8 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Almost pegged then lol. My wife and I went to Utah 2 years back and it was the best trip of my life. At least the most memorable/beautiful. Flew into SLC then did salt flats, Arches, Canyonland, Page, AZ (slot canyons & horseshoe), Zion, then Vegas.

Good itinerary.  We go from NorCal to Rocky Mountain NP every summer with many stopovers and scenic drives in Utah.  Looks like we will do it twice this summer.  First one with a friend visiting from New Zealand in late May and then in our regular July jaunt.  Wonderful state. 

5 minutes ago, mattwill said:

Where in NZ?

Auckland and 5 months in Rotorua and 2 months in the cook Islands a little Rock named Mangia.

1 minute ago, Utebird said:

That sounds awesome, Arches is one of my favorite places on earth, been multiple times as well as all the other parks in S. Utah

Growing up in Utah the salt flats aren't a big draw unless one has a jet car and is trying to break a land speed record, but I could see how people who have never seen it would want to.

Never been to page Arizona though I've been through Arizona numerous times usually on the way to Cali, for some reason never stopped at horse show bend or any of their slot canyons, but I'd like to, looks awesome.

As for Vegas, we used to go every summer, my wife and I don't gamble but we go for the shows and the buffets and walk the strip, it's always fun.

Glad you got to go out and see all that, there's a lot I don't miss about living in Utah but one thing I miss is the mountains and the Red Rock.☹️

 

 

Theres really something about that sandstone landscape 

2 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Where can I get a good chicken Cesar salad or wrap in this town, preferably with a glass of vino.

https://www.eatdocgreens.com

Just now, Texas Eagle said:

Theres really something about that sandstone landscape 

Yup it's awesome, could spend all day there unless its 107 degrees.🔥

2 minutes ago, mattwill said:

Good itinerary.  We go from NorCal to Rocky Mountain NP every summer with many stopovers and scenic drives in Utah.  Looks like we will do it twice this summer.  First one with a friend visiting from New Zealand in late May and then in our regular July jaunt.  Wonderful state. 

Rocky Mountain NP will be on our itinerary soon. My wife has also not seen Yosemite yet. Or Yellowstone for that matter.

Come to think of it I may just buy our NP passes and kick these trips into gear.

Just now, Utebird said:

Yup it's awesome, could spend all day there unless its 107 degrees.🔥

At least the 107 is dry heat. 107 in Austin? Forget about it. Find the nearest natural spring and don’t get out until night.

Just now, Texas Eagle said:

Out of everyone on the current roster absolutely. I don’t see them passing up on this incredibly deep RB class though.

I hear you but I HOPE they go late and not grab the rockstar in the first. I just don't think it is a good pick for us.

 

3 minutes ago, Utebird said:

Auckland and 5 months in Rotorua and 2 months in the cook Islands a little Rock named Mangia.

Good friends live in Tauranga.  They took us to Rotorua on a day trip.

Just now, jamiller said:

I hear you but I HOPE they go late and not grab the rockstar in the first. I just don't think it is a good pick for us.

 

Same. A RB in the 5th this year should be like grabbing one in the 2nd most years. Hopefully we can add some picks to fill out the mid-to-later rounds with that tremendous void.

The RBs will steal the show for offensive skill positions this draft. There are some good TEs. WRs as a whole stink. Not a bad draft to have AJB & DeVonta on the roster.

4 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Not a Jersey in the joint.  Where can I get a good chicken Cesar salad or wrap in this town, preferably with a glass of vino.  Do you get out in the Flint Hills much?  This year the Nature Conservancy is opening their tall grass prairie preserve and as a member, I can’t wait. 

I'm not sure about the Vino🤷‍♂️ like I said I don't drink.

Oak and Pie does wood oven pizza and has a pretty good drink menu

There's another place called JAX that is new, all the kids go there for Prom it's kind of fancy. 

Chester's or Firebirds might be more your speed though, they're like real fancy Bars/ steak houses.

 

2 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Rocky Mountain NP will be on our itinerary soon. My wife has also not seen Yosemite yet. Or Yellowstone for that matter.

Come to think of it I may just buy our NP passes and kick these trips into gear.

Go into RMNP from the Grand Lake side.  Much less congested.  A rafting trip on the Colorado River is a good activity to do.

1 minute ago, mattwill said:

Go into RMNP from the Grand Lake side.  Much less congested.  A rafting trip on the Colorado River is a good activity to do.

Appreciate the tip. Only thing that can ruin NPs for us are the crowds. 

Probably will wait for our baby girl to get a bit older before going in that case. She’s only 8 months and would want her to enjoy the Colorado River.

3 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Same. A RB in the 5th this year should be like grabbing one in the 2nd most years. Hopefully we can add some picks to fill out the mid-to-later rounds with that tremendous void.

The RBs will steal the show for offensive skill positions this draft. There are some good TEs. WRs as a whole stink. Not a bad draft to have AJB & DeVonta on the roster.

I agree in principle, but do feel that Gibbs has a special skill set that will be special in Sirianni’s Offense.

3 minutes ago, mattwill said:

Good friends live in Tauranga.  They took us to Rotorua on a day trip.

Tauranga, never got up there but I heard it's beautiful. Rotorua is interesting it's like a little Yellowstone with all the hot pots and boiling mud, stinky as well from all the sulfur.

They use the mineral water there to make their soda pop, LnP.

I love NZ I'd live there if I could, it's beautiful and I love the people and rugby and just all of it is just awesome.

Going back to see Queenstown and the fjords is on my bucket list, maybe one of these days I'll get back.

Just now, mattwill said:

I agree in principle, but do feel that Gibbs has a special skill set that will be special in Sirianni’s Offense.

He offers something better than any other RB in the draft but I am hesitant. We only threw to RBs 10% of the time last year. Not sure if this is due to the embarrassment of riches at WR & TE, the lack of a good enough receiving back, or both. I really want a RB who can play all 3 downs and take some of the hits away from Hurts - especially on down and short. I’ve heard Gibbs isn’t the best pure runner but to be fair I haven’t watched him play enough to say for sure.

14 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

At least the 107 is dry heat. 107 in Austin? Forget about it. Find the nearest natural spring and don’t get out until night.

Yup I really struggle with the humidity, I actually stayed in Austin 1 summer when I was a kid my dad was working there for the summer so he took is all, I was only like 8 years old but I remember how humid it got and I was like what fresh hell is this, I do much better with the dry heat as well.

13 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Theres really something about that sandstone landscape 

Agreed

Just now, Utebird said:

Yup I really struggle with the humidity, I actually stayed in Austin 1 summer when I was a kid my dad was working there for the summer so he took is all, I was inky like 8 years old but I remember how humid it got and I was like what fresh hell is this, I do much better with the dry heat as well.

It gets brutal. We’re starting to enter summer. Last summer was especially brutal. I’m not sure I can recall a day below 100 between May-October.

1 minute ago, Texas Eagle said:

He offers something better than any other RB in the draft but I am hesitant. We only threw to RBs 10% of the time last year. Not sure if this is due to the embarrassment of riches at WR & TE, the lack of a good enough receiving back, or both. I really want a RB who can play all 3 downs and take some of the hits away from Hurts - especially on down and short. I’ve heard Gibbs isn’t the best pure runner but to be fair I haven’t watched him play enough to say for sure.

The lack of a good enough RB receiver is my belief.  However, it might be the embarrassment of riches.

8 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

It gets brutal. We’re starting to enter summer. Last summer was especially brutal. I’m not sure I can recall a day below 100 between May-October.

That sounds bad, it gets humid here in KS in the summer more so than UT at least but I imagine Austin is like x10 more than here.

We actually just got back from Texas, went down to Surfside beach just out side of Galveston, rented a little beach house right on the beach took my kids to see the ocean, it was fun, we drove, went through Dallas on the way there, my wife told me to stop saying Dallas sucks the whole drive through 😄 lots of big trucks with their stupid blue stars on them probably not too happy with my eagles license plate holder...

Wasn't too humid yet though in Surfside nor too busy so we missed the heat and the crowds.

Must be tough being an eagles fan in Texas.

17 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Appreciate the tip. Only thing that can ruin NPs for us are the crowds. 

Probably will wait for our baby girl to get a bit older before going in that case. She’s only 8 months and would want her to enjoy the Colorado River.

If you go to Yosemite first make sure its open, and then get a reservation, you can drive through it without one but last I checked they are on a lottery system to stay in the park.

As for Colorado id suggest checking out Valley of the Gods as well, it's beautiful, red Rock with lots  of green vegetation makes for a picturesque contrast.

Yellowstone is cool, gets real busy though, try to go in the off-season to avoid bigger crowds.

34 minutes ago, Utebird said:

That sounds bad, it gets humid here in KS in the summer more so than UT at least but I imagine Austin is like x10 more than here.

We actually just got back from Texas, went down to Surfside beach just out side of Galveston, rented a little beach house right on the beach took my kids to see the ocean, it was fun, we drove, went through Dallas on the way there, my wife told me to stop saying Dallas sucks the whole drive through 😄 lots of big trucks with their stupid blue stars on them probably not too happy with my eagles license plate holder...

Wasn't too humid yet though in Surfside nor too busy so we missed the heat and the crowds.

Must be tough being an eagles fan in Texas.

Have yet to be to Galveston or any beach close to it. Usually we go to Port Aransas or make the trek down to South Padre Island if we go to Texas beaches. Heading to Galveston for the first time next month for a cruise.

Not too bad being an Eagles fan here in Austin. Very few native Texans you come across these days. Very much a transplant city with the tech and everything. Actually two good Eagles bars that draw a lot of birds fans. For the SB they actually had to close a road (not major but still) as they threw a huge SB party in the bar and throughout the parking lot/street.

6 hours ago, Doc S. said:

Thank you for taking the time.

Nice read.

thanks for the positive.  I've been thinking about it more. 

https://ras.football/ras-compare/?&p1=12072&p2=20197&pos=WR

Watkins v Mariota Ras compare.
Mariota has a big advantage in agility,  3 cone, shuttle.   Mariota has a Ras, as a WR, of 9.5

I don't like 3 WRs on the line, plus TE.   I'd rather have 3 backs in the backfield.  Left Halfback, Fullback, Quarterback.  That's the way it was for quite a few years.  Right now, there are only 2 positions that have question marks as to who the starter is,  slot/wr3/te2/fb and running back.   I'd put Mariota in one of those 3 back spots.   He's practiced throwing to AJ Brown.   The versatile back.  The Eagles have a lot of players they could rotate into the versatile back slot.   Cam Jurgens is someone I wanted doing that, in a Patrick Ricard type role.  You can give backup OLs snaps either there, or put them in for any of the starters, and move the starter to the versatile back slot.  I'd like to see innovation from that spot.  But have the OLs run for a TD.   Have them in the backfield pushing.  Fletcher Cox expressed interest in playing offense.   There's really a long list of players that could take turns at versatile back.  I think they'd like it.  If the function of slot wr is to distract defenses to make it easy for 3 star pass catchers, any of these versatile backs will make it easier, maybe not in the same way.   Jordan Davis.   Jordan Davis in motion before the snap.  Is the defense going to think,  just ignore that, it's eye candy?    

 

2 minutes ago, Utebird said:

If you go to Yosemite first make sure its open, and then get a reservation, you can drive through it without one but last I checked they are on a lottery system to stay in the park.

As for Colorado id suggest checking out Valley of the Gods as well, it's beautiful, red Rock with lots  of green vegetation makes for a picturesque contrast.

Yellowstone is cool, gets real busy though, try to go in the off-season to avoid bigger crowds.

The holdup with Yosemite thus far has been every time I either try to package it into another trip or head there on its own, the lodging is insanely expensive and reasonable accommodations seem like hours away. Maybe I’m also looking last minute and that’s the consequence.