The buildup to the Cowboys' season opener was palpable but it ended in disappointment for Dallas, a 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday night.

The Cowboys' offense flashed its explosive potential throughout the game but failed to finish drives and secure points at crucial moments, as an inability to slow Aaron Donald and some unfortunate play sequencing hurt Dallas efforts.

The Cowboys' defense struggled mightily to start the game, failing to force a punt or turnover until the end of the third quarter (not counting the missed field goal). The defense did tighten up, finishing the game with an interception and three forced punts over the final 16 minutes or so of the game.

The Rams' offense did an excellent job of minimizing the Cowboys' pass rush, using quick passes, screens and play-action to limit its ability to affect the game. Dallas' linebackers and safeties went through some serious struggles against the misdirection Los Angeles used throughout the game.

In the end, it was a ticky-tacky offensive pass interference penalty on Michael Gallup that prevented the Cowboys from having a real shot to tie or win the game late. Gallup did slightly push off of Jalen Ramsey to generate late separation, but it wasnt egregious enough to warrant a penalty.

On the bright side, the Cowboys made the playoffs each of the last three times their season started with a loss. Hopefully for the Cowboys' sake, they can make it four in a row. And with that, lets dive into a few things we learned about the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

For an undrafted rookie who looked like he didnt belong in the NFL at the pre-draft Senior Bowl, Terence Steele acquitted himself quite well given the circumstances. Was he great? No. But he wasnt the unmitigated disaster many expected him to be.

He actually played well enough that the Cowboys could have earned a victory.

The same cannot be said for whoever was opposite Aaron Donald throughout the game, as the offensive line really felt the loss of Travis Frederick at center. Connor Williams bore the brunt of Donalds excellence, struggling with the Rams defensive tackles incredible blend of speed, power and technique.

Yet Williams was far from the only one.

Zack Martin and Joe Looney at times also got tuned up by the greatest defensive player on Earth.

Donald finished with four tackles and a sack, which seems good until you realize he was constantly making Dak Prescotts life difficult in the pocket with constant pressure. Donald finished with 10 pressures on 35 pass-rush snaps, according to Next Gen Stats. To put into context just how dominant he was, Donald in 2019 finished with a 13.5% pressure rate, which he more than doubled on Sunday night, posting an incredible 28.6% pressure rate.

Unfortunately for Dallas, life isnt going to get much easier for the interior offensive line. Next week, it has the unenviable task of blocking Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett for 60 minutes.

For the Cowboys' offense to operate among the NFLs best, as hoped, it will need to shore up the interior protection quickly.

It didnt take Aldon Smith long to get acclimated to the speed of the game after five years away from the NFL. He was one of the bigger bright spots for the Cowboys' defense.

Finishing with a team-high 11 tackles and a sack, Smith was outstanding against the run and came up with a huge third-down sack in the fourth quarter to get the defense off of the field as the Rams closed in on a scoring opportunity. The sack was a result of excellent initial footwork and great field awareness. Lets take a look:

With the Rams in a third-and-long situation, the Cowboys put their best pass-rush package on the field -- DeMarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford, Everson Griffen and Smith aligned as the four defensive linemen.

Smith, aligned in a stand-up, two-point stance on the outside edge of Rams left guard Joe Noteboom -- a mismatch we identified among our bold predictions -- does an excellent job of manipulating Noteboom with his tricky initial footwork.

To illustrate, first look at Smiths two-point stance. He has his left foot forward, which typically means his first step is going to be with his right foot. Smith, however, loads his weight on his back foot and immediately steps toward Notebooms inside edge. Caught off guard, Noteboom has no choice but to immediately react inside. This forces Noteboom to open the gate -- turn his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage -- to recover once Smith redirects back outside.

Noteboom actually does a good job of latching on to Smiths frame as he scrambles to recover, putting himself in position to push Smith past the pocket despite the initial penetration. But because Noteboom opened the gate, he is in a woefully inept position to cut Smith off once he spins back inside.

It wasnt the cleanest spin, but Smiths timing was so good and Noteboom was so out of position that it worked.

That wasnt Smiths only notable contribution as a pass rusher. He was able to generate another pressure on a tackle/end stunt with Griffen that directly led to Chidobe Awuzies interception.

All of that said, Smith made his most consistent impact against the run. The Cowboys did an excellent job of scheming Smith into mismatches against tight ends and he took full advantage, as his length and heavy hands were simply too much for the overmatched flankers. The Cowboys played Smith predominately as the strong-side defensive end/outside linebacker (depending on the front) in an effort to guarantee those matchups against tight ends, and Smith routinely made the Rams pay.

Its really impressive that Smith could acclimate to the game so quickly despite the considerable layoff. His pass-rush ability, specifically his hand technique, was still a little rusty, but the fact he was able to find ways to contribute is a great indication of the type of impact hes going to make this season.

Lawrence is still the best defender on the team, but Smith was arguably the best one Sunday night. It took him just one week to outperform his contract and prove to be a bargain.

Many are going to criticize Mike McCarthy for going for it on fourth down instead of kicking the would-be game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter, but that aggressiveness is what the fan base has wanted for the past 10 years. Its unfair to criticize McCarthy just because it didnt work out in the end.

If theres an area where the coaching staff deserves criticism, its with some of their play sequencing on offense.

For example, the decision to run the ball before that crucial fourth down (a third-and-6 with 12:26 left in the fourth) was much more ill-advised. What we dont know is whether the Cowboys called that run, or if Prescott checked into once he identified that Los Angeles was in a light box (five men) with two high safeties. Even if running into a light box, its not wise to do it right at Donald, who -- as previously stated -- was nearly unblockable all night. Donald proved it again by beating Martin to force Ezekiel Elliott to cut into the teeth of the defense, ending the possibility of a first-down conversion.

Hindsight is 20/20, but it would have been smarter to stick with the passing game in that scenario. Calling a pass would have made it more likely that the Cowboys would pick up a first down. If the pass fell incomplete, fourth-and-6 isnt much worse from a historical perspective on conversions than fourth-and-3 is -- teams (from 2009-19) convert on fourth-and-6 around 42% of the time, while fourth-and-3 isnt much better at 49%.

The need to keep the running game involved seemed to come back to bite the Cowboys on a few occasions. All four of Dallas' punts were preceded by a run on the first down of those series. In fact, the Cowboys converted a first down or touchdown on 87.5% of their series (14 of 16) that started with passes but just 62.5% of the series that started with runs.

Throwing more on first down will create shorter down-and-distances, which are advantageous situations in which to run the football. Additionally, throwing more heavily on first down will cause defenses to allocate more resources toward defending the pass, meaning that when Dallas eventually runs on first down, it will see lighter boxes than usual.

While it may seem to be the contrary, throwing more often on first down, in theory, creates better situations for running the football.

Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.

Read more from the original source:
Film room: 3 things we learned from Cowboys' loss to LA Rams, including an area Dallas needs to shore up - The Dallas Morning News

Image Credit: iStock

Many of us have put on a few kilograms over the course of COVID-19. Whether you are avoiding the gym or cant stand the idea of running outside in 40 degrees, you dont have to succumb to weight gain and lethargy.

A few good habits and some body weight exercises that you can do from the comfort of your home is all you need to get back on track.

Gary Leeman, a fitness expert in Dubai with more than 15 years of experience says that its better to think of health and wellbeing and look at the concept of fitness holistically instead of stressing over workouts and weight loss.

By making simple daily changes in your life and then adopting those changes consistently, you put yourself in a position where weight loss becomes incidental rather than stressful. So I would encourage community members to first think of movement, hydration, eating healthy and sleep. Exercise is an integral part of this lifestyle.

He says that a bit of planning and strategising goes a long way. When working from home its easy to get stuck at your desk for long hours. I recommend getting up and doing a few stretches every two hours. Even two to three minutes of exercise will help ease your muscles and improve blood circulation and muscle activity.

For those who work in an office, they can take the stairs instead of the elevator and they should also clock-in some stretching or walking time away from the desk. Not only does this protect your posture and back but also it is an effective way to get movement in your life.

Keep bottles of water on your desk and drink regularly. This will help you stay hydrated. Its also very important to plan your meal timings and snacks especially if you work from home because lets face it -the fridge and pantry are right there! I recommend keeping junk food out of the house and replacing the pantry with healthy options. This still does not mean you can eat as many snacks as possible- so plan your meal and snack schedule in advance.

In terms of exercise, he says all you really need is a mat, if at all, some good music would be a bonus and a dedicated time slot so that you are diligent with workouts.

Simple movements and body weight exercises work beautifully to tone and strengthen the body. Get yourself a skipping rope to add in some extra cardiovascular exercise although exercises like burpees are fantastic for both strength and cardio.

You could look up online workouts or check with your gym if they offer any online classes. There are plenty of options. It is important to work out according to your current fitness level and slowly progress to avoid any injuries. Getting 30 to 45 minutes of exercise four to five times a week consistently is the key to get fitter and keep you mind and body healthy.

According to the World Health Organisation, regular exercise is good for mental health as well. It helps in reducing the risk of depression, cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia - and improve overall feelings.

Leeman says there are plenty of easy body weight exercises and a great way to begin your mornings is to stretch for a few minutes or practice Yoga sun salutations for three to five minutes.

Some simple body weight exercises toconsider are:

Squats

Leg day may be the source of a million memes due to its gruelling nature and how your lower body feels the next day but its important to work your bodys largest muscle groups.

A standard squat with or without additional weight is one exercise that ticks off many of these: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, abdominals and calves. Its also a functional exercise you use these muscles in basic activities such as sitting down on the sofa or removing something from the lowest drawer.

The beauty of squats is that a small variation in the movement can work different areas. Widening your stance takes some of the onus off the quadriceps and emphasises the glutes and hips more. Adding a jump to the second phase of the squat (when youre coming up) adds a cardiovascular element to this exercise.

Press-ups

After youve got your lower body fired up, its time to focus on the upper side. Like squats, press-ups also work a number of important muscles. A regular press-up, where the elbows are close to the body, exercises the pectoral muscles, shoulders and triceps. If you can maintain tightness in your core tight while doing these, press-ups offer a supplementary benefit to your abdominals too.

There are loads of variants with the press-up. Widening your grip works the shoulders harder, and making it narrower emphasises your triceps. Adding a quick clap to the routine after pushing yourself up at speed lends a cardio and explosiveness element to the exercise, while raising one leg on regular press-ups works your core harder.

Finally, placing either your hands or feet on a raised surface will change the muscular emphasis from upper chest and shoulders to lower chest and triceps, respectively.

Burpees

Few exercises get your heart rate up as quickly as the burpee. If you include the variations and there are well over two dozen of these burpees work the glutes, quads, pecs, shoulders, core and calf muscles. The regular burpee is a good starting point for building your strength in the major lower body and core muscle groups though its recommended to master this before moving on to more complex iterations of the movement. Standing on a mat with your feet at shoulder width, drop down into a squat position. Lean forward and rest your weight on your hands, which should also be in line with the shoulders. Kick both feet back so that your bodyweight is distributed over the hands and feet, then bring them back before pushing your body back up in an explosive thrust.

You can include a press-up to work your chest and shoulders at the stage where your body is balanced on hands and feet. Adding a star jump on your way up will tone your obliques, while throwing a mountain climber into the mix at the lower stage adds an additional core exercise.

Core exercise

You can do some sit-ups, a plank you can begin with a half plank with your knees on the floor and then move to a proper plank once you have enough core strength. There are different variations for all levels. Leeman says, A few daily practices done consistently can have a big positive impact on your health. Make it a purpose in life to enhance your overallhealth and well-being, that way you will not shy away from exercise be it at home, outdoors or at the gym.

Here is the original post:
Weight loss and fitness if you work from home | Health - Gulf News

Mom still refers to it as that Hell Hole.

Flies in patient bathrooms. Unwashed tables in the shared patient dining room. Medical refuse tossed onto patient floors remained on patient floors. Broken air conditioning sent temps soaring in patients rooms.

The stench of indifference so strong, spiritual leaders found it challenging to conduct a dignified family visit.

Why do residents of Long Islands Gold Coast accept blatant indifference and indignities towards their loved ones at a time of extreme vulnerability? Is this the best the North Shore of Long Island has to offer?

Eighteen years ago, my 69-year-old father required simultaneous radiation and rehabilitation. To be clear, my family had no role in the selection of this Long Island rehabilitation institution. A social worker, in a New York City hospital, someone who may never have set foot in this Long Island rehab, selected it for us. One critical factor determined my fathers fate: an unoccupied patient bed in my zip code.

Six weeks of bearing witness to my fathers suffering in rehab stand out as my one regret a wretched, traumatizing experience in what was otherwise five months of excellent health care.

Lets talk about todays rehab. Last month, my 65-year-old neighbor spent three weeks in a highly regarded rehab facility on the North Shore.

Allison spoke to me through bone dry lips, struggling to speak and sounding as if she had cotton balls stuffed in her mouth. She had requested water and ice chips. Friends and family telephoned her daily, yet she failed to pick up her phone. For 14 days, I was unable to reach her. I feared over-medication to induce sleep day and night. I feared dehydration. She feared she was being held hostage.

When Allisons family abruptly discharged her after a three-week stay, there was a notable five-pound weight loss documented. Five pounds lost by an individual weighing under 100 pounds, with complex health issues, is five pounds too many.

At another popular facility, incoming visitors calls are aggressively screened, suggesting an attempt to isolate the patient from the outside world.

Eighteen years or 18 days ago, in-patient rehabilitation seems, all too frequently, not to be the best the North Shore of Long Island has to offer. Social media, Yelp, reaffirms the nightmarish treatment taking place in area institutions you know.

Fear of retaliation has stopped many good sons and daughters from exposing apathy and indifference despite the worrisome warning signs. More importantly, fighting back requires energy that drained family members must conserve to face the next set of challenges.

For me, the callous attitude of the rehab floor physician, at my fathers facility, was my breaking point. The day before discharge, this doctor seemed to delight in lecturing me that my father was leaving in far worse shape than when he arrived, and it was probably foolish to have put him through radiation treatment.

On a purely visceral level, the doctors response seemed devoid of even a drop of human kindness. How did this soulless shell of a man come to be responsible for rehab patients?

On discharge day, Nurse Manager asked how quickly I could clear the stack of soiled laundry bags and Dads personal effects. Alone, with no family members to assist me, I was given the arduous task of hauling dirty laundry bags while single-handedly overseeing the transport of my father from rehab to hospice.

None of this seemed to matter to Nurse Manager. She offered zero help. What did matter was how quickly this Long Island Gold Coast rehab, with littered floors and unwashed tables and flies in the bathrooms, could turn over an unoccupied bed for additional revenue.

I encourage readers to speak up about the dirty little secrets that are masquerading as quality rehabilitation on Long Islands North Shore. If you are seeking compassion and responsiveness for your loved one, in many cases, you wont find it there.

A new sofa or crystal chandelier in the family meeting room is a poor substitute for real patient care long after visiting hours are over. No one should feel forced to pay privately for an overnight aide to safeguard a loved one from widespread dangers of apathy and neglect. The glossy patient literature you receive wont reveal that unmitigated truth.

New York State Dept. of Health will investigate written complaints or call: 1-888-201-4563 (M-F 8:30 am 4:45 pm.) To report a patient safety event or concern, contact The Joint Commission whose mission statement is to ensure quality healthcare for patients and prevent harm.

Judy Shore Rosenthal

Great Neck

See the rest here:
Readers Write: Rehab nightmares on North Shore revealed - Opinions - The Island Now

(Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire)

A poor opening showing for the Cleveland Browns got even worse in Baltimore.

Rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills left the game in the third quarter of the blowout loss with a leg injury.

#Browns Kevin Stefanski has no update on injured, including rookie LT Jedrick Wills

Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) September 13, 2020

He struggled to put weight on it as he went off the field in the 3rd quarter.

Kendall Lamm took Wills spot at left tackle in the game.

The worse part of the situation is that the Browns will turn around quickly and play the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.

So, its difficult to believe that he will be able to play in that game.

We will find out more details in the upcoming days, but the Browns are scheduled to play Washington in Week 3 on Sept 27th.

Wills looked promising in his playing time, but did have some struggles in pass protection when dealing with Matthew Judon.

The Browns offensive line was one of the few bright spots in a game where the Ravens completely dominated the Browns from start to finish.

The Browns selected Wills with the first pick of the draft to go along with center J.C Tretter, left guard Joel Bitonio, right guard Wyatt Teller, and right tackle Jack Conklin.

View original post here:
Browns Rookie LT Jedrick Wills Injured In Loss To Ravens - Browns Nation

No matter what we eat, hunger is seldom more than a few hours away. Though sometimes it can feel like hunger is seldom more than a few minutes away, even after we just ate.

Foods with 'empty' calories can make you feel hungry again soon after eating them.

Why? When we give our bodies high-quality nutrients, we receive enduring energy that wards off hunger. Low-quality nutrients burn more quickly, requiring us to eat again sooner. These four foods can contain more calories, but may make you hungrier.

Yogurt is consistently touted as a healthy snack, and by itself, it typically is. However, most commercial yogurts are a dessert-like hybrid of yogurt and sugar. For example, Dannon Fruit on the Bottom Blueberry yogurt has 20 g of sugar per 5.3-oz containerthats about 28% of your daily recommended value (DRV) of sugar and more than half of the sugar youd find in a 12-oz can of Coke. On top of that, it has relatively little protein, just 5 g per serving.

ADVERTISEMENT - SCROLL TO KEEP READING

The combination of high sugar and low protein means a cup of sweetened yogurt will leave you feeling hungry again in no time. Added sugars are notorious for being empty caloriesfoods that do a poor job satiating hunger because they are high in calories but offer few or no other nutrients. Protein, on the other hand, is incredibly effective at satisfying hunger. Unfortunately, you wont find much in most sweetened yogurts.

Luckily, you can still enjoy some yogurts and rid yourself of hungerjust mind the nutrition label. A 5.3-oz cup of Chobani non-fat plain Greek yogurt has 14 g of protein (28% of your daily recommended intake) and just 4 g of sugar. For those who cant do without the sweetness, experts recommend adding some fresh fruit to the mix.

The bad news: Like yogurt, most cereals are a dessert-like hybrid of cereal and sugar. For example, a single serving of Kelloggs Frosted Flakes has 12 g of sugar (24% DRV), just 1 g of protein, and <1 g of fiber. Studies have shown that while fiber doesnt pack much of a nutritional punch, it reduces feelings of hunger by increasing digestion time and slowing the emptying of the stomach.

The good news: Like yogurt, its all about reading the nutrition labels and making a smart choice. Some cereals are effective at reducing hunger, like Kashi Go Original. It packs 12 g of protein (17% DRV), 13 g of fiber (46% DRV), and 8 g of sugar (14% DRV). Pouring whole milk over cereal adds another 8 g of protein to the mix.

Refined grains like white bread and white rice might feel filling at first, but they lack the sustainable hunger-fighting powers of whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and brown rice. In one study, researchers found that people who consumed three or more slices of white bread daily were 40% more likely to be obese than those who ate just one portion of white bread weekly.

The issue is that white bread is made with highly refined flour, which is rapidly absorbed as sugar, the studys lead author told The Independent. Essentially it is equivalent to a high consumption of sugar. The problem is similar to what we see with soft drinks, their sugars are rapidly transformed into fat.

ADVERTISEMENT - SCROLL TO KEEP READING

Another issue? The refining process removes the bran and germ. This gives the grains a finer texture and improves shelf life, but also removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins present that are much more effective at satiating hunger. Even enriched grainsthose that have been refined but subsequently enriched with some of the vitamins they lost in the processare not re-enriched with fiber.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer, notably used in many Americanized Chinese foods, but also common in chips, condiments, frozen meals, and soups. If youve ever consumed any of these foods and felt hungrier afterward, MSG could be the cause. In one study of 24 men, 1% added MSG in soups significantly increased flavor but resulted in a much smaller decrease in hunger. Added MSG also resulted in reduced feelings of fullness immediately after consuming the soup, even though it was high in protein.

Other studies, however, suggest that MSG has little effect on appetite. Another potential explanation is that all of the aforementioned foods are high in salt, which studies have shown induces body water conservation, decreases fluid intake, and can also increase feelings of hunger as a result, leading to weight gain.

It makes sense that on a high-salt diet, the body wants to prevent water loss, Jens Titze, MD, told Health.com. So the kidneys have to find a way to increase water contentand if you have more water content in your body, youre going to be less thirsty. All of that extra water retention consumes significant energy, which could be the cause behind increases in appetite.

Whether a snack or meal is satiating comes down to its nutrient content. Protein and fiber go a long way toward long-term satiety, while empty calories like sugar and refined grains can make you feel hungrieror hold you over for short periods, at best.

See the article here:
Foods that make you hungrier - MD Linx