Day 688, Quasi-Quarantine: SNL Goes Really Real On Dog Shows

This is highly relatable to the point where it is almost a little too on the nose (dog pun intended).

Limerick Friday #533: Chitown Finds Its Dude -- Day 685

 

Hiring in pairs

GM and coach snares

Approved by Brothers, Blues

The name's Eberflus

A fresh look for the Bears

Promotions passed around

Money falls to the ground

Rewarding threats

Ignoring debts

Patent hypocrisies abound

Your jokes make me curdle

And trust is a hurdle

Performative posturing

And problems not curing

Just gonna go play some Wordle

In pursuit of consistent wins

Pressing restart agains

But we're keeping Grier

And saying your "D" staff is here

Embarrassment, they name is 'Fins

Appreciate when and how

When life's roads you plow

Make yourself clearer

When you look in the mirror

And recognize who you are now

Last time ...

Day 684, Quasi-Quarantine: Despite Warts, "Razorblade Tears" Pulls No Punches

 

S.A. Cosby continues the propulsive pacing established in "Blacktop Wasteland" with "Razorblade Tears," which follows a pair of mismatched ex-cons as they seek redemption for their sons.

There is a lot at work here: racism, transphobia, misogyny, homophobia, classism ... Cosby attacks it all head on. Featuring spartan prose, an undeniable story unfolds at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion.

"Razorblade Tears" is not without difficulties, however. Some shifts in perspective are a little jarring, some of the moralizing feels rather overt, and the author tends to rely on noir tropes -- there is much clenching of fists and sucking of teeth and cracking of knuckles.

While to me this lacked the heart of its predecessor, at the end of the day, this is an absorbing and frantic story. Peppered with flawed characters, gallows humor, and antiheroes you can root for, "Razorblade Tears" is a fun read from a needed voice in southern noir.

Day 683, Quasi-Quarantine: Wordle Takes The World By Storm

 

Most people don't know about Wordle, but it's this really clever word puzzle game that ...

I'm kidding.

You're likely over seeing people's social media updates on their scores. But mine's different. I swear.

You see, I tied a world record by nailing one of my word guesses in one try (as far as I know, a record that can never be broken). 

My overall goal is three-guess answers, but maintaining a string of successful solves is more important. I'm currently working on a 31-game winning streak by working through an archive of previous puzzles.

Check back here for more updates on my life-altering progress through the world of Wordle.

Joking. Unless I tie more world records.

Day 682, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Saints Game 15 Review

 

In one of the most desultory wins you'll ever see, Miami bested a depleted New Orleans squad in the Superdome. Each team was whistled for seven penalties, and the Dolphins mostly just ran out the clock for the entire fourth quarter. There's no arguing against a seventh straight win on the road against a franchise as well-run as the Saints (especially went it pushes you over .500 for the first time all season), so it's probably best just to leave it here.

On to the desultory recap ...

Offense

• The running game was ... persistent? Miami rushed it 30 times, picking up 86 yards for an ugly 2.9 yards per attempt. The 'Fins had only 259 total yards, averaged 4.4 yards per play, went just five of 15 on third down, and converted one of three red zone visits into a touchdown. On the plus side, the visitors did control the time of possession (33:56 to 26:04).
• Tua Tagovailoa connected on 19 of 26 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown, adding a single rushing yard. He was sacked twice, threw an interception, and was graded with five turnover-worthy plays by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Backup Jacoby Brissett was sacked among his four snaps, but the story here was the continued regression of Tua's footwork and fundamentals on a national stage.
• At running back, Duke Johnson had 13 carries for 39 yards, while Phillip Lindsay tallied 36 yards on his 13 rushes. Myles Gaskin only carried three times for 10 yards and added a six-yard catch. The running back snaps were split pretty evenly, with Johnson getting 23, Gaskin 20, and Lindsay 19.
• Jaylen Waddle reeled in 10 passes for 92 yards with a touchdown and a long of 24 yards, earning an 87.7 grade by PFF. He was targeted 12 times, while other receivers were targeted four times. Mack Hollins had a 40-yard reception among his 11 snaps while Tommylee Lewis had a catch for seven yards in his three snaps. Somehow, DeVante Parker played 46 snaps without a target, with Isaiah Ford suffering the same fate on his 20 snaps. Albert Wilson was not available for the game.
• At tight end, Mike Gesicki had three catches for 22 yards and Durham Smythe added three receptions for 31 yards. Adam Shaheen (19 snaps) and Hunter Long (four snaps) rounded out the tight end rotation. It was a slow night in the passing game for this group, though Smythe continued to show he's a plus blocker. 
• Up front,  the line allowed pressure on 14 of 33 dropbacks, according to PFF, and struggled in a big way overall against a really good New Orleans defensive front. Left tackle Liam Eichenberg was called for a hold and recovered yet another Tua fumble, while left guard Austin Jackson also got flagged for holding and had another rough contest. Center Michael Dieter picked up a holding penalty, while right tackle Jesse Davis was turnstiled on a number of occasions. As usual, right guard Robert Hunt was the lone bright spot, earning a 90.8 grade from PFF. Reserve Adam Pankey got a single snap as a guard in Miami's jumbo package.

Defense

• The Saints were limited to just 10 first downs, 164 yards, one of three fourth-down conversions, and zero for 12 on third-down attempts. Throw in Miami collecting eight sacks and six stops for losses and this was about as dominant a defensive performance as you'll see, albeit it against a roster devastated by COVID.
• On the edges, Emmanuel Ogbah led the way with five tackles, two sacks, another stop for a loss, three quarterback hits, and a staggering eight pressures according to PFF. Andrew Van Ginkel chipped in with three solo tackles, a stop for a loss, and two batted passes. Rookie Jaelen Phillips continued his late-season fade, playing 26 snaps without a stat.
• On the interior, Christian Wilkins registered eight tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits, to go with an offensive snap in goal-to-go situation. He was also credited with six quarterback pressures by PFF, good for an 87.4  rating from that outlet. Zach Seiler gave New Orleans fits, registering six stops, a sack, a tackle for a loss, and two quarterback hits. Raekwon Davis came up with three tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit, while Adam Butler didn't dent the stat sheet in 21 snaps.
• Elandon Roberts led the linebackers with seven tackles, while Jerome Baker posted six tackles, 1.5 sacks, two stops for losses, and three quarterback hits for a 79.1 PFF grade. Calvin Munson (two tackles in two snaps), Vince Biegel (a solo stop in two snaps), and Sam Eguavoen (two snaps) saw reserve duty.
• Xavien Howard notched five tackles and a sack at one corner spot, while Byron Jones had an assisted tackle and was called for illegal hands to the face on the other side. Each allowed only a single first-down reception in their area, according to PFF, in what was a quiet day in coverage for the entire secondary. Former first-rounder Noah Ighbinoghene got two snaps in garbage time, though he did manage to get whistled for an illegal hands to the face penalty on a punt return.
• In the slot, Nik Needham made the most of his 21 snaps with two solo stops, a pass breakup, and a pick-six, garnering an 85.7 grade from PFF. Eric Rowe added a solo tackle in 26 snaps playing a corner-safety hybrid role. Reserve Justin Coleman did not play in this one.
• It was a busy evening for the safeties, with Brandon Jones notching six tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, a pass breakup, and an interception (plus a roughing-the-passer penalty) and Jevon Holland recording five tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit. Backup Sheldrick Redwine got two snaps with the game out of hand.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders made two of three attempts (with a long of 48 yards) and both extra points. His lone miss came from 59 yards, so he deserves a bit of a pass on that one during what has been a trying campaign.
• Michael Palardy was busy, averaging 42.5 yards on his six punts, with three placed inside the 20-yard line.
• Lewis managed to tally negative punt-return yardage with -1 yards on his two returns, though he did take back a kickoff for 23 yards. Holland had a 10-yard punt return.
• New Orleans's Easop Winston did have a 17-yard punt return, with Hollins having a couple of uncharacteristic miscues in kick coverage.

Momentum plays

• A 3rd & 2 conversion by Waddle that included a tacked-on late hit got Miami going on the opening drive, but two Tua misfires forced a punt. Hollins didn't realize that the return man didn't call a fair catch, allowing the Saints to move from the 5-yard line to the 16.
• Three plays later, Van Ginkel tipped a pass at the line, allowing Needham to intercept the ball in stride and race 28 yards untouched for the pick-six and a 7-0 lead.
• The Saints went three-and-out, thanks to a sack by Ogbah and Wilkins. However, a poor return by Lewis did not allow the 'Fins to capitalize with good field position.
• On the 'Fins drive, Waddle drew a pass interference, then converted a 3rd & 7 on a nicely threaded ball by Tua between layered coverage. Lindsay converted a 3rd & 1 with a Wildcat run, but a few plays later, Tua was drilled and fumbled when Jackson was beaten. Eichenberg eventually recovered the ball down the field, saving three points for Miami when Sanders hit from 48 yards for a 10-0 advantage.
• A Baker sack forced another New Orleans three-and-out, but an Ighbinoghene penalty on the return cost the Dolphins again as the first quarter wound to a close.
• Two bad spots led to a Miami three-and-out, but after an initial first down, the Saints were stymied yet again. After the home team punted, they had five yards of total offense on their first four possessions.
• A late, poor holding call on Eichenberg erased a 3rd & 2 conversion by Waddle, forcing yet another three-and-out by the 'Fins.
• New Orleans finally put together a drive, aided by a roughing-the-flag penalty on Brandon Jones. The defense stiffened to stop Alvin Kamara on 3rd & 2, but a 38-yard field goal trimmed the margin to 10-3.
• Waddle converted a short third down with a swing pass out of the backfield, then Smythe made a tough 18-yard catch over the middle to set up a 3rd & 2. However, Davis was beaten quickly and easily, leading to another ill-timed sack of Tua. Sanders's 59-yard attempt drifted just right to send the teams into the half at 10-3.
• To start the second half, the Saints went three-and-out, with Van Ginkel narrowly missing a third-down interception.
• Three plays later, Tua climbed the pocket on 3rd & 8 but overthrew Hollins for an easy interception, bringing the crowd into the game.
• New Orleans got a quick first down, but consistent pressure culminated in a Brandon Jones sack to end the possession.
• Pinned at its own 14-yard line, the 'Fins got out of trouble with a well-thrown 40-yarder from Tua to Hollins, followed by a flea-flicker strike to Waddle and a rugged Johnson run that saw him truck a pair of would-be tacklers for a third straight first down. Tua was crushed on a 3rd & 2 pass to the end zone that was nearly picked again, but the Saints were whistled for both holding and roughing the passer. On 2nd & goal, the Dolphins ran a cool concept (the Colts ran the same play vs. the Patriots) when Tua pitched to Waddle, who raced in the other direction and cut back for a score and a 17-3 advantage.
• The Saints got a break when Baker stole the ball from Kamara on a short pass, with the refs erroneously ruling that forward momentum was stopped. However, the home team still went three-and-out on the possession.
• After a couple of Lindsay runs set up third-and-short, Tua tried to run for it but absorbed another wicked shot. The ensuing punt hit Hollins, giving the Saints the ball on their own 29-yard line as the third quarter wound down.
• Following a failed fourth-down play by the Saints, the Dolphins took over at New Orleans's 38-yard line. A nifty play that saw Tua avoid pressure to find Gesicki along the sideline moved Miami into scoring position, but an uncalled pass interference was followed by a poor Tua throw for Gaskin on a third-down slant. Sanders paid off the good field position with a 34-yarder to make it 20-3.
• A sack by Baker and Holland was offset by a 19-yard draw by Kamara, allowing the Saints to convert a 4th & 1. Back-to-back sacks by Seiler and Ogbah forced a 3rd & 31 and New Orleans was once more forced to punt.
• With Miami in full run-out-the-clock mode, Palardy combined with Hollins to pin the Saints at their own 1-yard line after a nicely executed punt.
• A 56-yard catch and run by Lil'Jordan Humphrey briefly gave the crowd new life, but Brandon Jones reeled in a fourth-down interception to end the threat.
• Three straight runs and a punt by the Dolphins was mercifully followed by two runs by New Orleans to bring an egregiously ugly game to a finish.

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Buffalo 35, Miami 0 (1-1)

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

Indianapolis 27, Miami 17 (1-3)

Tampa Bay 45, Miami 17 (1-4)

Jacksonville 23, Miami 20 (1-5)

Atlanta 30, Miami 28 (1-6)

Buffalo 26, Miami 11 (1-7)

Miami 17, Houston 9 (2-7)

Miami 22, Baltimore 10 (3-7)

Miami 24, New York Jets 17 (4-7)

Miami 33, Carolina 10 (5-7)

Miami 20, New York Giants 9 (6-7)

Miami 31, New York Jets 24 (7-7)

Miami 20, New Orleans 3 (8-7)

Day 681, Quasi-Quarantine: Escaping Snow Day With Dogs On A Beach

 

With flakes hitting the city over a coupla days and shutting down, well, everything, it was puzzle-and-IPA time.

This 750-piece Dog Days puzzle -- I feel it's important to point out that it's called "Ruff Summer" -- was a good distraction. Not too difficult, not too easy ... just right.

8/10, would solve again on a snowy, beery day.

Limerick Friday #532: Don't You Make Me Like Nick Saban, 2022 -- Day 678

As Manchin attempts treason

We seek voices of reason

To Nick Saban we turn?!

But may we never learn

To like him during football season

As disaster did portend

A bittersweet end

To "Station Eleven"

TV from heaven

More of this, can you send?

No offensive line

No coach in mind

Inept owner and GM

But besides that and them

Everything else is fine

Home construction

Accidents and destruction

Hard to find

Peace of mind

During 2022's routine disruption

Heat rising on Keatts

As he feels hot seats

Injuries have hurt

And defections like Yurt

But still need progress deets

Last time ...

Day 677, Quasi-Quarantine: Doing All The Things For None Of The Reasons

 

Current work situation.

Day 676, Quasi-Quarantine: "Pity the Reader" Is A Worthy Tribute But A Lacking Teacher

 

"Vonnegut was prone to seeing the other side of the coin, ambiguity, and contradiction. He had, after all, been captured, imprisoned, and forced into labor carting corpses by an enemy regime rotten with idolatry, decayed by a people's desire for easy, authoritarian solutions."

"VONNEGUT'S BREAKTHROUGH-CLUSTER CONVERTED INTO ADVICE:

1. Make a commitment.

2. Trust fate, your Fairy Godmother Collaborator.

3. Tell the truth.

4. Keep on truckin'.

5. Surrender perfection."

A reverential look at the one-of-a-kind Kurt Vonnegut, "Pity the Reader" intersperses the novelists's pearls of wisdom with musings by Suzanne McConnell. The format of the book did not always make it easy to discern whether McConnell was quoting Vonnegut or not, though it's possible this was a function of e-reading.

"We're expressions of the entire society ... And when a society is in great danger, we're likely to sound the alarms. I have the canary-bird-in-the-coal-mine theory of the arts."

"Pity the Reader" is best for its witticisms and encouragement, though you have to dig for actionable advice on writing. The work functions best as a not-so-subtle reminder of Vonnegut's genius, picking the best lines from his entire bibliography and delving a bit into his formative years. 

If you're looking for a how-to book, this may not be for you; if you're seeking proof that Vonnegut was among the most transformative writers of our time, look no further.

"The most dangerous thing they found on his person was a two-inch pencil stub."

Day 675, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patsies Game 17 Review

 

In what would turn out to be a meaningless victory, Miami won the turnover battle, 3-0, to sweep the Patriots for the first time since 2000. New England was whistled for an uncharacteristic eight penalties and the Dolphins outphysicaled the Cheatriots for most of the game, giving Brian Flores a strong sendoff in his final game as coach of the 'Fins.

On to the bittersweet recap ...

Offense

• The Dolphins pounded the rock, rushing a staggering 43 times for 195 yards, averaging a more-than-respectable 4.5 yards per carry. While Miami was outgained by 81 yards, they didn't commit a turnover, converted two of three red zone opportunities into touchdowns, and controlled the clock (33:36 to 26:24).
• Tua was not asked to do much -- and that's exactly what he provided. He connected on 15 of 22 passes for just 109 yards, with a touchdown. He was sacked once, but also contributed 38 rushing yards on five carries, showing impressive mobility in key moments.
• In the backfield, Duke Johnson continued his late-season surge, pounding out 117 yards and a score on 25 carries. He had a long burst of 27 yards and added one catch for five yards, giving credence to the idea that he could -- and should -- be brought back next year. Phillip Lindsay ran hard, with 40 yards on 11 carries, while Myles Gaskin lost a yard on his lone carry, though he did grab three passes for 11 yards in seven snaps.
• Jaylen Waddle was quiet in this one, pulling in five passes for just 27 yards, though he did have a touchdown catch. DeVante Parker was targeted just four times, catching two for 12 yards, while Mack Hollins was targeted once without a reception in seven snaps. Albert Wilson (25 snaps) and Isaiah Ford (nine snaps) did not factor. Game conditions certainly dictated the strategy, but having only a dozen targets to wideouts feels indicative of the level of trust that the Dolphins have in Tua at this stage of his career.
• At tight end, Durham Smythe led the team in receiving yards with 32 (on two grabs), while Mike Gesicki added two receptions for 22 yards. Adam Shaheen was not targeted on 33 snaps, but he and Smythe both had key blocks to help get the running game on track.
• The big news up front is that the 'Fins finally benched right tackle Jesse Davis, paving the way for undrafted rookie free agent Robert Jones to start. Miami responded by allowing just 10 pressures (season average is 15 pressures allowed per game) and establishing a strong rushing attack. Left guard Austin Jackson had a false start and struggled on occasion, but overall, this was a welcome departure from the season-long issues -- when combining Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades and ESPN pass-block win rates, the Dolphins finished dead last in the league in pass protection this year.

Defense

• The 'Fins allowed 379 total yards and 6.4 yards per play, with the Pats turning four red zone visits into three touchdowns. However, Miami forced three turnovers and turned two of those into defensive touchdowns to carry the day.
• On the edge, Andrew Van Ginkel was dynamic, earning a 74.6 PFF grade by registering seven tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, and a quarterback hit. Emmanuel Ogbah had a solo tackle and two batted passes on the other side, while Jaelan Phillips notched two tackles and recovered a fumble 35 snaps, an uptick in action for him.
• The defensive line largely shut down a powerful rushing attack, pressured the quarterback eight times, and collected two sacks, and the tackles were a huge part of that performance. Zach Sieler was borderline dominant on the interior, posting an 89.6 PFF grade after tallying three pressures, three tackles, and a stop for a loss. Finish off a strong third season, Christian Wilkins tallied seven tackles, a sack, a batted pass, and a quarterback hit. Raekwon Davis had a solo tackle in 34 snaps, while Adam Butler did not record a stat in 23 snaps.
• The linebackers were targeted a lot in pass coverage, with the Patriots getting 11 receptions, 124 yards, and a touchdown against the group. Jerome Baker had six tackles and a pass breakup, Elandon Roberts added five stops, and Duke Riley had four tackles in just 18 snaps to earn an 82.5 PFF grade. Brennan Scarlett had two tackles in reserve, while Sam Eguavoen finished the game off in style with a fumble recovery touchdown.
• With three solo stops, a pass breakup, and a pick-six, Xavien Howard garnered a 75.9 PFF grade. On the other side, Byron Jones had three tackles despite not being targeted all game long, though he was called for pass interference on what was just a really bad call. Nickel Nik Neeham had two solo tackles in 38 snaps, while Eric Rowe had a solo stop and was whistled for a pass interference in his 16 snaps.
• Brandon Jones collected eight tackles and a quarterback hit, while Jevon Holland had five stops on his way to a 79.1 PFF grade. Miami's secondary allowed just 136 yards and four first downs on eight catches, and the two young safeties played a large role in that performance.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders connected on both field goal attempts -- including a 49-yarder -- and all three of his extra points to end a rocky campaign on a high note.
• Michael Palardy averaged 52.3 yards on his four punts, dropping two inside the 20-yard line, booming a 63-yarder, and even leaning into a roughness penalty on his failed fake punt run to earn a crucial first down.
• In the return game, Lindsay brought back two kickoffs for 38 yards and Miami had zero yards in punt returns. Cethan Carter and Blake Ferguson had solo tackles on kick coverage.

Momentum plays

• A Tua sneak to convert a long 3rd & 1 got Miami going to open the game, then he hit Gaskin to pay off a 3rd & 3 play. On third and inches, Tua kept on an RPO and fired high to Waddle, who reeled it in and made a great toe tap on the end zone sideline for a 7-0 lead.
• Three plays later, Mac Jones fired a 3rd & 2 pass that was picked by "X," who put a move on Jones and launched himself into the end zone with a crotch-grabbing Marshawn Lynch tribute. The 37-yard score put the Dolphins up 14-0 less than nine minutes into the contest.
• Ogbah batted down a 3rd & 6 pass on New England's next drive, and Miami got rolling again with a 17-yard RPO hit to Smythe. On 3rd & 3, Tua airmailed one to Parker, but the Patsies dropped the gift interception. On the next play, Palardy faked it, coming up well short but drawing an unnecessary roughness flag on an awkward slide as the first quarter ended. Six straight Miami runs pushed the ball deep into visiting territory, but a 3rd & 6 fade to Parker fell incomplete, leading to a 30-yard field goal and a 17-0 advantage.
• After a near interception by Van Ginkel on a batted pass, a rollout toss from Jones to Hunter Henry finally gave the Patriots a little life offensively. A 3rd & 1 run by former Dolphins Brandon Bolden turned into a 15-yard touchdown when Roberts, Holland, and Byron Jones all took bad angles, cutting the margin to 17-7.
• A dangerous out pattern to Parker and a sack by former 'Fin Kyle Van Noy led to a quick three-and-out by Miami, with a nifty return giving New England good field position on its own 42-yard line. However, a near-interception by Rowe and another batted pass by Ogbah led to a big momentum-saving stop for the Dolphins defense.
• A perfect Tua pass on a slant found Waddle in space on what could have been a big gainer, but the rookie dropped it, leading to another three-and-out that was partially offset by a clutch 63-yard punt by Palardy to flip the field.
• A Van Ginkel sack forced a 3rd & 18, but poor tackling by Phillips and others allowed a short catch and run that was spotted a yard short after a review. Jones was called for a false start on 4th & 1, leading to a punt that pinned Miami deep.
• Starting from their own 7-yard line, the Dolphins used three straight touches by Johnson to get out of trouble. Another near interception on a pass behind Gesicki was nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Matthew Judon. A nine-yarder to G-Sick put Miami in field goal position, but on 3rd & 1, Tua tried to run, allowing the clock to run out since the 'Fins were out of timeouts. The poor decision by the second-year signal-caller sent the teams into halftime at 17-7.
• Coming out of halftime, the Patsies got a 3rd & 9 conversion when Rowe was flagged for pass interference. Some missed tackles allowed New England to head deep into Miami territory, but a Wilkins sack forced by Phillips ended the drive. Nick Folk converted the field goal to trim the 'Fins advantage to 17-10.
• Johnson's hard run that saw him refuse to go out of bounds jumpstarted the ensuing Miami possession, then Lindsay carried three straight times. Another potential Tua pick was dropped and offsides was called, allowing the 'Fins to keep the drive going. Hollins drew an interference call on a deep throw to the end zone, and Johnson paid it off on the next play, kicking it outside on a run for a score and a 24-10 lead on what was a massive response by the home team.
• A 39-yarder to former State wideout Jakobi Myers saw him convert a third down on Howard. An ill-timed Miami blitz allowed Bolden to get loose for a big first down, but Jones fumbled a handoff on the next play, with Phillips pouncing on the ball for a vital turnover.
• The 'Fins appeared to go three-and-out on the next possession, but an illegal formation on the Patriots extended the drive to end the third quarter. A huge 23-yard scramble by Tua on 3rd & 6 set up a 49-yard field goal by Sanders to push the advantage to 27-10.
• Another big gainer to Henry and a Bolden conversion on 3rd & 1 sent the Patsies storming back down the field, and Bolden scored easily on a 3rd & 15 crossing pattern that featured a blatant pick play by Henry. Multiple flags hit the turf as a result, but after a brief discussion, they were randomly picked up, gifting New England a touchdown to cut the lead to 27-17.
• A three-and-out was punctuated by a poor throw by Tua, well behind Waddle. Scarlett did lay a big hit on the ensuring Palardy punt.
• Meyers got loose again, this time beating Brandon Jones, then Byron Jones's iffy technique created a bad-call pass interference penalty. A Damien Harris plunge trimmed the margin to 27-24, thanks in large part to shady officiating down the stretch.
• On the following possession, Smythe got a first-down catch and wisely slid down inbounds. A 3rd & 8 scramble by Tua saw him make a nifty move to secure another huge first down. After bleeding more clock on three straight Johnson runs, Palardy pinned the Cheatriots on their own 2-yard line.
• With three seconds remaining, Meyers tried to jumpstart a lateral play, but Eguavoen jumped in front to pluck it and fall into the end zone for a satisfying score, making the final 33-24.

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Buffalo 35, Miami 0 (1-1)

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

Indianapolis 27, Miami 17 (1-3)

Tampa Bay 45, Miami 17 (1-4)

Jacksonville 23, Miami 20 (1-5)

Atlanta 30, Miami 28 (1-6)

Buffalo 26, Miami 11 (1-7)

Miami 17, Houston 9 (2-7)

Miami 22, Baltimore 10 (3-7)

Miami 24, New York Jets 17 (4-7)

Miami 33, Carolina 10 (5-7)

Miami 20, New York Giants 9 (6-7)

Miami 31, New York Jets 24 (7-7)

Miami 20, New Orleans 3 (8-7)

Tennessee 34, Miami 3 (8-8)

Miami 33, New England 24 (9-8)

Day 674, Quasi-Quarantine: The Intimidating AT-AT Walker Takes Shape On A Snow Day

The AT-AT is such an iconic, forbidding presence in "The Empire Strikes Back," that landing set 75288 certainly brought me back some 40 years (yes, I am old).

My initial impression of the build as it began to take shape is that it seemed a bit small. However, after some consideration upon completion, the 1,267-piece set is an appropriate size in retrospect.

Perhaps the biggest highlight is the phenomenal detail on the exterior of the AT-AT. The neck and cockpit area is very well done, and the interior and cockpit spacing is well-appointed, with the ability to place all the included minifigures.

The playability is also excellent, with Luke's grappling hook allowing you to place a detonator in a trap door in the belly of the beast. The included speeder bike and turret allow for some mini-moc opportunities.

The biggest miss from the jump is the six minifigures, with Luke, General Veers, two snowtroopers, and two AT-AT pilots. With a $150+ price point, the set suffers from both a lack of minifigure variance and volume. I would have liked to have seen a probe droid included at the least, if not a Han Solo in cold-weather gear.

The legs are also a bit unstable and difficult to reposition, although I don't know how the Lego engineers could have easily fixed that issue.

Overall, this was an extremely challenging build, intricate and requiring of close attention but supremely clever. I'm a big fan of the recent re-focus on Hoth, and I'd be curious to see the differences between this set and the Ultimate Collector Series version.

While the included minifigures were a bit of a letdown, this is a worthy set, and we look forward to potentially pairing it with other Hoth staples, like the medical center, Echo base, and even a Wampa cave.

Limerick Friday #531: In Which We Just Fire All The Coaches -- Day 671

Free agency disasters grow

Drafting has largely been a no-go

Evaluation has failed

Personnel has sailed

So of course they fired Brian Flo

After injury landmines

Slowly revealing signs

Of energetic play

On every game day

NC State showing upward lines

No middle-ager can forget

When the bounty hunters we met

A love letter to "Star Wars" fans

Intensity on Tattooine sands

A thank you for "Book of Boba Fett"

A choke job for the ages

As Jim Irsay rages

Every Colt fan vents

That they couldn't trust Wentz

Acceptance will only come in stages

Nagy an unexpected shitcanning

Pace thrown in was good planning

Chicago pressing reset

On a Justin Fields bet

Three-and-outs they hope to be banning

Last time ...

Day 670, Quasi-Quarantine: "Lincoln Highway" Offers Nostalgic Escapism At The Right Time

"But for most people, it doesn't matter where they live. When they get up in the morning, they're not looking to change the world. They want to have a cup of coffee and a piece of toast, put in their eight hours, and wrap up the day with a bottle of beer in front of the TV set. More or less, it's what they'd be doing whether they lived in Atlanta, Georgia, or Nome, Alaska. And if it doesn't matter for most people where they live, it certainly doesn't matter where they're going.

"That's what gave the Lincoln Highway its charm."

Borrowing heavily from themes of "O Brother, Where Are Thou," "On the Road," and Huckleberry Finn, Amor Towles painstakingly reconstructs the road-trip/quest genre. 

Set in the 1950s, "The Lincoln Highway" features a memorable cast of characters, led by the mercurial Duchess and the conflicted Emmett. The novel shifts in perspective among a number of narrators, a tricky approach that takes a deft author to pull off -- and Towles does it with aplomb.

"Like I said before, Emmett Watson understands the whole picture better than most. He understands that a man can be patient, but only up to a point; that it's occasionally necessary for him to toss a monkey wrench in the workings of the world in order to get his God-given due."

"'If we've got unfinished business, let's finish it.'

You could wait your whole life to say a sentence like that and not have the presence of mind to say it when the time comes."

"You could almost hear the thumb of reality beginning to press down on that spot in the soul from which youthful enthusiasm springs. Reality was almost certainly going to leave its mark on Billy Watson tonight."

For this reader, the ending felt like a missed opportunity and unnecessarily abrupt and confusing, representing my only concerns with "The Lincoln Highway." 

Despite that nit, the book is engrossing and intense, taking place across a rapid-fire nine days and reeling you deeply into the story as the miles rocket past.

"And yet, despite the fact that Emmett and Townhouse were two young men on the verge of heading out in different directions with no real assurance of where they would land, when Townhouse said at their parting, I'll see you, Emmett hadn't the slightest doubt that this was true."

"When you put, said Woolly to no one but himself, while wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, when you put it all together just like that, with the beginning at the beginning, the middle in the middle, and the end at the end, there is no denying that today was a one-of-a-kind kind of day."

Day 669, Quasi-Quarantine: Unflinching, Difficult "Infinite Country" Demands Rigorous Reflection

"He felt the tectonic pressure of the hills around him, each sunset walling him deeper into this unmothered and unfathered life. An impulse to run with nowhere to go."

"He wanted to convey to his daughter the price of leaving, though he had difficulty finding the words. What he wanted to say was that something is always lost; even when we are the ones migrating, we end up being occupied."

Patricia Engel's devastating look at the immigrant experience is short but spellbinding, drawing you into the lives of a Colombian family struggling with the pull of home vs. the push of hope abroad. 

"Infinite Country" is propelled by beautifully crafted, memorable opening and closing lines, and in between we find a compelling and emotional look at diaspora. The lengths that Mauro and Elena go to -- and endure -- to chase a better life for their family can be gutting, and the matter-of-fact prose pulls no punches. 

"Only women knew the strength it took to love men through their evolution to who they thought they were supposed to be."

Engel also spends time fracturing the pervasive myth that America is some sort of Edenic safe haven or promised land, cementing the reality that immigrants are often only trading one set of problems for another.

"What was it about this country that kept everyone hostage to its fantasy? The previous month, on its own soil, an American man went to his job at a plant and gunned down fourteen coworkers, and last spring alone there were four different school shootings. A nation at war with itself, yet people still spoke of it as some kind of paradise."

I question whether the shifts in perspective and narration toward the end serve the novel in the way the author intended, but the overall power of the story asks hard questions, begs closer attention, and shines a spotlight on what we choose to stand for.

"And maybe there is no nation or citizenry; they're just territories mapped in place of family, in place of love, the infinite country."

Day 668, Quasi-Quarantine: Bidding Adieu To A Stellar "The Office" Advent Calendar

 

In contrast to a rather disappointing Star Wars Lego advent calendar, this year's Funko Pop! "The Office" advent calendar was just off-the-charts good.

We've discussed the Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3 hauls, so an abbreviated Week 4 brought the haul to a close as *sniff* Christmas passed.

Here were the final reveals:

Day 22: Jan Levinson-Gould (complete with candle and wine glass)

Day 23: Elf Dwight

Day 24: Santa Michael

All told, in the immortal words of Clark W. Griswold, this really enhanced my holiday spirit -- and I can't wait to see what themes Funko explores in coming years.

(That's what she said.)

Day 667, Quasi-Quarantine: Phenomenal Helmet Designs Carry The Day For Imperial Patrol Battle Pack

The Imperial Patrol Battle Pack (75207) arrived under the Christmas tree, and this underrated little set served as a nifty addition to the holiday season. 

Representing a scene from the "Solo" movie, this 99-piece build (now retired) brings a lot of punch for the $15 retail price. 

The speeder design is simple but elegant, with the ability to change wing orientations offering playability. With a minifigure seat, two stud shooters, and the flexibility to add troopers in clever ways, you can "play out Imperial law-enforcing scenarios" (according to Lego, anyway).

The set comes with four minifigures, a strong total for the price tag. The emigration officer and recruitment officer lend an institutional air, with a female officer a welcome addition to the Lego minifigure offerings.

The highlights are the two Imperial patrol troopers -- particularly the stellar helmet design. The unique printing and coloration are distinctive to "Solo," and the level of detail and clean look make the set worth it simply for these two minifigures.

As an unexpected and little-known battle pack, our building team was thrilled to add this set to ongoing and unfolding skirmishes -- hopefully rekindling some Lego interest along the way.

Limerick Friday #530: The Sublime Brilliance Of "Station Eleven" -- Day 664

Pondering hell and heaven

An interesting character or seven

A really good book

But a show that needs a look

Go watch "Station Eleven"

A democracy limiter

A fairness and partisan alienator

Society held hostage by a 'neck

Joe Manchin, what the heck

Sad to rely on a West Virginia senator

Tried to play the heel role

Then get beaten like you stole

Dissed Reynolds as small

Set yourself up for a fall

Now climb back in your chapel hole

Djokovic calls vaxes bossy

So he decided to get saucy

Tried to write his own rule

'Til a country did school

Never wished more to be an Aussie

A lighthouse and beer

Avoiding every peer

Football on the dunes

Healing under moons

At night, waves I still hear

Last time ...

Day 663, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Titans Game 16 Review

 

Stop me if you've heard this one before : The Dolphins claw themselves into contention and head out in the road amid shaky weather conditions to tangle with one of the conference's top teams in pursuit of a precious playoff spot ... and promptly get rolled.

Yup. It happened again. In yet another of a long line of ugly year-ending efforts, Miami hung in at Tennessee for roughly three quarters before succumbing to mistakes, an inept offensive scheme, and yes, officiating. And poof, just like that, a seven-game winning streak -- and a season -- were gone.

Coach Brian Flores should not be on the hot seat at this point, but it's fair to say that the 'Fins' tank job a couple of years back and investment in draft capital has not succeeded. While general manager Chris Grier is likely to keep getting passes, one would hope that a seemingly unending collection of horrific free-agent decisions and poor draft classes will eventually force a change at the top. But hey, there is still one game left, thanks to the NFL's decision to go a 17-game regular season.

On to the predictable recap ...

Offense

• The 'Fins averaged just 4.3 yards per play and went 3 of 12 on third downs and 1 of 3 on fourth downs. To be kind, the offense looked out of sync and uncoached all afternoon long, leaving one to question whether the team actually practiced all week.
• Tua Tagovailoa was 18 of 38 for 205 yards and was sacked four times, intercepted once, ran twice for a yard, and fumbled three times. I've worked hard to stay out of the Tua fray, but he was really, REALLY bad in this one, missing a lot of open guys and displaying deteriorated mechanics. Besides that, things are looking pretty, pretty good. Jacoby Brissett came on for a single play, throwing maybe the best pass of the afternoon (it was incomplete) and drawing a personal foul when his head was nearly ripped off by Bud Dupree.
• Duke Johnson ran hard, making the most of limited touches since it was difficult to involve him more as the game got out of hand. He rushed seven times for 49 yards, added two catches for 16 yards, recovered a fumble, and generally acquitted himself very well in his 36 snaps. Most of Myles Gaskin's five carries for 23 yards came in garbage time, and he was targeted once without a catch in 15 snaps. Bizarrely, Phillip Lindsay was primarily used as a kick returner, notching two carries for a yard and reeling in an 8-yard catch in only seven snaps.
• At receiver, DeVante Parker caught four passes for 46 yards on a whopping 13 targets, but he fought through a lot of uncalled contact and made a couple of contested grabs, despite being whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for protesting an incompetent official. Jaylen Waddle hauled in three catches for 47 yards -- with a long of 45 -- on his seven targets, but he also dropped a couple of passes and was largely absent. Mack Hollins was targeted once in a dozen snaps while Isaiah "Zombie" Ford only had two targets (1 catch for 0 yards in 17 snaps). In another odd twist, Albert Wilson -- who at times has been a focal point of Miami's "attack" -- did not get in the game.
• Mike Gesicki was targeted seven times at tight end, pulling in four for 51 yards, though he did not come up with a couple he usually catches. Durham Smythe pulled in three for 37 yards, though he was flagged for an illegal shift. Adam Shaheen got 19 snaps but did not factor, Cethan Carter got a single snap from scrimmage to go with 14 special-teams plays, and rookie Hunter Long was inactive after some rocky performances.
• The offensive line surrendered 13 pressures and 10 hurries, with four allowed by left guard Austin Jackson, who was also called for an illegal man downfield penalty and seemed to regress in this one. His fellow guard, Robert Hunt, had an overall grade of 82.8 and a pass blocking grade of 89.1. Left tackle Liam Eichenberg recovered another Tua fumble and may have set an unofficial team record in that category, while fellow tackle Jesse Davis was beaten on the regular. Center Michael Dieter was whistled for holding, while former starter Solomon Kindley finally was spotted, getting three snaps when Jackson had to come out for a series.

Defense

• One-time Miami first-rounder and quarterback hopeful Ryan Tannehill wasn't asked to do much, throwing for just 120 yards. Tennessee dominated on the ground and imposed their will, averaging five yards a carry while racking up 198 rushing yards (132 from D'Onta Foreman) and a pair of ground scores. The Titans converted seven of 15 third downs and its only fourth down, allowing the home team to control it for 33:12 without a turnover (thanks to the refs). However, the Dolphin defense gave the 'Fins a chance despite the Titans consistently having great field position.
• No defensive lineman graded over a 70.0 on the Pro Football Focus scale, and on the edges, this was not the type of game that suits Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah, with Van Ginkel coming up with four tackles and Ogbah posting three solos. Jaelen Phillips had two stops, including a tackle for loss, in his 23 snaps.
• At tackle, Christian Wilkins was credited with a staggering 11 tackles and a stop for a loss, but he was overpowered a lot, with too many tackles occurring with him laying on his back and the running back on top of him. Zach Sieler had eight tackles, including four solo, while Raekwon Davis two tackles and a stop for loss in 39 snaps. Adam Butler had one stop in 30 snaps and narrowly missed a fumble recovery that could have turned the contest.
• Among the linebackers, Elandon Roberts had eight tackles and one stop for loss, while December's AFC Defensive Player of the Month, Jerome Baker, racked up seven tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit. Sam Eguavoen had a solo tackle and Duke Riley had a solo stop amid a rough nine snap. Calvin Munson was in and missed a tackle in his only snap, while Brennan Scarlett did not factor in his two snaps. The tone and nature of this game explicitly revealed the Dolphins' dramatic lack of depth and impact players at linebacker, with no exotic coverages or DB-heavy alignments capable of masking it
• At corner, Xavien Howard had two solo tackles and a pass breakup, but he was on the wrong end of a pass interference call. Byron Jones was quiet -- recording no stats -- but was unable to get off a sustained block on Foreman's 21-yard touchdown romp.
• In the slot, Eric Rowe had two tackles, including a key third-down stop in 15 snaps, while Nik Needham had a solo stop, a quarterback hit, and a horrific pass interference call go against him in 24 snaps. Justin Coleman only got a single snap on defense.
• At safety, Jevon Holland had seven solo stops, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup, despite some back-end miscommunications with Brandon Jones, who had five tackles and a roughing-the-punter flag when the game was out of reach anyway. 

Special teams

• Jason Sanders's shaky season continued, as he hit a 39-yarder but had a  near miss on a low-trajectory 53-yarder. On the other side, Randy Bullock drilled two field goals and all four extra points.
• Michael Palardy picked the worst possible time to have his worst game of the season, as he  averaged 36.8 yards on his four punts, with only one inside the 20-yard line. On the flip side,  Tennessee's Brett Kern put three of his four punts inside the 20 and averaged 44.3 yards per boot. In a field-position contest, Palardy's misfires and Kern's excellence really cost the Dolphins.
• Lindsay returned two kickoffs for 34 yards, but the fact that the team had to turn to him in the role is an indictment of the roster.
• Waddle had a 15-yard punt return that saw him initially run into his own blocker. It didn't help that Chester Rogers had 28 yards in punt returns for Tennessee and did a nice job of fielding poor punts and making himself difficult to wrangle.
• Someone named Chris Milton had a Titans punt bounce off of his lid and out of bounds. I would be more upset if I knew who he was.

Momentum plays

• After a strong Johnson run erased a 1st & 15, Tua held the ball too long before assuming the fetal position for a third-down sack. Palardy highlighted the poor start with the first of a series of poor punts.
• The 'Fins forced a three-and-out when "X" made a third-down pass breakup, but Miami answered with a three-and-out of their own when Tua misfired for an open Hollins on 3rd & 8.
• The defense rose up again, with Roberts slicing through to stop a 3rd & 1 run for a two-yard loss. The ensuing punt hit Milton in the helmet before flying out of bounds inside Miami's 15-yard line.
• Yet another three-and-out followed, with Tua running for a yard on 3rd & 10. Another weak punt and 13-yard return put Tennessee in business at Miami's 46-yard line.
• After a conversion on a 4th & 1 sneak, the Titans hit a play-action pass to an uncovered tight end, representing the first touchdown pass the Dolphins had allowed in five games.
• After sailing a pass way over Parker's head, Tua fumbled without contact, with Tennessee pouncing on the loose ball at Miami's 14-yard line to cap a miserable first quarter for the visitors.
• Despite an uncalled third-down hold on a blitzing Baker, the 'Fins got a stop when Rowe made a good, hard tackle short of the sticks, forcing a 23-yard field goal that pushed the Titans ahead, 10-0.
• Two strong runs by Johnson kickstarted the following Miami possession, and Tua overcame another fumble by hitting Smythe for a fourth-down conversion. After two incompletions, the 'Fins played for a field goal by running Johnson on a 3rd & 10 draw and settling for a 39-yarder from Sanders to trim the margin to 10-3.
• After an initial Tennessee third-down conversion on the next drive, the Dolphins got a crucial 3rd & 7 stop on an incompletion, but a late and mysterious pass interference was whistled on Needham to give the Titans new life. A Tannehill keeper converted another third-and-short, then Foreman burst through the line untouched and went 21 yards for the touchdown and a 17-3 lead. The flag on Needham was the first of a handful of game-turning calls in a tight contest.
• A clutch grab by Gesicki on 3rd & 9 gave the 'Fins hope for a score before the half, with G-Sick pulling in another catch for a first down despite excessive uncalled contact. Three straight poor throws by Tua -- one of which was a dropped interception by Tennessee -- ended the possession, forcing a Palardy punt and two Titans runs to end the first half.
• Tennessee started the second half with a third-down conversion, but Sieler jarred the ball loose from Foreman on the next play, with Ogbah coming out of the pile with the loose ball. In the second monumental blown call, the officials inexplicably gave the Titans the ball, and the home team capitalized with a long screen pass on a blitz that was a big gainer. An illegal blindside block nullified much of the yardage, allowing a Baker third-down sack to end the drive, but a misplay on the punt return allowed the ball to roll all the way to Miami's 2-yard line. In a field-position game, the blown calls and the special teams gaffes were becoming increasingly difficult to weather.
• Parker bailed out Tua with a phenomenal grab to get some breathing room, then Brissett launched a perfect deep ball on a 3rd & 1 play that Waddle could not come up with. A roughing-the-passer penalty drawn by Brissett kept the drive going, and back-to-back RPO strikes to G-Sick and Smythe continued Miami's momentum. An uncalled high hit on Ford led to a 3rd & 9 that saw Tua sacked again when Davis was turnstiled. On 4th & 18, Sanders's 53-yarder hit the crossbar and bounced back to further deflate a 'Fins team looking for any positivity on the road against a hostile crowd and officiating crew.
• A good spot on 3rd & 1 gave the Titans a first down on the ensuing possession, but two holding calls on Tennessee helped stymie the drive. Butler missed a chance at a crucial fumble recovery on a muffed handoff, but Miami again forced a Tennessee punt -- which again was downed inside the 10-yard line.
• Starting at his own 7-yard line, Tua missed high for an open Parker, but Johnson bailed him out with a good catch and run for a first down. A reverse throw by Gesicki -- of all people -- fell incomplete in triple coverage to Parker, but a 3rd & 3 conversion to Parker was followed up with a beautiful 45-yard toss to Waddle. A pitch to Tua out of the Wildcat went nowhere and even resulted in another Tua fumble, then a 3rd & 11 miscommunication with Parker led to the ball falling harmlessly in the end zone. On 4th & 11, Tua fired a strike to Parker, who was somehow tackled and dragged down before the ball arrived without a flag in perhaps the most egregious no-call of a dismal afternoon for the crew. An incensed Parker finally drew a flag after the play, but it was for berating an official instead of the proper call. This third pivotal missed call would prove to be entirely too much for the 'Fins to overcome on this day.
• Sensing blood in the water, the Titans went back to the ground game, with Foreman ripping off a 35-yard run out of the Wildcat. On a 2nd & 11, miscommunication between Holland and Brandon Jones led to another uncovered tight end on play action, and Tennessee capitalized with an easy toss and score to go up 24-3.
• A tremendous third-down catch by Parker gave the following possession some hope, but three drops in four plays handed the ball back to Tennessee in Miami territory.
• A roughing-the-punter penalty on Brandon Jones served as another Dolphins turnover, and Tennessee turned it into a 46-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 27-3.
• On the very first play of the next drive, Gesicki managed to play a Tua pass off his own face to gift-wrap an interception for the Titans.
• Three plays later, Dontrell Hilliard took a 3rd & 11 handoff and raced 39 yards untouched -- aided by an uncalled hold of Roberts -- for the final nail in a 34-3 coffin.
• The Dolphins responded with four straight Gaskin runs to mercifully run out the clock and end another playoff-less campaign.

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Buffalo 35, Miami 0 (1-1)

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

Indianapolis 27, Miami 17 (1-3)

Tampa Bay 45, Miami 17 (1-4)

Jacksonville 23, Miami 20 (1-5)

Atlanta 30, Miami 28 (1-6)

Buffalo 26, Miami 11 (1-7)

Miami 17, Houston 9 (2-7)

Miami 22, Baltimore 10 (3-7)

Miami 24, New York Jets 17 (4-7)

Miami 33, Carolina 10 (5-7)

Miami 20, New York Giants 9 (6-7)

Miami 31, New York Jets 24 (7-7)

Miami 20, New Orleans 3 (8-7)

Tennessee 34, Miami 3 (8-8)