RakeFight

May 24th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^

I wouldn't say it's garbage... the comments and the forums are garbage, but the actual front page posts are sometimes interesting and often informative, if you can stomach the bias.  Probably the best ohio blog there is to keep tabs on the goings on down south.

But I agree that every interesting article on that blog doesn't need to be linked here... if you're interested, put the site in your browsing rotation. 

Needs

May 24th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^

Hear, hear.  Who would possibly want to read an interview with the author best at explaining the innovations that have remade offensive football in the last decade to understand better how they work?

wile_e8

May 24th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^

Smart Football also posted a video on his site with Gus Malzahn going over how he attacks the Alabama defense. I was about to post a board topic about it, since it brought up a lot of things to look for on September 1, but it's probably better to group all the Smart Football stuff into one thread. Here's the video (hopefully embedded correctly):

 

TESOE

May 24th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^

I like the QB play action ~5:20 mark. If only we had a QB who could do that (/s).  The margin for success here is small. 

Chris Brown mentioned some Florida / Bama games that would be instructive as well on the Solid Verbal.  He's making the rounds.  If not 11 Warriors you could link many different interviews...not that it matters.

Chris Brown has a chapter on Borges' offense at Michigan in the new book per multiple interviews.

I'm waiting on the Kindle edition.

 

wile_e8

May 24th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^

And on the actual original topic of this post, has anyone read the Smart Football book? Is it worth getting if I've been decently following his blog? Or is it mostly stuff he's already posted in book form?

BrownJuggernaut

May 24th, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^

It depends what you're looking for. I just started reading it, but basically it's a collection of essays detailing how different concepts/theories/methods came about. It talks about what makes it effective, what problems it has and things like that. While I'm a little disappointed that the book isn't a little bit more detailed, I'm really enjoying it thus far.

ken725

May 24th, 2012 at 1:14 PM ^

When Chris Brown was on The Solid Verbal podcast, he mentioned that their is a section in the book about Al Borges and his west coast offense coming to the B1G.  How extensive is this section in the book?

BrownJuggernaut

May 24th, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^

It and all of the essays in the book are about 10-11 pages. The Borges one is interesting for its Borges' history, his work with the West Coast Offense, differences between his Rodriguez's offense (specifically timing between the QB and WR), what plays he likes and wrinkles he'll add if those plays are ineffective or caught onto. It's not too extensive, but it's very interesting.

He wrote this chapter before the 2011 season and I have to say that his predictions for the season were pretty accurate. Denard definitely had a lot of growing pains and while Hoke wanted to run the Power Play a gazillion times, we ran a lot of zone read type plays.

I think the main thing I took out of the Borges chapters was about the timing and how it's important to making reads. I have a better understanding now why Borges and Hoke have put a huge emphasis on Denard's footwork. Now, this stuff might be things you already know. I personally found it very insightful.

I guess if I want to know more about Borges's offensive concepts further, I'll buy his book.

IBleedMaizeNBlue

May 25th, 2012 at 2:47 PM ^

It is. We painted my friend's Camaro like the winged helmet and took it on the road for the 2006 campaign for @Notre Dame, @PSU (night game... wiped out all their QB's) and @#1 OSU (when we were ranked #2). Had to put a car cover on it in Columbus so it wouldn't get flipped and burned. 

BrownJuggernaut

May 24th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^

Chris Brown is on pretty much every podcast this week. He was on the Solid Verbal Podcast. He was on the Railbird Central Podcast. He's making his rounds, so if you like the stuff he does on Smart Football (you should), check that stuff out.

(No I am not Chris Brown or have anything to do with him. I like his work and I'm just giving a heads up)

sundaybluedysunday

May 24th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^

Has anyone on the site read the book? I'm thinking about purchasing it, but if someone has read it and can offer up a review of the Michigan material that would be appreciated. I want some solid Michigan info if I'm going to buy it.