To Kill a Sparrow - The End of the Pass-Happy Era Part 2

[Trouty]

Guilty as charged.

Amazing stuff, brother. Amazing.

 

[waldoputty]

Bird laugh

evil bird laugh

 

[Silver Surfer]

Thanks guys. Love to get away from the concrete and glass and then share what I've seen. There's some pretty cool stuff out there!

Just did a talk tonight to about 30 people about a recent trip to Costa Rica. Really cool birds down there.

 

[waldoputty]

Bird laugh

 

[ThreeandOut]

My takeaway from this post is that our defense would have been much better if they all had been armed with BB guns.

 

[jday]

Thanks guys. Love to get away from the concrete and glass and then share what I've seen. There's some pretty cool stuff out there!

Just did a talk tonight to about 30 people about a recent trip to Costa Rica. Really cool birds down there.

Exceptional work. Thank you for sharing!

 

[jday]

My takeaway from this post is that our defense would have been much better if they all had been armed with BB guns.

Well, they would...

 

[ThreeandOut]

Well, they would...

Except Damien Wilson probably would have put his eye out with it.

 

[Melonfeud]

I grew up feeding ants to spiders, grasshoppers to praying mantis', hunting small game and deer. That's all changed over time. I've gotten to the point now that I'll stop to move a turtle off the road or shoo a bug out of the house rather than kill it. Its getting kinda weird, actually.

I think I'm turning into a Jainist and practicing ahimsa..... oh, except towards Eagles fans ... or anybody else who pisses me off....

Yes! I was the bane of furry woodland creatures near and far within the realm of my 'area of operation' as a ute,, picked up the subtle art of whippingass in the 2nd grade cuz' the other kids would sing that 'Cherokee people' song and pop their mouth with their hand going "woooooo"
A couple of fights was all it took before they knocked that $h*t off or get knocked down
I used to enjoy tooling the desert in a 4x4,beer cooler and varmint rifle shooting jack rabbits/ coyotes, had a gal with me and was going to pop a jack with a .30 cal. Carbine,,,well, she said,," what's wrong with you? It's not like that rabbit's got a house to go to at night,its got a hard enough life the way it is and you just want to shoot/kill it?"

Well, I compromised, " o.k. your absolutely right, I'll just Pierce it ears" and BLAM! holed both ears but I've not killed or shot at another varmint since( except the time deer hunting and a coyote was yip,yip,yipping a herd of mule deer down a mountain slope towards me ,it was a thing of beauty too as the huge racked herd buck was running drag kicking his hind leg at the coyote, buying time for the herd to flee/escape ,it was 400 yds out and I missed the coyote

Almost forgot why I quoted your post friend!
I also will stop traffic in the middle of the road to shovel off a crossing gila monster, luckily they only go day time about 3 weeks out of the year,,, to wiggle their bean/ mate

 

[Melonfeud]

I laughed, I cried...

" so poignant and heart wrenching,along with pure violent escapism from beginning to end"
Fred E. Feud {sports editor/ Bonneville Flats Tribune/ freelance mercenary/ floral arrangement instructor and part-time hairdresser}

 

[Melonfeud]

I like birds. I take photos of them all the time. I really like eagles, unless they're from Philadelphia.....Yea Birds!


https://jdjohnston1960.smugmug.com/Birds/Thumbs/i-RN9qWBV

Astounding !
Loved the great horned owl pics so much ,I tried to snag the fierce/ boss/ glare picture as a screen shot wallpaper,,, wasn't meant to be.
I enjoy duck hunting, though.
Awesome body of work Bro.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Astounding !
Loved the great horned owl pics so much ,I tried to snag the fierce/ boss/ glare picture as a screen shot wallpaper,,, wasn't meant to be.
I enjoy duck hunting, though.
Awesome body of work Bro.

Thanks. Had to put a stop to the right-clicking folks after several of them asked me to photograph their kids playing basketball. I set up flashes in the gym and worked my butt off getting good shots. I'd post the images, check the page stats and see hundreds of hits the next day, but not one order or offer to pay..... Took me a couple of games, but I finally figured out what was going on.

 

[Melonfeud]

Thanks. Had to put a stop to the right-clicking folks after several of them asked me to photograph their kids playing basketball. I set up flashes in the gym and worked my butt off getting good shots. I'd post the images, check the page stats and see hundreds of hits the next day, but not one order or offer to pay..... Took me a couple of games, but I finally figured out what was going on.

Sound wisdom/ can't blame you a bit there,brother.

 

[AsthmaField]

" so poignant and heart wrenching,along with pure violent escapism from beginning to end"
Fred E. Feud {sports editor/ Bonneville Flats Tribune/ freelance mercenary/ floral arrangement instructor and part-time hairdresser}

 

[AsthmaField]

Except Damien Wilson probably would have put his eye out with it.

Oh, that was good.

 

[waldoputty]

Yes! I was the bane of furry woodland creatures near and far within the realm of my 'area of operation' as a ute,, picked up the subtle art of whippingass in the 2nd grade cuz' the other kids would sing that 'Cherokee people' song and pop their mouth with their hand going "woooooo"
A couple of fights was all it took before they knocked that $h*t off or get knocked down
I used to enjoy tooling the desert in a 4x4,beer cooler and varmint rifle shooting jack rabbits/ coyotes, had a gal with me and was going to pop a jack with a .30 cal. Carbine,,,well, she said,," what's wrong with you? It's not like that rabbit's got a house to go to at night,its got a hard enough life the way it is and you just want to shoot/kill it?"

Well, I compromised, " o.k. your absolutely right, I'll just Pierce it ears" and BLAM! holed both ears but I've not killed or shot at another varmint since( except the time deer hunting and a coyote was yip,yip,yipping a herd of mule deer down a mountain slope towards me ,it was a thing of beauty too as the huge racked herd buck was running drag kicking his hind leg at the coyote, buying time for the herd to flee/escape ,it was 400 yds out and I missed the coyote

Almost forgot why I quoted your post friend!
I also will stop traffic in the middle of the road to shovel off a crossing gila monster, luckily they only go day time about 3 weeks out of the year,,, to wiggle their bean/ mate

doku exposes his fangs

 

[plasticman]

I am a big believer in Jason Garrett but I have to say that his major flaw had always been an unwillingness to depend on the running game. This went all the way back to 2009. There were many losses in which a RB like Felix Jones would average over 6 yards a carry but only carry the ball ten times or less.

Late in 2009 Jason seemed to suddenly understand. Just when it seemed the Cowboys were on the ropes, Felix Jones had six consecutive games, including the playoffs in which he carried the ball ten or more times. He averaged 6 yards a carry during that period and was a major factor in the Cowboys turning the season around as the Cowboys won a playoff game for the first times in 14 seasons.

However, when 2010 comes around Jason Garrett gives Jones the ball 8 times or less in the first three games and the consequences are devastating, one of the main reasons for one of the most disappointing seasons in Cowboy history.

When Jason became the head Coach he followed up the 2010 season with three consecutuive 8-8 seasons during which only the Lions and Saints passed the ball more frequently. This was despite the fact that their RB, DeMarco Murray, was averaging 4.95 yards a carry.

Then, in 2014, whether it was the work of Garrett or the designated playcaller, the Cowboys went balanced. The decision was made much easier with the acquisition of phenomenal guard Zack Martin. It is very fortunate when a team drafts an offensive lineman in the 1st round that begins to dominate right away. The Cowboys did it three times in four seasons. The interesting aspect of this is that they had not originally planned on drafting any of them with perhaps the exception of Tyron Smith. The other two were players they selected when their original choices were taken.

With this offensive line the Cowboys created an offense that contradicted the trend in the NFL of concentrating on a strong passing game with RB's relegated to the role of providing just enough offense to keep defenses honest. However, teams became more interested in RB's that possessed a diversity of skills that included receiving and blocking. They were often treated as though theu were decoys and pure runner were not in high demand or considered valuable enough to be drafted high and paid wellvin theor second contract. Therefore the Cowboys did not aggressively seek to resign Murray.

Due to the 2015 fallout the Cowboys had the opportunity to place an elite RB behind an elite running O-line. What made this even more apealiing was the fact that NFL defenses had changed their philosophy when drafting DE's. They became smaller but faster in an effort to maximize their ability to pass rush. Bulk was sacrificed for quickness, which was less effective against the almost extinct power running game.

The Cowboys took advantage of this in 2016. In doing so, they have left the NFL with a dilemma. It may seem seem that the Cowbiys have started a new movement as RB's were drafted in the first round of the 2017 draft more often than they had in a very long time.

It will take some time for NFL teams to change their D-line's attributes in order to defend against a premium running attack. The Cowboys will continue to prosper at the expense of other team's current defensive abilities.

As far as the Cowboy's own defensive makeup, the Cowboys will be given time to acclimate their young new secondary because their offense will keep opponent offenses off the field more often. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the Cowboy defense practices against the Cowboy elite offense running game. By the time other teams have caught up with the Cowboy style of offense and attempt to copy them, the Cowboys will already have the defense designed to stop it.

In the end, however, I don't beleive the Cowboys will be responsible for putting and end to the trend of "pass happy" offenses. I have always believed them to be self defeating. They don't spend enough time on the field, thus giving opponents the opportunity to fatigue their own defense. When things go wrong they go terribly wrong because you cannot switch strategies, going to your running game. The RB's on hand are most likely the specialty type that are valued for their catch passing and pass blocking. Actually running with the ball is a secondary skill.

Throughout NFL history, the so called passing offenses have been successful in the regular season but it rarely translated to success in the playoffs. New Orleans had limited success for a few years, even won a Super Bowl but the others were actually more famous for their dominant offense suddenly disappearing in January. Examples are both Coryell offenses in the 70's, the Chargers and Cardinals, the Houston Oilers Run and Gun with Warren Moon and the Eagles with McNabb.

 

[SlammedZero]

I think I'm turning into a Jainist and practicing ahimsa

I've grown this way too. We had a mouse in our house about 6 months ago and people thought I was crazy that I wanted a non-lethal mouse trap. Why? We are all here doing the same thing. Trying to live our lifes and survive. I understand sometimes certain measures have to be taken, but it I can help it, why not surround myself with postive energy?

 

[CCBoy]

jday, it's always a pleasure to read your thoughts and see a love around the Cowboys kindled. Your views are a charming share, and always a well received joy by this fan.

We have had many similar experiences in our lives, but I really enjoy your personal side of those descriptions. Good stuff here guy, and you will always have a special nook in the reading and discussion of our common source of joy...the Cowboys.

Life is a tough task master, but as you point out, the appreciation of special aspects are a blessing. We all learn of the task master for living, and the limitations...but joys as well.

Some good football talk there as well...

I have puzzled for a long time, just why the many roster selections have gone onto the table. One area that has caught my eye, is the secondary. The unit always seemed to end up with huge credibility issues, recently, around safety and depth at cornerback. I am most excited about the prospects contained this current group that guards against huge plays and protects the Dallas side of the field.

I was a collegiate linebacker...and am getting excited about that unit's development.

Just got called to work, so I'll add more later...and thanks for your share.

 

[haleyrules]

" so poignant and heart wrenching,along with pure violent escapism from beginning to end"
Fred E. Feud {sports editor/ Bonneville Flats Tribune/ freelance mercenary/ floral arrangement instructor and part-time hairdresser}