A colorimetric breathalyzer that can catch a popular cannabis component within minutes has been developed by a VCU professor.
Emanuele Alves, an assistant forensic science professor at VCU, teamed up with Wagner Pacheco, a postdoctoral fellow from the Universidade Federal Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro, to work on the device.
“Our goal is to be able to detect THC in exhaled air, and our idea is to create a test that we can give a fast result in a range of concentrations that is similar to what we see in alcohol breathalyzers,” Alves said.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive component found in cannabis, also known as marijuana. If THC is detected, the device will change colors, like an at-home COVID-19 test or “pH papers,” Alves said.
“The nice catch about that device we are developing, it’s able to give negative results for CBD if only THC is present and vice versa,” Alves said.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is found in hemp and is a part of the cannabis family, but does not have psychoactive effects like THC. CBD is oftentimes sold in smoke shops, gas stations and hemp stores in Virginia, yet its legality varies state by state.
The device produces different colors when THC or CBD is present, so it doesn’t have the problem of giving a false positive, according to Alves.
“The goal of this device is to improve road safety. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I want to put everybody in jail,’ it’s not that, but at least people should be conscious,” Alves said.
The VCU professor received threats after she did an interview on TV about her work on the breathalyzer.
“I was kind of upset about it,” Alves said. “My husband was truly upset and he was afraid,” Alves said.
Alves said the pair is not working on the breathalyzer to judge impairment.
“There are other groups working in impairments and THC, ” Alves said. “How the legislation, law enforcement, policies are going to be using — it’s not our goal to determine — I’m not working on this to determine if a person is impaired or not.”
Virginians do not view mairjuana-impaired driving as more risky than other dangerous behaviors, according to research. Sixty percent of Virginians view texting as “extremely dangerous,” 49% for alcohol-impaired driving and just 26% for cannabis-influenced driving, according to a recent survey conducted by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, or CCA.
The researcher said there are several studies that need to happen to make the connection between impairment and THC side effects.
“However, I would like people to be conscious that if you use marijuana there is a possibility of you to be impaired — so don’t drive, because you can be caught,” Alves said. “I’m not against or in favor, I never used drugs and I don’t judge who use drugs, it’s not my business.”
Nature Scientific Reports data states that detection of THC in exhaled breath and blood does not directly correlate with recent cannabis consumption or impairment, according to a report by the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML.
“NORML has long argued against the expansion of drug detection testing and has instead opined in favor of the greater use of performance-based tests,” said JM Pedini, NORML’s development director who also serves as executive director of the state chapter, Virginia NORML.
There are products available today like DRUID and AlertMeter that measure a person’s impairment, according to Pedini.
Virginia’s cannabis laws have wavered in the past two years under the GOP-controlled House and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration.
Cannabis possession became legal in July 2021 with hopes of recreational sales by 2024. Individuals 21 years old and older can possess up to one ounce in public and may grow no more than four plants in their residence. However, cannabis consumption is illegal in public and while driving, according to the CCA.
“It’s entirely possible that the outcome of the November election will influence the direction of cannabis policy in Virginia,” Pedini said. “Retail sales for adult use have yet to be enacted, directly because of the Youngkin administration’s opposition in doing so.”
Former Gov. Ralph Northam and the Democrat-led legislator pushed for decriminalization and recreational sales. Youngkin has vowed for tighter regulation on Virginia’s hemp industry, according to Richmond Times Dispatch .
Joseph Guthrie, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services told the Daily Progress that Youngkin was not interested in legalizing recreational use of marijuana.
The research pair hopes the first prototype is completed by 2025.
Roseville Today News, Business, Travel & Entertainment
Folsom’s Premier Concert & Entertainment Venue
Folsom, Calif.- The renowned Harris Center is gaining steam heading into the holiday season with an exciting schedule of entertainment on tap. Tickets often sell out quickly for holiday events and concerts, so plan accordingly!
Easily accessible from the Sacramento and Placer region, the Harris Center has become one of the region’s premier showcases for world and local music along with popular favorites. Intimate venue boasts excellent audio, seating and visuals in modern theatre atmosphere.
The Harris Center’s proximity to Roseville and ease of access make it a convenient and hassle free entertainment destination any night of the week.
Harris Center 2023
Oct 6: Queen of the Night- Remembering Whitney
Oct 12: Jesse Cook
Oct 14: Emerald Extravaganza
Oct 15: Face Vocal Band
Oct 25: Student Showcase
Oct 29: Great Composers Chamber Music Series
Nov 19: David Shannon
Nov 20: Nashville Songwriters
Nov 21: The 55th Anniversary of the Beatles White Album
Nov 25: Bee Gees Gold
Nov 26: Queen of Motown
Nov 28: Mannheim Steamroller
Nov 30: Nathan Pacheco Christmas
Dec 1: Cirque Music Holiday Wonderland
Dec 2- 3: Holiday Pops
Dec 7: Fall 2023 Nutcracker Reimagined
Dec 9 & 10: Happy Holidays Symphony
Dec 14- 17: The Nutcracker
Dec 18: Irish Christmas
Dec 21: High Voltage Holiday Celebration
Dec 22: A Master Singers Christmas
Harris Center 2024
Jan 5: Zep Live: the Led Zeppelin Concert Experience
Jan 7: Chamber Music Series
Jan 10- 13: Jesus Christ Superstar
Jan 14: Collision of Rhythm
Mar 9 – 10: Big Band Pops
Mar 17: Key of G Live!
April 21: Black Market Trust
may 9- 12: The Cher Show
For a complete list of shows, times, ticket availability and additional entertainment options, visit https://www.harriscenter.net
Skewed data was used to determine the impact of the EU’s renewable energy directive, a scientific paper has claimed, raising questions about the model and process employed by the European Commission to assess policy options for transport decarbonisation, including for fuels.
Published in the scientific journal Fuels, the paper examines the so-called Price-induced market equilibrium system (PRIMES) model used by the European Commission to simulate the impact of proposed policies.
The PRIMES model provides a projection of future energy demand and supply, as well as prices and emissions under different scenarios. It was used in part to determine the impact of the Renewable Energy Directive, a key piece of EU legislation, which contains strict sustainability criteria for the production of biofuels.
The research, led by Dr Zoltán Szabó, a sustainability consultant with biofuel company Ethanol Europe, devised a PRIMES model with revised assumptions using the “latest available market and industry data”.
One of the key differences was the inclusion of co-products in the generation of biofuels.
When ethanol is distilled, protein feed is produced as a co-product. This is typically used to feed animals, preventing the need for animal fodder imports or additional land cultivation.
However, the Commission’s calculations did not include the climate impact of having a domestic supply of high-protein animal feed.
Once the new parameters were used, the model produced significantly different results.
While the Commission’s modelling found that the carbon abatement cost of ethanol is in the range of about 220–390 EUR/tCO2eq, the revised modelling found that crop-based bioethanol has negative abatement costs.
Electromobility, which was absent from the Commission’s impact assessment, was found to be in the range of 100–150 EUR/tCO2eq.
The paper concludes that “transport plans presented to the [European Commission] were not backed by underlying cost assessments”, which runs the risk that “transport decarbonisation efforts in the EU may become unnecessarily costly”.
The production of bioethanol in Europe has led to greater yields of animal fodder than fuel in 2021, new figures show – further evidence that biofuels can also contribute to food stability, according to the industry.
Black box
Exactly how the PRIMES model works is not known – specifics are not made public, with the model considered a “black box”.
The modelling is carried out for the European Commission by E3Modelling, a private company closely linked with the Technical University of Athens.
A request for comment from E3Modelling was not returned.
Energy campaigners have long questioned the Commission’s use of PRIMES, criticising the secretive nature of the model.
“The list of what PRIMES misses isn’t short: its electric vehicle battery prices were insanely high, with values for 2030 and 2050 above current market values,” according to Transport and Environment (T&E), a clean mobility group.
“When we don’t know the details of what goes in, it is impossible to ensure that what comes out is a good reflection of a sustainable future transport sector,” T&E’s Carlos Calvo Ambel wrote back in 2018.
Despite the criticism, the Commission maintains confidence in the PRIMES model as a good analytical tool, pointing out that modelling is just one element in developing impact assessments, as the final document is also shaped by input from stakeholder consultation.
It’s understood that data for the PRIMES model is based on the EU Reference Scenario 2020, an analysis tool which draws information from national energy and climate plans and consultations with experts.
Joao Pacheco, a former deputy director-general in the European Commission’s agriculture directorate who is now advisor at think-tank Farm Europe, said that the information presented in the scientific paper calls into question the validity of impact assessments done by Brussels.
“All the wrong assumptions and old data put together give a completely distorted picture of the greenhouse gas savings achieved by biofuels and their costs,” he said.
“The EU’s policymaking gets distorted. The EU’s economy loses, farmers lose, consumers lose, the climate loses,” he added.
Pacheco said that the reputation of the Commission has been damaged by the flawed impact assessments and asserted the Renewable Energy Directive should be reviewed as a matter of priority.
“It is now time to reassess what has been proposed,” he said.
‘Maladministration’
Ethanol Europe, meanwhile, presented the Fuels study as a “clear-cut case of maladministration” by the Commission.
“The PRIMES model has been the backbone of all Renewable Energy Directive-related impact assessments and policy justifications for 15 years, and all of Europe had to assume since the inner workings of the PRIMES model were kept secret, that the model was fit for purpose,” said Eric Sievers, director of Ethanol Europe.
“However, now we know that the model and the Renewable Energy Directive are, and always have been, completely at odds with each other.”
Sievers branded the PRIMES methodology “indefensible from a scientific standpoint”.
Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides defended the key points of the EU executive’s proposal to re-approve the contentious herbicide glyphosate, signalling that the expected tweaks to the text at this point are likely to be relatively minor.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy, announcing that the House of Representatives will pursue an impeachment inquiry, suggested that the probe will hinge in part on deceiving the American public about Hunter Biden’s foreign business ventures.
“President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family’s foreign business deals,” McCarthy said at a press conference. GOP lawmakers, he added, have “uncovered credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct.”
Such an investigation will likely force an examination of the public narrative regarding Hunter Biden’s consulting deals that go back at least a decade. During President Obama’s second term, then-Vice President Joe Biden was the administration’s point man on the nation’s policy toward Ukraine, a perch he used to urge the country to resist “the cancer of corruption” and enact sweeping ethics reforms.
At the time, some American journalists began to question whether the vice president’s stern message was undermined by his son Hunter Biden’s employment at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, which was owned by a notorious local oligarch.
Emails on Hunter’s laptop reveal that the inquiries sparked an internal debate within his team of consultants and public relations agents. Ultimately, they devised a series of responses about Hunter’s work with Burisma that were, at best, misleading and, at worst, outright falsehoods.
The Biden team has constructed a careful image of Hunter Biden’s business ventures, sometimes employing a sophisticated myth-making operation aided by allies in the media who rarely challenged or investigated their false claims. The laptop emails show that the team closely monitored critical reporting and pushed to shape coverage with reporters from the New York Times, Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press.
Their spin informed much of the ensuing coverage in the mainstream press, defusing the issue, even as President Trump and other Republicans insisted that Ukraine was a hotbed of Biden family corruption. Although he had no background in the energy field and little experience in corporate governance, Hunter Biden, who had a law degree, was appointed to the board of Burisma in May 2014.
Washington Post
It was revealed later that he was paid about $1 million per year – as was his business partner Devon Archer. In a press release announcing his appointment, Hunter Biden is quoted as saying, “I believe that my assistance in consulting the Company on matters of transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities will contribute to the economy and benefit the people of Ukraine.”
That same month, journalist Michael Scherer reached out with questions about the arrangement.
Several consultants employed by Burisma, including Ryan Toohey of FTI Consulting and Heather King, a partner at the law firm Boies, Schiller, & Flexner, where Hunter worked as counsel, strategized over how to respond to Scherer, a reporter then with Time magazine who has since joined the Washington Post.
For the Scherer inquiry, laptop emails show, Hunter’s business associates settled on a strategy to deflect the most direct questions and obfuscate the true intent of Burisma’s attempts to sway U.S. government officials.
One of Hunter’s associates noted that they planned to respond to Scherer’s attempts to reach David Leiter, a former aide to then-Secretary of State John Kerry, hired to work for Burisma. The plan was to use an assistant to make Leiter “unavailable to comment, as opposed to some sort of statement that made it seem like we were unwilling or refusing to engage with the reporter.” Leiter, the emails show, was in fact available, but the public relations team wanted to keep him out of reach.
FTI Consulting
Scherer wanted to know why Burisma was on a hiring spree of well-connected American lobbyists, including Leiter and others. In response, Toohey planned to tell Scherer that the hired guns were simply working on issues related to energy independence, economic growth, as well as “transparency and good governance.”
In response to other questions posed by Scherer, Toohey prepared a statement claiming that Hunter Biden will “not be engaged with the U.S. government” on anything related to Burisma.
The response belied a detailed lobbying agenda spelled out in other emails.
Burisma had made clear that the company had hired Leiter, Hunter Biden, and other political operatives as part of a focused plan to obtain Burisma owner Mykola Zlochevsky a U.S. visa as well as to persuade American officials to intervene with Ukrainian government officials to drop an investigation of his business interests.
In a May 2014 email, Vadym Pozharskyi, a close adviser to Zlochevsky, explained to Hunter that he needed his “advice on how you could use your influence to convey a message/signal, etc. to stop what we consider to be politically motivated actions,” a reference to an ongoing investigation of Zlochevsky by Ukrainian prosecutors.
That month, Pozharskyi again wrote to Hunter, spelling out the “working plan for both FTI and David,” reiterating that he wanted the lobbyists to intervene against the “politically motivated proceedings initiated against us in Ukraine” and to overcome the “US entry ban” for the Burisma owner.
“The immediate plan is to reach out to the Energy and Ukraine desks, respectively, at State Dept,” wrote Heather King, the attorney working closely with Hunter Biden at the time. “That will include outreach to Carlos Pascual, he is the top US energy diplomat,” she added.
Scherer printed the denials, but to his credit, reported on the odd circumstances surrounding Biden’s hiring, at a time when Joe Biden was the Obama administration’s point person for Ukraine, with a special focus on energy policy in the region.
In many cases, Hunter Biden’s associates cast him as simply an auditor with a special focus on renewable energy sourced from geothermal vents. That was the strategy in response to an inquiry from Stephen Braun, a reporter for the Associated Press. “Mr. Biden will not lobby on behalf of Burisma. His role is to advise the company’s legal and compliance unit, including guidance on corporate governance standards.”
Behind the scenes, Hunter Biden’s team knew otherwise. In emails conferring over how to deal with Braun’s questions, one lobbyist reiterated the plan to provide Braun with “minimum information.”
Like many other articles from this time, the AP story focused on the conflict of interest issues, noting the denials around any lobbying with a degree of skepticism:
Stephen Braun, AP: The plan was to provide him with “minimum information.”
AP/YouTube
A former Washington lobbyist, the vice president’s son is effectively exempt from most rules that would require him to describe publicly the legal work he does on behalf of Burisma.
Hunter Biden will not lobby for the company, said Lawrence Pacheco, an official with FTI Consulting, a Washington government affairs company recently hired by Burisma.
Pacheco did not say whether Biden might oversee or advise on any future Burisma lobbying strategy in the U.S. Pacheco said the company “does not take positions on political matters.”
Braun could not be reached for comment. Scherer declined an opportunity to comment on the Hunter Biden emails. Biden, Toohey, and King did not respond to a request for comment.
However, the emails clearly indicate that substantial resources were allocated to managing both Burisma and Hunter’s personal image. Pozharskyi pointed out that Burisma had retained American consultants to reach out to “the most reputable European and American journalists/newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs,” while assistance was required to handle Wikipedia, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other online platforms. Burisma, wrote Pozharskyi, sought a “detailed algorithm on how the Company should act in case of bad publicity.” The effort included scrubbing negative details from Hunter Biden’s Wikipedia, while bolstering the online credentials of Burisma, emails show.
A highly focused effort to monitor and shape news media coverage helped maintain the public profile. Even with relatively low visibility, independent media were closely watched. Hunter and his team monitored Vice News as well as the gadfly website ZeroHedge. In response to critical reporting from Vice, one colleague noted approvingly that the article was not being “reposted or republished” in Ukrainian media.
In July 2014, Toohey circulated an investigative piece I wrote for Salon about Hunter Biden’s hiring at Burisma, which noted that the vice president’s son had been retained amid a string of nepotistic hires likely aimed at influencing natural gas and energy policy.
In the article, I noted that Joe Biden had traveled to Ukraine to “announce a $50 million aid package that included technical support for increasing the country’s natural gas production – an investment that could bolster profits at Burisma Holdings, where his son is a director.” What was not known at the time, however, was that Hunter Biden was already working with a team of public affairs consultants to channel U.S. government technical assistance to his client.
The laptop emails show that even this relatively brief mention of Hunter Biden and a potential conflict of interest with his father raised concerns.
“All, please see below a piece that mentions Hunter’s appointment as part of a broader trend, mostly within the context of relatives of eleceds [sic] engaged to lobby for the energy industry,” wrote Toohey, attaching a copy of the text of my piece. But, he added, “This was a freelanced piece picked up in a number of web-based outlets including Salon, but nothing with significant reach.”
Pozharskyi replied that he had seen the piece earlier and “wanted to have a discussion in this regard.”
In some cases, the team celebrated media coverage that elevated its desired narrative. Politico reported Hunter’s hiring at Burisma and simply printed quotes from the company’s official statements:
“The company’s strategy is aimed at the strongest concentration of professional staff and the introduction of best corporate practices, and we’re delighted that Mr. Biden is joining us to help us achieve these goals,” Alan Apter, Burisma Holdings’ chairman of the board of directors, said in a statement, which was reported by The Moscow Times on Tuesday.
Biden, joining the board, will be in charge of the legal unit, the company said. He will also provide support for Burisma Holdings “among international organizations.”
Biden said the company will help strengthen Ukraine’s economy.
Pozharskyi circulated a link to the Politico article to Hunter and his associates, noting the “positive coverage.”
Slowking4/Wikimedia
Hunter’s membership on the Burisma board received renewed attention in late 2015, as then-Vice President Biden was set to visit Ukraine where he planned to address the parliament on the need to adopt new reforms against a culture of corruption in the country. James Risen of the Times, among others, renewed inquiries directed toward Hunter and his associates about the rationale behind his appointment to the company, Burisma, and why the company appeared to be buying access to high levels of government.
In one email found on Hunter’s laptop, Risen asked, “What lobbying activities is the company engaged in the US?” among other questions to Hunter Biden. In response, a Burisma spokesperson straightforwardly claimed that “no one is lobbying on their behalf.”
The company’s lobbying efforts were not covered in the story ultimately published by the New York Times, which featured Risen’s piece on Dec. 8, 2015. The article included a statement from the Hunter Biden team, crafted by the strategy firm FTI Consulting, asserting that the company’s focus was on “corporate governance and transparency.”
Risen’s article did not address whether Hunter’s business career demonstrated such expertise or his lack of experience in the energy field. Although Risen identified Hunter as “a former Washington lobbyist,” he accepted the denial that no lobbying was involved.
In reality, just a month prior to the email exchange with the Times, Burisma, following Hunter Biden’s advice, had hired Blue Star Strategies, a Democratic lobbying firm, to influence the Obama administration. A copy of the agreement, belatedly filed with the Justice Department, reveals that the firm, which aided in lobbying State Department officials on Ukrainian energy policy, received a monthly retainer of $30,000.
Blue Star Strategies was even copied on the emails with the Hunter Biden team on its response plan to Risen.
Risen also allowed a Burisma spokesman to decline to state Hunter’s compensation while claiming it was “not out of the ordinary” for such board positions. It was later disclosed that he was paid about $1 million per year, which is far higher than the typical compensation. As a point of comparison, median annual compensation of board members at Fortune 500 companies is around $110,000.
Risen, now with The Intercept, did not respond to a request for comment.
Blue Star Strategies
Political operatives of all ideological backgrounds frequently manipulate public perception – often employing specialized “crisis communication” firms to suppress negative coverage and shape desired narratives. What is remarkable about the Hunter Biden episode is how successful it was, and how uncritically most media organizations treated this unorthodox relationship between a president’s son and a controversial foreign corporation.
In response to the Wall Street Journal, Toohey worked closely with Blue Star Strategies’ Sally Painter and Karen Tramontano to craft a message defusing questions around a conflicting message between Hunter and his father. They settled on a strategy of presenting the Ukrainian gig as perfectly “aligned” with an anti-corruption agenda, laptop emails show. The lobbyists suggested that they release a statement to the Journal claiming that Hunter’s work for the Ukrainian energy giant, to supposedly strengthen corporate governance, are “also goals the United States.”
The Journal printed the statement, attributing it to a spokesperson.
LinkedIn
Such coverage – which suggested Hunter Biden had engaged in questionable but ultimately harmless behavior that did not involve, much less implicate, his father – set the narrative for most coverage in mainstream outlets. When President Trump told Ukraine’s president in 2018 that “there’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son” and asked him to look into Joe Biden’s demand that the prosecutor looking into Burisma be fired, Democrats moved to impeach him.
The Biden spin continued even after the New York Post published the first articles based on material from Hunter’s laptop in October 2020. The Washington Post’s fact checker, Glenn Kessler, sought to discredit the New York Post’s reporting that Hunter Biden had arranged a dinner meeting between his Ukrainian associates at Burisma and his father when he served as vice president. At the time, the Biden presidential campaign claimed that it “reviewed Joe Biden’s official schedules from the time, and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place.” Kessler reiterated this denial as though it were an established fact.
It turned out to be false. The July testimony by former Hunter Biden associate Devon Archer confirmed that Hunter Biden had arranged a secret dinner with his Ukrainian business partner and his father, as the New York Post had originally reported. The ongoing saga over the Washington Post’s role in discrediting the Biden revelations was detailed last month by RealClearInvestigation’s Paul Sperry.
Also last month, Washington Post columnist Philip Bump, who has dismissed any hint of scandal regarding Biden business dealings, appeared on Live at the Table, a podcast hosted by Noam Dworman, the owner of New York City’s Comedy Cellar. The show went viral as Dworman challenged Bump’s claims that there was “no evidence” of wrongdoing by Joe Biden.
In a heated exchange, Bump conceded that Hunter Biden’s text messages that claim, “unlike pop, I won’t make you give me half your salary,” was one form of “evidence.” Moments later, Bump ended the interview and walked off the set.
The interaction provided a rare moment of visible accountability for the establishment press, which has largely followed the Biden spin for an entire decade on this issue.
Yet the White House is still hoping it can still instruct journalists on how to cover the story. Shortly after McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry announcement, President Biden’s White House staff circulated a memo, instructing media outlets on how to cover the news. In bold type, the memo claimed that the entire Hunter Biden conflict of interest scandal had been “refuted” and “debunked” – language that was adopted in media reports about the inquiry in Vox, NBC News and CNN.
Lee Fang is an independent journalist based in San Francisco. He writes an investigative newsletter on Substack via www.leefang.com.
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Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for the Dancing With the Stars Season 32.]
The ballroom turned into a fun fiesta for “Latin Night” on Dancing with the Stars. After Veepstar Matt Walsh and his pro-Koko Iwasaki were sent home during the premiere, the remaining 13 couples were tasked to learn routines that celebrated Latin heritage.
Hours before showtime, it was announced that Charity Lawson‘s pro partner Artem Chigvintsev tested positive for COVID and had to sit out the show. Dance troupe member Ezra stepped in as partner with The Bachelorette. Helping set the tone for the evening was a caliente dance routine to the sounds of Rosalia’s “Despechá”, choreographed by pros Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov.
Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Toniolli, and Derek Hough then gave their critiques and scores. Unfortunately, the party was over for another star. Combining the judges’ scores with viewer voting, Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro announced Jamie Lynn Spears and Alan Bersten were going home. A real shocker considering how much potential and fan following she had. Adrian Peterson and Britt Stewart rounded out the bottom two.
Which celebs brought the fire during week 2? Find out below.
Lele Pons & Brandon Armstrong
Dance: Samba to “Gasolina” — Daddy Yankee Score: 21
The Venezuelan was in her element alongside partner Brandon Armstrong.
Tyson Beckford & Jenna Johnson
Dance: Salsa to “Aguanilé” — Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe
Score: 18
The model and actor wanted to represent his Panamanian roots. This lift master redeemed himself after a bottom-three performance last week.
Barry Williams & Peta Murgatroyd
Dance: Cha-cha-cha to “Oye Cómo Va” — Tito Puente
Score: 15
The 69-year-old was challenged by Peta to unlock his “dirty” side. “Bad” Brady BunchBarry slipped a little bit in performance from judges’ scores. Were they a little hard on the TV star?
Adrian Peterson & Britt Stewart
Dance: Samba to “Taki Taki” — DJ Snake, feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B
Score: 15
The NFL player worked on replacing the scowl with a joyful smile. Smiles were there, but the moves weren’t listening to the judges.
Mira Sorvino & Gleb Savchenko
Dance: Salsa to “Bailando” — Enrique Iglesias
Score: 18
The Academy Award-winner danced in honor of a late friend who taught her salsa. Judges see potential but want some more attack and confidence.
Xochitl Gomez & Val Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Salsa to “Don’t Go Yet” — Camila Cabello
Score: 24
The Marvel star revealed a fear of heights, which could create challenges on the dance floor. But not for her apparently as she shined. Carrie Ann said salsa is her superpower.
Ariana Madix & Pasha Pashkov
Dance: Samba to “Me Porto Bonito” — Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone
Score: 20
The Vanderpump Rules was aiming for 8s this week and took on some more difficult choreography to get there. Derek appreciated the samba roll. However, the judges overall saw some missteps.
Mauricio Umansky & Emma Slater
Dance: Salsa to “Quimbara” — Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Johnny Pacheco Y Su Charanga
Score: 12
The real estate mogul looked to rebound from the bottom two and represent Mexico proudly. Sadly, he lost his footing. Judges gave him props for how he kept going.
Alyson Hannigan & Sasha Farber
Dance: Tango to “Can’t Remember to Forget You” — Shakira, feat. Rihanna
Score: 19
The TV and movie star worked on bringing out passion and sensuality. For the judges, it was mission accomplished.
Charity Lawson & Ezra Sousa
Dance: Cha-cha-cha to “She Bangs” — Ricky Martin
Score: 21
With Artem out, Charity had to work with a different partner while hoping to stay at the top of the leaderboard. It wasn’t the top but still among the high scores.
Harry Jowsey & Rylee Arnold
Dance: Salsa to “Arranca” — Becky G, feat. Omega
Score: 15
The social media and reality star concentrated on nailing down those moves. The judges saw some improvement.
Jamie Lynn Spears & Alan Bersten
Dance: Cha-cha-cha to “Shake Señora” — Pitbull, feat. T-Pain & Sean Paul
Score: 16
Jamie Lynn channeled a sexy side and aimed to come out of her comfort zone. Despite timing issues and some mistakes, the judges could see more confidence. But ultimately it proved not to be enough.
Jason Mraz & Daniella Karagach
Dance: Rumba to “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás” — Andrea Bocelli, feat. Jennifer Lopez
Score: 24
The Grammy winner was feeling the pressure after setting a high bar during the premiere. He closed out the show on a high note. Mraz’s hips don’t lie. He tied with Xochitl at the top of the leaderboard.
Dancing with the Stars, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+
(Chandler, AZ) The Pima Community College women’s soccer team (4-4-2, 3-2-2 in ACCAC) traveled to Chandler-Gilbert Community College (1-6-1, 1-5-1) on Saturday for an ACCAC conference matchup. The Aztecs and the Coyotes played 90 minutes and finished in a scoreless tie. The tie game snapped Pima’s three-game winning streak. Sophomore Adriana Pacheco (Cienega HS) finished […]
What is a pool but a mere vessel for water? Oh, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the focal point of a canvas on which a painter or a designer can paint a picture of great beauty, using strokes rough and smooth, vertical plantings and horizontal hardscapes.
That’s what the annual Awards of Excellence is all about — not prosaic water vessels, common as rain, but the swimming pools that serve as the functional center of the backyard, providing the sun around which orbit custom spas, water features, rich wood and tile decks, landscapes and lights, outdoor kitchens and cabanas. That’s what lies before you, as we announce the award-winning projects all month long.
Each year, for your visual enjoyment, we celebrate a new chapter in this unfolding artistic development. Look for new ideas of arrangement and bold style statements that can be echoed in your own work. Or just enjoy the lovely pools.
Congratulations to this year’s Gold-winning projects. And stay tuned for Silver next week! Category: Pools with a Vanishing Edge | By: Custom Pool Systems, Coral Gables, Fla.Photo courtesy Michael Ruiz/Daniel Petroni; Become Legendary/Daniel Petroni Photography
CUSTOM POOL SYSTEMS
Coral Gables, Fla.
Decking Material: Stone
Tarpon Isle Mansion is set to become the most expensive home ever sold in the state of Florida, mainly due to it being located on the only private island in Palm Beach; however, the backyard swimming pool also has something to do with its luxurious price. The pool consists of three bodies of water: a main swimming pool, a hot spa and a cold plunge, all of which are perfectly level. The hot spa and cold plunge have the same interior layouts for ease of access and symmetry.
The entire vessel is so large that it had to be supported by 92 individual helical piles. Mosaicist Inc. designed, manufactured and installed custom “lighter palm beach blue” color tone tile with a perimeter border floor inlay to match the decking inlay. This pool is equipped with three of the highest efficiency gas heaters. This property’s elegance is not in any one element, but rather, in its entirety, which includes the swimming pool.
Key team members: Todd Michael Glaser, Developer; Dailey Janssen Architects, Architect; Custom Pool Systems, Contractor; Smart Aquatics, Designer; Mosaicist Inc., Tile Supplier
Category: Pools with a Vanishing Edge | By: Claffey Pools, Southlake, TexasPhoto courtesy Ashley Brewer/Claffey Pools
Decking Material: Shell Beach Pavers
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
This bold backyard design creates a large exercise and entertainment space with plenty of shade from the Texas sun. The infinity-edge pool measures over 70 feet long, and provides alluring views of the lake hidden in the foreground beyond the range of the photo. The customer wanted volleyball and basketball capabilities as well as diving, so designer Erin Kidd drew up the pool to accommodate these sports, and made the oversized hot tub the focal point as you emerge from the house, all in accordance with the customer’s wishes. The project was completed in April of 2022.
Category: Pools with a Vanishing Edge | By: Ike’s Carter Pools, Oakland Park, Fla.Photo courtesy Jimi Smith Photography
IKE’S CARTER POOLS
Oakland Park, Fla.
Decking Material: Aspen White Marble
Pool Interior Finish: Plaster
Incorporated in 1949 as Carter Construction, Ike’s Carter Pools is one of the few builders with more than 70 years in the business, and that experience shows in this subtle yet artistically powerful design/build project. Designer Erik “Ike” Eikevik drew up this lovely seaside entertainment and relaxation mecca which features complementary vertical and horizontal pieces interlocking to present an integrated whole. The backyard setting is framed with an attractive decking pattern, achieved with grass and imbedded 16-by-24-inch Aspen White Marble tiles, surrounding the centerpiece 52-foot vanishing-edge pool which varies from 3 to 5 feet in depth.
Category: Pools with a Vanishing Edge | By: Aquavisions, Mechanicsburg, Pa.Photo courtesy Gary Knaub/Fine Art Photo
Decking Material: Porcelain Tile
Pool Interior Finish: Wet Edge
The scale of this vanishing-edge project is breathtaking, as it includes a 75-foot lap lane catch-basin for the vanishing-edge overflow. And that’s just for starters. The main attraction is the 24 1/2-by-40-foot main pool flanked by fire and surrounded by a spillover spa, intimate grotto, full-featured fire pit, covered outdoor seating and much more. And check out those slab stairs descending to the grounds below — gorgeous! Designer Chadd Jovanelly has created a true masterpiece of backyard aquatic art, framed in porcelain tile. The project was finished in July of last year.
Category: TRADITIONAL By: Texas Pools, The Woodlands, TexasPhoto courtesy Michelle Mondry/One Olive Photography
TEXAS POOLS
Decking Material: Travertine
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
For this Gold-winning, traditional swimming pool, the homeowner asked that designer Paul Oman incorporate a number of Greco- Roman elements. For example, eight columns stand tall alongside one side of the pool, which are topped with three fire elements. In addition, panning down into the pool, a custom glass tile mosaic is visible both from above as well as through a large, acrylic window installed in the sunken sitting area, which is located between two tanning ledges and bridges the gap between the pool and spa.
The design also boasts many opportunities to entertain, including an outdoor kitchen and patio, and for sports lovers, an in- pool basketball hoop and volleyball net, as well as an inground trampoline. At night, waterfalls and laminars are lit to provide a spectacular nightscape in conjunction with the homeowner’s landscape lighting. A long fire table, set inside the sunken sitting area, also helps to illuminate the space at night.
Category: Traditional | By: BACKYARD PARADISE LUXURY POOLS, Montgomery, TexasPhoto courtesy Jimi Smith Photography
BACKYARD PARADISE LUXURY POOLS
Montgomery, Texas
Decking Material: Marine Fantasy – Travertine Versailles Pattern
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
This stunning swimming pool, designed by Mitchell Buckly, is the perfect complement to the accompanying home’s modern architecture. Highlighted by a porcelain inlay around the perimeter of the coping, this pool features a large tanning shelf and gorgeous spa, which is set inside the pool to create a clean reflection look. The Ocean Blue Pebble Tec plaster also helps to showcase a beautiful, mirrored effect. Two columns with matching geometric fire features act as a backdrop to light up the pool at night, and help to entertain family and friends alike, either at the table and seating area in the pool or around it on an abundance of travertine decking.
Category: GEOMETRIC | By: Ike’s Carter Pools, Oakland Park, Fla.Photo courtesy Jimi Smith Photography
Ike’s Carter Pools
Oakland Park, Fla.
Decking Material: Sandblasted Gray Marble
Pool Interior Finish: Plaster
The new owners of this gem from Ike’s Carter Pools in Oakland Park, Fla., have a strong affinity for right angles, and this pool delivers them with cool mathematical precision. The contemporary look, the work of Erik “Ike” Eikevik, extends from the main pool (measuring 46-feet-by-24-feet) to the fire feature and spa, all encased in stunning sandblasted gray marble decking. The lighting design is world class, with just the right level of carefully chosen illumination to present this piece of aquatic art, beautifully photographed by Jimi Smith.
This well-executed project, designed by Scott Barber, boasts a luxurious, geometric swimming pool complete with a raised spa and four bar stools. Three fire bowls — along with ample seating around a fire pit table and intentional landscape and pool lighting— help to make the backyard a stunning nighttime oasis. Lush landscaping provides a finishing touch, giving homeowners the ultimate in-home getaway experience, right inside their secluded courtyard.
Category: ELEVATED POOL AND/OR SPA STRUCTURE | By: Cascade Custom Pools, Austin, TexasPhoto courtesy JP Morales/JPM Real Estate Photography
Decking Material: Wood and Buff Lueder Tile
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
This unique vanishing-edge pool project provides intriguing vantage points to the property due to its position on the second story of the home, an arrangement which also helps integrate the poolscape into the overall structure. The Pebble Tec- finished pool itself measures 30 feet long by 13 feet wide, and varies in depth from 3 1/2 to 6 feet. The deck is a combination of wood on one side, and buff lueder tile on the other side, offering two distinct living spaces as shown in the photo by JP Morales, JPM Real Estate photography.
Category: FIBERGLASS POOLS | By: Aqua Technics Pools, Perth, Western AustraliaPhoto courtesy Patrick Boere Photography
AQUA TECHNICS POOLS
Perth, Western Australia
Decking Material: Honed Aggregate
This homeowner was adamant with Aqua Technics Pools about having a pool and spa combination from the very beginning. This was because the idea of having a hot soak during a chilly winter night was so appealing. A hand dig was required of this project due to limited backyard access. The pool was a part of an extensive backyard renovation, which transformed what was once a plain, unattractive grass area into a stunning outdoor entertaining space. A mix of materials were used to create the contemporary, industrial aesthetic of the home’s architecture. Elements, such as the stone clad feature walls, honed aggregate surrounds and black aluminum fencing all work together to create the desired, modern look.
Designer Scott Barber outdid himself on this massive backyard project. The daring freeform swimming pool features a sunken fire pit that can be entered from a number of different directions: from a stone bridge over the lazy river or from a tanning shelf (one of the total) attached to it.
Designed to give a feeling of luxury and comfort, a large seating area was included, surrounded by picturesque rain curtains, to help the homeowner both entertain and relax. While the children enjoy the massive slide and jumping rock, parents can also unwind in the 360-degree spa. The breathtaking oasis also features an extensive patio, so those looking to stay dry can also join in on the fun.
Decking Material: Unilock Bristol Valley With Copthorne Border
The goal in this project design was to create a private paradise that fit seamlessly with the natural prairie surroundings of the property, while simultaneously appearing modern, something Cori Thiede, the designer, accomplished quite well. The homeowners have multiple children who love the escape and excitement of a backyard swimming pool. Swimming Pool Services further helped build this backyard oasis so that it was both enjoyable and safe. The brick on the house was nicely complimented by using a warm-toned patio color. The rustic modern style was further incorporated through the darker patio accents and the green landscaping.
Category: SCREENED ENCLOSED POOLS | By: Ryan Hughes Design Build, Palm Harbor, Fla.Photo courtesy Ryan Hughes Design
RYAN HUGHES DESIGN BUILD
Palm Harbor, Fla.
Decking Material: Silver Travertine Pavers
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
This project was inspired by a coastal aesthetic, and therefore, was named The Pearl Lounge. It presents a private and protected outdoor living space alongside lush greenery, courtesy of a neighboring nature preserve. This custom designed backyard by Ryan Hughes Design Build offers plenty of opportunities for leisure, dining and entertaining. With multiple levels of interconnected water elements, statement- making fire features and a full outdoor kitchen, the masterful use of elegant glass tile gives this “pearl” its luster.
Category: TECHNICAL/ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT | By: High-Tech Pools, North Olmsted, OhioPhoto courtesy Eric Hanson/Hanson Photography
HIGH-TECH POOLS
Decking Material: Valder Stone
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
This daring swimming pool, designed by Cloonan Design Services and executed by High-Tech Pools (North Olmsted, Ohio), features five bodies of water: the main pool, the catch pool, the climbing pool, the slide pool and the spa — so it’s no wonder this project took home Gold in the “Technical/Engineering Achievement” category.
Before building the pool, High-Tech Pools had to remove an existing pool and cut through feet of solid rock in order to fit the new one pictured, which features a number of unique elements. The main pool, for example, has a vanishing edge on two sides, with the other two sides deck-to-water level. The long, negative edge flows into a catch pool, and the short, negative edge flows into an invisible gutter at the top of the climbing wall, while a weir shoots water down the wall — all while keeping the two bodies of water separate.
The climbing wall pool is its own body of water that flows into the slide pool and provides water for the weir, which makes up the illusion of a short, negative edge spilling into the side pool. This enabled High- Tech Pools to handle water in transit from the upper pools’ negative edge and deck-to-water level without impacting the operations of the climbing pool and slide pool. In addition, the spa is a raised, 360-degree, negative- edge spa that has its own filtration system.
Category: POOL RENOVATIONS | By: AquaTerra Outdoors, Carrollton, TexasPhoto courtesy Jimi Smith, Titus Parham/Jimi Smith Photography
AQUATERRA OUTDOORS
Decking Material: Mastic and Brass
Pool Interior Finish: Plaster
The client wanted to give a fresh breath of life to a plaster pool that had fallen into disrepair, but what made this pool renovation particularly exciting for the crew at AquaTerra Outdoors (Carrollton, Texas) was the broad scope of the work. This project includes not just a custom remodel of the swimming pool and spa, but the addition of LED pool lighting, landscape lighting, and includes the addition of a lounge, landscaping, synthetic turf, fire features and more. What draws the eye is the original and appealing shape of the pool, deck design, the cascading overflow weirs and especially the well-placed sun-shelving. This is a pool where bathers will converse, relax and gaze at the Texas sky listening to the comforting sound of falling water. The image belies the scale of the vessel — it measures 43 feet long and 30 feet wide, and runs 3 feet to 5 and 1/3 feet in depth. This pool was completed in May of last year.
Category: POOLS WITH AUTOMATIC COVERS | By: Claffey Pools, Southlake, TexasPhoto courtesy Jimi Smith Photography
CLAFFEY POOLS
Southlake, Texas
Decking Material: Travertine – Ivory
The pool centerline can be viewed from the home’s family room of this Claffey Pools project. Mike Farley’s design goal was to keep the rectangular pool simple, with walk-on lids for the automatic cover. This blended with the rectangular Travertine pavers for the patio and the porches, which were covered as well to further blend the spaces together. Turf accents created unified geometry of the space and added some landscaping, along with the pots on each column. Additional landscaping provided a buffer from the patio to the retaining wall. The retaining wall used stone to match the house and the cap matched the patio. The fire pit access stairs were centered on the game room doors and placed the fire pit safely out of the tree root zones. Synthetic turf added other activity space at the lower level. Understated gushers provide the sound to complete this tranquil tailored setting.
Category: RECREATION/LEISURE POOLS | By: High-Tech Pools, North Olmsted, OhioPhoto courtesy Eric Hanson/Hanson Photographic
HIGH-TECH POOLS
North Olmsted, Ohio
Pool Interior Finish: Plaster
Sports and splashy activities abound in this unique commercial project by High-Tech Pools in Northeastern Ohio. From the adventurous rope bridge that rewards falling with a deep dive, to the three-sided basketball hoops that allow three times the play within a single space, to the toadstool rain curtain, the pool design incorporates separated areas within a large body of water to maximize functionality. Its broad shelves invite bathers to relax or parents to chat while supervising. This pool provides the local community a chance to play together in a lively, safe space.
Category: Standalone Spas | By: Ozzie Kraft Enterprises, Las Vegas, Nev.Photo courtesy Jimi Smith Photography
OZZIE KRAFT ENTERPRISES
Las Vegas, Nev.
Decking Material: Natural Stone
Pool Interior Finish: Wet Edge
The fundamentals of desert existence are on display in this interlocking spa and fire feature, designed by Dennis Vang of Vangson Consulting. The spa and separate wet deck fountain gleam with Starfall polished interiors and black tile, and the fire pit’s linear black granite all come to life every evening reflecting the dependably gorgeous desert sunsets. The spillways on the zero- edge spa disappear into a slot edge that disappears into subterranean basins, offering the ultimate mirrored surface. (The spa has a glass fence barrier while the wet deck fountain has no barrier as it is less than 18 inch deep.)
Category: SPAS BUILT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SWIMMING POOLS | By: Ryan Hughes Design Build, Palm Harbor, Fla.Photo courtesy Ryan Hughes Design
RYAN HUGHES DESIGN BUILD
Palm Harbor, Fla.
Decking Material: Marble Pavers
Pool Interior Finish: Pebble Tec
Designed for outdoor living features spanning across a large outdoor footprint, Aura Black was crafted by the Ryan Hughes Design Build team as a supreme venue for events and entertainment, all within a protective enclosure. Some elements featured within and around the custom pool are an enticing stepping stone entry, an all-glass infinity- edge spa, a swim-up bar, dual waterfall walls, a massive sunken fire lounge and an outdoor kitchen. Marble, porcelain, and faux turf are used on surfaces throughout Aura Black’s outdoor space.
This delightful installation shows how charming an 8-by-8 portable spa can be in the right setting. Here, composite decking on two sides offers foot-friendly access in a simple, classy design by Nicole Baldree which draws bathers into the space and directs their focus to the lush grounds beyond. A few potted plants and succulents spa-side complete the uncomplicated but inviting picture.
Category: Commercial Water Features | By: Diffazur Piscines, Saint-Laurent-Du-Var, Alpes-MaritimesPhoto courtesy Jean-Claude Vayet/Vision Plus Productions
DIFFAZUR PISCINES
Saint-Laurent-Du-Var, Alpes-Maritimes
Decking Material: Stone
Pool Interior Finish: Plaster
Built for an upscale restaurant on the Côte d’Azur, this beautiful pool brings luxury and elegance to the establishment. Designed by Diffazur Piscines’ artificial rock department, the perfect sphere is set in an elevated square pool, with a four-sided overflow. The black coating and black rim accentuate the spectacular reflection of the sphere and its surroundings. The pool also features all the spectacular builder’s best equipment, such as an integrated automatic cleaning system, a powerful filtration system, salt treatment and a heating system to extend the swimming season.
Category: Residential Water Features | By: The Green Scene Landscaping & Swimming Pools, Los Angeles, Calif.Photo courtesy Irving Pacheco/In View Media
THE GREEN SCENE LANDSCAPING & SWIMMING POOLS
Los Angeles, Calif.
Both the builder, The Green Scene, as well as the designer, Scott Cohen, are immensely proud of the final result of this project because it challenged everyone on their teams to put their expertise to the test and execute a remarkable water feature and backyard. Some of the major role players in this project were landscaping, shotcrete carving, structure design, lighting, outdoor sound, filtration and retaining wall structures.
Category: Competition Pools | By: WATER WORLD WINDOW, Kyiv, UkrainePhoto courtesy Emily Resort
WATER WORLD WINDOW
Kyiv, Ukraine
This project was built by Water World Windows to be a large, competition pool. With incredible panoramic windows, both the internal and external views of the space are mesmerizing. The pool was named after the facility it was built in: Emily Wellness & Spa Center, which is located in the Emily Resort in Ukraine. It is equipped with two pumps, three sand filters and an underwater music system, so synchronized swimmers can partake in their competitions.
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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Ever since the middle of last season, Isiah Pacheco has been the lead running back in the Kansas City Chiefs offense. He has been able to wow with his power, ability to bounce off contact and intense running style. But more importantly, the Rutgers product has begun to gain more trust and can be counted on at any moment within the Chiefs offense. Last week, Pacheco was the biggest difference in Kansas City’s victory. His workload has also been growing, the more that he continues to have success.
Overall, Isiah Pacheco has been seen as the perfect style of running back for this current Chiefs offense. KC has usually leaned on more shifty and nimble rushers under this regime. Yet, this tougher, more hard-nosed running back gives the Chiefs the different kind of pace they need.
Recently, the trends show that the more Isiah Pacheco receives touches, the greater the overall offensive day for Kansas City. With the Chiefs being able to trust him at any moment, they know that the running back can close out any game. Let’s kick it off.
Offensive Teammates Motivated By Young Running Back
To say that Isiah Pacheco gives the Chiefs offense a jolt of energy, that would be an understatement. This is something that can be felt through the screen when watching a Kansas City game live. Whenever he gets in the open field, every step seemingly looks like the first one out of the blocks, so to speak. It must feel like the ground is shaking when Pacheco takes off, while still being able to change direction swiftly and be nimble.
All told, Isiah Pacheco and his play style is being recognized at every turn. That is especially true, given how his offensive teammates talk about him in Kansas City. Chiefs guard Trey Smith discussed the interesting moment where Pacheco did a few push-ups last Sunday and how that was motivating.
“That’s Pop. That’s why we love him,” Smith said. “When you see your back over doing push-ups, I’m like, ‘Damn, I’m a little tired, but I need to block harder for Pop.’ It’s always a good thing when you have an energetic running back.”
Patrick Mahomes was also aware of how much this last game meant to Isiah Pacheco. The New Jersey native was back playing in his home state for the first time in the NFL. Mahomes talked about the added focus of Pacheco last week.
“I could see it from the first snap,” Mahomes stated. “You could see it in his eyes. He did a great job. He made some big runs when we really needed them.”
Andy Reid Recognizes Pacheco’s Immense Impact
In this past game, the running game had to be able to create a spark. Chunk gains were absolutely necessary for the Chiefs to emerge victorious. Given the issues of the passing game and the play of New York’s secondary, the Jets were forced to corral Isiah Pacheco. It was not like their defense was unable to complete run fits or be in position to make stops. Nonetheless, Pacheco was able to find extra, hidden yards on plenty of runs. Head coach Andy Reid was appreciative of his hard running in that Sunday night game.
“Yeah, consistency is what you’re looking for. Obviously, when people know that you’re a good player, you know they’re going to try new things to stop you. So it’s important that the offensive line and tight ends are here on the same page, and they all do their job and make things happen,” Reid said. “But the one thing you’re gonna get from him, he’s gonna go 100 miles an hour and run hard every time he gets an opportunity. Whether he catches it or runs it, he’s going hard.”
Reid also mentioned that Isiah Pacheco is a high-octane player at every moment. This is not limited to only a few moments within a game. Additionally, it has been talked about how intense of a runner Pacheco can be, even in practice.
Able To Be Counted On
We mentioned above, the workload of Isiah Pacheco has been growing. This has been increasing each week so far this season. On one hand, he is having success seemingly every time he touches the rock. Meanwhile, Pacheco has also proved that he can close out games, get those tough yards for necessary first downs and has improved as a pass catcher. That allows for the Kansas City Chiefs offense and coaching staff to lean on him and count on him heavily, as a result.
His rushing attempts went up at least a few times each game this year. His carries went from eight to 12 after Week 2. In Week 3, Isiah Pacheco totaled 15 carries. He finally tallied 20 carries last Sunday. He has averaged 4.91 yards per carry so far this season. And in some games this year, Pacheco generated plus rushing yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. That is based on the difference between actual rushing yards and expected rushing yards on an individual play.
If those strong results continue for Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs offense can begin to churn out games in a variety of ways. That is crucial as the season gets deeper for Kansas City. When you look at opponents on the schedule late in the season, the Chiefs will continue to trust Pacheco to be a major difference maker.
Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.
