Lombardi - Landry (The Book)

[perrykemp]

Came across a book, Lombardi and Landry, I hadn't realized was published back in 2011.

I'm about half way through reading it. Fascinating read!

In particular I find it very cool when they were the OC and DC of the Giants Lombardi admired Laundry's views on how to put together a 4-3 defense and that the best athletes on the team needed to be on the defense and that's the kind of defense he tried to put in place in GB.

From a personality perspective I don't know that you could have found two different guys -- Lombardi was loud as hell and from the sounds of it Landry, at least back then, was so quiet he was barely audible.

Anybody else read this book?

 

[5Stars]

Came across a book, Lombardi and Landry, I hadn't realized was published back in 2011.

I'm about half way through reading it. Fascinating read!

In particular I find it very cool when they were the OC and DC of the Giants Lombardi admired Laundry's views on how to put together a 4-3 defense and that the best athletes on the team needed to be on the defense and that's the kind of defense he tried to put in place in GB.

From a personality perspective I don't know that you could have found two different guys -- Lombardi was loud as hell and from the sounds of it Landry, at least back then, was so quiet he was barely audible.

Anybody else read this book?

I have almost every book on the Cowboys, but I have not read this one yet. Thanks for the info...I will order it if I can find it.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

I missed that one too. Sounds promising! Thx.

 

[perrykemp]

I have almost every book on the Cowboys, but I have not read this one yet. Thanks for the info...I will order it if I can find it.

Here is the odd thing about this book -- it's basically focuses on Lombardi and Landry and their time as NY Giant coordinators in 1954 - 1958 or so. It's not going to have nearly as much Cowboys (or Packers) as you might think about a book written about those two guys.

As I read the book I think to myself -- man what I would pay to go back in time and be at the table while those two were eating dinner together.

 

[5Stars]

Here is the odd thing about this book -- it's basically focuses on Lombardi and Landry and their time as NY Giant coordinators in 1954 - 1958 or so. It's not going to have nearly as much Cowboys (or Packers) as you might think about a book written about those two guys.

As I read the book I think to myself -- man what I would pay to go back in time and be at the table while those two were eating dinner together.

I need to read this book. Football is football, teams are teams, like it or love it.

But to read the thoughts of two of the greatest? Uh, yeah! Thanks, dog...!

I'm going to try and order this on line. Thanks for the link.

 

[Risen Star]

It makes you wonder if our kids might someday be reading "Garrett and Marinelli".

 

[perrykemp]

It makes you wonder if our kids might someday be reading "Garrett and Marinelli".

LOL

 

[perrykemp]

It makes you wonder if our kids might someday be reading "Garrett and Marinelli".

In all seriousness reading about guys like Laundry (4-3 flex defense), Lombardi (Power Sweep), Walsh, etc is fascinating. These are guys who spent a LOT of time thinking about fundamental football concepts, testing theories, iterating and tweaking, etc.

The book focuses quite a bit on how Landry was testing a number of elements of what eventually became the famous Dallas 4-3 Flex Defense as a coordinator for a the Giants and Lombardi was doing the same with his fixation on how the Power Sweep was the singular offensive play if executed properly.

Books that delve into football philosophy like that make me happy.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Tom Landry was a brilliant guy. Accomplished and so bright.

Perhaps his personality was so low key it rubbed some the wrong way but IMO he was a great man.

 

[bark]

I am always amazed to think that Landry was his own offense and defensive coordinator.
Also he gets short changed on his offensive game planning and design. He made the defense cover the entire field and had a great feel for innovative trick plays and when to use them. Shotgun formation on and on . Never be another like coach Landry

 

[Plankton]

Came across a book, Lombardi and Landry, I hadn't realized was published back in 2011.

I'm about half way through reading it. Fascinating read!

In particular I find it very cool when they were the OC and DC of the Giants Lombardi admired Laundry's views on how to put together a 4-3 defense and that the best athletes on the team needed to be on the defense and that's the kind of defense he tried to put in place in GB.

From a personality perspective I don't know that you could have found two different guys -- Lombardi was loud as hell and from the sounds of it Landry, at least back then, was so quiet he was barely audible.

Anybody else read this book?

Yes - I read the book when it came out. Written by Ernie Palladino, a long time Giant beat reporter. The book was OK, and does capture the snapshot of time where they were together, but if you read David Marraniss' bio on Lombardi and the many Bob St. John books on Landry, you could see where the Palladino book comes up a bit short.

Both coaches had players on their sides of the ball that followed them to their head coaching jobs (Dick Nolan with Landry, Bill Austin with Lombardi). They also took players from the Giants with them to help get them established with setting their new systems, ironically on the opposite side of the ball from where they coached - Emlen Tunnell with Lombardi and Don Heinrich with Landry.

Both coaches exchanged playbooks when they became head coaches - Lombardi ran Landry's original 4-3 defense for his entire coaching career, Landry invented the multiple offense, and never really used Lombardi's scheme.

The most interesting comparisons between them were their coaching techniques and teaching methods. Lombardi preyed on players emotions in terms of motivation, and when he taught, it was described that he taught to the lower 10% of his class. It makes sense, as he was initially a high school chemistry and Latin teacher. Landry, on the other hand, was cool and calculated and resisted emotion while coaching. He taught more precise movements, and taught more to the top 10% of the class. Part of the reason why the Cowboys innovated psychological and intelligence testing of draft players is that they needed smart players to fit Landry's schemes.

 

[Aven8]

Came across a book, Lombardi and Landry, I hadn't realized was published back in 2011.

I'm about half way through reading it. Fascinating read!

In particular I find it very cool when they were the OC and DC of the Giants Lombardi admired Laundry's views on how to put together a 4-3 defense and that the best athletes on the team needed to be on the defense and that's the kind of defense he tried to put in place in GB.

From a personality perspective I don't know that you could have found two different guys -- Lombardi was loud as hell and from the sounds of it Landry, at least back then, was so quiet he was barely audible.

Anybody else read this book?

Do they have this one on CD yet??