Day 583, Quasi-Quarantine: Forging Ahead With The Playable, Affordable Mandalorian Forge

 

For massive fans of "Star Wars: The Mandalorian" and, well, Legos, the Armorer's Mandalorian Forge (#75319) is another essential set.

Featuring just 258 pieces, this is a simple-but-highly-functional build, well-priced for combining with the Mandalorian Starfighter, the Razor Crest, and other Mando-themed sets.

Highlighted by the mythosaur logo over the entrance, this set has a lot of clever stickers and printing, helping to bring a very straightforward build to life.

The detailing is slick, with the detachable, rotating exhaust hood with melting pot and flame elements serving as the centerpiece. The core is surrounded by cool machinery and storage, including some hidden compartments and a host of accessories -- hologram, beskar bars, and a thermal detonator -- that dramatically add to the playability.

The most compelling aspect of this set for many -- including our building crew -- is the two brand-new minifigures in the epic Paz Vizsla and The Armorer. Throw in an updated Din Djarin and two jetpacks and you have a winning minifig combo, though there are no capes, despite some conjecture that The Armorer would come with the trademark furry cape.

All in all, it's always gratifying to see Lego appealing to everyone with a variety of price points, and this is a highly affordable and playable set that can be easily built out with other components to create mocs, missions (stay tuned for those), and scenes. 

Limerick Friday #522: Triangle Media Is A Joke, Volume Infinity -- Day 580

An offseason of UNC 'jobs

From local journalist snobs

The Cheaters actually blow

But you wouldn't know

From the excuses of media knobs

If you need a fright

You'll be afraid of light

Dramatic tension, lord

When you get on board

And watch "Into the Night"

Longtime SNL fan

Even in the days of also-rans

But Kardashian a step too far

A no-talent fake "star"

Lorne, get your shit together, man

They just couldn't cover

Despite hopes on hover

Had no defensive plan

To slow down that man

Not sure how the Colts recover

A rhythm hard to find

Even for a comedic mind

Patton Oswalt was rusty

But his sets still make things dusty

He's kind of one of a kind

Last time ...

Day 579, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Buccaneers Game 5 Review

Without putting too fine a point on it, this game represents Miami's rock bottom to this point. For a change, the offense worked fine for most of the game, but the defense looked like it had not prepared for the contest at all. The Dolphins are not built to be able to win a shootout, so having a defense-focused coaching staff get dominated to this extent was demoralizing on every level. 

Perhaps most disturbingly, the lack of effort was very apparent, and some of the players that Miami absolutely needs to play like All-Pros are simply not getting it done.

Besides that, it was a pretty fun game.

Offense

• Miami managed 301 total yards, but just 39 rushing yards and 17 first downs, with two avoidable turnovers. The team was dominated once again in time of possession (37:07 to 22:53), which is certainly connected to the fact that the 'Fins had only 12 called runs (somehow even less than a week prior). The Dolphins converted just two of seven third-down attempts, and the unit lost rhythm when the defense routinely allowed Tampa Bay to pound out lengthy drives.
• Jacoby Brissett played his best game in aqua and orange, turning in a winning effort if he were on a team with a semblance of complementary pieces. He hit 27 of 39 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, somehow avoiding six or seven sacks while generally delivering stellar passes. He fumbled once on a blindside strip sack where he had nowhere to escape and was credited with an interception when Jaylen Waddle bump-set a pass directly to a cornerback.
• At running back, Myles Gaskin was back as the favored son, reeling in 10 catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns while running it five times for 25 yards. Salvon Ahmed had four touches for 21 yards, while Malcolm Brown was not involved in the game at all. Gaskin constantly churned out the five or six yards needed to sustain drives, but the lack of explosion and the laughable lack of dedication to the running game is killing the Dolphins offense.
• Preston Williams led the way for a depleted wide receiver corps, doing his damage early with three catches for 60 yards. He was targeted five times, with a long of 34 yards plus a seven-yard run, but his inability to stride out for a perfect deep ball from Brissett and general lack of involvement as the game progressed severely undermine his performance. Waddle had two catches for 31 yards on six targets and added a two-yard run, but dropped yet another pass, turning this one into a pick for bonus points. Mack Hollins added a 10-yard catch and Isaiah Ford added another for three yards, but surprisingly, Albert Wilson was shut out and played only 12 snaps. Having no DeVante Parker or Will Fuller certainly limited things, but Williams filled in admirably and Brissett made the most of his options.
• As usual, the tight ends were led by Mike Gesicki, who turned seven targets into four catches for 43 yards, with a long of 23. Durham Smythe hauled in two catches for 23 yards, with a 21-yarder late, while Adam Shaheen had two receptions for 15 yards. Miami still needs to find out what it has in Hunter Long, but this was the best all-around game for this unit on the season.
• The offensive coaches (whoever they may be) have no faith in the Miami rushing attack, making the 'Fins predictable. The offensive line gave up three sacks, but Brissett avoided countless others with amazing pocket presence. Liam Eichenberg (tackle) and Austin Jackson (guard) were both victimized on the left side of the line at times, but with both playing new positions, they performed admirably. Similarly, new center Greg Mensch was solid, but at right tackle, Jesse Davis is bordering on unplayable and serious thought needs to given to Robert Hunt kicking out from guard to tackle and playing former starter Solomon Kindley at right guard.

Defense

• Five weeks in, the harsh reality has set in: Miami has one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Perhaps most disturbingly, the three highest-paid defenders -- Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, and Jerome Baker -- were specifically TARGETED by the Bucs, repeatedly and to great effect. When your best players are not only not helping, but actively hurting your efforts, the scheme is broken. The 'Fins were brutalized for 558 total yards and 33 first downs, and that's despite Blaine Gabbert handling the last drive of the game. Despite getting Tampa into 2nd & 10 seemingly all game long, the Dolphins allowed conversions on eight of 11 third downs and forced just ONE Bucs punt.
• While Jaelen Phillips continues to ascend (four tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit), his counterparts on the edge are disappearing. Emmanuel Ogbah had one tackle, while Andrew Van Ginkel contributed three tackles and one stop for loss. Miami continued to exhibit next to no pass rush, and -- as I've been saying since training camp -- the 'Fins are short at least one pass rusher, making the decision to pass on Melvin Ingram and other veterans even more questionable.
• On the interior, Raekwon Davis was back, notching four tackles, while Zach Sieler played below standards with three tackles and a (horseshit) late hit call. Christian Wilkins took a step back from his above-average play this season, making a pair of solo tackles and hitting the QB once. Adam Butler flashed with a couple of pressures, but the defensive gameplan in this one was trash, and this unit -- like all of them -- suffered for it.
• On the next level of defense, Baker led the linebackers with seven tackles, six solo stops, a sack, and two quarterback hits, but was repeatedly victimized in coverage. Elandon Roberts tallied three stops, one tackle for a loss, and a pass breakup, while Sam Eguavoen had a tackle and a quarterback hit. Brennan Scarlett had one solo tackle, and the size of his role serves as a weekly reminder of how bereft of talent Miami truly is at linebacker -- which the franchise has largely ignored in recent years.
• At cornerback, Byron Jones was playing hurt, so his performance needs to be considered in that context. He had four tackles and was beaten often by Mike Evans. Nik Needham had four solo stops but was flagged for illegal hands to the face and was the trail man way too often, while Jason McCourty continues to be a progress stopper despite three tackles. The good news? Justin Coleman played just 12 snaps, contributing one solo tackle. The bad news? Howard's lackluster effort featured four tackles and a pass breakup, but he was burned constantly by Antonio Brown, was flagged for holding, and generally played like he wanted to be anywhere else. His pathetic "ole" attempt at a goal-line tackle was symbolic of the entire day, and it would not surprise me at all if the 'Fins tried to get what they can for a player who clearly does not want to play for this franchise. Also, here's the weekly milk-carton reference to Noah Igbinoghene.
• Jevon Holland led the way at safety with seven tackles and five solo stops, jumping offsides at one point but playing all but two snaps after recording just 19 snaps a week ago. Brandon Jones saw more action as well, posting four tackles, while Eric Rowe had two solo stops as part of a rough day that saw him targeted a lot and committing a key pass interference penalty.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders converted a 23-yard field goal and hit both extra points and delivered touchbacks on every kick. You can't ask for more from him; if only he could block.
• Michael Palardy had a tough day, averaging just 38.5 yards per punt and landing a single kick inside the 20-yard line. He did handle a high snap nicely at one point.
• With Jakeem Grant gone to the Bears, Miami had zero returns. Side note: This game featured zero returns by either team. What is the actual point of kickoffs in the NFL anymore? Talk amongst yourselves.

Momentum plays

• Two big strikes from Brissett to Williams got the game off to a fine offensive start for the Dolphins, but Waddle's dropped touchdown pass coincided with an offensive pass interference penalty on Gesicki (side note: Miami may be the only team in the NFL ever called for pick plays), forcing the 'Fins to settle for a short Sanders field goal and a 3-0 lead.
• A mix of runs by Leonard Fournette and a deep shot to Mike Evans set Tampa Bay up, and the Bucs paid it off when they isolated Baker on running back Gio Bernard on a third-down play. Tampa scored easily, grabbing a 7-3 advantage.
• The Dolphins countered with three straight touches for Gaskin and took advantage of a holding penalty on the Buccaneers that kept Waddle from bursting free for an easy touchdown (if he would have theoretically caught it). Brissett then hit Gaskin on a perfect wheel route for an easy touchdown and a 10-7 lead.
• The Bucs responded again, beating Howard and Byron Jones with strikes to Antonio Brown, Evans, and Fournette. Baker's monster third-down sack ended the drive, however, forcing a 42-yard field goal to start the second quarter, knotting the score at 10.
• After a three-and-out, Tampa Bay struck quickly, with Tom Brady throwing a perfect third-and-short crosser to Brown as he was being hit by Eguavoen, and Brown easily outracing Howard for a 63-yard touchdown and a 17-10 advantage.
• Miami followed with a clutch third-down conversion to G-Sick, but Waddle couldn't pull in another third-down pass. With the game quickly becoming a track meet, Flores somewhat inexplicably chose to punt on 4th & 3 near midfield, and Palardy responded by shanking the punt to avoid even the advantage of pinning the Bucs deep.
• Tampa Bay benefited from a pair of iffy spots on a sustained drive that featured a lot of Fournette and isolation routes on Baker. In the red zone, Rowe was whistled for an interference on third down, and when Brown beat Howard yet again for an easy score to culminate a death-by-1,000-cuts drive, the Buccaneers were up 24-10 and the game was effectively over.
• Brissett hit Waddle for a nice catch and run to jumpstart another drive, but Eichenberg and Jackson were beaten on the same play, collapsing the left side and allowing a strip sack that gave the Bucs the ball back in their territory. A strike to Evans (over Byron Jones again) and a Brady scramble set up a 60-yard field goal that was short and left, sending the teams into intermission with the score 24-10.
• After an initial Tampa first down, Miami got a big stop to force a punt to start the second half.
• Brissett responded with a simply incredible drive, finding G-Sick on a big gainer, converting a third-down pass to Waddle while in the grasp, avoiding a pair of sacks to find Gaskin, and firing a perfect on-the-move strike to the end zone that was dropped by Williams. A pass interference on the play resulted in a first down, and Brissett found Gaskin with a third-down touch pass to finish off an impressive drive and trim the margin to 24-17.
• The Miami defense immediately got the Bucs to 3rd & 10, but Howard's terrible coverage allowed another big Brown gainer. A Phillips sack gave the Dolphins renewed hope, but a 14-yard screen pass on 2nd & 15 set up an easy conversion on the following play as Godwin beat Needham. Baker and Holland missed tackles on a short pass to Fournette, and Howard capped off maybe the worst drive of his professional career with an embarrassing business decision at the goal line instead of legitimately trying to tackle Fournette. The Buccaneers extended their lead to two touchdowns, 31-17, effectively ending Miami's hopes.
• A beautiful Brissett deep ball was misplayed by Williams to force a three-and-out, allowing the Bucs to drive the field easily again, culminating in Brady dropping a perfect deep ball down the chimney to Evans, who beat Byron Jones for a 38-17 advantage.
• Brissett hit Ahmed twice for 17 yards to kickstart the following drive, but Waddle dropped another ball, essentially deflecting it to a waiting cornerback for a gift interception.
• Beginning deep in Miami territory, Tampa Bay hit a deep ball and then Brady found Evans so open in the middle of the field that it is literally unclear who was trying to cover him. Evans essentially walked in without much Miami effort, a very symbolic play that punctuated an embarrassing performance at 45-17.
• Brissett hit Smythe on a good intermediate pattern, but Davis got turnstiled yet again at right tackle for an easy third-down sack, forcing another Palardy punt.
• Gabbert came in to put the finishing touches on the blowout, aided by a horseshit roughing-the-passer call on Sieler. Inexplicably, the Bucs went deep on third-and-short up four touchdowns, hitting a long one over McCourty. Gabbert threw on another third down to keep the drive alive, but then Tampa mercifully kneeled on it three times to finally end the devastating contest.

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)

Day 578, Quasi-Quarantine: Surprisingly Tender, "Billy Summers" Marks Another Evolution Of The King

"The idea -- no, the conceit -- that he only kills bad people will stretch just so far. There are good people sleeping in the houses on this very street. He's not going to kill any of them, but he supposes he'll kill something inside them when they find out why he was really here.

"Is that too poetic? Too romantic? Billy thinks not. A stranger came, and he turned into a neighbor, but here's the punchline, he turned out to be a stranger all along."

At times, "Billy Summers" feels like a Frankenstein of stitched-together short stories, and while the wisdom of that approach hangs in the balance through much of the novel, the end result is another Stephen King winner. 

There are issues with chronology and how procedural the story gets in spots, but the tension and frantic pacing carry the day as a hired killer tries to navigate his extrication from the game. 

" ... That's why I'm walking today and Johnny isn't. Simple as that. God doesn't have a plan, He throws up pickup sticks."

King plays with a tender melancholy as he builds Billy's relationships with wildcards in the wake of a traumatic childhood and origin story. 

"He talks about thousands of cars with their windshields shining in the sun. He says they were smashed beauty. He is unpacking his life in the back seat of this stolen car and her heart breaks."

The entrance of Alice into the story dramatically alters the tone and thrust. Her presence introduces elements of the 1994 movie "The Professional," starring Natalie Portman, and the Billy-Alice relationship propels the denouement and conclusion.

"He gave her the mountains and the stars, not to own but at least to look at, and that means a lot."

In a playful mood, the author can't resist nods to other King masterpieces, and the ending plot twist is beautifully rendered. Some readers may wish he had stuck to a consistent throughline, but the amalgamation works for this long-time fan, creating a multifaceted book that speaks to several audiences.

"She stands looking across the gulf of cold air between this side and that, hands in her pockets, thinking she could create worlds. Billy gave her that chance. She is here. She is found."

Day 577, Quasi-Quarantine: Inviting Ganch Onto The Broader Clone Ranch

 

Drawn to his distinctive helmet, we pieced together clone commander Ganch (CC-4572) despite never having seen him in canon.

The leader of the 612th Attack Battalion, Ganch worked closely with Jedi Master Bolla Ropal (before they were killed by Cad Bane), Jedi General Keelyvine Reus, and Padawan Tyzen Xebec. 

According to "The Clone Wars" web comics "Act on Instinct" and "The Valsedian Operation," Ganch was a key figure in conflicts on Devaron and Ukio before becoming a victim of neural scrambling and attacking his own crew prior to being rendered unconscious. 

Modeled after gunfighter Doc Holliday (!), Ganch featured a mustache and goatee, plus three large scars that lent him some personality among clones, along with his fondness for animals.

For our purposes, we equipped him with a red backpack and coloration and added him to our Red Squad, alongside Thorn, Fox, and another Coruscant Guard. Giggle-inducing name aside, Ganch is a worthy addition to any and all clone missions and "Bad Batch" collaborations.

Day 576, Quasi-Quarantine: Overriding Sentiment On (Another) Failure Monday

 

Never stop Dolphins-ing.

Limerick Friday #521: Management During "The Great Resignation" -- Day 573

Posturing and rants

Performative pedants

It's self-serving reeking

And cliche speaking

No wonder they're scattering like ants

Driving over every curb

In your suburb

Work-at-home mommies

These Karens and Connies

Bible study minivans do perturb

A cheat and a liar

A fraud and a crier

You hire this piece of shit

You git what you git

When your coach is Urban Meyer

A hobbled pup

Eating from a hand's cup

Limping and yelps

While we say, "Welps ...

"Again, it's time to pay up"

A weekly kick in the rear

No plan, it would appear

Draft and free-agency busts

As a legacy rusts

It's past time to go, Chris Grier

Last time ...

Day 572, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Colts Game 4 Review

Just four weeks into a new campaign, the 'Fins found rock bottom against a massively depleted and thin Colts squad. Miami's third straight loss was a head-scratching affair, made even worse by the fact that it came at home on Don Shula Day, with a number of legends in attendance. Indianapolis did not even play that well (eight penalties) and still won handily, with even commentator Jay Feeley piling on with a number of pointed comments about Miami's ineptitude in drafting and offensive playcalling. On a day when the 'Fins needed to put Indy's lack of depth and stamina to the test in the South Florida heat, the visitors dominated time of possession (37:09-22:51). 

Firings, cuts, and lineup changes should all be on the table, and trading Jakeem Grant to the Bears for a future late-round pick should not really count. Coach Brian Flores is in the midst of the first big crisis of his career in Miami after playing with house money for a couple of seasons. With all the draft capital spent and the investment supposed to be paying off, the 'Fins are arguably in worse shape than ever, putting general manager Chris Grier on the hot seat and Flores not far behind.

Offense

• Miami was an unmitigated disaster on this side of the ball, recording 13 first downs and just 203 total yards. The Dolphins were just three of 11 on third down, and every time it seemed to be gaining momentum, a penalty, drop, or negative-yardage play occurred.
• Jacoby Brissett hit 20 of 30 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked three times and fumbled once. Running for his life much of the time, he threw some great balls on the run, though he did check down a couple of times when bigger plays were possible down the field.
• The running backs accounted for just 27 rushing yards on 11 carries, with a long run of four yards. Malcolm Brown had 23 yards on eight carries and added one catch for four yards, and he dominated action over Salvon Ahmed (five touches, 13 yards) and Myles Gaskin (two carries, three yards). Brown was on the field for 35 snaps, while Gaskin (12) and Ahmed (five) combined for just 17. With the state of pass blocking in Miami, the 'Fins are simply never going to win a game that features 13 designed rushes.
• DeVante Parker was targeted nine times, reeling in four for 77 yards and a touchdown. He had a long of 42 yards and drew two pass interference calls, but arguably could have been credited with three drops and overall was not aggressive until late in the game. Jaylen Waddle had three catches for 33 yards, with a long of 18, while Albert Wilson had one reception for 11 yards. Will Fuller V had a key third-down conversion, but finished with just one catch for six yards before leaving with a broken finger. In his final game as a Dolphin, Grant touched the ball four times, with three resulting in either negative yardage or a fumble.
• At tight end, Mike Gesicki was targeted six times, pulling in five for 57 yards and a touchdown. It's clear that G-Sick and Brissett have chemistry, but help is needed: Durham Smythe caught two balls for six yards and Cethan Carter played a single snap. Third-rounder Hunter Long remained on the inactive list, but that needs to change if Miami is to succeed with such a short-passing, ball-control attack.
• The offensive line took another step back, with the tackle play helping Colts bust Kemeko Turay notch a pair of sacks. Left tackle Austin Jackson gave up six pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, to go with an illegal hands to the face that nullified a deep pass to Fuller. He and rookie Liam Eichenberg may eventually become serviceable starting tackles in the league, but both are taking their lumps right now and give Miami almost no chance to succeed offensively. With no time to throw nor semblance of running lanes, it is past due time for Jackson to be benched or moved inside, along with other changes. Of course, all of this should have been sorted out in training camp, which would have avoided the 'Fins having to potentially move three or four players (with center Michael Dieter being put on IR) in the middle of an NFL season.

Defense

• Indy featured a balanced attack, putting up 349 yards and 20 first downs. The Colts turned the home-field advantage on its head, pushing around Miami in the ground game in the final three quarters to seize control of the game. The larger issue is that every time the team needs a stop after the offense miraculously puts together a drive, the defense lets the team down by giving up a devastating score.
• On the edge, Emmanuel Ogbah continued his push for a new contract, posting four tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit. On the other side, Andrew Van Ginkel notched six tackles and two stops for losses, while Jaelen Phillips had his best game as a pro. In just 29 snaps, the rookie was seemingly everywhere, recording two tackles, three quarterback hits, and half a sack, which was offset by a pair of key third-down penalties: an offsides and a phantom facemask call. Miami has been in dire need of a third pass-rusher, and it's clear that Phillips needs more snaps going forward in an effort to emerge as that guy.
• On the interior, Christian Wilkins continues to play really good football, collecting seven tackles, two stops for losses, and a quarterback hit. Veteran John Jenkins was also extremely active with seven tackles, while Adam Butler was quiet in his 33 snaps. Zach Sieler came back to earth a bit in this one, making a single tackle and missing a sack on Carson Wentz on a pivotal third-down play late in the game.
• Elandon Roberts led the linebacker group with six tackles, while Jerome Baker (four tackles, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit) and Sam Eguavoen (two tackles, half a sack) were active. Brennan Scarlett had a pair of stops but also committed an unforgiveable penalty when he jumped offsides on a punt to sustain a Colts drive. It's time to admit that Miami needs help at this level of the defense, as the play just has not been what the 'Fins need.
• Playing a hybrid role, Jason McCourty had eight tackles in a staggering 70 snaps, while Nik Needham chipped in with six stops, a pass breakup, and a late pass interference call that was declined. Xavien Howard had his second meh game in a row, posting five tackles and a pass breakup, but being beaten a handful of times and exhibiting poor body language. Byron Jones was injured after a solo stop and a pass breakup, which cleared the way for Justin Coleman to come in with three solo tackles and a stop for a loss in the red zone. The reality is that the offense's struggles demand more from the defense, and with All-Pros like "X" playing average and Jones now injured, the 'Fins need much more than Coleman, who has been close to a disaster this year. If only there was a young former first-rounder on the squad ...
• At safety, Eric Rowe had seven stops playing a nickel-type role, while newcomer to the rotation Elijah Campbell contributed a solo tackle. After two sacks but some coverage issues against Las Vegas, Brandon Jones was relegated to two snaps, while promising rookie Jevon Holland only got 19 snaps. It's really difficult to understand how reps are being allocated in the Miami secondary at this point.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders drilled a 38-yarder and a pair of extra points, but he did knock a kickoff out of bounds for a costly, momentum-killing penalty.
• Michael Palardy put three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line, averaging 47.8 yards per kick. One of his punts did sneak into the end zone for a touchback on an opportunity to pin the Colts deep, however.
• Jakeem Grant was enough of a disaster in the third phase that he was traded two days later. He fumbled one punt, managed to lose a yard on another, and generally made poor decisions in the return game. He did have one 14-yard punt return, but Grant contributed a lot to Indy punter Rigoberto Sanchez being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after posting a 46.8-yard net average on four punts.
• The one redeeming effort on special teams may have been long-snapper Blake Ferguson's recovery of a muffed punt to give the 'Fins some semblance of life.

Momentum plays

• A promising Miami drive to start the game was stymied when Jackson's penalty erased a big-gainer to Fuller, but former Pack standout Nyheim Hines fumbled the punt, allowing Ferguson to pounce on it for the Dolphins.
• Despite a 1st & 5 situation, the 'Fins had to settle for a Sanders field goal after a bad snap, a nowhere run, and an incompletion to Shaheen.
• An Ogbah sack forced an Indy punt, but Grant allowed the ball to bounce all the way inside the Miami 15-yard line. The Dolphins moved into long field goal range, but Flores passed it up to pin the Colts at the 1-yard line, with Mack Hollins downing a beautiful Palardy punt.
• The defense made another stop, and a solid Grant return gave the 'Fins the ball at midfield. However, Parker made a poor adjustment on a throw and a pass to Fuller was tipped at the line. When Palardy failed to pin the visitors deep, Miami was robbed of any potential momentum on a crucial exchange.
• Sensing some air going out of the Dolphins and the crowd, the Colts went to the run, establishing Jonathan Taylor. Miami got the stop near midfield, but Scarlett's offsides served as a turnover, converting a punt into a first down for Indy. Wentz immediately hit Mo Alie-Cox for a big gainer, then Taylor burst off the left side, stiff-armed Rowe and McCourty, and leaned into the end zone for a 7-3 lead.
• A three-and-out for Miami gave it right back to the Colts, who converted a fourth-and-inches from their own 27-yard line. On a 3rd & 8, Needham made a strong open-field tackle on a Taylor screen that looked well blocked, but Taylor made a poor cut.
• The half ended when Brissett was sacked for a second time by Turay.
• A huge Taylor run jumpstarted the second half, as the big back easily juked McCourty and raced down the sideline. After a Phillips offsides turned a 3rd & 11 into a 3rd & 6, Wentz hit Michael Pittman, who ran over Coleman for a third-down pickup. On third-and-goal, the Colts ran a quasi-pick play, and Rowe made a poor effort to allow an easy Alie-Cox touchdown that staked Indy to a 14-3 advantage.
• After another Miami three-and-out, the 'Fins allowed 14 yards on a 3rd & 15, but the Colts decided to punt this time. However, Grant muffed the punt, setting up the Colts at Miami's 18-yard line.
• Aided by an Indy holding penalty, the 'Fins defense held, forcing a Rodrigo Blankenship field goal to give the Colts a 17-3 lead.
• After a Dolphins first down, Brissett avoided two sacks before finally having the ball jarred loose, allowing Darius Leonard to pounce on it for Indianapolis to start the fourth quarter.
• Starting at Miami's 30-yard line, Wentz missed a wide-open Zach Pascal on 3rd & 5 -- the wideout may have scored -- to force another Blankenship field goal to make it 20-3.
• Down 17 points, Brissett started airing it out, hitting G-Sick and finding Parker deep twice for a catch and a pass interference call. On fourth-and-goal, Brissett stepped up in the pocket and hit Gesicki for a touchdown to cut the lead to 20-10.
• Sanders inexplicably deposited the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, destroying any momentum Miami may have created with the score. The Dolphins defenders looked to have given up at that point, with Pascal roasting Howard for a big gainer and Phillips getting whistled for a didn't-happen facemask penalty to convert a third down. Alie-Cox then outjumped Rowe for a thorough Mossing that pushed the lead up to 27-10 and effectively salted the game away.
• Brissett hooked up with Parker for another deep ball to kickstart another drive. Parker dropped an easy touchdown, but made up for it a play later when he reeled in a fourth-down pass in the back of the end zone to cut the margin to 27-17.
• Indy's Jack Doyle jumped on a half-hearted onside kick attempt, then outfought Needham for a long third-down catch. When Wentz somehow sidestepped Sieler's sack attempt on two hurt ankles to convert a 3rd & 14 with a shot to Pittman, it was clear Miami had nothing to give defensively.  The Colts showed some mercy by kneeling on the ball three straight plays to end the contest.

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)

Day 571, Quasi-Quarantine: "The Golden House" Takes On The Fragile Facade Of The American Dream

"We are so divided, so hostile to one another, so driven by sanctimony and scorn, so lost in cynicism, that we call our pompoisty idealism, so disenchanted with our rulers, so willing to jeer at the institutions of our state, that the very word goodness has been emptied of meaning and need, perhaps, to be set aside of a time, like all the other poisoned words, spirituality, for example, final solution, for example, and (at least when applied to skyscrapers and fried potatoes) freedom."

I found this one at a discount book store on a beach trip (making me realize how many of my books are acquired in this way) and could not resist, considering Salman Rushdie's stature (and appearance in "Seinfeld").

Taking themes of nationalism, politics, love, gender identity, religion, organized crime, and mental instability head on, Rushdie spares no words in the jam-packed "The Golden House."

"These are the times we live in, in which men hide their truths, perhaps even from themselves, and live in lies, until the lies reveal those truths in ways impossible to foretell. And now that so much is hidden, now that we live in surfaces, in presentations and falsifications of ourselves, the seeker after truth must pick up his shovel, break the surface and look for the blood beneath."

Narrated by the untrustworthy auteur Rene, this novel races at breakneck speed through a flurry of tragedies, emerging as a commentary on grief and loss. For bonus points, Rushie eviscerates Trumpism within the flow of the story.

" ... All the discontent of a furiously divided country, everyone believing they were right, their cause was just, their pain was unique, attention must be paid, attention must finally be paid to them and only them, and I began to wonder if we were moral beings at all or simply savages who defined their private bigotries as necessary ethics, as the only ways to be."

"In that bubble, razor-tipped playing cards were funny, and lapel flowers that sprayed acid into people's faces were funny, and wishing you could have sex with your daughter was funny, and sarcasm was funny even when what was called sarcasm was not sarcastic, and lying was funny, and hatred was funny, and bigotry was funny, and bullying was funny, and the date was, or almost was, or might soon be, if the jokes worked out as they should, nineteen eighty-four."

"Sometimes the bad guys win and what does one do when the world one believes in turns out to be a paper moon and a dark planet rises and says, No, I am the world. How does one live amongst one's fellow countrymen and countrywomen when you don't know which of them is numbered amongst the sixty-million-plus who brought the horror to power, when you can't tell who should be counted among the ninety-million-plus who shrugged and stayed home, or when your fellow Americans tell you that knowing things is elitist and they hate elites, and all you have ever had is your mind and you were brought up to believe in the loveliness of knowledge, not that knowledge-is-power nonsense but knowledge is beauty, and then all of that, education, art, music, film, becomes a reason for being loathed, and the create out of Spiritus Mundi rises up and and slouches toward Washington, D.C., to be born."

The antagonist, Nero Golden, is complicated -- run through with horrific deeds, yet he becomes a de facto parent to Rene and teaches him how to be a man. Along the way, Rene has a terrifying and intoxicating tryst with Nero's gold-digging wife, Vasilisa.

Rushdie loves his polymath, obscure references, which can occasionally stymie the flow of the narrative. However, the end result is well worth the effort, with "The Golden House" offering a look at what devastating loss does to our perception of the world around us -- hidden amidst a plot about how the sins of the past never stop chasing the present.

" ... I learned the final lesson, the learning of which separates us from innocence. That there is no safe space, that the monster was always at the gates, and a little of the monster was within us too, we were the monsters we had always feared, and no matter what beauty enfolded us, no matter how lucky we were in life or money or family or talent or love, at the end of the road the fire was burning, and it would consume us all."

Day 570, Quasi-Quarantine: Taking Tone-Deaf To New Levels

Senior leadership: Mistakes were made. We've let you down, and we're determined to not let it happen again. We know you're hurting, but we want you to stay if we can think of a way to make things right.

Also senior leadership: Here are multiple emails about senior managers being promoted to directors. Please be happy for them.

Day 569, Quasi-Quarantine: Getting Toolsy To Add Jedi General Plo Koon To The Mix

 

The Kel Dor Plo Koon is low-key one of our favorite Jedis, beloved for his calm and wise demeanor, his stellar pilot skills, and his discovery and mentorship of Ahsoka Tano.

A member of the Jedi High Council, Plo Koon spent most of his time leading the 104th Wolfpack Battalion, earning him the utmost respect in our building circle. He survived the Battle of Geonosis and played key roles in battles of Felucia, Lola Sayu, and Kadavo, cementing his status as a pivotal Jedi General.

In an emotional scene late in the Clone Wars, Plo Koon was assassinated by his own 442nd Seige Battalion troops during the Battle of Cato Neimoidia as part of Order 66.

With our love for the Wolfpack Battalion, securing a Plo Koon for Lego missions was mandatory, but his is a rare and expensive minifigure. The solution was to purchase a reasonably priced Lego keychain of his, then forcibly rip the chain out of his head with pliers.

Mission accomplished. Welcome to the crew, Master Plo.

Limerick Friday #520: The Pack Catches A Tiger By The Tail -- Day 566

State took down Clemson

Came down to the wire again

Stuck at a wedding

A beautiful setting

To celebrate a landmark win

A much-needed comedy night

In a way that is safe and right

After so many gaffes

Desperate for laughs

Patton Oswalt, our entertainment light

Fought like hell

Tied it at the bell

Then hosed by the refs

As I rained down Fs

The 'Fins lost if you can't tell

Departures biennial

Complaints perennial

Tears in meetings

Culture pleadings

Tell me more, millennial

Another lost season for the Mets

As big of a choke as it gets

Fun while it lasted

Now let's get blasted

And forget about this year, lets

Last time ...

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

 

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

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

Offense

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

Defense

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

Special teams

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

Momentum plays

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

2021 Schedule

Miami 17, New England 16 (1-0)

Buffalo 35, Miami 0 (1-1)

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

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

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

Give me all the Snakejuice.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Look at the ref.

Look.

At.

Him.

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

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

Go Pack. Fuck the NFL.