Shards Of Brilliance, Shards Of Lunacy

2nd and 4 inside the opponents’ 30.  Down by 3.  4 minutes and change on the clock.  Drop in just about any team in the league in this spot and you can all but guarantee a run play.

But not the Philadelphia Eagles.

After a game that included gems like a 4th down attempt (versus chip shot FG), a flea flicker, and a brilliantly-executed onside kick, we see this: a 30-yard toss to a man with a blue jersey.  Feeley explained it away in his press conference, saying that he ‘felt pressure’ and ‘just tried to get rid of it’, hoping Kevin Curtis could make a play.

Granted, it was an ill-advised throw, and a poor one at that.  But why was he dropped back in the pocket to begin with?  The best thing that could have happened was for Curtis to somehow come down with a touchdown, putting the Eagles up by 4.  However, Tom Brady & the Patriots would still have over 4 minutes to march right back down the other way, as they have done so often.

Shards of Brilliance, Shards of Lunacy.

The coaching staff has still not been able to wrap their heads around the concept of time management.  Still, after the frustrating plodding of Super Bowl XXXIX.  Still, after watching the Saints chew up the final 8 minutes of the game last season.  Still… they don’t get it.

Was it another ‘trick’ play?  Was everyone supposed to be ‘fooled’ when we went for a quick 6 when everyone expected us to be running for a first down?

Sometimes, the expected thing to do so is… because it is.  Worst-case scenario, we kick a game-tying field goal and give the Pats just over 2 minutes and change to come beat us.  There was no good outcome from a pass play.  An incompletion stops the clock, and loses a down.  A short completion gets the first down, but that much closer to the end zone, still with 4 minutes to kill.  And I’ve already discussed the TD…

It just boggles the mind seeing boneheaded decisions made like this, especially at non-critical times (the drive was on auto-pilot with 5 7+ yard completions).  This from the ‘genius’ of Andy Reid.

Ah well, next week we return to reality with a McNabb-helmed team almost certain to be dismantled by the Seahawks.

Turkey Day

Hope everyone had a lovely Turkey Day.

We had a great bird, and some beautiful music, courtesy of Jesse & Lindsay.

Any Song, Any Time

Got an itch for a certain song, or certain band?  Just go to Songza and punch it in the search box.  Up comes a list of about 20 hits, click to listen immediately in your browser.  Rate songs (culled from various sources — good and bad — around the internet) up or down so they’ll appear higher/lower in future searches.  Simple and sweet.

Optimize Your Wardrobe

Now that the seasons are (finally) changing, it’s time to dig out the Tupperware boxes with the sweaters and jackets.  If you’re like us, you probably take a look at all that cotton and polyester and say to yourself, "We have too many damn clothes!"

Well, here’s a clever little mindhack I read about a few months ago on 43folders that’ll help.

Watch my SketchCast, Flip Those Hangers below and see how easy it is to really find out what clothes you never wear, and should donate/throw away!