Summary of Michael Lewis's The Blind Side

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The quarterback of the Washington Redskins, Joe Theismann, turns and hands the ball to running back John Riggins. It’s what most people know as a flea-flicker, but the Redskins call it a throw back special.

#2 The game of football evolved because of the arrival of Lawrence Taylor. He alone changed the environment around him and forced opposing coaches and players to adapt.

#3 The New York Giants were scouring the country for young men six three or taller and 240 pounds or heavier with speed. They could be found. In that pool of physical specimens what was precious was Lawrence Taylor’s energy and mind: relentless, manic, with grandiose ambitions and private standards of performance.

#4 Parcells believed that Taylor’s greatness was an act of will, a refusal to allow the world to understand him as anything less than great. He responded to anything that threatened his status.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: May 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822508903

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Summary of Michael Lewis’s The Blind Side

Contents

Overview

Giants and Blind Sides

Hidden Talent

Michael’s Origins

The Tuohy Family

Revolutionizing Football Strategy

The Complex Path to College Football

Michael’s Academic Fight

The Rise of Left Tackles

Tribulations

Navigating New Fields

About the Author

Overview

In The Blind Side (2009), journalist Michael Lewis tells the story of Michael Oher, who rose from poverty to NFL stardom. He focuses on the transformative role of his adoptive family, the Tuohys, whose love and support helped Michael overcome many challenges stemming from racial and social inequalities. Through Michael’s story, Lewis sheds light on broader systemic social issues, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities for kids like Michael. The Blind Side, first published in 2006, was adapted into an Oscar-winning movie in 2009.

Giants and Blind Sides

In 1982, Lawrence Taylor, a linebacker for the New York Giants, dramatically changed the game of football with his aggressive and innovative style of play. He combined speed, size, and relentless pursuit of the quarterback, which not only redefined the linebacker’s role but also infused the game with a new level of strategy. A quarterback’s left side is usually the blind side, because most quarterbacks are right-handed. Taylor’s ability to target the blind side led to significant changes in offensive strategies to protect quarterbacks.

Taylor’s tackle on Joe Theismann caused a career-ending injury for the quarterback. This moment underscored Taylor’s profound influence, prompting teams to adapt their strategies to counter