#Zeke Week 2023

[hjemne]

Day 4 Warriors Week - Happy Ending

please read the tags for this one

[teen-media-review-world]

"Refuse to act like you’re anything less than everything you are."

[REVIEW] Teen LGBTQ+ Novel - Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda

Image credit: Zeke Peña (illustrator)

Awards and Accolades:

2023 ALA Rainbow Book List

2024 Spirit of Texas (SPOT) Young Adult Reading List

Related Media

For her inclusion in the SPOT Young Adult Reading List, author Andrea Mosqueda was interviewed for a SPOT Author Spotlight by the Chair of the SPOT Reading List Committee and a teen librarian from Austin, Texas.

In this interview, Andrea Mosque discusses the inspiration behind her novel, providing detail about her own upbringing and experiences as a bisexual teen.

Plot Synopsis

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster is a 2022 teen novel by Chicana author Andrea Mosqueda. It follows the trials and tribulations of Magdalena "Maggie" Gonzalez, a teenaged girl living in Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Although she's only a high schooler, her love life has always been a mess. She had her first kiss in middle school with a girl, she dated her ex-boyfriend Matthew on and off for several years, and she's had feelings for her female best friend Amanda that she's always tried to ignore. Not to mention, the new girl in school, Dani, is also queer and is catching Maggie's eye, too. Even though Matthew has a new girlfriend, he's still texting and hanging out with Maggie. Even though Amanda says she's straight, she keeps acting in ways that make Maggie believe there's something more. And even though she's just getting to know Dani, Maggie hits it off with her right away.

Desperately confused by her feelings for all three people, she confides in her best guy friend, Jordan. He comes up with an idea that Maggie should pretend to date each person in her head to decide which one she should officially go after. This is a great idea, and Maggie leverages this for a school project--a photography journal documenting her feelings for each person as she hangs out with each of them throughout the 12-week semester. This should ultimately help her decide which person is right for her--and, most importantly, which person she should ask to be her date for her little sister's quinceañera.

Review

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster is a lighthearted romance novel, complete with all the twists and turns you'd expect from a high school love triangle (or, love square, since there's four people involved). Andrea Mosqueda does a wonderful job of navigating the complexities of high school relationships. Even though they can seem trivial to adults, high school teens are often trying on romance and exploring their sexuality for the first time, which can have significant emotional consequences that they need to learn how to reconcile. This novel also touches on alternative music and the emo/scene subculture that goes along with it--the bands, the outfits, the piercings, the hairdye, the tattoos. It also describes a bit of what it's like living in a small border town in the American Southwest, and the pressure teens can feel to "escape" their community and bring their family with them. Through this novel, teens are sue to relate to all the confusing feelings that come up in high school--from romance to academics and everything in between.

Credit

Mosqeuda, A. (2022). Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster. Feiwel & Friends.

[midori-moonflaw]

Reibert Week 2023, Day 1: Canonverse/Training Days/Secret

Decided to do a little thing for this event! Early morning on Wall Maria ft. Zeke

[juststeveandtonythings]

IIM #10 recap, part 1. Tony, now apparently the Black King (aka one of the leaders of the Hellfire Club), hangs out at said Hellfire Club and takes a call from Rhodey, who has been locked up for weeks by now. Turns out the call was kind of a trap by Feilong, though - Feilong wanted Tony on the phone so that he could hear Rhodey getting beat up in jail. Tony understandably gets mad and wants to beat up Feilong (who is also at the club), but Fisk stops him and assures him Rhodey will be okay, since Tony asked Fisk to do so. (At what price? We'll find out later.)

And why is Rhodey okay? Turns out Fisk installed both Arthur Parks (mentioned in IIM #2, notable for being mad at Tony recently lol) and the Sandman at the jail Rhodey's at, so they're keeping an eye on him.

Emma, still disguised as Hazel Kendal, also has a moment of rage when she sees Feilong. Tony tries to stop her; she takes off her power-inhibiting ring and knees him in the crotch, but he makes one more attempt to stop her, telling her he needs info from his brain about the Sentinels, and this time she kind of listens. Feilong walks in just as Tony is offering her the ring she dropped, and they pretend that yeah, Tony just proposed to her. (This scene is also depicted in X-Men #26.) They kiss! (Mostly since Feilong is there.)

Tony thanks Feilong for taking over stuff so he can retire. He pretends he's drinking again ("playing possum") and tells Feilong he's not invited to the wedding in order to bait him. Feilong asks about Emma's whereabouts, and Tony claims she went to Mars/Arakko to make him think that's where the next threat will come from. Then he announces his engagement to everyone before heading for Vegas to get married (with Emma, of course).

That night, Emma and Tony fake party a bit, and then Tony gets into the Mark Nil so he can steal some fabricating machines from Zeke Stane (the real reason they went to Vegas). Deadpool helps with the thievery, and it is implied Steve was involved somehow.

Also, Tony mentions to Emma (as seen in an earlier panel) that "I've been tinkering in secret down in an old sex dungeon with shag carpet." Is it HIS old sex dungeon? Who knows!!

- Invincible Iron Man Vol 5 #10 (2023)

[theangrypomeranian]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤

I'm sorry this is so late orz life has been pretty crazy this past week lol.

Baby Steps

Summary:

After going through a terrible break up, Tina is left trying to pick up the broken pieces of her heart and life. Luckily, Zeke is there to help her with his tried and true method: touch therapy (literally). Through many trials and tribulations, they slowly learn how to grow and move on...together. A story of healing, friendship, and falling in love.

i doubt anyone is surprised by this choice lol. this fic is my pride and joy, i worked on it for a year and kept up a consistent update schedule for it. it's a story that is very near and dear to my heart and helped me start to heal my inner teenager.

2. i hate accidents (except when we went from friends to this)

Summary:

Best friends Louise and Rudy get married for tax purposes. No, really, that's totally it, honest. No way are any actual feelings gonna form. No way... ...unless...?

the fic i wrote for Roudise week 2023. this story was SO MUCH FUN to write omg. the whole premise started as a joke between my beta reader Red and I about these two getting married for taxes and the prompts for the week were announced i knew i had to use the idea. it was a huge hit with the Roudise side of the fandom and i'm so glad that they all loved it so much.

3. Safe and Sound

Summary:

When Tina Belcher is reaped for the Hunger Games, she's sure that her life is over. But when Zeke Tisdale volunteers as the male tribute and promises to protect her in the arena, she realizes that she might have a chance of surviving this...if she can avoid falling for him.

the Hunger Games AU i wrote for Zekina week 2023. as most of my followers probably know by now, i freaking LOVE the Hunger Games series, both the movies and the books (though I lean a lil more towards the books lol). the prompts for the week immediately made me think of it, and since i'd already had the first 2k or so words typed out already i figured why not finish it for the week? it was also written as the week went on because it was a last minute decision lol.

4. Long Way Home

Summary:

After Zeke leaves for three months to work for a logging company in Alaska, Tina receives a call telling her that he passed away in an avalanche. Devastated but determined to stay strong for her loved ones, she must learn how to live without the one that got away. ...or does she? Because unknown to all, Zeke survived - and he is fighting with the Last Frontier to get back home.

my current WIP. this one started as a weird ass dream i had about my otp and i told Red about it, then she proceeded to pitch a reworking of it for a fic and i was instantly in love with the concept. it's very niche so i don't blame anyone for giving it a pass, but i love it and that's all that matters. and for the fifth rec i'm putting down two because i genuinely cannot choose between them (and since when do i ever follows the rules for these kinds of asks XD):

Meet Me in the Afterglow

Summary:

Three months after she's peer pressured into breaking up with Henry, Susmita gets a call that her grandmother has died. Henry offers to take her home for the funeral and she quickly realizes that she's made a huge mistake. Can she sort through her feelings and win back her man? Or is it too late for them?

i LOVE this fic. normally i hate break up fics but i worked very hard on this one and did SO MUCH RESEARCH for it. overall i think i did really good with it and i'm always thrilled when someone reads it.

you better leave (it's not safe in here)

Summary:

Tina lives an idealistic life in the small community of Victory. Every day is the same, structured, secure. All of her neighbors know and like her, and her husband Jordan is a quiet unassuming man who works hard so that she can stay home and be a good housewife. Life is good and peaceful. However, sometimes she can't help but feel as if she doesn't belong there, and her nightly dreams of a tall and handsome man with an accent make her question if her marriage is really as happy as she's been led to believe. But then strange things start to happen and Tina starts to wonder if something more sinister is going on in Victory...

the Don't Worry Darling AU that no one asked for lmao. i was so let down by the movie but still loved the concept, so i decided to use it for a fic and loved the end result. just like with LWH, this one is very niche so i understand why it's not more popular. but i really love this fic and hope that one day it gets the recognition it deserves.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

Summers keep getting hotter, and the consequences are impossible to miss: In the summer of 2023, the Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest season in 2,000 years. Canada’s deadliest wildfires on record bathed skylines in smoke from Minnesota to New York. In Texas and Arizona, hundreds of people lost their lives to heat, and in Vermont, flash floods caused damages equivalent to those from a hurricane. 

Forecasts suggest that this year’s upcoming “danger season” has its own catastrophes in store. On May 23, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season could be the most prolific yet. A week earlier, they released a seasonal map predicting blistering temperatures across almost the entire country. 

One driving force behind these projections are the alternating Pacific Ocean climate patterns known as El Niño and La Niña, which can create huge shifts in temperature and precipitation across the North and South American continents. After almost a year of El Niño, La Niña is expected to take the reins sometime during the upcoming summer months. As climate change cooks the planet and the Pacific shifts between these two cyclical forces, experts say the conditions could be ripe for more extreme weather events. “We’ve always had this pattern of El Niño, La Niña. Now it’s happening on top of a warmer world,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at Berkeley Earth, an environmental data science nonprofit. “We need to be ready for the types of extremes that have not been tested in the past.”

During an El Niño, shifting trade winds allow a thick layer of warm surface water to form in the Pacific Ocean, which, in turn, transfers a huge amount of heat into the atmosphere. La Niña, the opposite cycle, brings back cooler ocean waters. But swinging between the two can also raise thermostats: Summers between the phases have higher-than-average temperatures. According to Hausfather, a single year of El Niño brings the same heat that roughly a decade of human-caused warming can permanently add to the planet. “I think it gives us a little sneak peek of what’s in store,” he said.

Since the World Meteorological Organization declared the start of the current El Niño on July 4, 2023, it’s been almost a year straight of record-breaking temperatures. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, there’s a 61 percent chance that this year could be even hotter than the last, spelling danger for areas prone to deadly heat waves during the summer months. An estimated 2,300 people in the U.S. died due to heat-related illnesses in 2023, and researchers say the real number is probably higher.

All this heat has also settled into the oceans, creating more than a year of super-hot surface temperatures and bleaching more than half of the planet’s coral reefs. It also provides potential fuel for hurricanes, which form as energy is sucked up vertically into the atmosphere. Normally, trade winds scatter heat and humidity across the water’s surface and prevent these forces from building up in one place. But during La Niña, cooler temperatures in the Pacific Ocean weaken high-altitude winds in the Atlantic that would normally break up storms, allowing hurricanes to more readily form. 

[urbandeity]

--AoT Writing Masterlist--

Links lead to Ao3.

Magnolia [ Erwin/Levi | 122k words | Completed ]

○ Victorian Era AU ○ Levi becomes a prostitute under the management of Erwin ○ Sex to Love ○ Lots of smut ○ Elements of non-con and period-typical homophobia. Be warned!

Masterlist for Raison D'être of the Elite Scouts [ Erwin, Levi, Miche, F!Reader | 211k+ words | Completed ]

○ BDSM-centric one-shots or short multi-chapter installments. ○ MINORS, PLEASE, DO NOT INTERACT. ○ Suggestions welcome :)

Stay Beneath Him [ Levi/F!Reader | 147k+ words | Completed ]

○ Professor!Levi x Intern!Reader ○ Modern AU—College/University AU ○ Slow burn romance~ ○ No smut ○ Possessive, toxic Levi. Not a depiction of his canon personality ○ Depictions of violence and unhealthy behavior! Be warned

Down To The Feeling [ Yandere!Levi/F!Reader | 22k+ words | Ongoing ]

○ Reader works as a bartender at a casino and Levi is the card dealer across from her ○ Levi is also a vicious monster that destroys anyone that looks at reader wrong ○ DDDNE, dark content, read the tags! Be warned!

His Wounded Heart Beats For One [ Levi/F!Reader | 180k words | Completed ]

○ Scout!Levi x Nurse!Reader ○ My precious baby fic i love it dearly ○ Canon Universe ○ Slow burn, angst and all that sad shit. ○ No smut ○ Tender Levi and tenderer reader, they (eventually) love each other very much. after jabbing at each other back n forth. but it's cute.

⇓⇓⇓ More beneath the cut ⇓⇓⇓

Masterlist for Urban's Dark Eruri Week 2023 [ Erwin/Levi | 8.4k words ]

○ DDDNE, read the tags ○ Three one-shots of the duo in horrific situations

The Ripper's Prey [ Erwin/Kenny | 13k words ]

○ Whump whump whump, Dead Dove, ALL the content warnings. ○ Not a crack ship surprisingly ○ READ. THE. TAGS. ○ A devastating piece but one I'm quite proud of.

Smoke And Steam [ Erwin, Levi, Zeke | 6.2k words ]

○ Sub!Levi getting wrecked by two blond Doms :) ○ And Zeke being an insufferable prick to the bratty Captain ○ All the teasing and fondling and witty remarks you could ask for

All In Favor, Say Aye [ Erwin, Levi, Miche, Hange, Moblit | 6.7k words ]

○ Sub!Levi getting wrecked by the veterans crew (except Nanaba) ○ The goofiest smut I've ever written ○ But probably the most wholesome

[eroticfriendfictions]

Chapters: 5/5 Fandom:Bob’s Burgers (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Tina Belcher/Jimmy Pesto Jr. Characters: Tina Belcher, Jimmy Pesto Jr., Zeke (Bob’s Burgers), Gene Belcher, Tammy Larsen Additional Tags: Missing Scene, Aged-Up Character(s), One Shot Collection, Ficlet Collection

Summary: A collection of ficlets written for Tinimmy Week 2023.

LAST DAY!!!

[goodvibesgamingpub]

Souls brings new heroes! Adora and Zeke

Souls brings new heroes! Adora and Zeke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3A9j4g_fgI souls is a idle rpg, and today they came out with a update! in this update the brought adora and zeke to the game! this update also brought us the 2023 Christmas event! 🥰 Thank you @verofromchile3617 @Rev_Ark and @gabrielpeart8730 you are our first supporters and your gesture means the world to us ❤️ ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:07 sub 00:50 zeke 04:07 adora 07:09 Christmas event 💕 support the channel here💕 🤍 https://www.youtube.com/@GoodVibesGamingPub?sub_confirmation=1 📆 UPLOAD SCHEDULE📆 🤍New Videos Every Week! 🤍New Shorts anytime! 💥 Watch My Other Videos 💥 ▶️ Genshin Impact 📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLda8Mj6RxblUIbo5KDL_kfoXfGqmu_c7x ▶️ Welcome to Genshin Impact!! Genshin Impact Playthrough Part 1 📺 https://youtu.be/IJ2ZtOqmAls ▶️ We Made It to Mondstadt!! - Genshin Impact Playthrough part 2! #mondstadt #genshinimpact #gaming 📺 https://youtu.be/72DCFJLn8Ho ▶️ 🐉 I'M FIGHTING WHAT??!! - Genshin Impact Play-through Part 3. 📺 https://youtu.be/B4i9zIM7-hI ▶️ 🐉 THE DRAGON IS ATTACKING??!!!? 📺 https://youtu.be/7ovo3mmYh1E ▶️ 🤯 Exploring the first temple - Mastering Genshin Impact 📺 https://youtu.be/kC_CrMEbBck ▶️ Journey to the Final Temple!! - Genshin Impact playthrough part 6 📺 https://youtu.be/A36z2vovXp4 💥 Follow us on Social Media 👇👇👇 💥 ☑️ Connect With Us On Discord☑️ 🤍 Discord: https://ift.tt/SyZd8Yp ✅ Connect With Us On Twitch✅ 🤍 Twitch: https://ift.tt/sX2evhz ☑️ Connect With Us On Instagram ☑️ 🤍 Instagram: https://ift.tt/OGW7kSx ✅ Connect With Us On Facebook✅ 🤍 Facebook: https://ift.tt/8qkDuct 💥 For business inquiries and partnerships💥 📩 goodvibesgamingpub49@gmail.com ✅ Like 👍 ✅ Comment 💬 ✅ Share ⤿ ✅ Subscribe ☝️ ✅ Hit the 🔔 to be notified of uploads ⚠️ ABOUT OUR CHANNEL⚠️ ✅ Our channel is about Games and friendship. We cover lots of cool stuff such as mobile games, game reactions, and gameplays ✅ Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on my future videos! 🔎 Hashtags 🔎 #soul #levelup #update #gamingvideos #shortvideo #idle #rpg #letsgo #gaming #gamplay #genshinimpact #skins #summon #xmas via Good Vibes Gaming Pub https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuCJk5DNXEA-FwG9Vol5jQ December 21, 2023 at 10:48AM

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

12/19/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription part 3

Announcements

Daily Audio Bible That's home base and check it out if you have not. take a look around. check out the website and download the free app. If you would like to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, we thank you so much for each and every partnership that furthers the work of this Mission. if you're giving by mail DAB PO Box 1996, Spring Hill TN, 37174. Utilizing the app, up at the top right hand corner of your device. and lastly look for the give icon on the website. you can still be a part of the Christmas vinyl initiative that advances the technology as we improve what we already have so that it is as simple and user friendly for every person using that app. $25 per album there are five to choose from and you can order any increment that you would like and you can do so while supplies last. If you need prayer, if you'd like to pray for someone that's previously called in, there are several different ways for you to do so 800-583-2164. or utilizing that mobile device again hit the red circle button up at the top right hand corner of your mobile device. That's going to do it for me today, I'm Jill, we’ll turn the page together tomorrow as we wind our way forward into this week of Christmas Advent arrival and waiting anticipation of the hope of all hopes Emmanuel, God With Us, Jesus. I'm Jill, until tomorrow, love one another. 

Community Prayer Line

Hi everyone it's Christy in Kentucky I wanted to pray for some of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. father we love you we praise you and Lord we are lifting up a long list of Brothers and Sisters in Christ, that dawn has brought to us Lord that either have just started their journey and have accepted you as Lord and Savior or there's been seeds planted, Lord we pray that people will come behind them Father, water the seeds that have been planted. and for those who have not quite made that commitment. Lord Jesus, we pray for them Lord that they will open their hearts to hear the gospel, and to know how much you love them and for them to receive you as Lord and savior. Father, we pray for Emmy Lord and Illinois. Father, we thank you so much and that her baby is okay. Lord thank you for touching and healing this child, and now father we are asking that you touch and heal this marriage. Father, we also pray for unashamed Mom as she has received this diagnosis of cancer. Lord you are our healer father you are our Miracle working God, and so father, in these days as she waits for the results of this biopsy, I pray that you will hold her close father, let her feel your presence Lord Jesus. and we ask that you heal her father completely. restore her back to perfect health we pray. and we love you so much and we thank you Father for having the ability to come and to sit at your feet. We praise you In Jesus name, amen. All right everyone I love you guys Merry Christmas have a beautiful blessed day and I am thrilled with Victoria Soldier again, wherever she's been in her absence you have been there with her and well we've missed her. Lord, you have been there to keep her company and get her through whatever life has had going on. Lord, I also thank you for our newest member spoken in the vine in Indiana. Lord let us scooch over around this campfire and make room for him. Will show yourself true to him and that his desire will always be for you and to have it become where it just is all of you that he's not just more but all of you that you desires. and Lord I Thank you for this platform I think you for the relationships that it has forged and created and friendships and families and I thank you for the following of Brian and Jill and China and Zeke and the rest of the group. I've seen behind the scenes family and Lily just ask is we go forward and they bring us this beta version that you be in it Lord. that you work all things out so that it is a smooth transition. and Lord we just look forward to and even better can't fire experience Lord. I Thank you. I praise you as you are with each and every person as we go through this crazy insane weeks it's coming. help us stay focused on you. 

hey my precious DABC fam, this is Kingdom seeker Daniel. lady Jill I am taking my work cap off as I speak in salute to you as I'm sitting here waiting for this truck to vacate this dock, so I can move my truck in. I just finished listening to you pray on the 18th and my goodness thank you for just letting the Holy Spirit lead you even in the words that you prayed about not forgetting the darkness that God has rescued us from. and as I'm just sitting here pondering that thought oh my goodness I'm so grateful. Hallelujah bless your Holy Name Jesus. I'm so grateful for the darkness that he rescued me from, oh my Lord, and so I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement to the mom who didn't leave a name but a little while back you called in about moving away to Colorado and feeling guilty because you're moving away from your son who's battling homosexuality, and let me just first say you don't need to feel guilty for moving where God is leading you but finally, please know your father is at work and your son's life and heart despite of what it looks like. I'm a living witness. He can rescue him, you be encouraged mom. 

[declanfs]

December 3, 2023

Wow. So I spent a week in Oregon with titi Nelle and Zeke. I had a wonderful and amazing time, and I missed you so much! You had lots of fun with dads and stayed with granny and pa for 2 nights, and I think overall it was really good for both of us. I got some perspective on how I am my own person still, in addition to being your mom. I think you got even closer to dada and it seems like you want him for certain things and want me for other things and that’s great and how it should be. A year ago, this would have crushed me because you were my whole world and everything I did revolved around you as the son and sun of my solar system. I love you more than I ever have and this trip was really important to realize that we can love each other more than ever and also love other people more than ever and also do things with other people and our connection is rock solid. You know I love you forever and always, no matter what and nothing can shake that. In your words “you’re my best.” You’ve been telling me I’m your best boy and I remind you that I’m a girl and so I think your solution has been to jokingly call me your best boy because it’s funny and you’re a jokester, or when you’re serious and sleepy, you just say “you’re my best.” But also make sure to say how dada and Bella and kreacher and granny and pa and jt and Ryan and auntie Koko are your best. You have lots of love and are so loved.

Okay, but I wanted to engrave the memory of you at the airport into my brain forever. I was so so so excited to see you and dada after a whole week so I was racing up the escalator, my heart beating so hard and just feeling so much love and happiness knowing I would see you any moment. We met up at baggage claim 3 and I think we kind of spotted each other at the same time. I took my mask off and smiled and the look on your face was filled with so much love I could have cried. You were smiling but also trying not to smile and maybe also trying not to cry, I’m guessing just because of the flood of emotions that happens when you see someone you love after time apart. I crouched down and put out my arms hoping you’d run to me and I heard dada say “go get her,” and you’re little prancing run to me was all goofy footed and gallopy. Once you got to me, I scooped you up and hugged you so tight and you just melted into me. You didn’t let go for definitely over a minute, maybe 2, so I walked over to dads and just kept squeezing you so big. Declan, you are my best. I hope you feel it in our hugs and gentleness together, and see it in the way I look at you. I hope you hear it in my voice and in your internal monologue and in these words I’m writing to you. My love for you is so big. You are just 2.5 at this point, and I already love the person you are becoming and whoever you will become. No matter what.

In other news, we went to two birthday parties yesterday. Alex (3) and auntie Koko. For auntie Koko, we went to dinner at poco loco, then went to see the Christmas light show at meadow event park. You did an amazing job at dinner, being so patient and waiting in our booth. You had chips and salsa and rice and ice cream. You colored and played with the curtains and made your elephant raspberry sound. Then you watched blaze after probably 45 minutes. Really solid work for your 4th time eating in a restaurant!

At the light show, you got to sit in my lap for maybe an hour and a half in the car while we waited our turn to drive through and then for the actual show. While waiting, you helped my drive by yanking the steering wheel side to side and pushing all the buttons to turn on the windshield wipers and whatever you could reach. Then we turned on your nursery rhymes songs and it was so much fun singing them so loud with granny, auntie Koko, Ryan, and JT. you maybe liked that even more than the lights. You know all the words in the abc song now and you were so proud to sing it with your family. You were dancing and laughing and just were such a joy. You stuck your feet out the window and thought that was so funny. I wouldn’t change a single second, 10/10 night.

You kept saying you wanted to go back (meaning you wanted to sit in my lap), and JT was talking in his amazing British accent saying “we’re on another path now, we are going home,” like he was your fairy godfather or animal guide. So funny.

We visited pa and granny today. It’s wild that someday your foot might be as big as his and right now they’re literally half the size.

This is how I take a shower and take my time getting ready these days. You LOVE paw patrol and are basically a zombie if they go on tv. When it’s time to turn it off you will be sad for a minute but then we move on to something else. It’s been a tough thing to find balance.

Your shirt with moose and new rain boots. Size 3t shirt is a bit snug and size 9 boots fit well. 3t pants are too short depending on the style, but too big around the waist so we have to cinch them down. This is you saying “cheese.”

On the way home from the airport

Helping dada with his planks 😉

[pint4punt]

Revenge of the Nerd: Kellen Moore’s Chance to Prove the One who Got Away Wrong

It’s been just under 8 months since Zeke infamously lined up under Center in the latest series of laughable Cowboys’ desperation plays with their season on the line. Yes Kellen Moore’s beautiful mind has certainly given us some of our favorite moments in sports’ history. But of course when shit so unceremoniously hits the fan with the whole Country watching, somebody has to take the blame, and that somebody most certainly isn’t going to be the man who lied to get the job in the first place.

Moore was promptly…….mutually parted ways with, as McCarthy felt that having the league’s best Red Zone Offense and being a Top 10 Rushing Offense wasn’t good enough. But surely Mike McCarthy, a Super Bowl winning Head Coach who previously called plays for the Packers and was never questioned by his Quarterback Aaron Rodgers almost every snap, could do even better……right? Hahaha oh Dallas fans turn back now, it only gets worse from here as we preview how the jilted nerd in LA is about to unleash his master plan for revenge on Monday Night Football.

The Offenses

Dallas Cowboys:

The Cowboys’ 2023 Offense has left a lot to be desired through 5 games. They managed to plummet from 1st in Red Zone Scoring all the way to 27th and turnovers continue to be a problem. While all of their wins have been blowouts, 3 of their 12 Touchdowns on the year have come from the Defense. Take those away, and Dallas’ 1.8 Touchdowns per game would tie for 22nd in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In all fairness, it wasn’t just Moore that left the team in the offseason. Ezekiel Elliot, arguably their most effective goal line back is now with the Patriots and Tony Pollard has yet to find the End Zone since he hauled in two against the Giants in Week 1. Their passing game hasn't fared much better with top receiver Cee Dee Lamb having one Touchdown on the year and only one game in which he eclipsed 100 yards while newcomer Brandin Cooks, who literally has had 1,000 receiving yards everywhere he’s been, has less than 100 (73) on the year so far.

But hey teams regress, especially when their seasons end in insane fashion the year before. Something Kellen Moore’s new team knows all about after blowing a 27-7 lead in the playoffs last year. So how has his new squad fared so far?

Los Angeles Chargers:

The Chargers’ 2023 Campaign got off to a bumpy start dropping their first two games to the Dolphins and Titans before rebounding with wins against Minnesota and Las Vegas. While no team wants to start 0-2, one thing the Chargers can hang their hats on is how damn efficient they’ve been in the Red Zone, scoring on 68.75% of their trips which is good for 5th in the NFL, 13 spots higher than they ranked last year. Oh and this has all been without the help of Austin Ekeler, the league’s touchdown leader for the past two years, in 3 of the first 4 games. Huh, makes you wonder if there is a correlation between the Cowboys alarming regression and the Chargers’ meteoric ascension in the Red Zone year over year?

Even if the casual fan hasn’t caught on to Moore’s impact yet, the Chargers’ players certainly have taken notice. Keenan Allen is on pace for nearly 1,850 yards, threw the first touchdown of his career this year, and frankly, looks like the second coming of Christ right now. The Offense has a whole is clearly humming with the Chargers having the third most points per game (388.8) and only two turnovers on the year. But we all know that teams’ offensive outputs aren’t just dependent on the scheme or skill positions. We also have to look at the game’s most important position:

The Quarterbacks

Dak Prescott:

Coming into last week’s “Super Bowl litmus test” for the Cowboys, Dak had actually done a great job protecting the football with only one interception through four games. Well apparently that is a lot harder against a team that can punch back, as Dak was tormented by the 49ers’ secondary, their otherworldly Linebacker Fred Warner, and even their backups, each of which managed to pick off Dak in the biggest ass kicking of the Cowboys/49ers Rivalry.

Despite embarrassing his team, his coaches, his family, America, everyone who loves him, God, and the known universe last week, things do get a little interesting when you dive into Quarterback rankings on the year. Kellen Moore’s old quarterback currently ranks 7th in the NFL, one spot behind……Kellen Moore’s new quarterback

Justin Herbert:

That’s right, Moore’s prodigious new signal caller is still only one spot ahead of the lovable doofus he left behind in Texas. But make no mistake, there’s a sizable difference between the 6th highest ranked QB and the 7th. Herbert boasts a 30.3 EPA, well above Dak’s EPA of 21.5 while holding a 7:1 Touchdown to Interception ratio compared to Dak’s 5:4.

Still, the more important question isn’t how Herbert compares to Dak. It’s how each QB’s ‘23 campaign compares to their ‘22 campaign.

‘22 Dak

-Yards per Game: 238.33

-Touchdowns Per Game: 1.92

-Interceptions Per Game: 1.25

‘22 Herbert

-Yards per Game: 278.76

-Touchdowns Per Game: 1.47

-Interceptions Per Game: 0.59

‘23 Dak

-Yards per Game: 212.2

-Touchdowns Per Game: 1

-Interceptions Per Game: 0.8

‘23 Herbert

-Yards per game: 276.5

-Touchdowns Per Game: 1.75

-Interceptions Per Game: 0.25

Look the season is still very young, but the early returns suggest Herbert continuing to perform at a high level while Dak has noticed a dip in production, albeit a commensurate dip in interceptions. This definitely speaks to McCarthy’s vocal effort at playing to the the Defense, even at the cost of Offensive production. That being said, Offensive production would sure have been helpful last weekend when Dak’s squad lost by four possessions. Sure McCarthy’s strategy of protecting the football makes sense when the Defense……..plays Defense, but when that doesn’t happen, quality Quarterback play will be crucial and Dak already looks like he misses Kellen Moore. So with the revenge game looming the question becomes:

How Do They Match Up?

Remember that touchdown leader for the past two years running? Yeah he’s back for this prime time matchup which gives Dr. Frankenmoore even more than tools to work with against his old team that is giving up 4.5 yards/carry and a Red Zone Defense ranked 19th through the first 5 weeks. On the other side, the Chargers rank 12th in the Red Zone suggesting Dallas’ bottom tier Red Zone Offense will continue to struggle.

Look revenge narratives are fun and as you can probably tell, our hard earned American dollars are on the subject of this article’s team tonight. But that’s not just to poke fun at “America’s Team”. No honest to god, in our heart of hearts, we truly believe that Mike McCarthy…….is a steaming pile of dog shit of a Head Coach.

Say what you will about Kellen Moore, but the Cowboys looked a lot more competent with him running the offense…..and that’s saying a lot of you’ve ever watched Cowboys’ football.

[rj-drive-in]

Lovecraftian Slime Department:

As announced last week, my story "Ambergris Morning" was selected for inclusion in this years Arkham Bazaar Microfiction Contest (on sale soon!). I submitted three stories to the contest and posted Loser #1 last week. Here is Loser #2:

IT CAME OUT OF THE WOODS © 2023 by Rick Hutchins

This was the end of the trail. Zeke knew it. Taps. Lights out. Close curtains. Right here and right now, he was going to die.

The thing that had been chasing him through the woods for the past three hours was slow, but relentless. It was like a horror movie. No matter how fast he ran, it was always behind him. And he just got slower and slower, weaker and weaker, until he was stumbling through the fallen leaves and twigs of the forest floor.

And now he was all done. He collapsed against a tree trunk and slid to a sitting position.

“Why is this happening?” he gasped, his chest heaving.

He reflexively reached for some bottled water in his pack, but he had tossed off that extra weight two hours ago.

And there it was. He could see it coming through the trees. Shuffling or limping, as if it were lame, but it was tireless.

“Go away!” he sobbed hoarsely. “Leave me alone!”

But still it came.

Seven feet tall, shaped like a malformed ape, with green skin the color and texture of an alligator, it was the most terrifying thing Zeke had ever seen. Its stumpy legs and long, bowed arms were as thick as tree trunks. It had black, menacing eyes and tusks that curved up from its lower jaw.

And it growled incessantly.

Closer and closer it came, as Zeke lay there, paralyzed with exhaustion and fear. Now it was standing right over him, reeking of rot and decay.

“Good-bye, mom,” he wept. “I’m sorry, Naomi.”

The thing reached out with its right hand, the blackened yellow nail of its forefinger coming for his face. He squeezed his eyes shut as it made contact. The claw moved back and forth, as if it were carving a figure into his forehead.

Then it withdrew.

The pain started instantly. He screamed as his muscles twisted like splinter sticks, his arms and legs writhed like they were being ripped out by the roots and his ribs cracked open and pulled apart. His jaw fractured and his eyes burned like acid. His consciousness slipped toward darkness in the agony.

Then, just as quickly, the pain throbbed away and he was looking down at his own twisted body, lying in the shreds of his clothes. The green and roughshod skin, the malformed limbs. He had become like it. Whatever species of inhuman creature the thing was, he was one of them now.

But the strangeness had not ended.

Because the creature itself was changing, deflating, shrinking. The knobby skin was smoothing over, even as the rotten green color softened to brown. The tusks withdrew while the arms shortened and the legs lengthened, the overall proportions tapering and composing. The shoulders leveled out as black curly hair tumbled down over them.

The thing was now a human woman.

She smiled jauntily.

“You’re It!” she said.

[theangrypomeranian]

Summary:

She was right, of course. But the idea of her going through this alone made him want to curl up and cry. Tina was already so sensitive and she seemed so fragile right now. She needed someone to help her, to care for her while Zeke was away and make sure that she and the baby were okay. There’s only one solution he can come up with. “Okay.” He turns to her with a nod. “Then I’ll go with you.” "What?" "I'll go with you back to Georgia.   Jimmy Jr. learns that his best friends are expecting a baby. The problem? Zeke is being sent away by the Navy for the rest of the pregnancy. The solution? Jimmy Jr. coming to live with Tina to take care of her while her husband is gone. Part of Tinimmy Week 2023.

[nfliplnews]

[ad_1] Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterAug 20, 2023, 06:00 AM ETCloseMike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:1. Zeke’s first week: How effectively running back Ezekiel Elliott still hits the hole remains to be seen, but he decisively hit the ground running in his first week after signing a one-year deal with the Patriots. Elliott’s energy, passion and football knowledge made a notable first impression on coaches and teammates.“He’s excited. Everyone in the room is excited,” running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri said. “He’s brought a little bit of juice.”Coach Bill Belichick noted the majority of Elliott’s time has come working with Sunseri -- a former NFL safety who is entering his third full season leading the team’s running backs -- with a goal of getting him “caught up on terminology” of the offense.Sunseri shared that 28-year-old Elliott, the team’s oldest healthy running back (with 30-year-old Ty Montgomery II not on the 11-day preseason road trip due to a left leg/knee injury) has already been a vocal presence.“He talks to all the guys in the room -- how he sees runs, how he sees protections. He communicates well. He’s had a little bit of a leadership role so far, and we’ll see how that progresses,” he said. “He’s done a lot of these things. He’s done a lot of these runs that we’re going to run.”Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien added: “One thing you see right away is that he’s smart, he’s been in different systems, he understands football. Maybe they called it apples, we call it oranges, but it’s still football, and he gets it. He picks up on it really quick. … I do think he’s a three-down back, and he’s been a really good addition to our football team.”Best of NFL Nation• Martin's return to Cowboys is huge• Giants to start pair of rookie CBs?• No QB comp for Howell• What's next for NE's Cunningham?• NFL players and investments• Week 2 takeaways Sunseri credited the team’s other backs for helping Elliott, a group that includes third-year pro Rhamondre Stevenson, who led the team last season with 210 carries for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns.Stevenson has been “pretty close” with Elliott since they met in 2021 before the Cowboys’ 35-29 win over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.“That’s my guy,” Stevenson said. “The way he runs the ball, his determination, his relentlessness -- he’s going to give you all he’s got. I feel our games are going to complement each other very well.”At one point in Thursday’s joint practice with the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, teammates took note of Elliott’s jubilation. One such example came after rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte caught a touchdown pass and Elliott raced off the sideline to celebrate with him.“That little bit of excitement [for] somebody he really doesn’t know, it means he loves his team,” outside linebacker Matthew Judon said. “I believe Zeke loves football; I believe that with my whole heart -- you can see it from Ohio State to now.”Elliott was also observed giving an encouraging pat on the back to backup quarterback Bailey Zappe after an interception, and then was the first to celebrate with Zappe after he bounced back with a touchdown pass.Elliott has yet to answer questions from reporters since joining the Patriots, but that is likely to happen this week, as he is expected to increase his workload at practice.He didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Packers. That wasn’t a surprise after Belichick was asked how he would describe where Elliott is from a physical standpoint and said: “We haven’t really been able to practice with him. He [first] worked out with the strength staff on Wednesday. So it’s coming along. He’s definitely not there yet, but we’re getting there.”2. Zeke’s burst: Elliott was one of 22 players with at least 200 rushes last season, and his 3.8 yards per rush ranked last among the group. Furthermore, he was 77 rushing yards below expectation, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, which was the fourth-worst mark in the NFL behind Leonard Fournette (-135), Najee Harris (-116) and Chase Edmonds (-107).Those statistics spark questions of how much Elliott has left in the tank.Sunseri was asked what the Patriots look for to answer those questions.“I think the ability, one, to see the runs. Two, to get downhill. And just the mentality of running tough. That’s what we look for,” he said. “That’s what all the guys in the room have. And they can handle blitz protection. We like those type of guys that can do all those things.”3. Strong’s status: Barring an unexpected turn, the plan is for second-year running back Pierre Strong Jr. to rejoin the team this week after not traveling to Green Bay because he was in the concussion protocol. Strong likely gets bumped down the depth chart with Elliott’s arrival, but it’s hard to imagine there still isn’t a role in which the 5-foot-11, 212-pound player's breakaway speed -- a notable contrast to Stevenson and Elliott -- can be tapped at times.4. Onwenu on trip: Starting right guard Mike Onwenu, who remains on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason surgery on one of his ankles, made the trip to Green Bay with the team last week. That could be a positive sign, with offensive line coach Adrian Klemm saying it keeps Onwenu locked in mentally so he’ll be ready when he’s ultimately cleared to return. “Everything we install, he’s involved with that. He’s here every day as if he’s playing,” Klemm said.5. Trent the mentor: Veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown participated sparingly in voluntary spring workouts, then didn’t make it to town for the first day of mandatory minicamp in June and barely participated on the second day. Things looked dicey at that point, which makes what has happened since much more notable. Brown was cited by Klemm, his coach, as an emerging leader among a younger offensive line group.“In terms of mentoring and speaking up, he’s actually done a lot more of that since I initially got here, to help bring some guys along. He’s been very helpful,” Klemm said. “I’m excited about that because it is a little something new, I think.”6. Sow’s chance: Rookie right tackle Sidy Sow, a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan, matched up competitively against rookie Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (the No. 3 pick) as a starter in the preseason opener. That might have been a factor in Sow getting an extended look over the past week and starting Saturday night’s preseason game against the Packers with quarterback Mac Jones and other more experiences players making their debuts.Pigskin Win TotalsTake your shot at picking win totals for all 32 teams for a chance to win up to $10,000! Make Your Picks “He’s starting to develop some competitive poise,” Klemm said. “He’s very intelligent. It’s just a matter of being consistent and developing true confidence.”Sow helped pave the way for Rhamondre Stevenson’s opening 1-yard touchdown run, but then was beaten for a sack to end the team’s second drive.In a related offensive tackle note, there has been some hope that veteran free agent signing Calvin Anderson (on the non-football illness list) is close to working his way back onto the field.7. Packers appreciate Patriots: What stood out to Packers coach Matt LaFleur about practicing against the Patriots twice last week? He particularly appreciated the experience his offense received against the Patriots’ unpredictable defense.“New England does an outstanding job disguising coverage,” he said. “Many times they are going to present you with a look that looks like all-out pressure, so that can be a little unnerving, especially in some of those third-down situations that are a little longer. But they do a great job bluffing out of it and playing coverage. I thought it was really beneficial for our guys to see those different looks.”8. Douglas-O’Brien link: Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas had initially committed to play football at Penn State under Bill O’Brien when he was coming out of high school in Avon, Ohio. But it never happened, with Douglas, a highly recruited cornerback, ending up at Michigan instead. Now they are linked as coaches a decade later. “Me and him have a long history. I’ve known him since I was 16 years old,” Douglas said. “It’s funny how life comes full circle.”9. Keion delivers: How does a rookie offensive or defensive lineman best endear himself to veteran teammates? By making sure he catches a punt at the end of practice to help earn players reduced meeting time. Sow muffed his chance early last week, but fellow rookie offensive lineman Atonio Mafi got the Patriots back even before 6-5, 290-pound defensive end Keion White closed it out by making it look easy. “I knew Keion was going to get it done,” veteran safety Jabrill Peppers said.10. Did you know? Since Elliott entered the NFL in 2016, he has 561 pass blocks, which is 100 more than any other running back during that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information data. Giovani Bernard is second at 446. [ad_2] Source link

[coolrahulsarin]

Ezekiel Elliott brings some 'juice' to Patriots backfield - ESPN - New England Patriots Blog

New Post has been published on https://bestcustomjerseys.com/ezekiel-elliott-brings-some-juice-to-patriots-backfield-espn-new-england-patriots-blog/

Ezekiel Elliott brings some 'juice' to Patriots backfield - ESPN - New England Patriots Blog

mike reissESPN Staff WriterAugust 20, 2023, 06:00 am ET7 minute read

How Zeke’s arrival changes the Patriots’ offensive approach

Harry Douglas and Kimberley A. Martin explain how the Patriots will integrate Ezekiel Elliott into their offense.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Thoughts and quick notes on the New England Patriots and the NFL:

1. Zeke’s first week: How effectively running back Ezekiel Elliott hits the hole remains to be seen, but he hit the ground running decisively in his first week after signing a one-year deal with the Patriots. Elliott’s energy, passion and knowledge of football made a remarkable first impression on coaches and teammates.

“He is excited. Everybody in the room is excited,” said running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri. He has brought some juice.

Coach Bill Belichick noted that most of Elliott’s time has been spent working with Sunseri, a former NFL safety who is entering his third full season in charge of the team’s running backs, with the goal of “getting up to speed.” day with the terminology” of the offensive.

Sunseri shared that Elliott, 28, the oldest healthy running back on the team (with Ty Montgomery II, 30, sidelined for the 11-day preseason trip due to a left leg/knee injury) has already been a vocal presence.

“He talks to all the guys in the room: how he sees the racing, how he sees the protections. She communicates well. He has been in a leadership role so far, and we will see how he progresses,” she said. “He’s done a lot of these things. He has done a lot of these races that we are going to run.”

Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien added: “One thing you see right away is he’s smart, he’s been in different systems, he understands football. Maybe they called it apples, we call it oranges, but it’s still football and he gets it. He gets it very quickly. … I think he’s a three-down running back, and he’s been a very good addition to our football team.”

Sunseri credited the other running backs on the team for helping Elliott, a group that includes third-year pro Rhamondre Stevenson, who led the team last season with 210 carries for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns.

Stevenson has been “pretty close” to Elliott since they met in 2021 before the Cowboys’ 35-29 win over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

“That’s my man,” Stevenson said. “The way he handles the ball, his determination, his relentlessness, he’ll give you everything he’s got. I feel like our games are going to complement each other very well.”

At one point during joint practice Thursday with the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, Elliott’s jubilation was noted by teammates. One such example came after rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte hauled in a touchdown pass and Elliott ran off the sideline to celebrate with him.

“That little bit of emotion (for) somebody that you don’t really know, means that you love your team,” outside linebacker Matthew Judon said. “I think Zeke loves soccer; I believe it with all my heart: he can be seen from the state of Ohio to now.

Elliott was also seen giving backup quarterback Bailey Zappe an encouraging slap on the back after an interception, and then was the first to celebrate with Zappe after he rallied with a touchdown pass.

Elliott has yet to answer reporters’ questions since joining the Patriots, but that is likely to happen this week as his practice workload is expected to increase.

He did not play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Packers. That came as no surprise after Belichick was asked how he would describe where Elliott is from a physical standpoint and said: “We haven’t really been able to practice on him. He (first) trained with the strength staff on Wednesday. So he’s coming. He’s definitely not there yet, but we’re getting there.”

2. Zeke’s Outburst: Elliott was one of 22 players with at least 200 carries last season, and his 3.8 yards per carry ranked last in the pack. Plus, he was 77 rushing yards short of expectations, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, which was the fourth-worst mark in the NFL behind Leonard Fournette (-135), Najee Harris (-116) and Chase Edmonds (-107). .

Those stats raise questions about how much Elliott has left in the tank.

Sunseri was asked what the Patriots are looking for to answer those questions.

“I think the ability, one, to watch the races. Two, to go downhill. And just the mentality of running hard. That’s what we’re after,” she said. “That’s what all the guys in the room have. And they can handle lightning protection. We like those kinds of guys who can do all those things.”

3. Strong’s State: Barring one unexpected twist, the plan is for second-year running back Pierre Strong Jr. to rejoin the team this week after missing the trip to Green Bay because he was in concussion protocol. Strong is likely to drop down the depth chart with the arrival of Elliott, but it’s hard to imagine there still won’t be a role in which the 5-foot-11, 212-pound player’s breakaway speed — a stark contrast to Stevenson and Elliott. can be touched sometimes.

4. Travel Onwenu: Starting right guard Mike Onwenu, who remains on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery, traveled to Green Bay with the team last week. That could be a positive sign, as offensive line coach Adrian Klemm says he’s keeping Onwenu on lockdown so he’ll be ready when he’s finally allowed back. “Everything we install, he’s involved with it. He’s here every day like he’s playing,” Klemm said.

5. Trent the Mentor: Veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown participated sparingly in voluntary spring training, then didn’t make it to town for the first day of mandatory minicamp in June and barely participated on the second day. Things seemed dangerous at the time, which makes what has happened since that much more remarkable. Brown was cited by Klemm, his coach, as an emerging leader among a younger offensive line group.

“In terms of mentoring and speaking, he’s actually done a lot more since I’ve been here, to help bring some guys over. It has been a great help,” Klemm said. “I’m excited about it because it’s something new, I think.”

6. The sow’s opportunity: Rookie right tackle Sidy Sow, a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan, squared off competitively against Texans’ rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (the No. 3 pick) as a starter in the preseason opener. That might have been a factor in Sow getting a broader look at last week and starting Saturday night’s preseason game against the Packers with quarterback Mac Jones and other more experienced players making their debuts.

“He’s starting to develop some competitive poise,” Klemm said. “He is very intelligent. It’s just a matter of being consistent and developing real confidence.”

Sow helped pave the way for Rhamondre Stevenson’s first 1-yard touchdown run, but was then hit by a sack to end the team’s second drive.

On a related offensive tackle note, there has been some hope that veteran free agent signing Calvin Anderson (on the non-football illness list) is close to returning to the field.

7. Packers appreciate patriots: What caught Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s attention about practicing against the Patriots twice last week? He particularly appreciated the experience he received running offense from him against the Patriots’ unpredictable defense.

“New England does an outstanding job of hiding coverage,” he said. “A lot of times you’re going to be presented with a look that looks like all-out pressure, so it can be a little unnerving, especially in some of those third-down situations that are a little bit longer. But they do a great job of bluffing and playing cover. I thought it was really beneficial for our guys to see those different looks.”

8. Douglas-O’Brien Link: Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas had initially committed to playing football at Penn State with Bill O’Brien as he was coming out of high school in Avon, Ohio. But it never happened, with Douglas, a highly drafted cornerback, ending up at Michigan. They are now linked as coaches a decade later. “He and I have a long history. I’ve known him since he was 16 years old,” Douglas said. “It’s funny how life comes full circle.”

9. Keion offers: What’s the best way to endear a rookie offensive or defensive lineman to his fellow veterans? Making sure he catches a punt at the end of practice to help players cut down on huddle time. Sow blew the opportunity on him early last week, but rookie offensive lineman Atonio Mafi got the Patriots back even before 6-5, 290-pound defensive end Keion White shut him down making it look easy. “I knew Keion was going to make it,” veteran safety Jabrill Peppers said.

10. Did you know? Since Elliott entered the NFL in 2016, he has 561 pass blocks, 100 more than any other running back during that span, according to data from ESPN Stats & Information. Giovani Bernard is second with 446.

#Ezekiel #Elliott #brings #juice #Patriots #backfield #ESPN #England #Patriots #Blog