SZ643
BY
JIM DAWSON
OCTOBER
24, 2016
PATRIOTS
BEND STEEL 27-16
When
the Patriots went up 14-0 with 10:58 left in the 2nd
quarter, fans felt NE was on its way to a walk in the park win. But
this was in Pittsburgh and the game got much dicier after that.
Sub-QB Landry Jones proved to be capable (the Pats many times used a
3-man rush), jitterbug Le’Veon Bell proved dangerous as a receiver
(10 catches, 68 yards) and elusive as a runner (21 for 81), and the
hard hitting Steel Men defense caused two fumbles before wearing
down. Oh and the Steelers had All-World WR Antonio Brown (7 catches,
106 yards).
Chris
Hogan’s early fumble was negated by the Pats D and a Malcolm Butler
end zone interception (covering Antonio Brown). However Hogan’s
goof was a harbinger of mistakes that could have cost the Pats the
win.
Shortly
Brown beat Butler long and Darrius Heyward-Bey (a thorn all day) beat
Eric Rowe for a TD. Then Brandon Bolden dropped a 3rd down
pass that would have been a 1st down and Ryan Allen
shanked a punt setting up the Steelers at their 47. The Pats dodged a
bullet when kicker Chris Boswell missed a 42-yard FG.
Julian
Edelman, who at that point was 7 for 7, dropped an easy 3rd
down catch (there was a Shaq Mason hold on the play that was
declined). The Pats defense then allowed Pittsburgh to go from its 20
with 1:47 left to a 32-yard FG and 14-10 score at half.
The
two crucial moments in the 2nd half came after the
Steelers had inched closer. It was 14-13 Pats. TEs Gronk and Bennett
had had one catch each. The Patriots definitely were using them to
block in the running game for LeGarrette ‘Beast’ Blount, whose 24
rushes for 127 yards helped key the win. It was then that Gronk went
into the stratosphere.
First,
he caught a 36 yard TD right down the middle to make it 20-13
(Gostkowski missed the extra point – again). Gronk wasn’t done.
After the Steelers scored a FG to make it 20-16, the Gronkster caught
a pass and dragged two guys 7-yards for a 1st down. He
followed that with a 37-yard catch that set up Blount’s 5-yard TD
run.
The
score made it 27-16 Pats. NE had scored touchdowns on two consecutive
possessions that both went 75 yards and were each accomplished in 3
minutes or less.
The
11 point lead with 11:44 left seemed safe. Until Edelman fumbled a
punt at the NE 43 with 10:37 left. Belichick had Amendola take the
next punt. Edelman could breathe a sigh of relief when Steelers’
kicker Boswell missed a 54-yard FG.
The
Patriots defense then closed it out. A win that could have been a lot
easier, but Pittsburgh proved a Steel tough team, and NE could fly
home having bent that Steel.
TOSSING
THE BALL AROUND
The
Patriots run a lot to the left side of the line. Many of Blount’s
runs were aided by great blocks by Gronk, Solder, Thuney and Edelman.
The receivers have been especially good this year (including TE
Martellus Bennett) at run blocking.
The
Steelers hurt themselves with penalties. #74 OG Chris Hubbard had an
offensive hold to cancel out Heyward-Bey’s 14 yard TD. Their OL had
a few false start/motion penalties and another holding call (C
Maurkice Pouncey). 10 penalties - 85 yards.
The
Patriots had 11 first downs rushing and 9 passing. It’s usually the
other way round.
Pittsburgh
came in 5th in the NFL in 3rd down completions
(45.9%). The Pats held them to 5 of 16 (31%). Of course, the Steelers
were without QB Ben Roethlisberger.
The
Patriots were 3 for 3 in the Red Zone. Pittsburgh was 1 for 4.
CBS
missed the opening kickoff and the Steelers’ first play from
scrimmage as they were airing commercials.
CBS
‘analyst’ Phil Simms actually suggested that the Steelers would
go for it on 4th down (and 13) from their own 17 with 5:29
left. They punted.
BULLETS
• Terry
Nau, who was the sports
editor and writer
at the Pawtucket Times, has written a book about 21
Pawtucket residents who
died
while serving in
Vietnam. The book is called They
Heard the Bugle’s
Call: Pawtucket and
the Vietnam War and is
available at:
Three
of my classmates at St. Raphael Academy, Mike Dalton, Jack Hulme and
Tom Gill, all died in Vietnam. The book is virtually
an oral history of a tragic era in American life, and
focuses
on how family members dealt with the loss of a father, son, brother
or husband over the years. Also,
there
is a fund raiser to build a memorial to
them which
will be at the entrance to Slater Park. If you are interested in
donating, send a
check to 21 Heroes Inc and mail to 21 Heroes Inc, PO Box 2848,
Pawtucket, RI, 02861.
• Per
the NY Times’ Juliet Macur (10/22), NY Giants’ co-owner John Mara
knew about Josh Brown’s domestic abuse past before they signed him
to a new 2-year contract.
E-MAIL
I’m
first. Roger McGuinn
was Jim McGuinn.
Byrds,
Rickenbacker. It’s
Dylan but My
Back Pages
is their best.
Matt
Dawson
Yes,
you are the first person with the correct answer, Matt. - Z
Hey
Jim ! Gotta be Roger McGuinn.
Didn’t he share our first name "Jim" ? The
Byrds--Rickenbacker --Gotta go with 8
Miles High !!
Jim
Dwyer
Yes
Jim, It's Roger McGuinn. The story of how he went from his real name
Jim to Roger is pretty funny. An Indonesian guru was involved. And
the story of how McGuinn got that jangly sound is awesome too. - Z
Jimbo:
Might that be Jim "Roger" McGuinn?
He once said "It suits my vibes
better." The Byrds, a Martin ( ? ) &
So
you wanna be a R&R Star?
Tom
Wallis
You
are correct, Tom.
It's
Roger McGuinn. The story about the name change is pretty funny
(Indonesian guru suggested it) and involves as you said 'vibes'. The
guitar is a Rickenbacker. I
have a CD filled with Byrds' songs. There isn't a bad one on it. -
Z
Hey
Jim! Got it. Roger McGuinn, Byrds, Rickenbacker. My favorite is, of
course, Mr.
Tambourine Man!
Dave
Burlingame
Right
on,
Dave. It's Roger McGuinn. Good song selection. One of my favorites
too. - Z
That
would be Roger McGuinn, also of the Byrds, playing his Rickenbacker
which had a crystal clear metallic bell sound prominently displayed
on Turn, Turn,
Turn.
BTW
– McGuinn also worked with Dylan about whom he said it was like
being friends with Shakespeare.
All
Rickenbackers produce a unique sound, kind of like a Stradivarius.
George Harrison had the second one ever built and used it on Hard
Day’s Night LP. A second generation was given to him in
Minneapolis (at a concert) by a local record store (B Sharp) owner,
Randy Resnick, and used in If I Needed Someone. It was
stolen some time after their 1966 tour (there might be a movie there
somewhere).
Roger
Boudreau
Thanks,
Rog, great info. - Z
Hi
Jim, the
answer you’re looking for would be Roger (James) McGuinn of the
Byrds. He played a 12 string Rickenbacker. One of my
favorites was So you want to be a
rock and roll Star.
Mike
Mulcahey
Right
you are Mike, It's Roger 'Jim' McGuinn. Check out Wikipedia on him.
Says he changed his 1st name due to an Indonesian guru. The jangly
Rickenbacker sound came from running it thru a compressor, and a
banjo picking style. - Z
Thanks
for the Zine, Jim. So glad that hockey season is back again: "I
feel the need...the need for speed." (though I'm no fan of
"smilin' Tom"; loved the South Park episode when he
wouldn't come out of the closet and the subsequent spoof of
Scientology.).
Sox
just ran into a better team and they have proved it by what they did
to Toronto. Cleveland and Chicago would be a great middle
America World Series. Two of the original charter teams with
rich histories and that have needed a lift since the westward
expansion. Who do you like?
Also,
my answer is Roger McGuinn.
Young
Will LaPlante
Yes
Bill, it’s Roger McGuinn. I welcome the hockey season as well and I
always hope for the trifecta – wins by the Patriots, Bruins and
Celtics (whose season is about to start). I don’t know whether I’ll
go with the Francona led Indians team (with ex-BoSox Andrew Miller,
Mike Napoli and Coco Crisp) or the Theo constructed Cubbies who also
have a few ex-Red Sox (Lester, Lackey, Ross, Rizzo). - Z
How
about those Cubbies! Gotta say I'm really glad for them - especially
now that there are no Wrigleys in the ownership. Kinda reminds me
when our own BoSox finally lifted the "Curse of The Bambino"
and did the World Series thing - and won! Great footsball day - Bills
at 1, Pats at 4.
Steve
Bison
Well
Steve, I think your Bills are for real. LeSean McCoy is the key. I
read that he has a hamstring issue, so we'll see if he plays today.
Taylor has done well at QB and the Bills' D has been solid. Great
that the Cubs won. Regardless for whom I root, Francona's Indians or
Theo's Cubs, I can't lose. Interesting that each won two WS and then
left due to the Red Sox ownership. Hope you noticed that Roger 'God'
Goodell once again screwed up with the Josh Brown 1 game suspension
for domestic abuse. This lame ass son of a bitch needs to be removed,
but doubt the owners have the cojones to do it. Viewership of NFL
games is down 11-12%. And while no one has pointed the finger at
Goodell, I think that he is part of the reason for the lost viewers.
- Z
Sportzine
is available at jimdawsonsports.com thanks to Buffalo Steve Lenz
THE
HOT CLUB
A
leftover from a prior conversation with Mr. D. He suggested that I
come up with my list of the top 10 concerts that I have attended. I
consider that a daunting task, but will reach out to the Sportzine
readership for a sampling of their favorites. The problem is that so
many meant a lot to me, for different reasons. I will mention,
however, two that come to mind: I saw Bob Marley and the Wailers at
Brown University and Victoria, Brad, his wife Dee Dee and I saw Bryan
Ferry and Roxy Music at the Pavilion (many corporate names) in Boston
(near where Anthony’s Pier 4 used to be). And you?
One
of Captain Jack’s friend’s (Dave?) brought up the fact that one
of Jack’s boats (flying a pirate flag), once appeared on the cover
of a AAA publication. It was shown in Waterplace Park when the X
games were there.
We
were talking about the recent bear sighting in RI. Fleet Feet Pete
said one time he and a friend were running in a Pennsylvania park
when they rounded a bend and came face to face with a bear. Pete said
that he and his friend bolted in one direction and the bear bolted
the opposite way.
The
Hot Club as Hotel California: Stevie ‘Sauce Pan Hands’ recently
paid a visit and admitted that he was about to celebrate his 60th
birthday. Happy 60th, Steverino.
LAST
ISSUE’S QUIZ ANSWER
Well,
if you’ve read the e-mails then you know it was Roger ‘Jim’
McGuinn who switched his first name, and played a 12-string
Rickenbacker for the Byrds. Matt
Dawson, Jim Dwyer, Tom Wallis, Dave Burlingame, Roger Boudreau and
Mike Mulcahey all had the right answer. McGuinn
changed his name in 1967 after an
Indonesian guru suggested it. McGuinn sent him several names
beginning
with ‘R’ but only Roger was a real name and the one the guru
picked because it would better
"vibrate with the universe." (Wikipedia
also states that John Coltrane’s free-jazz atonalities
contributed
to the sound that McGuinn created on his Rickenbacker).
Chestnut
Mare
has always been a favorite. And I love the live version of Lover
of the Bayou.
THIS
ISSUE’S QUIZ
This
question comes from Buffalo Steve (don’t forget – send me a music
question and I’ll use it and give you credit):
This
person authored two #1 pop hits (different artists) and is the
brother of a well-known actor. A clue – he has a niece who is a
movie star and always in the tabloids. Name? Songs?