Scooter & Hum

Buffalo 26, Miami 11 (1-7)

Miami 17, Houston 9 (2-7)

Miami 22, Baltimore 10 (3-7)

Miami 24, New York Jets (4-7)

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Day 619, Quasi-Quarantine: Sleeving Up Fett As "Book Of Boba" Looms

Similar to Greedo, the most venerable bounty hunter of them all now has arms to match.

The Boba Fett from the 20th anniversary edition of the Slave I was upgraded with some arms from Firestar Toys. The printing is a little different than the ones used on this summer's smaller version of Boba Fett's Starship, but still quite epic, featuring the mythosaur skull on one arm and wrist weaponry on the other.

As with Greedo, the minifigure is really rounded out with the customized arms, with the printing really tying together the overall vibe (head nod to Lebowski).

We'll likely explore other minifigures who can benefit from the printed-arm experience in the future. Until then, we'll prepare to embrace "The Book of Boba Fett" with open, er, arms.

Monday, November 22, 2021

Day 618, Quasi-Quarantine: Reliving Beautifully Melancholic 1970s Battlestar Galactica Toys

Yeah, so this one brings back all the feels.

My brothers and I definitely had the Colonial Scarab at least, and while it was rather much amazing, it was also disappointing.

Legend has it that the trigger-activated missile function was deactivated because a kid had choked and died on one of the missiles. So our version of the Colonial Scarab had the button and the missile, but it wouldn't fire, and the missile was locked in place.

Which sadly makes me remember that we were super pissed at a random dead child in Wisconsin for ruining a badass toy.

I'm sure we found other ways to injure ourselves and each other, however. We were imaginative like that.

Friday, November 19, 2021

Limerick Friday #526: Miami Somehow Bitches Baltimore-- Day 615

The 'Fins found a way

To bear down and play

Take down the hated Ravens

And find a winning haven

Hope is kinda OK

Anything but a bore

You'll guffaw instead of snore

Hilarity abounds

So glad I found

A stellar "The Detour"

Dealing with hoops god hates

And hard-luck fates

What it means to like the Pack

Is getting slapped front and back

The latest victim? Manny Bates

The focus on football, just

As Legos gather dust

Our mocs sit in the dark

As calendar days I mark

Return to building, we must

Heartbreak once more

Stop me if you've heard this before

It was all there in front

Slipped away with every flag and punt

NC State, you exasperating whore

Last time ...

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Day 614, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Ravens Game 10 Review

Let's not get this twisted: Outside the division, there are few teams I hate more than the Baltimore Ravens. This has always been a cheap team led by a smarmy bitch in John Harbaugh, and bad blood between Miami and Baltimore has existed for quite a while, exacerbated when the Ravens faked a punt late in a 59-10 win in coach Brian Flores's first season.

This is not something that anyone has been able to say in quite some time, but Miami thoroughly outcoached Baltimore in this one. The 'Fins dictated the tone of the contest, flustered Lamar Jackson, and simply never gave the Ravens a chance to adjust to the blitz-happy approach. The game was made closer by the fact that the Dolphins were whistled for 11 penalties -- a staggering 10 in the second half alone -- to only four for the visitors. Miami overcame this disparity, though, winning its second game in a row to set the table for a four-game mini-season featuring eminently gettable contests.

On to the pleasantly surprising recap ...

Offense

Miami had only 17 first downs, but did hit some chunk plays in this one, averaging 5.6 yards per play and totaling 350 yards. The run game was a disaster again, with just 60 yards on the ground on an average of only 2.7 yards per carry. Yes, the Dolphins converted just three of 13 third downs, but the team did not commit a single turnover against an opponent that thrives on momentum-changing plays.
Jacoby Brissett started and played 37 snaps before injuring his knee, giving way to Tua Tagovailoa, who got 32 snaps in relief with a fractured finger. Brissett completed 11 of 23 passes for 156 yards, ran once for four yards, and was sacked twice. Tua hit eight of 13 passes for 158 yards, rushed three times for a yard and a touchdown, and was sacked once. Each fumbled on a sack, but together the duo did enough to win -- partially due to the Ravens having some coverage breakdowns that left streaking receivers wide open.
Myles Gaskin dominated time at running back again, rushing 14 times for 31 yards and adding a 14-yard reception on 42 snaps. To his credit, he ran his hardest in the fourth quarter when Miami was working to put the game away. Surprisingly, Patrick Laird (16) outsnapped Salvon Ahmed (nine), with Laird catching a two-yard pass and Ahmed carrying twice for six yards and adding a nine-yard grab.
Bizarrely, the offensive staff remembered that Albert Wilson was on their team and made the wide receiver the focal point of the offense. He rushed the ball twice for 19 yards and had four grabs for 87 yards on five targets, including the 64-yarder that saw him completely uncovered. Isaiah "Zombie" Ford was the next-most-productive receiver, making the most of his 11 snaps by hauling in four passes for 84 yards, including a 52-yarder that tilted the game in the first half. Rookie Jaylen Waddle added four receptions for 61 yards on six targets, reeling in a clutch 35-yarder at a key moment. These were the only three wideouts to catch a pass. With Wilson playing 38 snaps -- his most since the second week of the season -- there were fewer to go around for Preston Williams (18) and Mack Hollins (13). Williams in particular was a wreck, and his effort should make that snap count even less next week and beyond.
A Miami tight end figured prominently, but this time it was Adam Shaheen (an uncharacteristic 38 snaps), who caught three of four targets for 34 yards, including a pair of clutch red zone grabs. Durham Smythe had a nice 23-yard catch and run on a bootleg late in the game, though he was whistled for holding on a particularly bad call. Standout Mike Gesicki was shut out and had a couple of drops along the way, with credit going to the Ravens for shutting down the 'Fins' only established offensive weapon.
Up front, the offensive line allowed a combined 19 pressures, with rookie left tackle Liam Eichenberg and right guard Robert Hunt struggling the most in pass protection. Eichenberg was called for a hold and struggled big-time with veteran Justin Houston on a number of occasions, though he did rack up two crucial fumble recoveries -- on plays where he allowed sacks. Left guard Austin Jackson had a crucial false start, center Austin Reiter was called for holding, and Hunt had false start and illegal touching penalties. Right tackle Jesse Davis seemed slightly less awful in this one, which is the highest praise I can find.

Defense

In a stunningly dominant defensive performance, Miami held the high-powered Ravens to just 304 total yards and 4.3 yards per play. The Dolphins also limited the Ravens to less than 100 rushing yards, which had to make Harbaugh shit his Dockers. The 'Fins went with cover-0 blitzes on a staggering 40 snaps and completely confused Jackson in passing situations, allowing the Ravens to convert just two of 14 third-down attempts.
On the edge, Andrew Van Ginkel was a menace, with five tackles, half a sack, a batted pass, and two quarterback hits. On the other side, Emmanuel Ogbah was credited with two solo tackles, but had a tackle for loss and a batted pass to go with a number of hurries. Rookie Jaelen Phillips had three tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit, flashing his speed in the open field on a couple of occasions. While the blitz package certainly defined this game, the push on the edges was perhaps the best seen from Miami this season.
On the interior, Christian Wilkins continued his strong play with five tackles, and he played two offensive snaps in short-yardage situations as well. Zach Sieler had three tackles and a big stop for a loss, while Adam Butler tallied two solo tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit. The effectiveness of this trio led Raekwon Davis to be limited to just 23 snaps as the coaching staff adjusts to the reality that Davis has just not been making the expected impact.
Elandon Roberts led the linebackers with six tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit in just 28 snaps, and he was complemented by Jerome Baker, who contributed four tackles and a quarterback hit -- to go with a very damaging personal foul. Duke Riley played an uncustomary 26 snaps and posted two tackles, although you would think he had 15 if you saw his celebrations. Sam Eguavoen (three snaps) and Brennan Scarlett (two) saw scant action in a game plan that saw Miami relying heavily on extra defensive backs.
At cornerback, Xavien Howard would go on to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after five solo tackles, a fumble recovery, and a scintillating, game-changing touchdown return of that fumble (he was whistled for a holding penalty as well). Byron Jones led the team with nine tackles, including seven solo, and Miami's cover-zero approach would not have been possible without his sound tackling. From a hybrid nickel position, Eric Rowe had four tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble to set up X's score. Justin Coleman (44 snaps) dominated action over Nik Needham (four snaps) in this one, and the move paid off, as Coleman recorded three tackles, two pass breakups, and a game-ending interception despite being called for holding in the fourth quarter.
At safety, Jevon Holland was a terror, tallying five tackles, a sack, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hit (plus a horseshit roughness call), harassing Jackson on seemingly every other play. Brandon Jones had seven tackles, including six solo, on the back end of a defensive secondary that completely took over the game with its incessant blitzing and flawless tackling.

Special teams

Jason Sanders hit all three field goals -- though the long was just 31 yards -- plus his lone extra point.
Michael Palardy averaged 43.5 yards on eight punts, dropping two inside the 20-yard line. He was a bit shaky on a couple of punts again, but Miami does not seem inclined to make a change.
Second-year first-rounder Noah Ighbinoghene was spotted on 25 special teams snaps in this one, registering a single tackle as proof of life.
The Dolphins did not return any kickoffs, while Waddle (six yards) and Holland (four yards) each had negligible punt returns.

Momentum plays

Baltimore got started quickly with a nice end-around, but Holland drilled the runner as he was headed out of bounds, setting the tone of the contest. The officials missed a runner being tagged down to allow another Ravens first down, but Miami dodged a bullet as Jackson's third-down pass into the end zone was bizarrely given up on by Sammy Watkins. Justin Tucker hit from 46 yards to stake Baltimore to a 3-0 lead.
Brissett threw a nice sideline ball to Gesicki on the next drive, but the tight end could not reel in a pass he normally comes down with. Hunt ran into Jackson on the next play to allow an easy sack and a punt.
Some solid runs and a Mark Andrews catch got the Ravens rolling on the next drive, but Rowe and Byron Jones forced a third-down fumble short of the sticks. Baltimore recovered, but Tucker's 48-yarder drifted just right, getting the crowd going.
A third-down drop by G-Sick hastened a quick and disheartening three-and-out for the Dolphins.
Holland covered a ton of ground to make a great pass breakup on a deep pass, and Phillips and Van Ginkel teamed up for a big sack to force a Ravens three-and-out.
The Dolphins started the second quarter with another three-and-out, but answered with a defensive three-and-out when Ogbah pressure forced an underneath throw on 3rd & 10 that saw Rowe and Howard rally and tackle.
After an Ahmed first down, Brissett rolled out under pressure and threw a 12-yard strike to Waddle to get a drive rolling. On a 3rd & 1, Brissett threw a beautiful deep shot to Shaheen, who went high to reel it in to set up a first & goal. However, a phantom holding call on Smythe made things tougher, and after G-Sick couldn't come up with a pass and Williams ran an awful third-down route, the Dolphins had to settle for a 31-yarder from Sanders to tie the score at 3.
The Miami D rose up again on Baltimore's next possession, featuring a batted pass from Ogbah and a strong third-down tackle by Howard.
Pinned deep, the 'Fins got some breathing room when Waddle reached for a first down on 3rd & 6, but Gaskin missed a hole on a second-down run and Brissett's deep shot to Waddle was incomplete, forcing another Palardy punt.
The Dolphins forced yet another three-and-out when Holland batted a pass and Baker ran down the running back with stellar pursuit on an option pitch play.
Taking over at their own 12-yard line, the 'Fins got on the move when Brissett hit Ford with a strike for a first down. Then, on a blitz, Brissett rolled and made a beautiful throw to an uncovered Ford in stride, and the receiver took it 52 yards down the sideline. The quarterback then rifled another strike to Shaheen to set up a first and goal, but another brutal lack of effort from Williams cost Miami an easy touchdown on a nicely thrown fade. Shaheen was interfered with without a call on the next play, forcing Miami to settle for a 22-yard field goal and a 6-3 lead with three seconds left in the half.
To start the second half, the Dolphins went three-and-out, lowlighted by a 3rd & 10 sack that saw Brissett injure his knee while fumbling. Eichenberg, who was beaten badly on the play, did at least manage to recover the fumble.
Baltimore took over at midfield after a solid return, but Miami got a second-down sack from Butler and Brandon Jones. On 3rd & 15, Holland missed a sack, and Jackson threw deep, but Coleman made a tremendous pass breakup inside the 10-yard line to force yet another Ravens punt.
Tua came in at quarterback with Miami taking over at its 5-yard line, and after a Waddle first down gave the 'Fins a little breathing room, Tua misfired for Gesicki on two straight plays.
The Ravens began the next drive on its own 46-yard line after a meh Palardy punt. Baltimore got a third-down conversion on a nifty catch in front of Byron Jones, but a Roberts sack that featured a fumble that Jackson recovered himself helped Miami force the visitors to punt.
The 'Fins went three-and-out immediately, with Tua banging his finger on a rusher's helmet.
After a quick first down, Baltimore had a pass to Andrews overturned from catch to incomplete on replay, and a Holland sack on third down ended another possession quickly.
With good field position at its own 36-yard line, Miami got a first-down catch from Gaskin and then overcame a 1st & 20 (following a Reiter hold) when Tua hit Waddle deep, with the rookie wideout making a tough contested grab to end the third quarter. A Wilson end-around got Miami into the red zone, and the 'Fins got a break when Waddle drew an interference call on a really poor Tua throw. With first & goal from the 1, the Dolphins had a horrific sequence: Tua nearly threw an interception on a pass intended for G-Sick, Jackson jumped offsides, Eichenberg got called for holding, and Hunt was called for an illegal touch on crazy play that saw him grab a screen intended for Gaskin and somersault into the end zone with a reach across the goal line. Miraculously, Miami managed to convert a 29-yard field goal without further incident, pushing the advantage to 9-3.
Baltimore got an iffy pass interference call on Howard to jumpstart its next possession, but on 3rd & 10, "X" redeemed himself with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and tremendous weaving return for a touchdown. Miami's two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete on a pass toward Hollins, but the Dolphins had seized control with a 15-3 lead with 11:23 remaining.
The Ravens got a quick first down on the following drive, but Rowe jarred a ball loose on a pass and Baltimore dropped another throw well short of the first down on 3rd & 10 to bring on the punter once more.
A bootleg pass to Smythe led to a nice gainer, but Eichenberg was beaten again around the edge, allowing a sack that cause a Tua fumble that Eichenberg almost miraculously found a way to recover despite two Ravens defenders being near the ball. A strong Gaskin run and a tough Ford catch turned a 2nd & 18 into a 4th & 1, but after trying to draw Baltimore offsides, Miami wisely elected to punt -- a decision that Palardy paid off when he placed one that was downed at the 1-yard line by Hollins.
The Ravens got a break when Ogbah missed a sack and Baker was whistled for an unnecessary roughness for a hit on Jackson. Rowe nearly forced another fumble on a Jackson run, but the quarterback was ruled down, and Baltimore got more help from the officials in the form of a phantom unnecessary roughness call on Holland, who was pressuring Jackson. A 3rd & 3 hold on Coleman kept the drive alive, and after Byron Jones inadvisably went for a pick to allow a catch and run to the Miami 5-yard line, Rowe inexplicably stopped playing on the following play, allowing an uncontested touchdown catch by Andrews. Baltimore's 99-yard drive put them back in the game at 15-10 and featured three massive penalties as the officials intervened in the game at a crucial moment.
On the next drive, it was the Ravens' turn to make a vapor-lock play, leaving Wilson uncovered for a 64-yard catch and run down the sideline. A false start by Hunt in the red zone slowed down the goal-to-go opportunity, but Gaskin's tough running set up a Tua keeper for a touchdown and a 22-10 lead with 2:19 to play.
Baltimore took advantage of Byron Jones with a deep pass again to get the next drive rolling, but Baker made a key tackle in bounds to keep the clock running on a 2nd & 10 play. An Andrews catch and run saw a poor tackle effort by Howard to allow the big tight end to scamper out of bounds, but Ogbah pressure on third & goal led to a Coleman interception in the end zone to salt the game away.
Two kneels for Tua ran out the clock, giving Miami a stirring victory over the hated Ravens.

2021 Schedule

Buffalo 26, Miami 11 (1-7)

Miami 17, Houston 9 (2-7)

Miami 22, Baltimore 10 (3-7)

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Day 613, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" Leaves You Wanting More -- Or Less

"Adults follow paths. Children explore. Adults are content to walk the same way, hundreds of times, or thousands; perhaps it never occurs to adults to step off the paths, to creep beneath rhododendrons, to find the spaces between fences."

Embued with a comforting fairy tale quality, "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" is a meditation on melancholy, childhood, and the exertion of control over one's life.

"I wondered, as I wondered so often when I was that age, who I was, and what exactly was looking at the face in the mirror. If the face I was looking at wasn't me, and I knew it wasn't, because I would still be me whatever happened to my face, then what was me? And what was watching?"

Neil Gaiman has created a magical, mystical world in this heavily autobiographical work that makes for a frantically fast read. The criticism here is that it felt like the tale ended just as there was a sense of so much more to tell.

The author mentioned that this one started as a short story that grew into a novel, and as it leaves you wishing for more exploration, one wonders if perhaps it may have been better served as that short story after all.

"'Why do you think she's scared of anything? She's a grown-up, isn't she? Grown-ups and monsters aren't scared of things.'"

"'Oh, monsters are scared,' said Lettie. 'That's why they're monsters.'"

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Day 612, Quasi-Quarantine: Greedo Gets A New Pair Of Arms

More than a year ago, I wrote about our excitement in landing the iconic Greedo for our Star Wars Lego collection. The Rodian was a missing piece in a number of missions, and quickly assumed a position of prominence in some Rebel-Imperial scenarios.

To bolster his appearance, we found out that a company called Firestar Toys created custom arms for minifigures. The new limbs featured figure-appropriate printing instead of the traditional solid-color Lego arms, extending the design of key characters.

We took the plunge and bought a pair for Greedo, and you can see that the impact is significant. I questioned how much of a difference custom arms could make, but I feel like the addition makes the minifigure more "whole."

Now ... let's see if this new arm can help him shoot at Han first ...

Monday, November 15, 2021

Day 611, Quasi-Quarantine: Big Post-OBX Not-Now-Not-Ever Mood

Persistent Monday-after-the-beach vibe on loop.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Day 607, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Texans Game 9 Review

Look, the kindest thing to say here is that the Dolphins ended a seven-game losing streak. In a game that featured nine turnovers and neither team cracking 300 yards offensively, you take the victory and you keep it moving.

Perhaps the brightest spot for Miami was the lack of penalties -- just two for 13 yards -- but you obviously have to work hard if that's the best thing you can come up with.

On to the relieved recap ...

Offense

The bad news? Somehow the offensive line got even worse trying to protect for Brissett, forcing him to run for his life on seemingly every throw. The team managed just 47 rushing yards on 25 carries (1.9 yards per rush) and overall averaged just 3.6 yards per play. The good news? Miami converted nine of 16 third downs and converted both red zone appearances into touchdowns, which was the difference in the game.
Under incessant pressure, Brissett hit 26 of 43 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, adding a seven-yard run for a first down as well. He was sacked four times, lost a fumble on a blindside hit, and threw two interceptions (one on a batted pass), but he was also let down by a number of painful drops.
Myles Gaskin was ... persistent? He carried 20 times for 34 yards and a touchdown and added six grabs for 23 yards, giving him 26 touches for a hard-earned 57 yards. He fumbled once and missed the hole on a couple of rushing attempts, showing his limitations as a lead back. Salvon Ahmed added four carries for six yards, with a long of ... 2. The Dolphins are in dire need of a back who can make a dismal offensive line look slightly better, but is instead pressing forward with fringe NFL players.
Minus DeVante Parker and Will Fuller yet again, the receiving corps was led by Jaylen Waddle, who reeled in eight of 10 targets for 83 yards, with a long of 17. He converted some crucial third downs and had a solid rapport with Brissett. Mack Hollins was targeted six times, catching three for 22 yards and a score while dropping a couple. Kirk Merritt was a surprise activation, and he posted a grab for 13 yards, though he misplayed a deep ball and flat-out dropped another pass. Albert Wilson contributed an 11-yard catch for a depleted unit.
At tight end, Mike Gesicki did Mike Gesicki things, pulling in four of eight targets for 54 yards, including a pair of miraculous one-handed catches. He still can't get an interference call to save his life for some reason, but G-Sick continues to emerge as one of the league's top tight ends. He got help in the form of Durham Smythe (two catches, 27 yards) and Adam Shaheen (one reception for 11 yards). Surprisingly (or not), rookie Hunter Long continues to be a stalwart on the inactive list.
My god on the offensive line. Featuring arguably the league's worst two starting tackles, the front was turnstiled all game long. Left tackle Liam Eichenberg continued his regression, allowing a staggering pressure rate of 16.7%, while bookend Jesse Davis checked in at 10.4%. Center Austin Reiter had a tough game, allowing a 9.3% pressure rate, and guard Austin Jackson continues to offer little in the way of, like, resistance. Robert Hunt has been OK at right guard, but increasingly, observers are calling for him to move to right tackle. Whether that's the move or not, it's beyond time to shake up this line, with tackle Greg Little and guard Solomon Kindley the most likely candidates for additional looks.

Defense

With relentless pressure (one outlet had Miami blitzing on 53.2% of the Texans' passing snaps), the Dolphins harassed Tyrod Taylor all game long. Houston managed conversions on only six of 17 third downs, and the 'Fins held the visitors without a touchdown on four red zone trips.
Emmanuel Ogbah was a wrecking ball in this one, notching four tackles, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup (I had him with two), three quarterback hits and five pressures. On the other side, Andrew Van Ginkel had four solo tackles, one sack (forced by Zach Seiler), and two quarterback hits, while Jaelan Phillips contributed two tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit.
On the interior, Adam Butler had one of his best games, recording two solo tackles and two pass breakups, including one that led to an interception. Seiler had a pair of tackles and set up a sack that was credited to Van Ginkel (Seiler should have been awarded half a sack), while Raekwon Davis had a single tackle, though he did get pressure in a goal-to-go situation. Christian Wilkins had a quiet game with one solo stop.
The return of Jerome Baker energized the linebacking corps, and he came back with seven tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception. Elandon Roberts had seven tackles and Brennan Scarlett added a single stop as Miami played a lot of DB-heavy alignments in this one.
At cornerback, Xavien Howard had three solo tackles and was involved in pressure a couple of times, while Byron Jones overcame a rocky start to finish with six stops and a pass breakup. In the nickel, Eric Rowe had six tackles and a forced fumble, while Justin Coleman registered a pass breakup and an interception in limited snaps. Nik Needham struggled in coverage again, but he did contribute four solo tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit.
Brandon Jones was active as a blitzer, coming up with seven tackles and a quarterback hit while recovering a fumble. Fellow safety Javon Holland was active with two stops, a pass breakup, a quarterback hit, and a huge end zone interception for his first career pick.

Special teams

Jason Sanders didn't get a ton of action, but converted a 42-yard field goal and both extra points. His kickoffs have been lacking the customary depth, but that looks to be part of a strategic move in kickoff coverage.
Michael Palardy punted five times for an average of 41.4 yards, placing three of his boots inside the 20-yard line.
Waddle returned a pair of kickoffs for 47 yards, finally showing some of his burst on a 25-yarder.
Holland continues to be an adventure on punt returns, bringing three back for 31 yards, but coughing up a fumble on one.

Momentum plays

Miami went three-and-out immediately, and the Texans went on a drive immediately, moving into the red zone before Holland picked off a pass in the end zone after Brandon Jones forced Taylor to throw early.
A tough third-down conversions by Gaskin jumpstarted the following drive, and a 17-yard dart from Brissett to Waddle got the 'Fins moving in earnest. A one-hander by G-Sick got the crowd involved, and a shovel pass to Gaskin converted a crucial 3rd & 2 in the red zone. On the next play, Gaskin took a Wildcat snap and followed a Smythe block for a relatively easy touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Houston went three-and-out right away, and Brissett escaped pressure to locate Waddle deep on the next drive, but his pass was late and picked off.
A Needham sack (which saw him celebrating instead of trying to recover the fumble) led to a turnover, but it was overturned on replay. Houston converted a 3rd & 11 when Chris Conley beat Byron Jones easily, but Conley dropped one over the middle, allowing Miami to force another punt.
Headed into the second quarter, Gaskin fought hard to convert a 3rd & 6, but fumbled two plays later, giving the Texans great field position at Miami's 34-yard line.
After Byron Jones surrendered a third-down conversion, Needham was burned badly on another third-down play, but Taylor missed a wide-open Danny Amendola, forcing a 31-yard field goal to trim the lead to 7-3.
On the first play of the ensuing possession, Brissett lofted a deep ball to Merritt, who made a poor adjustment to the ball and was unable to come up with it. Then Hollins dropped a third-down pass, forcing a quick punt.
On the Texans' next drive, Needham was beaten and missed a tackle on a 3rd & 7 conversion, but Ogbah swatted away a third-down pass at the line. However, Holland promptly fumbled the ensuing punt, once more gift-wrapping a Houston possession deep in Dolphins territory.
Houston immediately tried a trick play, with Amendola throwing the ball on a flanker option, but Needham dropped what should have been an easy interception. Taylor then missed an open Brandin Cooks in the end zone (Byron Jones was trailing in coverage), allowing the 'Fins to hold the Texans to another field goal to make it 7-6.
Brissett started the next drive with back-to-back first-down strikes to Waddle, then Miami got a third-down holding penalty on Houston to keep the possession going. Davis gave up a big sack that featured an egregious uncalled facemask penalty on the Texans, but Brissett responded with an 18-yard pass to G-Sick, who pulled off another slick one-handed grab. The tight end nearly pulled off another while being interfered with without a call, but couldn't reel it in, forcing the 'Fins to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Sanders and a 10-6 advantage.
After an Ogbah sack on the next possession, Taylor inexplicably threw the ball directly to Baker along the sideline as he was attempting to intentionally throw it out of bounds, giving Miami the ball at Houston's 26-yard line with 53 seconds left in the half.
Brissett immediately found Smythe for a nifty 21-yard pass, then made a crazy good throw under pressure on third & goal to find Hollins in the back of the end zone, staking the Dolphins to a 17-6 lead headed into the half.
The comedy of errors didn't relent after the break. Pressure by Holland led to a Taylor pass that was tipped by Butler before landing in the hands of Coleman to give the Dolphins a pick and more good field position.
Starting from Houston's 49-yard line, a Brissett pass was deflected at the line, and the Texans pulled it in for an unlucky interception.
Taking over at their own 44-yard line, the Texans had a shot at an easy touchdown when Amendola was left uncovered after going in motion, but Taylor misfired. An offensive pass interference nullified a huge catch and run by Rex Burkhead, then Byron Jones knocked the ball out of Amendola's hands on a 3rd & 12 play. Holland's solid punt return was erased by penalties on both Elijah Campbell and Clayton Fejedelem.
Strong Brissett throws to Hollins and Gesicki got the next drive rolling, and a third-down scramble by Brissett and a 3rd & 8 pass to Shaheen kept the possession alive. However, Davis was beaten again for an easy sack, pushing the Dolphins out of field goal range and forcing a punt when a 3rd & 18 play netted exactly three yards.
Taking over at their own 7-yard line after a nice Palardy punt, Houston immediately surrendered a sack by Ogbah and Phillips. However, Miami allowed an easy catch and run over the middle by the tight end to convert a 3rd & 13. Then the fourth quarter started with the Dolphins again forgetting to cover Amendola, who raced 39 yards thanks to the refs picking up a flag that they said would have been for offensive pass interference. Cooks was largely uncovered on a 3rd & 6 play, then Taylor escaped sacks by Howard and Wilkins (who got brutally stiff-armed by the QB) and hit the tight end for a couple of yards, which was inexplicably challenged by Flores, who easily lost and cost Miami a crucial timeout. Fortunately, early pressure from Davis forced Taylor to throw incomplete on third & goal, and Houston kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 17-9.
Back-to-back drops by Merritt and Hollins were a poor way to start the next Miami drive, but Brissett shook it off to find Waddle to convert a 3rd & 10. After Gaskin managed to lose five yards on a run, Eichenberg got beaten easily for a blindside sack that forced a Brissett fumble that was recovered by the Texans at their own 40-yard line.
After Taylor fell down on his own for an easy Ogbah sack, he was hit hard by a blitzing Holland and threw incomplete on 3rd & 12, leading to yet another Houston punt.
A third-down catch by Hollins kept the next drive alive, but a deep shot to Hollins on the next third down fell incomplete, forcing yet another Palardy punt.
On the second play of the following possession, Rowe poked the ball free from the receiver, and after initially being ruled incomplete, Flo finally got a challenge right and was awarded the fumble (Brandon Jones had pounced on it).
Three straight Gaskin runs netted exactly a yard, but Palardy's punt was down at the 2-yard line by Hollins, making the Texans face a 98-yard drive with 30 seconds left.
An open-field tackle by Baker kept the clock running, and on 4th & 6 with three seconds remaining, Baker made the final tackle after a lateral by Cook, finishing off a 17-9 'Fins victory.

2021 Schedule

Buffalo 26, Miami 11 (1-7)

Miami 17, Houston 9 (2-7)

Day 606, Quasi-Quarantine: SNL Goes In On "Squid Game"

I'll shamelessly and fully admit that I'm missing this show about now. Combine "Squid Game" with national treasure Rami Malek and I'm here for it.

Tuesday, November 09, 2021

Day 605, Quasi-Quarantine: Finalizing The Forest Moc On Day 3

Our Day 1 and Day 2 updates documented efforts to construct a Lego Stars moc of an as-yet-unnamed forest planet. The Day 3 video walks through the completed product.

One of the highlights involved a significant mountain feature that included hidden crags and placements for Mandalorian bounty hunters to stage an assault.

The cherry on top came in the form of experimenting with clear/translucent bricks to create the illusion that the Mandalorian Starfighter is suspended in the air, making a low pass over the battle terrain.

Building a moc was a new adventure for us, and it was fun to play around with unfamiliar techniques to bring a story to life. When the NFL season is over, maybe my building partner will rekindle his interest in Legos and join me in other complex builds.

Until then ...

Monday, November 08, 2021

Day 604, Quasi-Quarantine: Bo Burnham Captures The Quintessential Monday Sentiment

The question of our times:

"Can any single person shut the fuck up about any single thing, ever?"

Just don't think too hard about the answer.

Friday, November 05, 2021

Limerick Friday #525: The Second Season Of "Locke & Key" Arrives Just In Time -- Day 601

Suspense behind every tree

Coming across shakily

Teen rom-com vibes

But the story gibes

Welcome back, "Locke & Key"

The trade that you never make

Can also be your best break

Passing on Deshaun

And not falling for his con

Is the only win Miami may take

Another quit, another week

This shit ain't for the meek

Pack up your 'puter

Escape on a scooter

The standard until we tweak

The season arriving sublime

Can't believe I need a hoops rhyme

The Pack young but can leap

They should be pretty deep

For Keatts, it's need-to-win time

The Aaron Rodgers deification

For a bitch beyond explanation

Always thought he was a douche

Didn't really need proof

But now we have confirmation

Last time ...

Thursday, November 04, 2021

Day 600, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bills Game 8 Review

For a change, Miami offered legitimate hope against an extremely talented opponent on the road, battling Buffalo tooth and nail in a defensive battle for three quarters. This time around, penalties (nine for 58 yards) and boneheaded mistakes sunk the Dolphins' fourth-quarter chances.

With rumors swirling around Deshaun Watson and what would come of Tua Tagavailoa, the 'Fins could have assumed the fetal position and taken a beating, but despite the franchise's best efforts to sabotage its own team, Miami gave a strong accounting of itself despite (another) disappointing result.

On to the recap ...

Offense

This unit managed just 262 total yards and 16 first downs, averaging just 4.1 yards per play and converting only 4 of 14 third downs. Miami made a bigger investment in RPO-aided rushing (23 carries) but totaled only 68 yards for a mediocre three yards per carry. Most damaging, however, was that in three Dolphin trips to the red zone, the team eked out just one touchdown.
Tua had a harried and pedestrian day, hitting 21 of 39 passes for 205 yards with a pick at desperation time. He was sacked twice but under pressure incessantly, running for 10 yards and a score. In general, when he wasn't running for his life, he was staring down receivers, losing his pocket awareness, and throwing off his back foot. By any measure, this was a step back at an inopportune time for Tua. Once again, Jacoby Brissett was not involved in short-yardage situations.
Behind Tua, Myles Gaskin racked up 15 touches, putting up 55 yards. He was spelled by Salvon Ahmed, who carried seven times for 22 yards -- including a key 12-yarder -- and added one grab for six yards. Reserve Patrick Laird had a 10-yard catch in limited action. It's clear that the 'Fins are lacking a punishing option, effectively trotting out a series of scatbacks that are easy to gameplan against.
At receiver, DeVante Parker returned and was effectively early. He was targeted 11 times and caught eight for 85 yards, but he also dropped a key pass and had miscommunications with Tua on a couple of other plays. Jaylen Waddle was targeted a team-high 12 times but somehow only caught four, for just 29 yards and a long of 12. Mack Hollins (four snaps) and Isaiah Ford (eight snaps) were each targeted once without a catch (Ford dropped his after a big hit and Hollins wasn't on the same page as Tua), so the receivers were largely taken out of the game. As a local sportswriter noted, the Dolphins have essentially turned the No. 6 pick in the entire draft (Waddle) into Davone Boss, running screens and 5-yard hitches. Albert Wilson got just two snaps, making it difficult to understand his presence on the roster, even on a team currently without a viable run-after-catch threat.
At tight end, Mike Gesicki snared three for 48 yards, but he was only targeted four times and all his damage came on a fourth-down play that saw him pull in a 40-yard rainbow. Gesicki also figured in two illegal shifts and could not seem to draw an interference or holding call yet again. Adam Shaheen caught a single pass for eight yards, but after back-to-back strong games, Durham Smythe did not dent the box score at all. Bizarrely, rookie Hunter Long was inactive yet again.
Along the offensive line, rookie left tackle Liam Eichenberg seemed to regress in this one (44.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, which can be a controversial outlet but at least offers performance context), getting out of his stance late a few times, surrendering six pressures (according to PFF), and getting whistled for a false start. On the other side, right tackle Jesse Davis was even worse (a staggering 29.2 pass-blocking grade), allowing eight pressures, called for holding, and generally getting turnstiled way too often. On the interior, right guard Robert Hunt had a false start and forgot his blocking assignment on at least one occasion, but did recover a fumble, while left guard Austin Jackson was a problem yet again (55.0 pass-blocking grade by PFF). Center Austin Reiter struggled with a few of the calls and played a role in the key red zone fumble. The Bills cause a lot of problems with their exotic blitz schemes, but this was a dramatic step back for an offensive line that was at least showing some signs of improvement in recent weeks.

Defense

The Bills finally got some momentum going in the second half, ending up with 351 yards and 24 touchdowns, but that doesn't tell the story. Miami did a phenomenal job of holding down Buffalo's high-powered attack before appearing to lose energy and morale when the offense couldn't sustain anything. Sure, the 'Fins could have helped themselves by forcing a turnover, but it would be difficult to ask too much more of a much-maligned defense on the road against one of the league's best teams. Unfortunately, much of the game was decided by the fact that the Dolphins just couldn't find a way to tackle the other team's quarterback.
Though not credited with a tackle, Emmanuel Ogbah was active as usual, with two pressures and a quarterback hit. Andrew Van Ginkel had two solo tackles and two quarterback hits despite losing containment a couple of times, while Jaelan Phillips pitched in with four tackles, including two solo, while taking on a bigger role with 61 snaps.
On the interior, Christian Wilkins had one of his most impressive games, recording six tackles, two stops for losses, and a batted pass. Adam Butler showed a good motor on a number of plays, finishing with four tackles, including two solo. Raekwon Davis had three tackles, but two illegal hands to the face penalties, and his play has been spotty since his return from injury. Zach Sieler with three tackles and one stop for loss, but was limited to just 14 snaps for some reason.
A reeling linebacking corps was led by Duke Riley, who had five tackles filled in for an injured Jerome Baker. Elandon Roberts had four tackles and Brennan Scarlett added three, including a stop for loss. Sam Eguavoen had two solo tackles but only played four snaps, and the group in general is comprised of special-teamers lacking the ability to affect the game with big plays.
The good news at cornerback: Byron Jones played one of his best games as a Dolphin, notching six tackles and a pass breakup while holding Emmanuel Sanders without a catch. Xavien Howard had two tackles and a pass breakup in a solid effort, but he was called for holding and did give up a touchdown to Stefon Diggs. Nik Needham had eight tackles but was thoroughly wrecked by Buffalo slot receiver Cole Beasley, while Eric Rowe (two solo tackles) and Justin Coleman (three stops and an illegal contact flag in 20 snaps) were also targeted a lot. Look, Buffalo realized late that Miami could not cover Beasley with any combination of Needham, Rowe, or Coleman, and mercilessly attacked these players (especially Needham) with Beasley, who finished with 10 catches for 110 yards and some devastating third-down conversions.
At safety, Jevon Holland continued to show his dynamic ability, contributing five tackles, blitzing a few times, and returning punts. Brandon Jones contributed five solo tackles, one stop for a loss, and two quarterback hits, and the two young safeties played outsized roles in keeping Buffalo at bay for most of the contest.

Special teams

Jason Sanders shanked a shorty to start the game off on a debilitating note. He did recover to hit a 51-yarder in the wind and nail all three extra points, but the fact that his miss was followed by a 57-yard bomb from Tyler Bass was more than a little disheartening early on.
Michael Palardy averaged 51.8 yards on five punts, putting two inside the 20-yard line. His play has picked up recently, perhaps as a result of Miami trying out a couple of punters.
Holland is an adventure on punt returns, bringing three back for 12 yards, but he also looks like the kind of player poised to break one at any moment.
Waddle returned two kickoffs for 25 yards and largely seems disinterested in this phase of the game.

Momentum plays

To start the game, Miami forced a three-and-out that largely featured Holland, who made a tackle on second down, forced a throwaway with a blitz on third down, and then returned the punt on the following play.
The ensuing Dolphins drive was sustained by a 3rd & 9 pass that featured an unlikely sideline grab by Parker for 23 yards. Tua converted a 3rd & 3 with a short pass to Waddle, but two plays later, he stared down Parker -- somehow getting away with it as a likely interception went through the defender and was reeled in by the big wideout. A 3rd & 5 pass to Waddle didn't gain a single yard, and Sanders's 36-yard field goal was hooked wide left, though later in the week it would be officially ruled a blocked field goal by Buffalo. Either way, it was a devastating result after a promising start.
The Bills's drive was sustained by Josh Allen ripping off a 34-yard run that had zero Dolphins on an entire side of the field on 3rd & 10. The defense surrendered only another yard, but Bass crushed a 57-yard field goal to stake the home team to a 3-0 lead.
The 'Fins got the RPO working on the ensuing drive, with Parker pulling in a pair of big catches and a 3rd & 13 converted thanks to an illegal use of hands on the Bills. The offensive line then had a disastrous series, with Eichenberg getting called for a false start before giving up an easy sack, then Hunt allowing a free rusher that killed a screen play on 3rd & 20.
The defense forced another three-and-out when Sieler, Wilkins, and Roberts swarmed the ballcarrier for a loss on 3rd & 1.
Taking over at its own 35-yard line, Miami converted a 3rd & 6 when Gaskin broke a tackle on a short throw. However, Gaskin was easily chopped down on a 3rd & 2 run, setting up a 51-yard field goal that was drilled by Sanders to tie the score at 3. Stunningly, the Dolphins had gone 95 straight offensive plays without a score against the Bills until the field goal.
After a quick Buffalo first down, the 'Fins "D" once more took over. Byron Jones made an acrobatic pass breakup on a deep pass, then Brandon Jones put pressure on Allen, who threw dangerously and blindly into the secondary as he was falling. Holland fielded the punt without a fair catch, but was hammered down at Miami's 6-yard line.
Ahmed gave the offense some room with a nifty 12-yard run, but a 3rd & 6 conversion by Laird was called back due to an illegal shift on Gesicki and Waddle. Palardy uncorked a 58-yard punt, but it bounced into the end zone for a touchback. The most memorable aspect of this Miami drive was the fact that the refs appeared to miss not one, but two, facemask penalties on the Bills on tackles of Waddle and G-Sick.
The Bills went on the move, aided by a near pick of a screen pass by Ogbah that he wasn't able to hold onto. Buffalo went for it on 4th & 4, but pressure by Van Ginkel and Riley forced a late grounding call by Allen, giving the Dolphins the ball at the Beefalo 41-yard line.
A horsecollar of Gaskin propelled the 'Fins even deeper into Bills territory, but on a key 3rd & 5, a premature snap managed to hit Gesicki as the man in motion, causing a fumble that was picked by the Bills. The play looked doomed from the jump, but Miami elected not to use a timeout to rethink things, serving as a fitting summation of the season to date and wasting a staggering good defensive effort headed into halftime knotted at 3.
The 'Fins started the second half with more mistakes, going three-and-out when Tua dove a yard short on 3rd & 7 after an illegal shift on Gesicki.
Fortunately, the Miami defense picked up where it left off, forcing a three-and-out on the strength of a tackle for loss by Scarlett, a batted pass by Ogbah, and a pressure by Riley. A solid punt return by Holland to go with a penalty on Buffalo set up Miami at its own 46-yard line.
An absolutely brutal drive followed, with a negative-yardage run by Gaskin followed by a pair of pressure-induced incompletions. Palardy's punt was muffed by the Bills after good coverage by Elijah Campbell, and the ball bounced into the end zone, where Buffalo pounced on it. Thanks to archaic and nonsensical NFL rules, the Bills were somehow rewarded with a touchback on the play for reasons that no one seems to understand.
Empowered by the break, Buffalo went on a Beasley-flavored drive. On 3rd & 14, he easily beat Needham for a back-breaking first down, then Allen escaped a certain sack by Roberts to convert a 3rd & 1. On a 3rd & 5, Miami blitzed Allen into a poor throw, but Van Ginkel was matched up with Diggs in coverage and got called for a shaky pass interference. Allen paid off the drive by escaping another sack attempt and finding a wide-open receiver in the end zone for a 10-3 advantage.
Yet another three-and-out by the Dolphins followed, with Gaskin unable to reel in a tough pass on 3rd & 2.
Another illegal hands to the face on Davis jumpstarted the next Bills drive, and Buffalo nullified Miami blitzes with tunnel screens and short passes to Beasley and Diggs. After Beasley converted a 3rd & 13 by roasting Needham again, the home team tried a trick play, with Beasley lofting an extremely ill-advised pass into double coverage, but Howard was unable to pull down an interception he usually makes. However, Diggs beat Howard on a slant for a touchdown on the following play, pushing Buffalo ahead 17-3.
Against all odds, the 'Fins finally got something moving on the next possession. A Parker catch and run was followed by a third-down snare by Waddle before Miami faced a 4th & 6 after a no call on a taunting penalty by Buffalo. The Dolphins elected to go for it, and Tua climbed the pocket before dropping in a 40-yard teardrop to G-Sick to set up a first & goal from the Bills 4-yard line. A second-effort sneak by Tua punched in the touchdown, and an RPO look to Gesicki on the two-point conversion trimmed the margin to 17-11.
Beasley converted yet another third-and-long on the following drive, beating Coleman on 3rd & 11 before a hold on Howard helped convert a 2nd & 14. Allen broke five tackles on a designed run, but a low block and back-to-back Butler tackles in space on the next series of downs helped halt the Bills. Bass put through a field goal to push the lead to 20-11.
A vintage offensive possession ensued for the Dolphins, as a crunch-time Parker drop was followed by a holding call on Davis, which was followed by a sack and Tua fumble, which was followed by an easy interception as Tua started down Parker. This sequence of plays could not feel more on brand for this year's version of the 'Fins.
Three straight runs resulted in a largely uncontested Allen score, and he was somehow not whistled for taunting as he berated Scarlett in the end zone. For some reason, Buffalo went for two, with Wilkins slamming Allen to the turf and causing a fumble, which led to more uncalled taunting by Allen and a 26-11 lead for Beefalo.
With 1:07 left, the 'Fins next possession went like this: backwards throw to Gaskin for -2; up-the-middle run by Gaskin; Miami lets the clock run out. Thus concluded another baffling and aimless offensive gameplan by the Dolphins coaching staff, which wasted an inspired defensive performance.

2021 Schedule