The Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays

I don't write many reviews - but I enjoyed this book so much - I had to chime in. It was a fast read that delivered exactly what was promised in the table of contents. I'm not new to football, but I've always been more interested in the offensive side, so for me the chapters on the Cover-2, Zone Blitz, and 46 were awesome. I learned a lot. For instance, the 46 is not a 4-6 like the 4-3, or 3-4. The 46 is actually named after a player's number and if you read the chapter on it you will understand how it works. And I finally understand what is meant by a zone exchange and zone blitz. For instance, the exchange concept of dropping a D-Lineman into coverage and rushing a linebacker so that you are actually rushing the same number of players, the idea of "safe" blitzes, etc. make sense to me now. Another highlight for me was the play diagrams - there were only a handful, but they were all really nice - I'll be going back to them. Finally, Jaws avoided the dryness that frequently comes with technical books. He sprinkled in just enough anecdotes and interview excerpts from the players and coaches involved in each game he was explaining to keep things moving.

Being a huge fan of the game itself, I truly enjoyed this book. "Jaws" takes you through 7 historic NFL games that had a lasting impact on the way the professional game was/is played - because these games introduced new coaching schemes or even ideologies that can still be felt in today's game: the grandfathers of the modern passing game, Gillman, Coryell and Walsh; defensive contributions like the Cover-2 and Dick LeBeau's Zone Blitz. Each of these schemes or concepts is demonstrated by analysis of a specific game.The reader is taken through each game quarter by quarter describing in detail relevant plays, their impact on the game specifically and in general, including a few play diagrams. Now, if this sounds very geeky to you - then you're right. Don't get me wrong - the book is no play-by-play box score compilation. Jaworski and his co-authors focus exclusively on one team and the decisions made by that team's coach or coordinator and how each play figured into the overall scheme of that coach.The book is fun and easy to read, a huge ensemble cast of former and current players and coaches get to have their say, and depending on your age, you either get to gain some insights of the NFL before you were born (Sid Gillman's Chargers and the Steel Curtain were before my time), too young (I only knew about Don Coryell, Dan Fouts and Kellen Winslow Sr. from highlight reels), or you get to re-experience great games that you may have seen but not thought about for some time.What I really like was the back and forth between offensive and defensive innovations - it demonstrates the arms race in the NFL very well. The offense starts to air it out - the defense catches up. The offense creates ever more complex formations and plays - the defense overloads and blitzes unexpectedly, and so on. The book also offers some refreshingly raw language that you'd expect from players and coaches in football, instead of the highly polished "speaking but not saying anything" in today's media-centric league.The reason that I'm giving it only 4 stars is that the chapter titles are somewhat confusing sometimes - Sid Gillman's Vertical Stretch, for example is showcased in a game where the Chargers won by relying on their running attack. Which they could do only because the defense expected them to air it out, but still. The Air Coryell chapter is is actually more about Winslow's breakout game, and the begin of the receiving tight ends of the modern era.But these minor inconsistencies didn't really bother me. The price did. Now, unless you're a die-hard NFL geek looking for something meaningful to do while ESPN is showing skateboarding or oval car races, wait until the price drops. Oherwise - read this book.

I am not a diehard football fan but I really liked this book. I thought that Jaw's summary of some of the major shifts in how footbal is played were interesting. I learned a lot about different kinds of defensive and offensive formations etc and gained an appreciation of the science behind some of the play calling. If you just like football to see the action on the field this isnt for you, but if you dont have a football background but interested in history of the game and how it is played, it is a good read. Not sure if it is a value at 9.99 but better than some other drivel you might pickup.

I'm about 30 percent through the book, but I love it already. When you read this book you feel like you can hear Jaws talking to you. It's written the same way he talks on television, or at least that's the way I hear it in my head. There is a lot of detail in this book, as he takes you through a lot of games and by each quarter. There is some fluff that I skim over, but all-in-all this book has great content.

I really enjoy this book. I was a huge Sid Gillman fan, so the section on the Chargers was especially fun for me. I was fairly young when that game was played and so to see details and diagrams was great. I enjoy the other sections as well, but the Gillman one is my favorite.

OK

Excellent

good studf

mit ron jaworski schreibt ein altgedienter nfl insider gut über die veränderungen und die entwicklungen bzw. deren hintergründe in der nfl - betrifft nicht college oder den rest der welt aber spannend und gut zu lesen

Pretty average sport book, I see what the writer was trying to achieve as the game of Football is so complex that some times the subject matter comes across as boring, as a big fan of the NFL and American football was left feeling a bit let down.

Cool to get an old library book like this. It was in good condition and delivered on time. A really fascinating book to read if you have a decent understanding of the game