Thursday, August 9, 2018

Review of "Gridiron Genius"

Not only does August mean football training camps, it also means that the new books on the game are hitting the shelves.  I had mentioned earlier that several good ones are coming out soon - this is one that is a very good dive into the world of NFL coaching.  Here is my review of "Gridiron Genius"



Title/Author:
Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL” by Michael Lombardi

Tags:
Football (American), professional, 49ers, Patriots, coaching

Publish date:
September 11, 2018

Length:
288 pages

Rating: 
4 of 5 stars (Very Good)

Review:
One of the most demanding jobs in all of sports is the head coach of an NFL team. It takes meticulous planning, people skills sharp enough to handle scores of large egos, attention to detail on everything from offensive plays to the menu for the training table and of course, intelligence. This book by Michael Lombardi tells how two of the greatest coaches in the history of the league, Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick, were able to build the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots respectively into the best teams of their era.

Lombardi breaks down the duties of the head coach into each aspect of building a team. Whether it is the madness that is draft day in the NFL, the rigors of training camp, game preparation, or the nuances of each unit, Lombardi tells the philosophy of these legendary coaches in each of these parts of the job in an informative and easy reading style. There are enough passages that are story-driven so that the reader can easily relate to some part of the anecdote even if they have never played or watched football.  The best example of a passage like this was when Lombardi was describing his driving duties for Walsh. The travel time was far from quiet – indeed, Lombardi was comparing it to the popular Carpool Karaoke skits.  However instead of singing, the two would be talking football and what the 49ers needed in order to improve.

If instead of stories, the reader is interested in hardcore football talk including strategy, game planning and execution, there is plenty of that type of writing as well.  For a novice or casual fan, this can be slightly overwhelming, especially when Lombardi is discussing Belichick’s eleven main points for defense.  Fortunately, it is written in the same style that can be digested easily by any reader, but those with a passion for the game will especially enjoy those chapters.  The chapter on Belichick’s game preparation, which takes the entire week and is started even before a playoff opponent is known, made for some of the best football reading in the entire book.

This book comes highly recommended for football fans of all levels, especially those who are highly knowledgeable about the intricacies of coaching and running a team. Lombardi’s various duties – everything from Walsh’s driver to searching for a head coach for the then-St. Louis Rams – will give the reader an inside look at the sport away from the field and into the war rooms of coaches.  

I wish to thank Penguin Random House for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:
E-book (PDF)

Buying Links:

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