Blindsided: Why the Left Tackle is Overrated (1 Viewer)

[Chase Stuart]

Anyone read this? http://www.amazon.com/Blindsided-Overrated...s/dp/0470124091

Or:

Next Man Up by John Feinstein: http://www.amazon.com/Next-Man-Up-Behind-T...941&sr=1-42

Or:

The Birth of the New NFL: How the 1966 NFL/AFL Merger Transformed Pro Football: http://www.amazon.com/Birth-New-NFL-Transf...4053&sr=1-2

 

[dotman]

I read Next Man Up, enjoyed it.

 

[Sweet Love]

I read Next Man Up, enjoyed it.

I read that too and enjoyed it (although at the moment I can't remember much about it). My son's best friend's father wrote "On Being Brown" (which I have yet to read) which is by Scott Huler. From what he told me it is a book about the Borwns, but really about the fans and how they embrace the team and the culture of being a Browns fan. I watched a few games with him this fall and he is very knowledgable for a guy who has no interest in Fantasy (not that he looks down on it). I guess I am always surprised when I meet an NFL who knows what they are talking about, but is not into Fantasy.He wrote a Nascar book back in 1997 called "A Little Bit Sideways" and I really am not into NASCAR at all, but I had a hard time putting the book down.

 

[Black]

Anyone read this? http://www.amazon.com/Blindsided-Overrated...s/dp/0470124091

I read this one and it was more of a collection of essays, possibly from his ESPN postings (or just stuff knocking around in his head that he wanted to get out).

I was a bit disappointed, in that it was not cohesive, and basically would take a premise ("The Steel Curtain was the best DEF of all time"), make some (somewhat) arbitrary assumptions or parameters, then prove it and post the spreadsheets. Seems like most 'commentary' basically could be surmised from reading his spreadsheets. I felt like the chapters could have been condensed into a page or two and got the same point across.

I have subscribed to KC's stuff in season (primarily his rankings/ratings of WRs, CBs, etc.) and like the idea of the number crunching, but I'm not sure this book is the right vehicle for his findings.

 

[Drop]

As far as his evaluation of the left tackle, I don't see his research as being scientific or his conclusions accurate or responsible. I think his ideas about coaching trees and styles is much more interesting as flawed as it is, it's a start. His call for better statistical data being kept on the games is probably the only truly significant contribution provided he can help see it through.

I recommend reading "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis. It's mostly about Michael Oher, but there is a lot of interesting history on the evolution of the game.

 

[Lord Lucan]

"Next Man Up" is a terrific book, and would particularly appeal to the average Shark Pool reader I reckon, because of the intimate access the reader gets to the coaching decisions relating to player personnel; some of the insights into, for instance, players getting cut for a week due to a sudden need in another area, or being left inactive so that a key special teams player can be active, are fascinating reading. Funnily enough, I don't think the book was widely acclaimed when it first came out, but that was almost certainy because of Feinstein's already-established reputation with other sports-related books; it's probably a bit guilty of being too sympathetic towards the leading characters (ie Ravens management and players), like most fly-on-the-wall books which spend a year in the company of the protagonists, but I can't imagine anyone who has an interest in the NFL finding this book anything other than fascinating.

 

[Chase Stuart]

"Next Man Up" is a terrific book, and would particularly appeal to the average Shark Pool reader I reckon, because of the intimate access the reader gets to the coaching decisions relating to player personnel; some of the insights into, for instance, players getting cut for a week due to a sudden need in another area, or being left inactive so that a key special teams player can be active, are fascinating reading. Funnily enough, I don't think the book was widely acclaimed when it first came out, but that was almost certainy because of Feinstein's already-established reputation with other sports-related books; it's probably a bit guilty of being too sympathetic towards the leading characters (ie Ravens management and players), like most fly-on-the-wall books which spend a year in the company of the protagonists, but I can't imagine anyone who has an interest in the NFL finding this book anything other than fascinating.

Thanks.I got this book as a gift but generally don't like Feinstein so I've put off reading it.

 

[Chase Stuart]

I read this one and it was more of a collection of essays, possibly from his ESPN postings (or just stuff knocking around in his head that he wanted to get out).I was a bit disappointed, in that it was not cohesive, and basically would take a premise ("The Steel Curtain was the best DEF of all time"), make some (somewhat) arbitrary assumptions or parameters, then prove it and post the spreadsheets. Seems like most 'commentary' basically could be surmised from reading his spreadsheets. I felt like the chapters could have been condensed into a page or two and got the same point across.I have subscribed to KC's stuff in season (primarily his rankings/ratings of WRs, CBs, etc.) and like the idea of the number crunching, but I'm not sure this book is the right vehicle for his findings.

As far as his evaluation of the left tackle, I don't see his research as being scientific or his conclusions accurate or responsible. I think his ideas about coaching trees and styles is much more interesting as flawed as it is, it's a start. His call for better statistical data being kept on the games is probably the only truly significant contribution provided he can help see it through.I recommend reading "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis. It's mostly about Michael Oher, but there is a lot of interesting history on the evolution of the game.

Thanks, guy. I flipped through that Steel Curtain section at the bookstore and I agree it looked like he was fitting a square peg into a round hole.I've read The Blind Side and I digged it.

 

[Black]

As far as his evaluation of the left tackle, I don't see his research as being scientific or his conclusions accurate or responsible. I think his ideas about coaching trees and styles is much more interesting as flawed as it is, it's a start. His call for better statistical data being kept on the games is probably the only truly significant contribution provided he can help see it through.

I recommend reading "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis. It's mostly about Michael Oher, but there is a lot of interesting history on the evolution of the game.

The Blind Side has a nice evolution of the West Coast Offense in the first part of the book, while he is explaining the emergence of the speed rusher (to counter the West Coast Offense) and then the increasing need for a prototypical athletic Left Tackle to guard the QBs blindside.You might also read "The Genius: How Bill Walsh Reinvented Football and Created an NFL Dynasty" to get a little more insight into that topic and the coaches responsible.

http://www.amazon.com/Genius-Reinvented-Fo...3128&sr=8-1

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Joyner's book is just OK. As someone said, trying to find a theory for the data.

Next Man Up is fantastic and very, very interesting. However, I really like Feinstein, so YMMV.

The Blind Side is also fantastic in my opinion and as much of a human interest story as a football story. You should read it before the draft so you understand all the "maturity" discussions about Oher.

 

[beto]

The Blind Side plays up the Left Tackle, but this book calls it over-rated? I enjoyed The Blind Side and it makes this draft with Oher much more interesting.

 

[Tau837]

"Next Man Up" is a terrific book, and would particularly appeal to the average Shark Pool reader I reckon, because of the intimate access the reader gets to the coaching decisions relating to player personnel; some of the insights into, for instance, players getting cut for a week due to a sudden need in another area, or being left inactive so that a key special teams player can be active, are fascinating reading. Funnily enough, I don't think the book was widely acclaimed when it first came out, but that was almost certainy because of Feinstein's already-established reputation with other sports-related books; it's probably a bit guilty of being too sympathetic towards the leading characters (ie Ravens management and players), like most fly-on-the-wall books which spend a year in the company of the protagonists, but I can't imagine anyone who has an interest in the NFL finding this book anything other than fascinating.

I enjoyed this book. Haven't read the other two in the OP.

 

[conanobrien]

Don't know if its been posted elsewhere, but they are making a movie based on Lewis' The Blind Side. Sandra Bullock has already signed on, I guess to play the role of Mrs. Touhy.