Saturday, December 30, 2006

Flag Recap Dec. 30, 2006

WEATHER: Gorgeous – sunny, calm, not a cloud in the sky, near 70. A great way to end the year.

GAME: A thriller that saw Dark hang on to win, 30-26.

SCHEDULE: We are off the next two Saturdays and are back Jan. 20.

MVP: Have to give it to Ray, for his three interceptions that turned the game for dark.

PLAY OF THE GAME: For its humor value – Toby was guarding Ray and went up to the line for the play. Ray stuck out his hand in what Toby thought was a friendly gesture. Ray timed it perfectly and yanked Toby back as the ball was snapped and ran right by him. It was poetic justice as Ray dropped a perfect pass down field.

BEST NICKNAME: Brent somehow came up with calling Rory "Orchid," as in delicate flower after Rory would grip his hamstring the two times he was beat. "Yes, I'm a succulent," Rory said. "You can say that again," Brent said.

BEST MOVE: Patrick made a great stop and go move that left the defender yelling "Oh, shit" and left Patrick wide open for an easy TD from Marino.

LAST TD OF THE YEAR: Yes, I will take the honor. The play was for me to sell the block and flare out in the flat. Dan read it perfectly, hit me with a short pass and I ran 60 yards (believe it or not) for a score. It helped that Patrick missed my flag.

BALL HAWKS: Dark wound up with four total, led by Ray's three. Peter also had a key pick on a long pass attempt.

HIGHLIGHTS: Oren came up with several nice grabs, his best being one he caught in traffic near the goal line. … Patrick made a terrific grab on a fourth-down TD. The ball hit his hands and started to slip away when a defender's hand knocked the ball back into Patrick's body enough for him to haul it in. … Good hands men on White were Rory and Toby, who consistently came up with big catches. … Brent also had several nice grabs and would have gained more yards if he remembered where the sideline was. … I had another lateral after a catch that led to an additional 15 yards; the next time I caught one I faked the lateral and gained 10 more yards after the defense stopped. ... Tip of the hat to Marino for calling a nice game at QB with no picks and several nice fourth-down completions.

Happy New Year!
Jim

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Flag Photos Dec. 2 and 9, 2006


Brent took some terrific photos during two games in December. Check out the complete set here.

In addition, Brent has posted some images from our final game in May. Click here to check them out.

Above is photographic evidence that I can do more than just throw!

We are playing Sat. Dec. 30.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Recap Dec. 16, 2006


WEATHER: I am not sure how many people didn't show up thinking it was pouring rain. In Venice, we had a 10-minute cloudburst before we started, then it was great the rest of the way. The field was fine and we even had some sunshine. In the future, when in doubt, show up. It was a bit chilly by LA standards but we wound up playing 2 ½ hours.

SCHEDULE: We are not playing Dec. 23. After getting enough commitments, we will now play Dec. 30, but I will send a reminder. Also, Brent promises some photos on the blog in the next couple of days.

WELCOME: This is from a week ago, when I wasn't there, but a big hello to Mike, whom Brent named Rugby Mike.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Has to go to Toby for his great grab and concentration. He was near the right sideline and had to simultaneously secure the ball, while "dotting the I" in keeping his first foot in.

PLAY OF THE DAY: Patrick decided to QB a series and he didn't exactly remind anyone of Peyton Manning. However, on 4th-and-long he managed to avoid Brent's rush and heave a deep pass to David, who got past the defender for a TD.

WEIRD PLAY OF THE DAY: I caught a pass and tried my version of the spin move as Ray was trying to make the tackle. However, my spin move needs work and I lost control of the ball. David happened to be hanging around and the snagged the ball for a turnover.

SECOND CHANCE: Marino, playing linebacker, made a nice pick on a play, but the QB was ruled sacked. So two plays later, he stepped in front of the receiver and got an interception that counted this time.

GRANPA MOSES: That's what Brent called me based on the way I shuffled after my first catch. It was chilly and I was tight, which is as good an excuse I can muster.

FROSTBITE? It was in the upper 50s and felt cold, so it was weird when Sheri took off her receiver's gloves and the tips of her fingers were white.

HIGHLIGHTS: Sheri had several nice grabs, including one nice slant she took in for a TD. … Brent showed some good hands on several plays, then used his patented stretch the ball technique for a couple of scores. … I made a very nice catch running a deep slant near the sideline. The ball was a tad low and I stretched out and made the grab. … Ray made an outstanding catch for a touchdown, despite tight coverage from Toby. Both went up for it, and Ray was able to use his body position to haul the ball in. … In addition to his catch of the day, Toby was big all day as a receiver. Even when he drops one he looks good doing it. … Patrick got what turned out to be the game-winner on a nice pass from David that Patrick secured and sprinted into the end zone.

Hope everyone enjoys their Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate!

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Recap Dec. 2, 2006

WEATHER: Not sure it could be any more perfect – sunny, 75, no wind.

GAME: After not being sure we'd have a turnout because of USC-UCLA, but we got 17 and had a thriller. White rallied from a 24-6 deficit to nip Dark, 34-32. White tied the score on a TD reception by Brent, them took the lead on David's pass to Toby for the 2-pointer. Dark then drove down inside the White 5, but was unable to get into the end zone.

WELCOME: A big hello to Ray, Sean, Darren and Alex. And a big welcome back to Peter.

MVP: A rare award to a defender but Brent deserves it. He was awesome rushing the passer and changed the game. I counted five sacks and numerous other pressures. He often beat double-team blocking ("That guy's fast!" said one after Brent got around him).

CATCH OF THE DAY: Ramsey can never catch the ball and keep his feet, but he still is able to hold on. His best was on a TD over the middle on a pass from Sean. Ramsey caught the ball while falling backwards and still held on.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Jeremiah got everyone's attention on his 60-yard catch and run. Of course, the defense was stunned that he actually caught the ball in the first place. Once they recovered, they could not catch him as he changed direction and sped away from Patrick (aided by a nice block by Toby).

CLUTCH PLAY OF THE GAME: Despite falling short, Dark came up with a key play that kept the drive alive. Facing 4th-and-10 from their own 15, Sean found Andrew down the sideline for a 60-yard gain down to the 5. One of the White players – I think Jeremiah – made the tackle, in what turned out to be a key grab.

BALL HAWKS: Kudos on a couple of nice picks. Ramsey read the ball on a pass in the flat, snagged it and ran in about 30 yards for a score. Patrick made a terrific grab to get a pick and ran it down deep inside White territory to set up a score.

BEST LINE: Sean was complaining that Brent, as pass rusher, was raising his arms in his face (a totally legal play at any level of football as long as he doesn't hit him). "I've been playing longer than you've been alive!" Brent said. "Really?" Sean said. Not too far from the truth.

HIGHLIGHTS: Darren made several nice grabs, including one for a TD. … I had both a TD and a conversion as I continue playing receiver. … Mark continues to be a terrific flag-grabber, an art I have never mastered. … Ray was solid on both sides of the ball, and had several sweet catches. … Nice hookup on a long sideline pass from Puff Daddy to Toby. … David did a nice job at QB in leading White back once he got settled. … I have finally realized how hard it is to grab Peter's flag once he catches it. It's like trying to tackle a freight train.

SCHEDULE: We are playing Dec. 9 and 16. NOT playing the 23rd. I will get a head count prior to Dec. 30. NOT playing Jan. 6 or 13 (NFL Playoffs).

See you then!
Jim