VintageBrett.com

Cowboys/Redskins Review

Here is my take on the pathetic game the Cowboys put up yesterday against the Skins. 

1. Blame Garrett and the coaching staff first: After Barber enjoyed a career-high game in Green Bay last week, and after Felix Jones had scored a touchdown in each of his first three NFL games, the Cowboys managed to only run the ball 11 times yesterday for 44 yards. Two of those 11 were by TO, and one left for Romo. To put it another way, Owens produced 25% of the Cowboys rushing yardage (and 24% of their receiving yardage, ironically). This can't happen. Yes, the Redskins were stopping Barber early in the game, but that's not new. He often finds a way to get the big runs in the second half after wearing down the defense. And then you don't even hand off to Felix Jones all day? I don't understand it, but there's no way you can blame any single player more than you can blame the game plan from Wade and co. 
2. What's wrong with Newman? I think I saw the ghost of Roy Williams out there in the body of Terrence Newman yesterday. Was that really a top 5 corner getting burnt? I know he slipped on that first TD to Thrash, but he was all over the place, except he was rarely in the right place. Hands down his worst game to date.  
3. Romo isn't Romo: By the numbers, Romo looked great yesterday: 300 yards, 3 TD, 1 Int. But something's not quite as magical so far this year about Jessica's man. I think he's getting some unfair critiques about hanging his head yesterday, but something just isn't clicking yet, both with his game (too many flawed passes) and his head (too many poor choices). I have no doubts he'll get it together, but it's not there right now.   
4. Forcing the ball: The Redskins secondary was really, really tough yesterday. They frustrated TO and didn't allow the big plays when it counted. Which exposes the one major weakness I see in the Cowboys offense: they force the ball to certain receivers way too much. I didn't have a bird's eye view of the entire field for the game yesterday, but I've got to think there's a way to exploit even great coverage beyond TO and Witten. I don't know if that's an issue with play-calling or Romo's choices and lack of checking down. But how many passes to a covered TO have to be knocked away before you think maybe you shouldn't try to thread the needle so much? 
5. The Redskins are good: On top of it all, the Cowboys lost to a very good team. And what makes them good is a) a strong system that's well executed, and b) a playmaking defense that forces teams to change their plans. The problem was the Cowboys didn't seem to have a good Plan B.   
6. The Cowboys defense is good: But they aren't great. The secondary is still extremely patchy that only looks good on paper and has yet to look good on the grass. I actually think the front 7 did a pretty good job yesterday, but at the same time Portis got 121 yards on the ground.    
7. It's not hopeless: Did the Cowboys look pretty pathetic yesterday? Yes, but they also didn't do almost anything that they're known for. For whatever reason, they got away from what makes them great, and they showed us that it takes more than talented players to make wins happen. It's a good wake up call I think they needed, and I still think they're the team to beat in the NFC.    

A Few Simple Explanations for our Economic Mess

While trying to make sense of what's going on with our economy, I came across the following posts and thought I would share:

1. The Economic Crisis Made Simple
2. Ron Paul's Commentary at CNN.com
3. Definition of "Mortgage-Backed Securities"
4. Wiki on Community Reinvestment Act
5. Wiki on Federal Reserve
6. Another Explanation of the Current Financial Crisis - Mike Sylvester
7. Ric Edelman's Take

We'll Spend ONLY $460 Billion This Christmas

Maria Halkias reports today in the Dallas Morning News that the National Retail Federation predicts holiday sales will rise only 2.2 percent this year to $470 billion in light of our country's continuing financial woes.

Let's not all make a run on the bank at once.

Sure, times are tough, but let's keep in mind that the prediction is still for an increase in our shopping spending this year when compared to last year. I might not be forking out the 4 percent the Federaton was predicting, but they're still betting on me beating last year's feat.

Gift cards are getting hit the hardest to only $25 billion this holiday season. Boo-hoo.

Things aren't looking good right now, but this useless stat is not a sign of the coming depression. What will be interesting is to see how we as consumers really react come Christmas. Will we forego our comforts and luxuries and gluttonies as we celebrate this year? I doubt it.

I'm starting to think Phil Gramm was right about us whiny Americans.

Ray Boltz: Gay Christian?

Renowned Christian singer/songwriter Ray Boltz has come out of the closet, claiming a lifelong battle with living in homosexuality.

As explained at Emphatic Asterisk, there are two polar reactions occuring in response. One, there are the mourning Christians who are observing the fall of a celebrated icon (esp. in the mid-90s when permed mullets were en vogue and Ray's was one of the best in the biz). Then there are the celebrative homosexuals who are welcoming Gay Ray with open arms.

Boltz made his original public statement for The Washington Blade.

So, as a Christian, how do you process this one? I'll tell you where I'm at.

First, I'm convinced that the Bible clearly states that homosexual acts are a sin. Boltz obviously doesn't feel this way, as he believes this is just the way he has been made.

But we all sin, and acting in homosexuality is sin, albeit one with hefty consequences. The real question is in are people created this way?

I don't think so, even though there is some compelling data to at least make you think about it. Obviously, if it's sin, God isn't going to create us to be sinners without a chance. At the same time, we are a broken, fallen people, both as mankind and as individuals. We are sinners, constantly in need of our redeemer.

We Christians can't automatically think Ray Boltz has lost his salvation; that thinking says much more about our Savior than it does him. We can't think he's never been a Christian either. We all struggle with sin. Homosexuality is a sin. Our Saviour is bigger.

The fault is in not seeing the act as sin, in not repenting. In this, Ray is guilty, as he says: “This is what it really comes down to,” he says. “If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.”

But it is not a fault that transcends forgiveness.

Tina Fey's Sarah Palin: Best Imitation Ever?

Based on accuracy, I think this is the best political imitation ever. Who rivals it?

Palin = Bait

I 've been second-guessing McCain's VP choice for the past few days. After tonight's speech, I think he's made a pretty good decision.

But that's not the point of this post.

While it's clear Sarah Palin should appeal to several various demographics (women, special needs children, mom of a big family, etc.), it's hard not to wonder why she was chosen in spite of what will be a running controversial talking point in the campaign: her pregnant, unmarried teenage daughter.

If we admit that campaigns are games (and they are), it's easy to think the Republicans are counting on their VP candidate to be scrutinized. She is bait, dangled in front of the Democrats, with the hopes that, with such a savory piece of campaign meat hanging in front of them that they'll show their more carnal, more ravenous and dirtier side.

The Democrats aren't going to be able to hold back their judgments on Palin, and that's what's gonna hurt them.

McCain and Co., are counting on the attacks, tempting the Democrats into a nasty phase of mudslinging and namecalling. The problem is that those demographics that Palin appeals to are going to take up for her, or at least think it's unfair.

They're going to defend her ambition as a mother. They're going to understand her trials as a soon-to-be-grandmother in her mid-40's. They're going to sympathize with her interest in special needs children. And they're going to cave in to her charisma.

In an election where the middle 10% will determine everything, votes are often cast against candidates more than for them. The Republicans are hoping the Democrats will take the bait and show a side that most of the middle doesn't want to see, and definitely doesn't want to vote for.