that start once upon a time."

Day 990, Quasi-Quarantine: Grunting Our Way To Evil Builds With Our New Gamorrean

 

Ubiquitous for any "Star Wars" fan, the Gamorrean is a pig-like humanoid prized for their warrior mentality and fierce loyalty. 

These stubborn, unintelligent (hey, take it up with Wookieepedia!) creatures often were contracted as guards by crimelords like Jabba the Hutt and are recognizable as background scenery anywhere you find evil in the "Star Wars" galaxy.

Gamorreans are native to the Outer Rim planet Gamorr, where they align to clans. With a passion for violence, they often became mercenaries and enforcers, favoring melee weapons -- particularly Gamorrean battle-axes.

While Gamorreans do appear in Lego sets like Boba Fett's Throne Room, they are still relatively rare. We found this custom minifigure, which is well constructed and cleverly detailed, with a lone quibble of it not coming with a battle-axe (I'm snorting my disapproval).

As we build out our Tattooine mods, these Gamorreans will come in handy in building out evil forces and adding an air of malevolence to all of our builds.

Day 989, Quasi-Quarantine: I Already Miss "Andor"

This mid-Seventies-era re-imagining of the "Andor" intro makes me feel like the show feels -- like a youngster first discovering the "Star Wars" universe.

This is the way.

Day 984, Quasi-Quarantine: "Evil Geniuses" Takes Unflinching Look At Social Disparity & Financial Cronyism

 

"The heart of the right’s successful strategy was to turn regulation of business into a simple-minded, single-minded for-or-against binary question. All politics (and most of life) involves simplifying complex issues."

A difficult but important read, "Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America" dissects decisions made 40 years ago that have had seismic impacts on financial policy, wealth disparity, social mores, and political bipolarity. 

Kurt Andersen -- a self-described "appalled social democrat" -- painstakingly re-creates the cultural backdrop that inspired and enabled such power grabs, taking a decade-by-decade look at contributing factors.

"America’s tragic flaw is our systemic racism, and it’s a residue of a terrible decision our founders made to resist the new and perpetuate the old: the enslavement of black people."

"If omnipotent sadists had set out to take an extremely good, well-functioning piece of our political economy and social structure and make it undemocratic and oppressive, this is what their scheme would’ve looked like."

"As it turned out, the 1980s were the ’30s but in reverse: instead of a fast-acting New Deal, a time-release Raw Deal."

The book is a slog, made more challenging by some sentence and continuity structural problems that stand in the way of comprehension at times. But it's worth the effort -- Anderson's irreverent comments and occasional informal tone can break up monotony and make the troubling material more palatable in key moments.

"From the 1970s, liberals had been cruised toward the ideological center and beyond, eager to compromise, reasonableness and intellectual flexibility central to their self-identities -- which made people on the right who were wingers by temperament feel obliged to keep moving further right."

"That 'USA! USA!' chant with its cheerfully fuck-you edge ... finally to any sort of excited mob of Americans who felt like madly insisting on our awesomeness, to perform feelings of patriotic self-confidence, which used to abide more organically and implicitly."

"Evil Geniuses" does not make for fun reading and requires an intentional dedication -- but that doesn't make it any less essential.

"Modern liberals prided ourselves on not being idealogues, on entertaining all sorts of disparate policy ideas for improving the world, whereas the economic right really has one big, simple idea -- do everything possible to let the rich stay and get richer."

Day 983, Quasi-Quarantine: Trouble With Twitter, You Say?

This 13-year-old satirical video has aged pretty well considering what the platform has degenerated into under a disturbed, inherited-wealth tool of christian nationalists.

"OK, it seems like Twittering is just randomly bragging about your unexceptional life."

Fair.

Day 982, Quasi-Quarantine: A Belated Celebration Of Living Colour's "Vivid"

Yesterday, Pitchfork added a belated review of Living Colour's "Vivid" to its archives. It's hard to believe it's been nearly 35 years since this seminal band released its debut album and then tore down the "Saturday Night Live" stage with a tornado of rock with a performance that my impressionable-teen self will never forget.

Led by Corey Glover's piercing vocals and Vernon Reid's indelible guitar, Living Colour transcended color and genre lines. As you can see, their work still holds up.

Limerick Friday #566: "Andor" Rescues TV's Autumn Landscape -- Day 979

"Andor" is a vibe

I've found my tribe

"Bladerunner" meets "Tron"

Catch it before it's gone

This aura to imbibe

Over strategy you obsess

You self-important mess

With your trying-too-hard 'do

I beg of you

Tell us all so much less

A season's come up lame

After the annual Dave Doeren game

Two games remain

To make a program gain

Or find someone else to blame

It's all still a dump

A racist hypocritical lump

Because of the hive mind

Someone will just find

A slightly more competent Trump

Headed into a bye

Expectations are high

After a Deshaun dalliance

We've finally found Tua balance

Come show me the lie

Last time ...

Day 978, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Browns Game 10 Review

 

Miami pushed its winning streak to four straight with an emphatic home win against Cleveland. The 'Fins didn't commit a turnover, were called for just five penalties, and did not punt for the entire game, leading to one of the craziest stats I can remember: The Dolphins have now punted just twice in a three-game stretch -- something I've never heard of before. The caveat here is that Miami is doing this against bad teams, but they are knocking off the foes in front of them.

On to the that's-how-you-set-up-a-bye-week recap ...

Offense

• The 'Fins were unstoppable on this side of the ball, racking up 29 first downs, 491 total yards, and a whopping 7.3 yards per play. In a significant development, the running game got on a heater, accumulating 195 yards on 5.9 yards per rush. The ground effort allowed Miami to control the clock (33:14 to 26:46), but if there are quibbles, it's that the Dolphins went 6 of 11 on third down and 1 of 2 on fourth down and only scored touchdowns on three of five trips to the red zone. Suffice it to say that you have to reach to even find those nits. 
• Tua Tagovailoa continued his elite play, hitting on 25 of 32 passes for 285 yards and three scores. He ran once for no gain, threw fewer 50-50 balls, and did a nice job recovering a fumble off a high snap. Tua also spread the ball around, with no teammate getting more than six targets. Miami had the luxury of even getting Skylar Thompson seven snaps, with his three kneeldowns balanced by completing his only pass for 17 yards. With a 91.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, Tua extended his stellar play, and if the Dolphins can maintain a running game to take some pressure off of him, the balance is only going to make him even more dangerous. 
• Jeff Wilson (42 snaps) outpaced Raheem Mostert (19 snaps) and erupted for 119 yards and a score on 17 carries, to go with two catches for 24 yards. However, Mostert was still a massive factor, rushing for 65 yards and a score on just eight carries, adding four grabs for 22 yards. Alec Ingold (42 snaps) rounded out his strong lead blocking with four receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown, earning a sterling 95.7 PFF grade. Salvon Ahmed got seven snaps in garbage time, rushing three times for 11 yards. 
• Balance was the name of the game at receiver, as Jaylen Waddle (51), Tyreek Hill (49), and Trent Sherfield (45) had a similar number of snaps and distributed production nicely. Waddle had four catches for 66 yards and Hill added five grabs for 44 yards and a score on six targets, with Sherfield (78.7 PFF grade) contributing four snares for 63 yards and a touchdown. He was called for taunting and likely got away with offensive pass interference once, but his downfield blocking was key to unlocking the run game. In 21 snaps, Cedrick Wilson balanced a seven-yard catch by taking a six-yard sack on a trick-play attempt.
• At tight end, Durham Smythe (37) and Mike Gesicki (32) split the snaps with no one else. Gesicki reeled in two passes for 31 yards, while Smythe was stuffed for no gain on a short-yardage carry.
• The offensive line had maybe its best performance of the season, holding the Browns without a quarterback sack and overpowering a well-regarded defensive line in the running game. Connor Williams had some high snaps at center and Robert Jones was called for a false start, but beyond those minor mistakes, the offensive front was a force. Jones and Robert Hunt gave the Dolphins plus guard play, while Terron Armstead was beastly in his 60 snaps. Reserve Greg Little even got nine snaps in place of Terron Armstead at left tackle with the game out of a reach. The line appears to be finding its stride, which bodes well for adding a difference-making ground game to an already-explosive offensive attack.

Defense

• The 'Fins limited Cleveland to just 297 offensive yards and 4.8 yards per play, generating 28 pressures, more than the previous two games combined and second-most on the entire season. The pass rush accounted for three sacks and generated four holding calls and a tripping flag, but more impressively, Miami held the rugged Browns to 112 rushing yards. While an inability to force turnovers bears watching, the Dolphins showed that investing in the Bradley Chubb trade and focusing on pressuring the quarterback is paying off -- and should continue to do so down the stretch.
• Both Christian Wilkins (55 snaps) and Zach Sieler (53) played a ton at defensive end, with Emmanuel Ogbah playing 10 snaps before being lost for the season with a triceps injury. Wilkins posted seven tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and three quarterback hits to go with a roughing-the-passer penalty, while Sieler notched four tackles, a stop for loss, a forced fumble, and two quarterback hits. In limited action, Ogbah committed a neutral zone infraction to turn a third down into a first for Cleveland. Where the 'Fins turn at defensive end to add depth remains a mystery, especially since the Browns poached Ben Stille off of Miami's practice squad following the contest.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis got 31 snaps without a stat -- though he did nearly drop Jacoby Brissett for a sack at one point. John Jenkins collected a tackle in his 11 snaps.
• The distribution at outside linebacker was fairly even between Chubb (44 snaps), Jaelan Phillips (42), Melvin Ingram (34), and Andrew Van Ginkel (24). They all had their moments, with Ingram in particular seeming to benefit by staying fresh, earning a 92.6 PFF grade with a 45.8% pass-rush win rate, two tackles, a sack, three quarterback hits, and a drawn holding penalty. Phillips notched two tackles, half a sack, and two quarterback hits, good for an 82.0 PFF grade. Chubb was nearly unstoppable late, posting three tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits while drawing a holding flag. Van Ginkel delivered five stops as well in what was a stellar all-around effort from the outside linebacker corps.
• At inside linebacker, Jerome Baker led the way with seven tackles, a stop for loss, a pass breakup, and a defensive pass interference call in his 52 snaps. Surprisingly, Duke Riley outsnapped Elandon Roberts (32 to 27), with Roberts delivering seven tackles -- including a few of the resounding variety -- and a quarterback hit and Riley adding three stops. Sam Eguavoen got a single snap from scrimmage and looked to be victimized in coverage on Cleveland's first touchdown. 
• Both Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou played 66 snaps at cornerback, with "X" collecting four tackles and a fumble recovery and Kohou contributing four tackles and three pass breakups, good for a 77.0 PFF grade. Justin Bethel made the most of 23 snaps, recording seven tackles and two pass breakups, while Keion Crossen had a solo stop in his 11 snaps before being injured. Elijah Campbell came on for six snaps, putting up two tackles and a pass breakup. 
• At strong safety, Eric Rowe had a solo tackle in his 50 snaps, while Verone McKinley III registered five stops in his 32 snaps, despite a couple of missed tackles.
• Jevon Holland played all 67 snaps at free safety, but had an uneventful day, collecting two tackles on the afternoon.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders had another rocky performance, missing TWO extra points and allowing a 48-yard kickoff return to begin the game. He did hit both field-goal attempts and connect on three extra points when the game was still competitive, but the rumblings about his inconsistency are getting louder by the week. 
• Thomas Morstead didn't punt in this one. I've got nothing else here.
• Miami continues to get next to nothing out of its return game, with Mostert taking back three kickoffs for 60 yards and Cedrick Wilson adding an eight-yard punt return. 
• In kick coverage, the 48-yard kickoff return mentioned above did lead to an opening Browns TD, but not punting allowed the 'Fins to limit Cleveland's ability to win the third phase by a wide margin.
• Sherfield (eight snaps) led offensive players in special-teams contributions, with Bethel, Campbell, and Clayton Fejedelem all getting 16 snaps to lead defensive players.

Momentum plays

• Using a 48-yard kickoff return as a springboard, Cleveland scored quickly, powered by a 38-yard strike from Brissett to Donovan Peoples-Jones. An Ogbah offsides gave the Browns a first down on a 3rd & 4 play, followed by a pass interference on Baker to set up a play-action pass from Brissett to tight end Harrison Bryant for the touchdown.
• Four straight touches by Mostert (five if you count the kick return) got Miami moving, with Jeff Wilson converting a 4th & 1 play with a tough four-yard run. An 18-yard pass to Sherfield was followed by 18- and 11-yard runs by Wilson, setting Tua up to pump-fake Myles Garrett, hit Ingold in the flat, and have the fullback follow blocks by Sherfield and Hill into the end zone on a dive to tie the score.
• After a Brissett sneak converted a 3rd & 1, he then found Peoples-Jones for 22 yards on 3rd & 12. Another Brissett sneak earned a first down on 4th & 1, but two plays later, Nick Chubb fumbled on a Sieler hit, with Howard pouncing on the loose ball for a key turnover.
• Three plays later, Tua found Waddle for 29 yards on a third-down play, then Mostert ripped off a 14-yard run. A well-defended trick play saw Cedrick Wilson forced to take a six-yard sack, forcing the Dolphins to settle for a 39-yard field goal from Sanders to make it 10-7.
• A pair of 10-yarders from Brissett to Amari Cooper propelled the next Cleveland drive, and a massive hit by Baker on Kareem Hunt turned a 3rd & 1 into a 4th & 3. On the fourth-down play, Brissett hit Peoples-Jones, but the receiver couldn't handle the pass, with Kohou potentially getting away with interference on the play.
• A back-foot, no-look 20-yarder to Hill started the next Miami possession. Wilson got 13 on a run, but Smythe was stoned on a 3rd & 1 play that saw him take a direct snap. On 4th & 1, Wilson was stopped in the backfield to finish off an exchange of fourth-down stops between the two teams.
• After an initial first down, a sack forced by Chubb with help from Ingram and Wilkins forced a 4th & 17 punt.
• Two players later, Tua found Gesicki for 15 yards, then followed with a dangerous throw on 3rd & 6 that Waddle secured for a first down. Two players later, a perfectly thrown fade to Sherfield resulted in a back-corner touchdown from 14 yards out, with the wideout potentially getting away with a pushoff to secure a 17-7 advantage for the 'Fins headed into halftime.
• Miami started the second half with a solid 23-yard return by Mostert, followed by a 14-yard pass to Wilson and a nine-yarder to Ingold. After a 16-yard toss to G-Sick, Mostert went untouched off the left side, weaving down the sideline and picking up a Sherfield block to pay off the 24-yard touchdown run for a 24-7 lead.
• A third-down roughing-the-pass penalty on Wilkins extended Cleveland's possession, and an eight-yard run by Chubb on 3rd & 1 kept it going. Shaky effort by Peoples-Jones on a 3rd & 4 pass resulted in a 37-yard field goal to cut Miami's lead to 24-10.
• Tua climbed the pocket on a 3rd & 10 play to rifle a 15-yarder to Waddle, then Hill turned a short pass into a 16-yard gain over the middle. A nice mix of runs and passes followed, with a too-easy TD toss to Hill on 3rd & goal culminating the drive and pushing the Dolphins up 30-10 after a missed extra point.
• With the game turning into a blowout, Brissett answered with passes of 10, 13, and 19 yards to set up a 33-yard jaunt by Chubb that saw him spin out of tackle attempts by McKinley and Bethel to trim the margin to 30-17 early in the fourth quarter.
• A 27-yard strike to Sherfield that saw him bounce off a tackler was slightly offset by a taunting penalty on the receiver, but the Dolphins were on the move again. A 3rd & 1 dart to Waddle covered 15 yards, but Tua did well to save a high snap and fall on the fumble on the next play. Miami was unable to convert the ensuing 3rd & 16, but Sanders connected from 33 yards to extend the score to 33-17.
• Facing a 4th & 7 deep in its own territory on the next possession, Cleveland went for it, but Phillips, Ingram, and Chubb met at the quarterback for a sack to give the ball right back to Miami. On the next play, Wilson made a nifty cut and followed blocks by Sherfield, Ingold, and Hill for an easy 20-yard touchdown to salt the game away. Sanders missed his second straight extra point, however, making the score 39-17.
• Staring at another 4th & 6 inside its own 30-yard line, the Browns went for it again, with Brissett scrambling for 13 yards. Five Chubb pressures in seven plays helped create a 4th & 20 play, and Ingram put a big hit on Brissett on a deep ball that Kohou broke up to give the 'Fins possession.
• Thompson and Ahmed entered the game for Miami, with Ahmed carrying three straight times for 11 yards. Thompson then lofted a surprising pass to Ingold, who ran over dudes for 17 yards. Three straight kneel downs by Thompson cemented the fourth straight victory for the Dolphins.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Day 977, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Office of Historical Corrections" Uses Elegant Short Stories To Deftly Treat Weighty Issues

"So much violence and lack waiting on the other end of the violence and lack that people poured out of the South to escape, and still they kept believing there was someplace in this country where they could be Black and be safe and make a home."

Danielle Evans's novella and short story collection gets off to a slow-ish start, but finds its stride with four stellar stories in a row, making "The Office of Historical Corrections" a powerful and emotional read.

Exploring the trade of casual sex for self-awareness, Evans initially makes some of the stories a little less accessible for some. "Happily Ever After" left me wanting more as the opener and "Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain" redeems itself at the end.

"All her adult life people have asked Rena why she goes to such dangerous places, and she has always wanted to ask them where the safe place is."

While occasionally hiding the impetus for her characters' motives at times, Evans syncs beautifully with characters in "Alcatraz" and "Anything Could Disappear," weaving indelible tales that demonstrate connections across experiences and geographies. 

" ... I understood more now about how it feels to love the excess in people, about how knowing someone else's love will consume you doesn't make it any less real or any less reciprocated, about how you can leave a person behind just to save the thing they value most -- yourself."

"Boys Go to Jupiter" and "Why Won't Women Just Say What They Want" offer vivid and searing commentaries on contemporary discussion surrounding cancel culture and misogyny, setting the stage for the titular story, a 102-page stunner that serves as the ideal cog for a memorable collection.

"That my country might always expect me to audition for my life I accepted as fact, but I trust the public charter of national government more than I trusted average white citizens acting unchecked. I believed in government, I had come to understand, the way that agnostics who hadn't been to service in decades sometimes hedged their bets and brought their babies to be baptized or otherwise welcomed into the religions of their parents' youth."

Evans's flowing prose is punctuated with observations that stop you in your tracks, allowing the stories to stick with you long after reading. "The Office of Historical Corrections" is not to be missed for those seeking a master class in character building within the short story format.

"Besides the tablecloths, the decor is all old photographs and postcards that they scrounged up from wherever, because you know how white people love their history right up until it's true."

Day 975, Quasi-Quarantine: The NC State-iest Of NC State Seasons Continues

 

Chock full of fifth- and sixth-year seniors, this was the year that coach Dave Doeren and everyone around the NC State pointed to. If the Pack wasn't going to vie for its first conference championship since 1979, when would it ... ever?

Sure, the Wolfpack lost gunslinging signal-caller Devin Leary, but the junior was having an uneven campaign anyway. Also, State actually chose to bringing in a graduate transfer quarterback who couldn't, like, throw the ball to back him up, so it's hard to use that as much of an excuse for a (to date) 7-3 overall record and 3-3 conference mark. NC State has played the worst two teams in the ACC -- Boston College and Virginia Tech -- to a 42-42 draw.

So what's happened? Well, the offense has often looked like it was hastily proposed on the back of an Amedeo's napkin over a few pregame beers. Fashioning three different offenses for Leary, 25-year-old transfer Jack Chambers, and 19-year-old M.J. Morris has done the rest of the offense zero favors. Whither Ben Finley?

The rushing attack has gone nowhere, with everyone quickly skipping past the losses of all-everything left tackle Icky Ekwonu and top backs Ricky Person and Bam Knight following last season. The offensive line has struggled -- especially on the right side -- and the passing game minus Emeka Emezie has been inconsistent outside of Thayer Thomas.

Throw in a litany of penalties, the customary poor clock management, and injuries to difference-makers like Savion Jackson and Tyler-Baker Williams, and the Wolfpack has struggled to put lesser opponents away. 

With two tough games remaining -- at Louisville and at UNC -- the Pack still has an opportunity to put a stamp on a memorable season. But with the pervasive presence of NC State Shit and a questionable ability to bounce back after the annual "Dave Doeren No-Show Game" against BC, morale is low in the fanbase. Which means it might be time for another Dave Doeren Twitter experiment where he blames Wolfpack Nation for another sleepwalking performance.

Stay tuned.

Limerick Friday #565: Election Day Offers A Small Glimmer Of Hope For The Future -- Day 972

 

A down-to-the-wire fight

Calls for a two-rum night

Can sanity tip the scale?

Can logic prevail?

Or will ignorance win on the right

From the Pack to the 'Fins

This is how you rack up wins

Welcome Bradley Chubb

Let's go get that dub

And get me off these needles and pins

Technology sterile and bleak

Intensity at its peak

"Andor" brings the grit

They even said "shit"

A mini-movie every week

Your value is naught

We don't pay per thought

Strategy eludes

Advising deludes

We never learned what you taught

Plenty of live oaks

But a scarcity of jokes

Anxiety and fear

Hand me another beer

Before something croaks

Last time ...

Day 971, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bears Game 9 Review

The 'Fins won their third straight game and moved to 5-1 in one-score games on the campaign by enduring a nailbiter on the road in Chicago. Despite going the final 21 minutes of the game without scoring, Miami's offense was largely unstoppable against a Bears defense that is shedding playmakers. However, a Dolphins defense enduring a midseason identity crisis was embarrassed by one of the league's worst offensive attacks. In fact, three massive calls went Miami's way in the final moments (the league later apologized to the Bears for two of them), or else we'd be having a much different conversation.

On to the ref-appreciation recap ...

Offense

• Miami caught fire against a decimated Chicago defense, averaging 10.1 yards per passing play and 7.2 yards per play without turning the ball over or allowing a sack. The 'Fins also scored four touchdowns on six red-zone trips. If there are quibbles to be had, it is that the Dolphins went just 5 for 10 on third downs, misfired on both fourth-down attempts, couldn't close the game out late, and ran for just 77 yards. However, when you score 35 points on the road, those can be considered nits.
• The Dolphins moved to 6-0 when Tua Tagovailoa plays three quarters, and the signal-caller hit on 21 of 30 passes for 302 yards and three scores. In terms of negatives, he underthrew a few passes, rushed five times without gaining a yard, fumbled once (he recovered it himself), and was involved in penalties for too many men on the field and an illegal shift. However, he once again led a Miami offense that is looking more unstoppable by the week, and he did so while protecting the ball.
• Somewhat surprisingly, newcomer Jeff Wilson outsnapped starter Raheem Mostert (28 to 27) and had as many runs (nine), outgaining Mostert 51 yards to 26. Wilson also grabbed three catches for 21 yards, while Mostert was targeted twice without a catch, including one drop. Fullback Alec Ingold saw 28 snaps without a touch or a target. How the touches play out between Wilson and Mostert the rest of the way will be an intriguing storyline to follow.
• At receiver, the story was the same as it has been, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle wreaking havoc on opposing secondaries. Hill earned a 93.3 grade from Pro Football Focus after catching seven balls for 143 yards and a touchdown, while Waddle got an 85.4 grade based on grabbing five passes for 85 yards and a score. Trent Sherfield had three receptions for 27 yards on his 36 snaps and seems to make at least one clutch catch per contest, while Cedrick Wilson managed two grabs for 23 yards in his 13 snaps with River Cracraft inactive. Hill went over 1,000 yards on the season in this game and has now been targeted on 35.2% of his routes -- highest in the NFL. One thing to watch for as the season progresses: Miami can't count on getting 79 yards in pass interference calls every game, but will pick plays -- the Dolphins admittedly run a lot, like pretty much all teams -- all of a sudden start drawing offensive flags as the postseason nears?
• Durham Smythe led in snaps at tight end (33), but was targeted twice without a catch. Mike Gesicki was held in check, getting a single catch for three yards in his 28 snaps. Hunter Long had six snaps before exiting as part of concussion protocol.
• The offensive line held the Bears without a sack for the first time all season, and allowed zero tackles for losses to boot. The front allowed only two quarterback hits by Chicago defensive linemen. Despite Terron Armstead being whistled for being ineligible downfield, it was another strong effort up front against a depleted defense. Sure, it would have been great to establish the running game a bit more, but game flow tilted the offense pass-heavy, and the OL responded.

Defense

• The short story is that the 'Fins had no answer for Justin Fields, who threw for 123 yards and three scores and ran for 178 yards and another touchdown. Miami allowed a whopping 252 rushing yards (6.3 yards per attempt) and 368 total yards and allowed first downs on 10 of 16 third-down attempts and 1 of 2 fourth downs.  Chicago scored touchdowns on three of four red-zone trips, dominated time of possession (34:46 to 25:14), and took advantage of poor tackling all game long.
• Christian Wilkins played a whopping 64 snaps at defensive end, recording six tackles and one stop for loss, earning a 70.0 run-defense grade from PFF. Zach Sieler took 57 snaps himself, collecting six tackles, including five solos. Emmanuel Ogbah continued his disappointing season, not denting the stat sheet in his 25 snaps.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis had three tackles in 44 snaps, with John Jenkins adding one stop in 14 snaps.
• On the weak side, Bradley Chubb saw his first action in a Miami uniform, making a tackle and pressuring the quarterback a handful of times in his surprising 54 snaps. Melvin Ingram saw his snaps reduced to 27, and he contributed two solo tackles, a sack, one stop for loss, and a quarterback hit. Andrew Van Ginkel got just 10 snaps from scrimmage, despite having a huge impact on special teams. Chubb's arrival likely means more of a platoon situation for Chubb and Van Ginkel down the stretch.
• Jaelan Phillips registered five tackles and a quarterback hit in 61 snaps at strongside linebacker.
• Elandon Roberts paced the inside linebackers with nine tackles in 57 snaps, including five solos, with Jerome Baker (fresh off a salary reduction) posting seven tackles (five solos) in his 45 snaps. Duke Riley had two tackles, a sack, and one stop for loss in 17 snaps, while Channing Tindall (five snaps as a spy on Fields) and Sam Eguavoen (one snap) saw limited reserve duty. This unit bears some responsibility (pun intended) for allowing Bears tight end Cole Kmet to score a pair of touchdowns.
• At corner, Xavien Howard played all 74 snaps, making a pair of tackles and getting called for holding. Kader Kohou played 73 snaps, recording eight solo tackles and earning an 81.2 PFF grade. Keion Crossen played 20 snaps, putting up two tackles and a pass breakup while getting whistled for a 28-yard pass interference penalty and missing some key tackles. Noah Ighbinoghene (19 snaps, two solo stops) and Elijah Campbell (16 snaps, one tackle) saw reserve action in the secondary. The Dolphins desperately need a return to form from "X" -- the defensive backfield as currently constituted simply can't survive if his season-long slump endures.
• Going from inactive to 57 snaps at strong safety, Eric Rowe notched seven tackles, including six solo stops. A week after seeing extensive action, rookie free agent Verone McKinley III did not see the field.
• Playing all 74 snaps, Jevon Holland had four solo stops at free safety, but was uncharacteristically a step late on a few plays.

Special teams

• The story here was a game-turning blocked punt by Phillips, who sidestepped an attempt at a chip block to block a punt that Van Ginkel scooped and scored on.
• Jason Sanders's shaky campaign continued, as he hit all five extra points, but also missed a chip shot field goal that was later blamed on a gust of wind.
• A week after punting a single time, Thomas Morstead repeated that output, contributing a 51-yarder.
• Mostert had an 18-yard kickoff return and Wilson had an eight-yard punt return, but Miami surrendered a 30-yarder to Khalil Herbert in coverage.
• Justin Bethel saw no snaps from scrimmage in this one, but paced defensive players in special-teams snaps with 20, and he was joined by Campbell (19), Eguavoen (18), and Clayton Fejedelem (18) as core contributors in the third phase. Durham Smythe (seven snaps) led offensive players in special-teams reps.

Momentum plays

• The Bears wasted little time getting on the board, with a 28-yard pass interference call on Crossen helping Chicago down the field. Tindall made a solid play to force Fields out of bounds short on a 3rd & 10 scramble, with the Bears settling for a short field goal take an early 3-0 lead.
• Using good eye discipline, Tua hit Waddle for a 17-yarder, then found Sherfield for 18 yards on a 3rd & 6 play. A shaky pass interference call forced by Hill led to a one-yard TD plunge by Mostert, giving the 'Fins a 7-3 advantage.
• When's the last time you heard of a tight end getting back-to-back rushing attempts? Kmet turned the trick for Chicago, converting a 3rd & 1 by taking a snap that looked similar to a Dolphins play. A Crossen missed tackle allowed another Bears first down, and a 3rd & 8 scramble by Fields that saw Tindall take a bad angle kept the drive alive. A fourth third-down conversion on the same drive set up an 18-yard touchdown for Kmet on a walk-in score (and a 10-7 lead) thanks to strong downfield blocking.
• On the Miami possession, a 25-yard strike to Hill converted a 1st & 15, followed two plays later by a 26-yard seam shot to Waddle. A late-hit penalty helped the 'Fins score easily on a dart pass to Hill, leading to a touchdown, a back flip, and a 14-10 advantage.
• After an initial first down, Chicago was forced to punt four plays later, and Phillips blocked the kick with his stomach, with Van Ginkel racing 25 yards with the loose ball for an easy Miami touchdown to push the margin to 21-10.
• With a potential blowout looming, the Bears responded in a big way with a 12-play drive that featured eight runs, starting with a 17-yard option run by Fields. The quarterback got first downs on two more runs, then converted a 3rd & 8 play when he escaped Chubbs pressure to find Darnell Mooney for a score over Howard, making the score 21-17.
• After a touchback, Mostert picked up 14 yards on a draw play, then Tua found Hill on a successful pick play for 39 yards on 3rd & 6. Three players later, Tua avoided a sack, but slipped while throwing, finding Waddle for 12 yards on a low pass. After some shaky clock management, Sanders was wide left on a 27-yarder, allowing the Bears to kneel on the ball to head into the half trailing by just four points.
• The 'Fins started the second half with a 22-yard deep out to Hill, with Wilson following up with a 28-yard burst that featured good receiver blocking by his namesake teammate. Two plays later, Tua rolled out and threw a shaky pass toward the end zone that looked like it was going to be picked. Instead, Waddle came back to the ball for a touchdown and a 28-17 lead.
• On a 3rd & 6 play on the ensuing possession, Fields was pressured, made a pump fake, eluded dives by Baker, Riley, and Crossen, and used a downfield block by Mooney to race 61 yards for a touchdown. The signal-caller then hit his tight end for a two-point conversion to trim the margin to 28-25.
• A third-down conversion on a pass to Waddle got Miami going again, with a 20-yarder to Hill followed by an 18-yarder to Hill to pay off a 3rd & 7. On the subsequent 3rd & 7, Wilson beat Morrow on a basic option route, then dove for the goal line to extend the lead to 35-25.
• A holding call followed by Chubbs pressure on 3rd & 18 forced a rare three-and-out by the Bears on their next drive.
• A 16-yard pass to Hill began another Dolphin possession, but a fumble and recovery by Tua on a 3rd & 2 play set up a 4th & 5 pass that fell incomplete, intended for Gesicki.
• At the start of the fourth quarter, Fields snuck his way to a first on a 4th & 1 play. The quarterback converted a 3rd & 1 play with a 14-yard scramble, then beat Phillips on an RPO for a 17-yard run. Kmet beat Baker and Holland on a play-action touchdown pass from Fields, making it 38-35 with 11:38 remaining.
• Miami benefited from back-to-back awful officiating calls on the following possession, with Tua getting away with a grounding penalty and Waddle drawing a really bad 47-yard pass interference call that the league later admitted it missed on. Facing another 4th & 1, Tua had all day to throw, but woefully underthrew an open Smythe for a second straight failure on fourth down.
• Scrambles by Fields turned two more third downs into first downs, but an Ingram sack helped force a Bears punt.
• On a 3rd & 11 play, Tua dramatically underthrew a wide-open Waddle for what would have been a game-sealing touchdown. Instead, Chicago got a pass breakup to force Miami's only punt of the contest.
• Fields went to work again with a 12-yard run at the two-minute warning, then Miami got away with a blatant pass interference call on Crossen that somehow went without a whistle -- another missed call the league later apologized for. On 4th & 10, Fields rolled out and found Equanimeous St. Brown with Howard in trail coverage, but St. Brown dropped the pass that would have extended the drive.
• Three consecutive Tua kneeldowns handed the 'Fins a 38-35 victory -- their third straight.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Day 970, Quasi-Quarantine: A Commentary On Regret And Unlived Lives, "Midnight Library" Comes Too Close To Cringe

 

"Between life and death there is a library,' she said. 'And within that library, the shelves go on for ever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be different if you had made other choices ... Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?'"

"The Midnight Library" revisits common ground with a depiction of how a myriad of lives exist based on very small choices and decisions. Matt Haig weaves a compelling tale involving the on-the-nosedly named Nora Seed, who is on the verge of suicide before being granted a reprieve to resolve life-long regrets.

"I don't know if I can do this. I've gone blank."

"You're overthinking it."

"I have anxiety. I have no other type of thinking available."

The novel too often leans on treacle, but readers are still swept into Nora's journey toward self-awareness. Perhaps ideally suited as a beach read atop a crow's nest in the Outer Banks, "The Midnight Library" is capable of evoking powerful emotion, but may veer too far into experience for experience's sake for some.

"'Never underestimate the big importance of small things,' Mrs. Elm said. 'You must always remember that.'"

Day 969, Quasi-Quarantine: Honor That Good Trouble And Save Your Country In The Process

 

Today when I cast my ballot, I'll think of the late, great statesman John Lewis. And I'll hope that what he saw so clearly and articulated in the documentary "John Lewis: Good Trouble" does not occur in the wake of his death.

“My greatest fear is that one day we may wake up and our democracy is gone.”

Today is the day when we'll decide as a country whether his greatest fear has come to pass.

Vote.

Day 968, Quasi-Quarantine: Boogie-Boarding In November

Definitely wasn't expecting ocean time with Thanksgiving around the corner.

We'll take it ...

Day 964, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Lions Game 8 Review

 

Despite a litany of penalties, an awful first half defensively, and another game without forcing a turnover, the Dolphins secured a crucial road win at Detroit. The second victory in a row pushed Miami to 5-3, but starting a pair of undrafted free agents in the secondary and continued pass-rush struggles set the stage for what would turn out to be a momentous trade deadline.

On to the that-feels-like-a-long-time-ago recap ...

Offense

• Miami was a model of efficiency on this side of the ball, turning all three red zone trips into touchdowns and converting 8 of 12 third downs and both fourth-down attempts. The 'Fins racked up 476 yards and controlled the time of possession (34:22-25:38), salting the game away with an impressive final possession.
• Tua Tagovailoa was on fire, posting a 96.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus -- the best of any quarterback this season. He connected on 29 of 36 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He was sacked twice, but offset those by running five times for 19 yards -- and actually sliding! Tua was at his best on play-action and RPO snaps, and even though two illegal shits and an illegal motion can be cleaned up, this was one of his finest performances as a Dolphin.
• At running back, Raheem Mostert led the way once again, rushing 14 times for 64 yards and adding one catch for three yards. In 16 snaps, Chase Edmonds ran four times for 14 yards and didn't catch a pass. Salvon Ahmed saw his first action of the season, with a two-yard run among his three snaps. In 27 snaps, Alec Ingold had one-yard TD run and caught a pass for five yards.
• Tyreek Hill was targeted 14 times, catching 12 for 188 yards and adding a seven-yard run to go with an illegal motion penalty in 49 snaps. Waddle saw 52 snaps, reeling in eight balls for 106 yards and two scores. Trent Sherfield had two key third-down catches for 25 yards among his 40 snaps, while Cedrick Wilson (no targets) and Braylon Sanders (two catches for 17 yards and a costly red-zone fumble) each received 14 snaps. Perhaps the most surprising development of this season for me has been witnessing Hill's ability to make contested catches and win with the ball in the air.
• Both Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe got 31 snaps at tight end, with Gesicki hauling in three balls for 38 yards and a touchdown. Hunter Long had an offensive pass interference in his 17 snaps, while Tanner Conner got a pair of snaps.
• Up front, Tua was pressured just four times on 42 dropbacks (9.5% pressure rate), according to PFF. Connor Williams (No. 2 center), Robert Hunt (No. 9 right guard), and Terron Armstead (No. 10 left tackle) are currently ranked in the top 10 at their respective positions by Pro Football Focus, though penalties remain an issue. Left guard Liam Eichenberg and Armstead were both call for holding, while right tackle Brandon Shell was whistled for ineligible man downfield. Eichenberg was hurt in the game -- Robert Jones played 15 snaps for him -- and his placement on injured reserve will be a major setback to a unit that appeared to be starting to jell.

Defense

• Let's start with the good news: the "D" pitched a shutout in the second half. The initial 30 minutes was flat-out ugly, and Miami allowed 393 total yards and 22 first downs overall. Detroit only ran the ball 19 times, but that was mostly due to a lack of pressure that allowed them to throw 37 times with very little stress. The Dolphins failed to force a turnover and allowed three touchdowns on four red-zone trips, but did limit the Lions to 4 of 9 on third downs and 1 of 2 on fourth downs. The final two quarters marked an impressive response for an injury-wracked unit on the road.
• Zach Sieler led the way at defensive end, collecting four tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hit in 50 snaps. Christian Wilkins had a solo tackle and a stop for loss in his 51 snaps, to go with a staggering three offsides calls. Emmanuel Ogbah was back in action for 32 snaps, but was credited only with a single hit on the signal-caller.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis (three tackles in 33 snaps) and John Jenkins (two stops in nine snaps) were part of a relatively quiet afternoon for the defensive front.
• Andrew Van Ginkel saw 25 snaps at weakside linebacker, but failed to record a statistic after a big performance last week. Melvin Ingram contributed one tackle and one offsides call in his 16 snaps. Suffice it to say that the 'Fins were smart to bolster this position via trade following this contest.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips was active, being credited with two solo stops, two quarterback hits, and seven quarterback pressures (according to PFF) in his 49 snaps. He was also called for an illegal block above the waist.
• Elandon Roberts led the way in the middle with eight tackles in 35 snaps, but he was whistled for a damaging taunting penalty on the game's first play. Jerome Baker played all 60 snaps and chipped in with five solo stops, but his effectiveness as a blitzer has been nowhere to be found this year. Duke Riley had three tackles in his 27 snaps, including a memorable play where he blew up a screen play that was destined for a big gain after he slipped a block. Reserve Sam Eguavoen saw a single snap from scrimmage.
• At corner, Xavien Howard continues to try to find his form, playing all 60 snaps but recording just two solo stops while being beaten a few times and being called for offsides. Kader Kohou returned from injury to play 57 snaps, notching six tackles and a stop for loss. A week after a heroic effort against Pittsburgh, Noah Ighbinoghene got just 19 snaps, with one solo tackle. Keion Crossen got 14 snaps, posting three stops.
• Almost inexplicably, Eric Rowe was rendered inactive in the wake of Brandon Jones's season-ending injury at strong safety. Instead, Miami turned to undrafted rookie Verone McKinley III, who played 48 snaps and had a single tackle. Clayton Fejedelem -- another hero a week ago -- got three snaps from scrimmage. This position feels like another one where a move must be coming that may eventually make the Rowe decision make sense.
• As is his custom, Jevon Holland played all 60 snaps at free safety, recording a dozen tackles and a pass breakup, punching out a ball on what would have been a significant gain. Justin Bethel got 11 snaps in reserve and had a tackle while also being called for illegal contact.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders connected on a 45-yard field goal and nailed all four extra points. His lone kickoff that didn't result in a touchback was downed at the 15-yard line with good coverage.
• Thomas Morstead had an extremely quiet day, punting a single time and pinning a 38-yarder inside the 20-yard line.
• Mostert had a 13-yard kickoff return and continues to look uncomfortable in the role.
• On punt returns, Wilson looked more at ease in this one, returning a pair for 24 yards.
• Among defensive players, Riley and Bethel led the way with 20 special-teams snaps, with Fejedelem and Eguaoven contributing 19 each. Sherfield (14) and Conner (13) led offensive players in the third phase, with Crossen making a strong tackle on a punt return and Elijah Campbell adding a special teams stop.

Momentum plays

• After Van Ginkel missed a tackle, Roberts was called for taunting on the game's first play, and Howard was beaten on a 27-yard pass, Detroit got on the board barely 2 minutes into the game when Jamaal Williams went up the middle untouched for an easy score.
• Miami overcame a 3rd & 14 when Tua hit Hill for 10 and Waddle for nine on fourth down, but on the next play, Sanders coughed up his first career catch to give the Lions the ball.
• Detroit used a 58-yard pass to T.J. Hockenson on 3rd & 2 that saw Holland victimized to set up a third-down arrow route that saw D'Andre Swift beat Baker easily for a 14-0 advantage.
• The Dolphins overcame a 3rd & 13 when Hill climbed the ladder to make an incredible 36-yard catch. A 12-yarder to Waddle set up first and goal, and Miami got a break when an illegal contact nullified a third-down incompletion and kept the drive alive. Tua paid it off with a calm toss to Waddle after having all day to throw, cutting the lead in half at 14-7.
• The Lions converted a 3rd & 4 with a 21-yard reception by Amon-Ra St. Brown in front of Ighbinoghene to end the first quarter, then Holland was beaten again on a 43-yard pass to Kalif Raymond. Two plays later, Williams punched in another short touchdown to push the advantage back to two touchdowns at 21-7.
• Tua underthrew another jump ball that Hill salvaged with a 43-yard grab, then the signal-caller punctuated the drive with a slot fade to Waddle on a perfectly thrown ball. With the game degenerating into a breakneck score fest, Miami trimmed it to 21-14 with 11:30 remaining in the half.
• After avoiding an easy sack by Holland on a flea-flicker, Jared Goff found St. Brown -- despite a big hit by "X" -- for 12 on 3rd & 10. Three players later, facing another 3rd & 10, the Lions threw underneath, but Howard made a good tackle to force a 42-yard field goal that made it 24-14, Lions.
• On one of his best throws of the contest, Tua drilled a 14-yard strike to Sherfield to convert a 3rd & 13. Three players later, he found Waddle for 13 on 3rd & 6, then hit Hill for 18. A flag and a couple of penalties led to a 3rd & 15 that the 'Fins couldn't convert for a change, forcing a 45-yard Sanders field goal that brought Miami back to within a touchdown, 24-17.
• The Lions faked a punt on 4th & 2, gaining 13 yards to sustain their possession. Short passes kept Detroit moving, and the Dolphins faded an end zone pass that Josh Reynolds should have caught for a score. Instead, the home team settled for a 26-yard field goal to push the lead to 27-17 headed into halftime.
• Miami started the second half in high style, with Tua hitting Gesicki for 20, then Hill for 17 on another RPO. A 13-yard run by Mostert was followed three plays later by an 11-yard strike to Sherfield on 3rd & 6. Sherfield was clearly in for a touchdown, but was ruled short, with McDaniel choosing not to challenge for unexplained reasons. Ingold went in motion, took the snap, and plunged across for a score that trimmed the margin to 27-24.
• A series of penalties and a Sieler swatted pace created a 3rd & 27 and a Lions punt.
• Tua rolled out and found Waddle for 16 yards on a great catch to get things going for the 'Fins. The quarterback then kept it on a 3rd & 6 scramble, getting a downfield block from Ingold for an 18-yard burst. On a 3rd & 3, Tua used great protection to make a great read and find G-Sick in the end zone for an 11-yard score and a 31-27 advantage.
• Detroit got an initial first down on its next possession to start the fourth quarter, but Sieler made a big sack on 3rd & 9 to force another Lions punt.
• Following a Jones block, Mostert started the next drive with a 12-yard run, then Tua hit Waddle for 18 on 2nd & 12. A 3rd & 8 incompletion featured a declined illegal shift, forcing the first Dolphins punt of the game.
• The Lions used more short passes to move the ball into Miami territory, then the Dolphins caught a break when St. Brown had a key drop on a 2nd & 12 pass that looked like it might be a significant gain. On 3rd & 12, Hockenson broke a couple of tackles to get 11 yards and set up a 4th & 1. With all day to throw, Goff lofted a deep ball over Kohou to an open Reynolds, who spun the wrong way and couldn't come up with a ball that probably should have been caught.
• Taking over on downs, Miami got an initial first down on back-to-back Mostert runs. On a dangerous throw to Hill, Detroit tipped the pass, but Hill still came down with it for a 19-yard gain. Three plays later, Tua again found Hill for exactly eight yards on 3rd & 8. Three straight Tua kneeldowns ran out the clock, cementing an impressive closeout drive that saw the Dolphins milk the final three minutes of the contest to secure the victory.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)