DGDB&D: a Texans blog.

Lawrence Taylor changed the game as well as Joe Theismann’s gait

Jun 4, 2007 2008 Draft, Book Review, LT, Offensive (punch)Line, Teams that aren't the Texans

Perhaps my favorite part of going on vacation is having time to read whatever I want. I read really freakin’ fast, so I can usually plow through five or six books on a typical vacation (including flight time). Over the last few trips, I have lucked into a number of really good books. So, when my buddy Ren recommended a book, I figured this trip would be a good time to check it out.

Thus, yesterday, as the plane taxied away from Little Rock Not-Even-Remotely International Airport, I cracked open “The Blindside: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis.¹

The book is really three stories in one: First, Lewis tackles how Lawrence Taylor forced offenses to change by virtue of being a more dominant outside rusher than anyone had ever seen. Prior to LT, the common belief was that all offensive linemen were fungible and that no one position demanded any more skill or attention than the other four. Taylor’s dominance as a pass rusher, however, immediately illustrated that the same fat lump playing right guard did not possess the skills to be a left tackle against this new breed of linebacker/defensive end.

Second, the book talks about the development of the West Coast offense as a means to get the most out of the least–an offense that was greater than the sum of its parts, but also one that with the right parts could be unstoppable. Bill Walsh (and, to a certain degree, Don Coryell) decided that timing and precision could make a sub-par quarterback seem good (and a good QB seem great, and a great QB seem like Joe Montata, etc.). The problem faced by this offense, however, was that such gameplans required the QB to have enough time to let the WRs hit their windows–and men like LT and Chris Doleman were adept at shortening the time the QBs remained upright.

Third, the author paints the picture of Michael Oher. It’s an amazing story, to say the least. Son of a crack-addicted mother, unable to read at 15, Oher could have gone the way of so many inner city kids. Instead, he found a family who took a sincere interest in him. Oh, did I mention that Oher is a freak of nature–6′6″, 340, 4.9 40 (even faster in the 20), incredibly nimble, etc? Based on every measurable dimension, Oher seems destined to be mentioned in the same breath as Orlando Pace and Jonathon Ogden.

Lewis weaves the three main stories masterfully and still allows the reader to draw his own conclusions as to the purity of the adoptive family’s motives. Whatever you think of them, though, the book is a fantastic read. More importantly, however, if you are a Texans fan, is the idea that Oher will likely come out for the draft in 2008 after completing his junior year at Ol’ Miss. I have stood up for the offensive line as much as anyone… but I would be pissed if the Texans didn’t draft Michael should the opportunity be there.

¹ Yes, the “Moneyball” guy.