Draegerman
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I just finished Michael Lewis' new book, "The Blind Side". It's about two things really, the evolution of the left-tackle position and the story of a poor kid who becomes the most highly recruited lineman in the country. It's similar to Moneyball in that it illustrates its main point by devoting entire chapters to a person who affected the elevation of the left tackle position. These chapters are placed throughout the book interrupting the human story at various points.
The book opens with the Lawrence Taylor sack that broke Theisman's leg. Taylor was so disruptive that he changed the way the game was played. He was unlike anyone before him and he was so successful in getting to the QB that things needed to change to deal with him. It was important to address the "LT Factor" because the passing game had become so important.
Before Bill Walsh, a running play gave you about 4 yards per carry and a pass 4.6, but a turnover was twice as likely with a pass. It wasn't worth throwing often. By the 90s, the average pass was 7 yards and the interception rate was half what it was in the 60s. Teams were passing more than ever.
With the increase in the number of times the QB went back to pass combined with the evolution of pass rushers like Taylor, offensive linemen became much more important. The left tackle position in particular was the most important of all. Protecting the QB's blind side from the fast, athletic rusher could be the difference between success and failure.
The chapters on the evolution of the passing game and the rise of the left tackle position were fascinating. There's a lot from Parcells and Walsh which is always interesting. But Lewis also focuses on guys like SF guard John Ayers. He was a guard who was quick enough to pull from his position and stop Taylor when he was blitzing. SF uses this in a playoff game and ends up winning going away.
The main part of the book is about a kid named Michael Oher. He's was a mysterious giant kid from the poorest part of Tennessee who ends up at a private Christian school. Because of his combination of size and speed, colleges are salivating over him. His talents have scouts calling him the next Ogden.
I enjoyed Oher's story as much as the left-tackle part of the book. It was quite different from the football discussion but a wonderful story on its own. This kid went through some pretty heartbreaking stuff as a child and through a crazy series of events, ends up being adopted by a wealthy white family. But they didn't know much about his past and they had to go through a lot to get him overcome the roadblocks put up by his past.
There's an excerpt here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6241687
The NY Times Magazine ran an adaptation of Oher's story a few weeks ago.
http://tinyurl.com/nztkt
The book opens with the Lawrence Taylor sack that broke Theisman's leg. Taylor was so disruptive that he changed the way the game was played. He was unlike anyone before him and he was so successful in getting to the QB that things needed to change to deal with him. It was important to address the "LT Factor" because the passing game had become so important.
Before Bill Walsh, a running play gave you about 4 yards per carry and a pass 4.6, but a turnover was twice as likely with a pass. It wasn't worth throwing often. By the 90s, the average pass was 7 yards and the interception rate was half what it was in the 60s. Teams were passing more than ever.
With the increase in the number of times the QB went back to pass combined with the evolution of pass rushers like Taylor, offensive linemen became much more important. The left tackle position in particular was the most important of all. Protecting the QB's blind side from the fast, athletic rusher could be the difference between success and failure.
The chapters on the evolution of the passing game and the rise of the left tackle position were fascinating. There's a lot from Parcells and Walsh which is always interesting. But Lewis also focuses on guys like SF guard John Ayers. He was a guard who was quick enough to pull from his position and stop Taylor when he was blitzing. SF uses this in a playoff game and ends up winning going away.
The main part of the book is about a kid named Michael Oher. He's was a mysterious giant kid from the poorest part of Tennessee who ends up at a private Christian school. Because of his combination of size and speed, colleges are salivating over him. His talents have scouts calling him the next Ogden.
I enjoyed Oher's story as much as the left-tackle part of the book. It was quite different from the football discussion but a wonderful story on its own. This kid went through some pretty heartbreaking stuff as a child and through a crazy series of events, ends up being adopted by a wealthy white family. But they didn't know much about his past and they had to go through a lot to get him overcome the roadblocks put up by his past.
There's an excerpt here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6241687
The NY Times Magazine ran an adaptation of Oher's story a few weeks ago.
http://tinyurl.com/nztkt