Day 565, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Raiders Game 3 Review

 

Miami went on the road in its first game without its QB1, Tua Tagovailoa. The result was an overtime shootout that saw the 'Fins bolt out to a two-touchdown lead, surrender 25 straight points, scratch and claw its way back into the game, then lose in mind-numbing fashion in OT. The Dolphins sunk to 1-2 on the season with a home matchup with the anxious and winless Colts upcoming.

You'll likely read elsewhere that Jacoby Brissett didn't play well, but a person with working eyes and a functioning knowledge of football knows better. The dude is a fucking warrior, and he singlehandedly willed Miami to the brink of victory, only to be let down by a combination of poor defense, questionable coaching, and inept officiating. Four egregious penalties on the Raiders went uncalled in overtime -- particularly a pair of interferences that randomly went unflagged -- gift-wrapping the game for the home squad. Brutal play-calling and the 'Fins committing a staggering five personal fouls also did not help, of course.

Offense

• The Dolphins put up 330 total yards and 22 first downs, relying on a controlled passing game and a change-of-pace running attack (133 rushing yards is a little misleading due to Brissett's scrambles, but a trend in the right direction). Miami only converted six of 18 third downs, but did manage to convert three of four fourth-down attempts. The desperation-mode offense moved more freely, making one wonder whether some uptempo looks could jumpstart things offensively.
• Brissett threw a staggering 49 passes, completing 32 -- but only for 215 yards. He was sacked twice, but Houdini-ed his way out of several others and ran for 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He kept the 'Fins in the game in the latter stages, but fans don't seem to understand he's in a position of trying to throw it more quickly to covered receivers or holding it longer so routes can develop behind a dismal offensive line.
• In the backfield, Myles Gaskin carried 13 times for 65 yards with a key rush of 15 yards in overtime, and he added three catches for just nine yards on six targets. Malcolm Brown ran seven times for 31 yards with a 24-yard touchdown jaunt, but he also committed a costly personal foul on a low block and was (again) not a factor in the passing game. Salvon Ahmed was not involved, which was surprising considering Gaskin's massive struggles in pass protection a week ago. This rushing attack is screaming out for a one-cut runner with juice, making one wonder if on-the-block Colts back Marlon Mack would be a viable pickup.
• At receiver, Jaylen Waddle had 12 catches on 13 targets, but for only 58 yards and a long of nine. He also had another drop and a fumble (recovered by Miami), and he left his feet for a screen pass that allowed the defender to cover ground for a safety (not all his fault, obviously). DeVante Parker had 42 yards on four catches and seven targets, though he was interfered with in overtime without drawing a flag. In general, he seemed uninterested and not aggressive, leading one to question whether the officials reward players with flags for not selling contact better. Will Fuller V was a factor in his first game as a 'Fin, reeling in three catches for 20 yards on six targets. He did fail to bring in a deep ball after a big hit, and obviously he was assaulted in the end zone for a clear interference penalty that -- almost unbelievably -- did not get called (for bonus points, he was also injured on the play). Preston Williams and Albert Wilson did not factor at all -- as Miami is clearly interested in establishing a top-three pecking order of Waddle, Parker, and Fuller -- but in general the lack of separation continues to be an issue in the passing game.
• Mike Gesicki was a freaking monster at tight end, reeling in 10 catches for 86 yards on 12 targets. He was definitively Brissett's top target, and G-Sick rewarded that faith with some incredible clutch grabs. Adam Shaheen had a nice toe-drag-swag sideline grab that was nullified by a penalty, but Durham Smythe did not factor. You'd love to see Hunter Long paired with G-Sick to take some pressure off, but four active tight ends might be outside of the Dolphins's active/inactive strategy.
• The offensive line was ... better? <*cue "How could it get worse?" jokes*> There were still glaring issues, with Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt being whistled for holding and Jesse Davis and Liam Eichenberg struggling to find blocks in space. Michael Dieter's best work came in jumping on a Waddle fumble, and overall, the unit allowed way too much pressure on the QB even with extra protection and short routes. However, there was an improvement in run-blocking, and especially late in the game, the crew did create precious extra seconds to allow Brissett to launch some effective deep balls.

Defense

• It's popular to pile on the offensive line and quarterback and blame them for Miami's struggles, but it's time to have a serious conversation about the Dolphin defense. The 'Fins allowed nearly 500 yards, gave up 28 first downs and 10 plays of over 20 yards, and surrendered first downs on eight of 15 third-down plays. Miami allowed conversions in 2nd & 18 and 2nd & 20 situations, and allowed the Raiders to reel off 25 straight points. There were some good moments -- a pick-six, back-to-back three-and-outs with the game in the balance -- but there have been way too many breakdowns considering the investment of money and picks on this side of the ball.
• Rookie first-rounder Jaelen Phillips had his best game as a pro, notching six tackles and recording some impressive pass-rush reps. Emmanuel Ogbah did not play as well in this one, but he did post three quarterback hits and a solo tackle, while Andrew Van Ginkel added three tackles and a QB hit. Miami has yet to get the turnover plays from this line of defense that it was getting last year.
• On the interior, Zack Sieler was simply everywhere, recording nine tackles, a batted pass, and back-to-back run stuffs to force a turnover on downs. Christian Wilkins had a standout game as well, with seven tackles, six solo stops, a sack, two tackles for losses, and a quarterback hit, while John Jenkins added four tackles and Adam Butler stood out on occasion. This crew has picked up its play in the absence of Raekwon Davis.
• Elandon Roberts was the standout on the second line of defense, racking up five tackles, a pass breakup, a forced fumble at the goal line, and a pick-six, though he was whistled for a shaky unnecessary roughness call. Jerome Baker still doesn't look right to me, but he did tally eight tackles, with Sam Eguavoen, Duke Riley, and Brennan Scarlett (one tackle each) mostly seeing time on special teams. The game plan called for less snaps from a traditional linebacker corps, but Roberts in particular made his presence felt.
• At slot corner, I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention that Justin Coleman needs to be benched immediately, if not sooner. He was a disaster for the second game in a row, making three tackles, but committing another unnecessary roughness and an offsides penalty, while also missing some key tackles and giving up some distance plays. Noah Igbinoghene had a solo tackle on special teams, and it seems unreal that he's not ready to factor in the defensive scheme. Either way, Nik Needham (five tackles and a pass breakup) and Eric Rowe (mentioned below) should be dominating snaps in the slot.
• Byron Jones had one of his best games as a Dolphins, recording two solo tackles, a pass breakup, and some nifty coverage on All-Pro tight end Darren Waller -- despite committing an inexplicable personal foul on special teams. Xavien Howard gave up more plays than usual and didn't have his customary standout game, putting up three tackles and a pass breakup but surrendering a touchdown to Hunter Renfrow and a couple of plays to Henry Ruggs.
• At safety, Brandon Jones was a roller-coaster. Yes, he registered six tackles, two sacks, and three quarterback hits, but he was late in coverage on multiple key plays and missed some crucial tackles from a hybrid rover position. Rowe had five tackles and a quarterback hit moving between safety and nickel, while rookie Jevon Holland contributed three tackles and an unnecessary roughness penalty. Jason McCourty had two assisted tackles and appears to be slowly losing time in the secondary.

Special teams

• All-everything kicker Jason Sanders was off a bit in this one, misfiring on a 48-yard field goal that would turn out to be a key miss. He drilled a dramatic 50-yarder to tie the game in overtime and a 46-yarder earlier, but the former grazed the right upright and the latter ducked just inside the left upright. Sanders did make both extra points and crush his kickoffs, so obviously we're grading on a curve here since so much is expected of him.
• Michael Palardy only averaged 38.8 yards per punt, but placed three of his four kicks inside the 20-yard line, doing a nifty job of directional punting.
• Jakeem Grant was a bit tentative and indecisive, returning a kickoff 15 yards and taking three punts back for 27 yards. Waddle was not seen on punt returns after some highly shaky moments the first couple of weeks of the season.
• In coverage, the 'Fins did a much better job on Opie Renfrow than they did a season ago, limiting him to nine yards on punt returns. Ruggs had a 15-yard kickoff return, but special teams were largely a push here.

Momentum plays

• After the teams traded punts to start the contest, the Raiders victimized Coleman a couple of times to move deep into Dolphins territory. A miscommunication between Carr and tight end Foster Moreau allowed Roberts to pick off a pass and take it 85 yards for a dramatic pick-six to forge a 7-0 advantage for the visitors.
• Back-to-back stops by Sieler on third- and fourth-and-short situations gave the 'Fins the ball back quickly with a turnover on downs. Four plays later, Brown made a nifty cut and busted loose for 24 yards and another touchdown, making it 14-0 quickly.
• A high snap helped force a Las Vegas punt, but former NC State punter A.J. Cole pinned Miami at its own 1-yard line. An inexplicable wide receiver screen in the end zone led to one of the easiest and ugliest safeties you'll ever see, giving the Raiders life at 14-2.
• A Brandon Jones sack forced a Vegas field goal on the following possession, making the score 14-5.
• A Palardy punt pinned the Raiders at their own 5-yard line, but a highly questionable roughness call on Roberts and another on Holland jumpstarted a Vegas drive. Roberts redeemed himself with a perfect hit on Barber on first-and-goal, but the ball somehow caromed straight to Raiders fullback Alec Ingold, who on the next play punctuated a 95-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown catch that saw Roberts overrun the play. All of a sudden, the Dolphins lead was trimmed to 14-12.
• With Miami reeling, Brissett threw a great pass to Fuller, who dropped it after a big hit. The quarterback then helped convert a 2nd & 23 with a long scramble that saw him absorb a huge hit. Brissett also salvaged a big loss when he took a bad shotgun snap and threw an incompletion, and his strikes to Fuller, Gesicki, and Waddle set up a field goal attempt with two seconds left in the half. In a huge swing, Sanders hit the right upright from 48, ruining an opportunity to come away with points and then get the second-half kickoff.
• The first drive of the second half was stymied when Brown was hit with a personal foul for a low block.
• The Raiders got more help from Coleman, who was whistled for a roughness penalty for the second week in a row, and targeted Renfrow, who this time victimized Butler -- on a play that saw the defensive tackle covering him down the field -- and Howard. Miami's top player couldn't keep up with him on a complex route that ended in Opie jumping into the end zone for a 19-14 Vegas lead.
• Miami languished again on offense, with Brissett running for his life. He threw a strike to G-Sick on a third-down play, but the tight end couldn't come up with it due to clear interference that went uncalled.
• Barber took over on the next drive, ripping off a 19-yard run and beating Roberts through the air for a sizeable gain. Then it was former Dolphins Kenyan Drake's turn to victimize Brandon Jones, beating him twice easily in coverage to set up a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Barber paid off an 84-yard drive two plays later, making it 25 straight Raiders points after Daniel Carlson missed the extra point to make it 25-14.
• The Dolphins finally went tempo on the following drive, which saw Brissett hit G-Sick for a third-down conversion and get another first down with a 19-yard scramble. A third-down sack forced a field goal, and Sanders tucked it inside the left upright to make it 25-17.
• "X" finally made an appearance with a third-down pass breakup on the next Las Vegas drive, giving the 'Fins life.
• Brissett immediately went to work again -- absorbing a late hit on a deep ball to Parker that he once again couldn't come up with -- but he and Brown were stopped on third- and fourth-and-short, ending a promising drive at the Vegas 42.
• A Brandon Jones sack forced a second straight three-and-out by Miami's defense, but Cole drilled a 69-yard punt that was returned poorly by Grant to give the 'Fins subpar field position again.
• Short passes to Waddle and Gesicki got Miami moving again, but Brissett underthrew Gaskin on a promising wheel route on a third-and-short. He redeemed himself with a 4th & 8 strike to Parker, who fought hard to haul it in. Two more hits to Gesicki set up a deep shot to Hollins, who drew an end zone interference. A couple of Wildcat runs by Brown lost a yard and Brissett was stopped on a third-down scramble, but the gutsy signal-caller punched it in on fourth down with a slick cutback move and dive into the end zone. He then calmly fired a strike to Fuller after a play fake for a successful two-point conversion, tying the score at 25 with just two seconds remaining in regulation.
• After winning the overtime coin flip, the Raiders hit another big play over the top to Edwards, with Coleman beaten again. Pressure up the middle from Butler forced a Carr incompletion on third down, setting up a 38-yard field goal from Carlson, staking Vegas to a 28-25 lead.
• A hold on Jackson nullified a strike from Brissett to Shaheen on the ensuing possession, setting up a 3rd & 20 bomb to Parker that featured the second-most-egregious uncalled pass interference of the overtime session. Somehow, Brissett bounced back to hit G-Sick for a 27-yard dime on 4th & 20 to keep hope alive, and an audible to a Gaskin run on 3rd & 7 saw the back go for 15 yards.
• The play of the game occurred when Brissett launched a perfect long ball while being hit (low), finding Fuller in the end zone. Except that Fuller got dragged down on an obvious and impossible-to-ignore interference that somehow went uncalled and the ball fell harmlessly out of bounds. The play somehow featured personal foul (below-the-waist hit on the quarterback) AND pass interference calls that were not flagged, tilting the balance of the game in Vegas's favor.
• A highly questionable shovel pass to Gesicki on 3rd & 3 was stymied, leading a 50-yard Sanders field goal that scraped the right upright to tie the game at 28. There was a lot of conjecture that Miami should have gone for it on fourth down, but that was not cut-and-dried to me, as I'd like to believe a defense featuring so much high-priced talent could actually, you know, stop the opponent.
• With 2:49 remaining, Edwards beat Byron Jones deep on 2nd & 15, then Brandon Jones and Ogbah missed tackles -- and Needham took a bad angle -- to allow a huge run by Barber. Wilkins missed a tackle on a 3rd & 1 play, allowing the Raiders to kneel down and kick the winning field goal with 3 seconds remaining for a 31-28 Vegas victory.

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Buffalo 35, Miami 0 (1-1)

Oakland 31, Miami 28 [OT] (1-2)

Day 564, Quasi-Quarantine: Still On That Snakejuice High

I may have cycled through all these versions of drunken glee during a post-wedding, post-Pack win, post-stressful-week evening.

Give me all the Snakejuice.

Day 563, Quasi-Quarantine: Going Heavy With The Paint Brush On Clone Commander Gree

 

One of my favorite clone troopers is Commander Gree (CC-1004), a loyal and fierce fighter -- though not much of a diplomat -- who led the 41st Elite Corps and served under Jedi General Luminara Unduli.

According to Wookieepedia, he apparently named himself after a species of tentacled alien and went on to have a checkered career in leadership. Though he allowed Viceroy Nute Gunray to escape his custody, he did play a key role in destroying Poggle the Lesser's droid foundry.

Gree was fighting in the Battle of Kashyyyk when he received Order 66, but Yoda killed him before he could destroy any Jedi Generals. Later, we saw Gree's helmet in "Star Wars Rebels," as part of Grand Admiral Thrawn's art collection.

After securing a helmet for a super-reasonable price, we set about painting a torso and legs in Gree's trademark green. Liking the look, we decided to also paint his weapon -- a departure from our customary approach.

The result is a striking ensemble, one befitting a flawed-but-driven commander with a pivotal role in the Clone Wars.

Day 562, Quasi-Quarantine: Foot Locker Takes Down The 'Fins

 

Here is the second of two uncalled pass interferences the Raiders committed in overtime yesterday.

Look at the ref.

Look.

At.

Him.

With the Dolphins getting jobbed and the Bears and Colts fading as well, all three of the teams I care about took Ls yesterday.

I guess the football gods only grant you so much favor, and mine was used up when State (finally) knocked off Clemson.

Go Pack. Fuck the NFL.

Limerick Friday #519: Make It Stop, Dolphins -- Day 559

They hand out bitter pills

With late hits and blowout thrills

All this 'Fin fan can say

On another Beefalo Sunday

Is man, fuck the Bills

Will Arnett's jokes

Amy Corbett smokes

Want to love Lego Masters

But so many elimination disasters

Kicking off the best ladies and blokes

Exaggeration and noise

Robbing all of joys

Incapable of adulting

So I need to be bolting

This Hell Island of Misfit Toys

Tua got wrecked

Wentz got decked

Dalton hurt, too

What are you gonna do?

All our QBs hopes checked

For fans like beaten pets

This is as bad as it gets

A legendary fold

It really gets old

When you follow the Mets

Last time ...

Day 558, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bills Game 2 Review

 

In what is becoming a disturbing trend, Miami received a bitch-slapping reality check at the hands of Buffalo. The 'Fins committed three turnovers and an uncharacteristic nine penalties, and when you throw in a half-dozen or so drops, it's hard to escape the conclusion that the Dolphins just didn't seem prepared to play in dropping to 1-1.

The devastating setback at home against a division rival should lead to a lot of soul-searching for a team looking for leaders, a coaching staff looking for answers, and a fanbase looking for hope.

Offense

• The 'Fins managed 216 yards and 13 first downs, averaging just 3.1 yards per play and misfiring on all four fourth-down attempts. The unit didn't manage a single play over 20 yards, which is almost difficult to do, and managed just 71 rushing yards a week after putting up only 74.
• Tua Tagovailoa started the game, but looked tentative and frightened -- completing one of four passes for 13 yards and taking two sacks -- before being knocked out by a rib injury. Backup Jacoby Brissett gave Miami a fighting chance with his physical presence and elusiveness within the pocket, but was overrun by a horrific offensive line performance, drops, and penalties. He fired 40 passes, connecting on 24 for 169 yards, with an interception that was a great defensive play. Brissett was sacked four times, but managed eight yards on four other carries.
• Myles Gaskin had nine touches for 46 yards, but his pass protection was so bad the Dolphins almost couldn't afford to have him on the field. Salvon Ahmed carries six times for 17 yards, but was not a factor in the passing game, while Malcolm Brown took advantage of his scant opportunities to post 21 yards on five carries late in the game. It's become increasingly clear to this viewer that Brown and Ahmed need more of the share of the running back touches.
• Jaylen Waddle was the top target, catching six of eight targets, but for only 48 yards. He added a single run for four yards, but fumbled a crucial punt away and dropped another pass. DeVante Parker snared five of nine targets for 42 yards, but was mostly nullified by the Bills secondary. Albert Wilson had a couple of pivotal drops but slightly recovered when the game was out of control, catching four for 20 yards. Preston Williams caught a single ball for two yards, but dropped a couple and generally did not fight for the ball nor play up to his physical stature. Jakeem Grant had a single catch that he fumbled away in the red zone, further proof that he has been rendered almost unplayable and making his roster spot questionable. Will Fuller missed the game due to a personal issue, but with the state of the offense -- and specifically the OL -- it's not clear how his deep-route attributes could factor in.
• At tight end, Mike Gesicki was welcomed back to the game plan with three catches for 41 yards on six targets, but he didn't get much help. Head-scratching free agent signing Cethan Carter had a grab for eight yards that saw his helmet knocked off. Durham Smythe committed a false start penalty early in the game and Adam Shaheen did not factor. Miami clearly needs to find out what it has in third-rounder Hunter Long sooner rather than later.
• At the tackle spots, this was as bad a game as I can ever remember from a Dolphins offensive line -- which is obviously saying a lot. In addition to a penalty for illegal man downfield, Austin Jackson was a complete turnstile, allowing a staggering nine pressures from the left side. His bookend, Jesse Davis, gave up four pressures and largely seemed either injured or over the hill. On the interior, Robert Hunt had a hold and a false start, while Solomon Kindley was not whistled but offered no resistance. Center Mike Dieter was beaten nearly immediately on way too many occasions, and his ability to help the quarterbacks identify pressure schemes played a massive role in the overall ineptitude. The sheer woefulness up front -- a Dolphins tradition for two decades -- is mind-boggling, and from coaching on down, this unit needs a complete reboot.

Defense

• While the final point tally was out of hand, the Miami defenders hung tough, allowing just 314 total yards and 21 first downs against a high-powered attack. The 'Fins also forced a pair of turnovers, but Buffalo had excellent field position most of the game.
• Emmanuel Ogbah was active as usual, notching four tackles, three quarterbacks hits, and half a sack, though he was on the wrong end of a bad unnecessary roughness call. On the other side, Andrew Van Ginkel had four stops, two hits on the signal-caller, a forced fumble, and half a sack, though he did not provide the consistent pressure Ogbah did. First-rounder Jaelen Phillips had three stops. While this unit is still lacking one more pass rusher, it is high time to ink Ogbah to a long-term deal.
• On the interior, Zach Seiler was everywhere, posting six tackles, including four solo. Christian Wilkins had four tackles and a batted pass, and he also had good penetration in short-yardage situations. John Jenkins and Adam Butler each had a solo tackle in reserve duty. Overall, this unit held up well in the absence of Raekwon Davis.
• In the linebacking corps, Jerome Baker came up with three tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Brandon Scarlett had three tackles, Elandon Roberts added two, and Sam Eguavoen had a solo tackle and a quarterback hit. Baker looks a step slower this year, and overall this is a unit that is crying out for another playmaker.
• At corner, Xavien Howard did Xavien Howard things, picking off a pass, breaking up two passes, and recording two tackles. Byron Jones had three solo tackles and two pass breakups, but had an opportunity at an interception that he missed. Justin Coleman was the weak link, posting three solo tackles but getting caught out of a position a few times out of the slot. Second-year first-rounder Noah Igbinoghene was once again inactive, robbing this spot of much-needed depth.
• Brandon Jones had an up-and-down game at safety, registering six tackles, recovering a fumble that he promptly fumbled again, and committing an egregious personal foul with a late hit out of bounds, to go with a hold on a punt return. Jason McCourty had three solo tackles and Eric Rowe added a couple, while rookie Jevon Holland flashed with three tackles, a fumble recovery, and two quarterback hits as an effective blitzer, though he did miss tackles on a pair of Bills touchdown runs. McCourty did not turn in a similar performance as he did in the first week of the season, and in general, the Dolphins are lacking an impact player (who might be Holland in time) at the back end of secondary.

Special Teams

• Jason Sanders is Miami's best weapon, and he did not get a chance to kick at all against Beefalo.
• Punter Michael Palardy punted five times, averaging 44.4 yards per kick and placing one inside the 20-yard line. He was not in sync with his coverage teams, as Buffalo had plenty of room on a couple of punt returns.
• Like all else, the return game left a lot to be desired, with Grant balancing a 31-yard kickoff return with a one-yard punt return and Waddle coughing up a key fumble on another punt return.

Momentum Plays

• After a first Miami drive featured two sacks as part of a three-and-out, Buffalo got a nice punt return, threw an incomplete pass, and then went 46 yards untouched on a Devin Singletary run for a near-instant 7-0 lead.
• A 17-yard run by Gaskin jumpstarted the ensuing drive, but a fourth-and-two misfire by Tua ended the drive and his day, as A.J. Epenesa fractured his ribs with a massive shot.
• Starting their second straight drive in Miami territory, Buffalo quickly moved into scoring position with a deep pass to Emmanuel Sanders over Byron Jones. Ogbah would have had Allen stopped for a third-down sack, but inexplicably leapt into the air on a pump fake, allowing a scrambling Allen to find Diggs for a short touchdown toss and a 14-0 advantage.
• A Dolphins three-and-out gave the ball right back to the Bills, but Baker jarred a ball loose, with Holland eventually pouncing on the ball at Beefalo's 42-yard line. After a taunting penalty gave Miami a first down from the 30-yard line, a Brissett pump fake got Gesicki open, but the Buffalo DB made a stellar play, peeling off his man coverage to intercept the ball.
• Back-to-back pressures by Eguavoen and Ogbah (who was held on the play) led to a near interception by Baker that would have given Miami new life.
• Brissett made a number of clutch plays on the ensuing drive, and after ducking a sack he lofted a perfect pass to Parker -- who dropped it in the end zone.
• Shaking it off, Brissett was victimized again by a drop by Wilson and a brutal fumble by Grant, who coughed it up at the Buffalo 11-yard line as he was fighting for a first down.
• "X" struck again on the next drive, jumping underneath a Diggs route for an incredible interception to give Miami the ball at Buffalo's 24-yard line.
• Facing another fourth-and-two, Brown made a nifty cut, but was dragged down by a toenail half a yard short of the first down. If he had kept his balance, he would have walked into the end zone, as there were no Beefalo defenders on that side of the field.
• A three-and-out for the Bills gave the 'Fins solid field position at their 35, allowing Brissett to go to work again. After a couple of first downs, Wilson dropped another before Epenesa forced a very shaky grounding call on Brissett. A 3rd & 20 screen to Waddle saw the rookie make a little out of a lot, but Miami inexplicably passed up a long field goal attempt by their only weapon in Sanders.
• Luck was on Beefalo's side again, as Miami forced a long third down, then tipped the pass at the line of scrimmage, with the ball improbably landing softly in the middle of three Dolphins players.
• With good field position looming, a seemingly-on-the-take Waddle muffed the punt twice, gift-wrapping the ball to the Bills at the Miami 42-yard line.
• Jones failed to intercept an Allen deep ball on the next play, but Buffalo missed a 53-yarder, allowing Miami to kneel on the ball to escape the half that saw them squander numerous opportunities to make it a game.
• The second half started with Miami forgetting about COVID denier Cole Beasley, who socially distanced himself to an easy 23 yards. Coleman extended the Beefalo drive by missing a tackle, then compounding matters by getting whistled for a facemask penalty. A third-down play saw Allen make an extremely difficult cross-body throw to Diggs to convert, setting up a shot to Dawson Knox, who beat McCourt for a low ball in the end zone. The devastating score seemed to deflate Miami, who now trailed 21-0.
• A no-call on clear interference on G-Sick was overcome by a third-down strike to Parker, but a drop by Waddle and a false start led to another 'Fins punt. With the game getting chippy due to some uncalled late hits on Beefalo, Brandon Jones stupidly pushed Allen well out of bounds to extend the following drive. McCourty nearly intercepted another Allen floater, but he was picked up by Ogbah and Van Ginkel, who combined to sack Allen on third down to force a punt.
• Under constant pressure, Brissett pieced together another drive, but back-to-back targets to Preston Williams led to an incompletion and a fourth-down drop, giving Buffalo the ball at Miami's 41-yard line.
• A fourth-down run and an awful unnecessary roughness call on Ogbah put the Bills in business, and Zack Moss paid it off with a 7-yard run, effectively salting the game away at 28-0.
• Back-to-back horrific blocking attempts by second-year bust left tackle Austin Jackson nearly got Brissett decapitated, leading to another three-and-out.
• With the game in hand, Beefalo elected to throw deep anyway, and Howard just missed an interception he usually makes. Phillips was held without a call, allowing a third-down conversion for the Bills, and poor awareness by Coleman allowed a first-down scramble by Allen. The conversion set up another score by Moss, who somehow ran through a massive hit by Roberts at the goal line for a 35-0 margin.
• Another cheap shot on Brissett was finally flagged, and hard running by Brown helped move Miami into Buffalo territory. A fourth-down drop by a wide-open Ahmed was a symbolic punctuation of a demoralizing day, with Brissett making an amazing play to give the Dolphins a chance, only to see a teammate let him down again. Buffalo knelt on the ball to mercifully end the contest.

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Buffalo 35, Miami 0 (1-1)

Day 557, Quasi-Quarantine: In Or Out Of Our Galaxy, "Last Shot" Offers The No-Stress Fun We Need Right Now

"Usually, blasters blazing felt like not only the right but also the singular option available. Lying never worked, not for long. And what were negotiations if not extended, overcomplicated lies?" 

Not having been introduced to the plethora of "Star Wars"-inspired books, I settled into "Last Shot: A Han And Lando Novel" with little to no expectations as a quintessential beach read. 

Daniel Jose Older nails the voice of the saga, and the novel is peppered with inside jokes and allusions to other Star Wars places, people, and events. The author leans hard into the Han Solo and Lando Calrissian stereotypes, with Han in particular channeling his inner Ron Swanson at every turn.

"He didn't like describing things, and he especially didn't like it when those things were feelings." 

The banter between the characters -- especially Han and Lando -- feels true, but the overall story is diminished with seemingly unnecessary complexity and jumps in sequence. 

However, if you're looking for a quick, lively read to tide you over until the next "Star Wars" offering from Disney, "Last Shot" will have you chuckling through hyperspace.

"It smelled like the armpits of a hundred dead banthas bathing in spoiled bantha milk. But worse."

Day 556, Quasi-Quarantine: Unique Dark Maul Balances The Imperial Scales

One of our favorite purveyors of Lego clone trooper gear had a non-canon helmet that kept catching my eye over time. I didn't know quite what to do with it, but I knew that it was speaking to me.

I eventually purchased this custom shadow-tinted Mandalorian super commando helmet, and came up with the concept for a Gar Saxon running mate named Dark Maul.

I found a suitable torse-and-leg combination, then set about strategically placing paint to both obscure existing printing and complement the helmet colors. Then I added a kyber crystal-tipped weapon that also featured some painted elements.

The result is an indelible character that adds some intimidation and menace to the outnumbered bad-guy Legos that we have. The distinctive Dark Maul is a welcome addition to help even the fight.

Day 555, Quasi-Quarantine: Cable Ties Have Become A Bit Of A Late-Summer Obsession

I've recently been drawn to the raw, intense music of Cable Ties, a trio from Melbourne, Australia, that signed with the local, transformative indie label Merge Records.

Powered by lead guitarist and vocalist Jenny McKechnie, Cable Ties meld post-punk and garage rock in a series of feminist anthems and searing take-downs of contemporary politics. Bassist Nick Brown and drummer Shauna Boyle elevate the group's sound with percussive rhythm.

While the band's second album, "Far Enough," marks a bit of a breakthrough, it's the stellar "Live at the Scrap Museum" that stamps itself on your brain. Recorded in March 2021, the set features raging versions of "Not My Story," "Say What You Mean," and the stunning "Sandcastles."

Cable Ties are active and influential in non-binary circles, and this passion bleeds through their sound. With the Merge connection, I'm hopeful this crew rolls through the area at some point so the full depth of their music can be appreciated live.

Limerick Friday #518: Bidding Adieu To Acting And Comedic Geniuses -- Day 552

He gave quite a fright

As Chalky White

Was a terrifying riddle

As Omar Little

To Michael K. Williams, a gentle goodnight

Coke and girls and swagger

Stories that make you stagger

The '86 Mets "30 for 30"

Entertaining and also kinda dirty

As this year's team stabs itself with a dagger

The Pack ventured out on the road

And proceeded to just implode

Against a meh SEC team

Came apart at every same

Now can they find the right code

Hilarity his field

With laughter that healed

A genius gentle

With enormous mental

At the Norm MacDonald news, I reeled

An uneven start

Put the horse before the cart

But the 'Fins found a way

The Cheatriots they did slay

Winning is the best part

Last time ...

Day 551, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patriots Game 1 Review

 

Against all odds, Miami pulled out a minor miracle in Foxboro, with Xavien Howard ripping out a football and pouncing on it in the final minutes to secure a one-point victory for the Dolphins (cue "X" asking for a raise tomorrow). As usual, New England was on the right end of a couple of massively blown calls, but with all of the other division opponents losing, Miami still sits alone atop the AFC East after Week 1.

All that said, obviously there is a lot to clean up for the 'Fins. Miami was outgained by 134 yards, had 8 fewer first downs, was whipped in time of possession (36:43-23:17), and had 18 fewer plays (70-52). The offense was very vanilla and the defense played more zone and had more three-man rushes than I'd prefer to see against a rookie quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa was careless with the ball on a couple of occasions and we allowed the Cheatriots to take away a key offensive weapon in tight end Mike Gesicki. The offensive line struggled to open any holes in the running game, and the Dolphins were only able to sack Mac Jones a single time.

But again: 1-0 with a golden division road win. Now that is the way to start the season.

Offense

• Miami managed just 259 total yards on offense and converted just four of 11 third-down opportunities. Considering the offensive performance, the Dolphins were fortunate to win.
• Tua had a couple of just unforgiveable throws, and nearly (literally) threw the game away. He hit on 16 of 27 passes, but for just 202 yards and a score, with an interception. He added a yard and a score on four carries, but has to tuck and run a bit more after eluding the rush. Backup Jacoby Brissett came in to convert a pair of crucial third-and-short situations, picking up four yards on two carries. Brissett was money in short-yardage packages in Indy, and it was good to see the Miami offensive coaching staff open to installing a similar package here.
• Myles Gaskin picked up where he left off late last year, with 76 total yards on 14 touches. He had a 15-yard burst among his nine carries for 49 yards, and Malcolm Brown was strong at the end when he was needed most, recording 16 yards and a couple of first downs on five carries, including a couple of Wildcat looks. Savon Ahmed was arguably underutilized, with five touches for 24 yards. Overall, the running backs struggled to find a rhythm, with just 74 rushing yards on the game.
• DeVante Parker was the story at wideout, with four receptions for 81 yards, including a customary incredible sideline grab and two strong catch-and-runs off quick slants among his seven targets. Rookie Jaylen Waddle had four grabs on six targets, good for 61 yards and his first career touchdowns, which was slightly offset by a key drop on a crucial third-down play. Albert Wilson was targeted twice -- including once where he was open for a score, but Tua threw a second too late -- but that was it for the receiver group.
• As quiet as the wideouts were, the tight ends were somehow even more silent. G-Sick was targeted twice, but held without a catch, while Durham Smythe had an early catch for nine yards and wasn't heard from again. COVID patient/denier Adam Shaheen was unavailable and would be on the waiver wire if I had my way.
• The offensive line surrendered a pair of sacks, but Tua was under pressure on a number of other plays. Miami averaged just 3.2 yards on the ground as well, but overall, a makeshift front held up relatively well. Rookie Liam Eichenberg was thrown into the fire at left tackle and survived despite a pair of holding flags. Jesse Davis had a false start and looked lost (along with center Michael Dieter) on a third-down screen play to Ahmed that looked promising initially. Guard Solomon Kindley was also whistled for an illegal man downfield call. 

Defense

• The epitome of a bend-but-don't-break approach, Miami surrendered 393 yards, allowed the Patriots to convert 11 of 16 third downs, and forced only two New England punts -- but gave up just 16 points, holding the home team to three field goals and an iffy touchdown. The Dolphins won the turnover battle, 2-1, and benefited from the Cheatriots shockingly getting whistled for an uncharacteristic eight penalties for 84 yards.
• Emmanuel Ogbah looked to be in midseason form, registering three solo tackles, notching one stop for a loss, knocking down a pass, and forcing a couple of holding calls. Andrew Van Ginkel was active as usual, contributing five tackles, one quarterback hit, and a couple of near misses on pressures. On the interior, Zach Seiler stood out again, with three solos, a tackle for loss, and a big fumble recovery. John Jenkins pitched in with four solo tackles, Adam Butler had two stops against his former team, and Christian Wilkins had three tackles, a quarterback hit, and good penetration on a couple of short-yardage plays. This unit severely missed Raekwon Davis after he went down with injury early in the contest.
• New England put a lot of pressure on the linebacking corps with a run-heavy attack that featured a slew of underneath passes. Jerome Baker had a dozen tackles to lead the way, but was victimized in pass coverage a couple of times. Sam Eguavoen had six tackles and three quarterback hits, and reserve Brandon Scarlett had another five stops, a quarterback hit, and a near-interception on a well-played batted pass. Elandon Roberts was a tone-setter against his former team, though his stats didn't reflect his presence: two solo tackles, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit, to go with a ridiculous roughing-the-passer penalty on a play that saw him wreck a running back and make a diving sack on Jones.
• Miami's secondary was the difference in this one, with the group contributing all three forced fumbles. Eric Rowe had nine tackles and a forced fumble, Nik Needham added six solo stops, and Jason McCourty stood out in his first game with five tackles and a massive breakup on a deep pass. Rookie Jevon Holland had two solo stops and a forced fumble, while Brandon Jones was quiet with a single stop, though he was noticeable on special teams. At corner, Byron Jones had five solo tackles, a pass breakup, and solid coverage all day long, but he was overshadowed as usual by Howard. Despite being avoided all day, the All-Pro had five tackles and made the biggest play of the game when he forced and recovered a fumble in the final moments to preserve the Dolphins victory.

Special Teams

• Jason Sanders was Jason Sanders, drilling an end-of-half 48-yarder, converting both extra points, and providing great distance on kickoffs. 
• New punter Michael Palardy averaged 45 yards on four punts, with a long of 52.
• The only return opportunity was positive and negative, with Jakeem Grant's only touch of the day seeing him make an ill-advised decision to field a punt inside the 5-yard line -- but then putting together an 18-yard return.

Momentum Plays

• A promising New England drive to start the game was stymied when Miami pressured Jones into an inexplicable throw behind him that resulted in a fumble and a loss of 13 yards.
• The Dolphins put together a stellar drive, starting with a 17-yard hookup between Tua and Waddle and featuring a 15-yard, third-down Gaskin run and a nifty catch and run by Ahmed. Tua punctuated the possession with a walk-in score off an RPO for the early 7-0 advantage.
• Rowe jarred the ball loose on the Pats' next possession, with Seiler jumping on it in New England territory. The 'Fins responded with a brutal three-and-out, however, giving away amazing field position.
• The Cheatriots put together a strong drive, but a huge holding call erased a bruising touchdown run by Damien Harris, and a Holland third-down forced fumble led to a field goal by New England to cut the lead to 7-3.
• Waddle dropped a wide-open pass that would have easily converted a third down on the ensuing possession for a second-straight three-and-out, but McCourty responded with a beautifully timed pass breakup on a deep ball to Jakobi Meyers to nullify a Patriots opportunity.
• The 'Fins responded with a third-straight three-and-out that featured Tua inexplicably and blindly throwing off his back foot into coverage, narrowly avoiding a pick.
• The Pats cobbled together another good drive, with a 26-yarder to Nelson Agholor setting the team up. Roberts took matters into his own hands for the Dolphins by steamrolling a blocking back and dropping Jones for a third-down sack, but a preposterous roughing-the-passer flag was thrown, and New England took advantage of a gift touchdown to go ahead 10-7.
• A 34-yard, back-shoulder strike to Waddle jumpstarted the ensuing Miami possession before the refs inexplicably whistled an offsides play dead, robbing the Dolphins a chance at a free play that saw multiple receivers streaking deep. Brissett converted a third down before Tua held the ball a beat too long on an end zone shot to an open Wilson and then took a third-down sack that forced a 48-yard Sanders field goal to tie the score going into halftime.
• The 'Fins came out blazing to start the second, with Tua hitting Parker for a 30-yarder that saw 'Vante make a stellar toe tap, Gaskin making putting together a pair of first-down plays, and Miami rolling out the Wildcat for 12 yards on runs by Ahmed and Brown. Tua then rolled out and hit Waddle, who made an incredible effort to break a tackle and reach across the goal line to put the Dolphins up 17-10.
• A suspicious spot helped New England convert a third-and-short, allowing the Patriots to sustain a drive that featured a nice mix of runs and passes. However, Ogbah had a key pressure to force a third-down incompletion, forcing the Cheatriots to settle for a field goal to make it 17-13.
• A pathetic Miami three-and-out set the table for another Pats drive that saw Hunter Henry make a couple of key grabs. Meyers could not reel in a low-but-catchable third-down toss, meaning that New England had to settle for yet another field goal and a 17-16 deficit.
• An illegal man downfield call nullified a third-down conversion on a broken play for Miami, and the next play featured Tua airmailing another horrific throw as he was being drilled, with the ball bouncing around before being intercepted by New England.
• After taking over at midfield, the Patriots went to work quickly, with Meyers converting a third down and Harris forcing missed tackles by Van Ginkel and Rowe to pay off another third down with a tough run. A pop pass to Jonnu Smith landed the Cheatriots on the Miami 11-yard line, but "X" came to the rescue with the play of the game, performing a flawless rip and recover on Harris to give the Dolphins possession.
• A nine-yard naked boot by Tua was erased by an Eichenberg hold, but Tua calmly hit Parker for 13 on a slant, allowing Brown to convert with a Wildcat run. Two more hard Brown runs resulted in a 3rd & 1, and Brissett salted the game away with another keeper conversion.
• Victory freaking formation, 17-16 'Fins.

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Day 550, Quasi-Quarantine: Devastating "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter" Makes You Earn It

"He sees how when people suffer just so much they get mean and ugly and something dies in them. But the main thing he sees is that the whole system of the world is built on a lie. And although it's as plain as the shining sun -- the don't-knows have lived with that lie so long they just can't see it."

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" is a gut punch of a novel, only made more powerful when you consider the themes explored despite being written in 1940 and the age of the author (23) at the time of publication.

Carson McCullers created an engrossing tale centering around a deaf-mute, John Singer, and his relationship to various characters in a textile town in Georgia. 

"The rich thought that he was rich and the poor considered him a poor man like themselves. And as there was no way to disprove these rumors they grew marvelous and very real. Each man described the mute as he wished him to be."

McCullers excels at portraying enigmatic characters who become difficult for the reader to decide how to feel about. Mick, the tomboyish dreamer; Jake, the drunken labor agitator; Dr. Copeland, the Black doctor-activist with an estranged family; and Biff, owner of the local diner with complicated inner turmoil surrounding his sexuality and relationships with both sexes.

Despite the age in which the book is written, McCullers does not shy from massive themes that were taboo at the time: social activism, sexuality, race, and poverty. Perhaps due simply to her age, she takes them all on, while at the same time depicting perfectly those who pursue Henry David Thoreau's "lives of quiet desperation."

"We have no representatives in government. We have no vote. In all of this great country we are the most oppressed of all people. We cannot lift up our voices. Our tongues rot in our mouths from lack of use. Our hearts grow empty and lose strength for all purpose."

The result is a staggering story that is not for the fainthearted. "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" drags you along dusty streets and alleys to explore the toll of loneliness, the role of voice in societal stratification, and the heroism of the commonplace.

"There was hope in him, and soon perhaps the outline of his journey would take form."

Day 549, Quasi-Quarantine: Busting Out The Black Paint To Build The Imposing Dark Troopers

One of the most intimidating and harrowing scenes of the second season of "Star Wars: The Mandalorian" involved the appearance -- and subsequent attacks -- of the dark troopers. My building partner did not love how easily and how often these droids pounded Din Djarin before the tide turned.

These combat droids removed the human element from stormtroopers, giving Moff Gideon an incredible new weapon for his Imperial remnant. He had the droids kidnap Grogu before they were dramatically destroyed by Jedi Master Luke Skywalker in the season finale.

To replicate the third-generation design Dark Trooper, we ordered custom clone commander blank helmets from Etsy and dug up an old Nexo Knights armor/shoulder pad combo. We painted these accessories coal black and placed them over a blank red head to mirror the compelling red eyes from the show.

We topped off the ensemble with large blaster rifles, and even though the paint will require touchups from time to time to retain their imposing sheen, we were happy with the results. With more custom helmets available, we may put together a small army of these deadly droids for future missions.

Day 548, Quasi-Quarantine: 'Fins Take Down The Cheatriots To Open 2021 Campaign

 

I'll have more insightful and well-researched commentary later in the week, but just wanted to get this out there.

Limerick Friday #517: Everyone Goes Except The Incompetent -- Day 545

Talent does leave

Friends do grieve

Obstacles stay

Can't pass up the pay

As excuses they weave

The finale of "Schitt's Creek"

Made my eyes leak

As the series closes

Farewell to the Roses

And a show that climbed comedy's peak

The unqualified set in like manges

Thanks to ridiculous salary ranges

The best keep improving

The worst stop moving

This is how nothing changes

Signs of life

Amidst the Mets' strife

But lotsa bad beats

And one-run defeats

Puncturing hope like a knife

"The Walking Dead" is in deep

Jumping sharks like so many sheep

So after a decade of seasons

A plot hole beyond all reasons

The zombies now randomly fucking sleep?!

Last time ...

Day 544, Quasi-Quarantine: "Lathe of Heaven" Reels You Into An Ever-Shifting Dream World

"I haven't any strength, I haven't any character, I'm a born tool. I haven't any destiny. All I have is dreams. And now other people run them."

Not having much experience with Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Lathe of Heaven" was a bit of a revelation based on a perception that her work may be genre-specific and inaccessible. Le Guin's prose boasts a beautiful rhythm, and the opening lines of this book are among the most striking I've read recently.

"Current-borne, wave-flung, tugged hugely by the whole might of ocean, the jellyfish drifts in the tidal abyss."

The author's extreme interest in science results in a startling level of specificity in certain areas, which can lend a density to parts of the tale. George Orr's ability to potentially literally change the world with his dreams does require some comprehensive descriptions of technology, however, so the work is worth it.

"We're in the world, not against it. It doesn't work to try to stand outside things and run them that way. It just doesn't work, it goes against life. There is a way but you have to follow it. The world is, no matter how we think it ought to be. You have to be with it. You have to let it be."

"The Lathe of Heaven" is a quick read with a few subplots that I would have liked to have seen explored more, like the intensity of connection between Rachel and George and the deterioration of George's mental state.

"No good. No way out. Orr was where he had been for months -- alone: knowing he was insane and knowing he was not insane, simultaneously and intensely. It was enough to drive him insane."

Yet there is no denying that the emotion sneaks up on you. Despite being written half a century ago, this science fiction is capable of striking all the right "feels chords," and Le Guin does so here again and again -- like a dream loop that you just can't escape.

"He thought, I am living a nightmare, from which from time to time I wake in sleep."

Day 543, Quasi-Quarantine: To The Very Last, "Schitt's Creek" Reveals And Celebrates The Precious Love

I recently finished the comedic whirlwind that was "Schitt's Creek," swept up in all the feels it coalesced over the course of six memorable seasons. 

For me, the episode where "Schitt's Creek" turned from a situation comedy into something sublime was "Happy Anniversary." The final episode of the second season, this one showed the Roses finally leaning into their new lot in life instead of fighting it at every corner.

Eventually, the Roses all find themselves at Mutt's annual barn party, and the final scene features the entire family dancing together to James Morrison's "Precious Love." Together, the clan realizes that happiness is still possible in the small, free moments, and this realization springboards the show across four more epic seasons.

Over those episodes, we got to see the maturation of David, the vulnerability of Alexis, the adaptability of Johnny, the indomitable spirit of Moira, the growth of Stevie, and the consistent hilarity of Roland. The dynamics of these characters -- and many others -- formed the backbone of this show by unveiling the humanity in even the most flawed individuals.

By the end of the 80th and final episode -- and the exceedingly well done series retrospective compiled by Netflix -- I was an emotional wreck. Little did I realize how unprepared I was to say goodbye to the Roses -- and to Schitt's Creek.

Day 542, Quasi-Quarantine: Cobbling Together The Annoying But Irrepressible Todo 360

A sarcastic and high-tempered techno-service droid, Todo 360 played a critical role in a number of missions supporting bounty hunter Cad Bane. The droid was intensely loyal to Bane, despite the bounty hunter's willingness to blow him up and use him as a distraction on occasion.

In three episodes on "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," Todo managed to escape from Anakin Skywalker after being rebuilt, kidnap C-3PO and R2-D2, and aid Bane in stealing a holocron from the Jedi Temple.

In a pair of "Star Wars: The Bad Batch" episodes, the droid was shot by Hunter accidentally as Bane kidnapped Omega. When Omega helped repair Todo's severed leg, it gave her a chance to deactivate him and contact the Bad Batch to let them know of her whereabouts. These events precipitated the epic battle between Bane and Fennec Shand that led to Omega's rescue.

To replicate the look and feel of Todo 360, we found an online tutorial, then added some strategic paint for eyes. The result is simple but effective, allowing us to incorporate Bane and Todo into a number of new scenarios involving the Bad Batch and Shand.

Limerick Friday #516: Mets Battle Fans As Season Swirls Drain -- Day 538

A boo with every strikeout

Hurt my feelings, so I'll pout

Stupidity in Flushing

Why don't you start crushing

And leave pettiness in the dugout

How's that for a starter?

A shutout in the Carter

The Pack looked sleek

But starting next week

Things get much harder

53s locked in

Season 'bout to begin

Stop me if this seems old

The 'Fins roster is well-holed

But maybe still built to win

Damn any schism

Let's market nepotism

Hire someone who thinks like thee

To validate all that's me

So I never have to look in a prism

Colts season in trouble

Since they have no vax bubble

Stubbornness remains

Ignorance reigns

Need logic on the double

Last time ...