Book Review: War Room - The Legacy of Bill Belichick/Art of Building Perfect Team

[OnTheWarpath15]

I know some of you are really interested in hearing more about this book, and I promised to read it and report - so here goes. I decided I'd post as I read, instead of making you wait for the whole thing.

First post? A few quotes from Chapters 1 and 2, which focus on the Browns era, how the relationship between BB/Pioli/Dimitroff started and grew, and the move to NE through the 1st SB season.

Nothing earth shattering yet, but this is what stood out to me.

I truly believe you have to put pressure on professional athletes to get the most out of them. You have to threaten them with their jobs. Especially certain guys who get contracts and get comfortable - and add to that a coach who enables them - and they forget to work.

- Tedy Bruschi, the enabling coach he's speaking of is Pete Carroll

I'm going to paraphrase the beginning because it's long in the book.

I'll tell you this story, but it's mean, but it's the brutality of the NFL. Drew (Bledsoe) is one of my best friends, but I was talking to my brother on the phone on the way home from the stadium and told him, "No wonder Drew got the crap knocked out of him, he's been holding the ball too long all year."

Direct Quote: "That's the frustration I was having with Drew at the time...that's just the way football is. It's either you're helping us win, or you're not."

- Tedy Bruschi

Referencing Belichick, minutes after beating the Rams in the SB:

He then went on to say, with all respect, that the team that had just won the Super Bowl had a lot of work to do to reach the ideal of consistent championship contender. It meant that the front office, coaches and scouts, were going to have to get back to work soon. And the team on the field shouldn't get too comfortable. He was asked how many players on the Super Bowl Champs would have to be replaced before he could call them perennial championship threats. He didn't hesitate"

"About twenty."

More later tonight if I have the time.

[ArrowheadMagic]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Finished the book, and was pretty disappointed.

I highlighted a few things, the best of which NJ just posted about.

Patriot Reign was a much better book.

Like or dislike Pioli and how he is trying to build a franchise? Apparently you admire Bellicheck or wouldnt read the books. How close does Pioli follow the lead in making player decisions? And is Pioli making the same type of moves? Obviously different situations. any similarities? Probably should get the books to make my own point of view.

[Fritz88]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Finished the book, and was pretty disappointed.

I highlighted a few things, the best of which NJ just posted about.

Patriot Reign was a much better book.

Thanks

If you could make all the updates in the OP that would be great and easier for us to fish out. That is if you plan on adding more.

[Fritz88]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I'll only do this once so I don't ruin the thread, 3 tidbits:

1. KC had Aldon Smith in the top 3 of their draft board.
2. KC tried to move up and take Mike Pouncey but couldn't come to terms with Miami to move up.
3. KC was trying to move up to grab Stanzi and were very happy when he fell to them.

This gives me hope that Stanzi will be given a shot.

[KCrockaholic]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Finished the book, and was pretty disappointed.

I highlighted a few things, the best of which NJ just posted about.

Patriot Reign was a much better book.

So maybe not a buy, but a rent from the library?

[Nightfyre]

So, I've read the first 100 pages or so of this book and I think I can safely conclude Josh McDaniels will not coach here.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by ArrowheadMagic

Like or dislike Pioli and how he is trying to build a franchise? Apparently you admire Bellicheck or wouldnt read the books. How close does Pioli follow the lead in making player decisions? And is Pioli making the same type of moves? Obviously different situations. any similarities? Probably should get the books to make my own point of view.

Pioli and Belichick were completely willing to argue about their players. My understanding is that they were both very independent. However, if they flat-out disagree on a player, they agreed not to draft them. Evidently this arrangement went by the wayside in the 2006 draft as both Maroney and Jackson had major question marks from the scouting side. However, McDaniels swayed Belichick into drafting them despite reservations by Pioli and the scouts. The scouts were miffed that Belichick would throw away their work for the opinion of the offensive coordinator.

[Iconic]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Pioli and Belichick were completely willing to argue about their players. My understanding is that they were both very independent. However, if they flat-out disagree on a player, they agreed not to draft them. Evidently this arrangement went by the wayside in the 2006 draft as both Maroney and Jackson had major question marks from the scouting side. However, McDaniels swayed Belichick into drafting them despite reservations by Pioli and the scouts. The scouts were miffed that Belichick would throw away their work for the opinion of the offensive coordinator.

Both of them were absolute busts weren't they?

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Iconic

Both of them were absolute busts weren't they?

Hehe. Josh McDaniels sucks at player evaluation. that is all.

[Iconic]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Hehe. Josh McDaniels sucks at player evaluation. that is all.

Yeah just looked it up. Maroney is a free agent and Chad Jackson is playing Arena Football... But this also proves that Pioli knows exactly what he's doing on Draft day.

Trust In Pioli.

[Chiefnj2]

I skimmed it pretty quickly last night.

Some things that stood out in my mind:

1. When Pioli interviewed with KC he thought the entire organization was a huge mess. He didn't understand why people/management in KC thought the team was successful in the 90's when they hadn't won anything and had so few playoff victories.

2. Pioli and McDaniels really liked Cassel in New England. He took way too many sacks but (according to them) he was a really fast learner, wouldn't continue to make the same mistakes and they didn't have to tweak the system much once Brady went down.

3. First draft with Herm's leftovers - scouts were very relaxed and laid back. In scout meetings they would be answering emails, watching youtube, etc. Pioli couldn't believe their overall attitude. Only 2 scouts survived from that era.

4. Pioli tends to get hung up on what I would consider stupid things. Book mentioned how under Carl the team would make color copies of things and Pioli put an immediate end to it in order to save 1,000s of dollars in copying costs.

5. Baltimore v. KC playoffs. Felt the team started the game really well and was moving the ball well before the fumbles by Dex and Charles. Mentioned WRs not being able to get separation. And most important - THE CRITICAL 4th DOWN pitch back was Weis' call. Haley said he had major 2nd thoughts about it, almost called a timeout to go over the play, but Weis thought the Ravens would go all out inside and Charles could not only get the first down on the outside, but had a good chance to break it for a TD.

6. After the playoff loss to the Ravens, Pioli said the team had a long, long way to go before it could be good. He wasn't content.

7. In my quick skimming of the book, I didn't see much discussion about the interactions between Pioli and Haley.

[milkman]

Wasn't a fan of hiring Pioli, but I do like the team building philosophy he brings to the organization, even as I haven't liked some of the decisions he's made in the draft, and most importantly in the biggest move he's made.

But I do like his attitude about those 90s Chiefs.

That's exactly how I've always felt about those Chiefs.

He's right about the adjustments they had ot make for Cassel

The problem is, though, that the problem, as I see it, is the tweaking they did have to do involved eliminating many of the snaps under center, which is really kinda important to overall success at QB in the NFL.

And Cassel isn't nearly the fast learner he thought he was, because he's still trying to learn some of the basic concepts of QB play.

[the Talking Can]

is there any sense, from the book, about how they'll deal with the QB position moving forward?


they have to know Cassel is the weak link...they have to

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

is there any sense, from the book, about how they'll deal with the QB position moving forward?


they have to know Cassel is the weak link...they have to

None. Seem content with Cassel.

Although they recognized it's a pass league now which is why they took Stanzi. Main scout, Emery, felt Stanzi was the player the league would look back on in a few years and say "how did this guy fall in the draft?"

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

None. Seem content with Cassel.

Although they recognized it's a pass league now which is why they took Stanzi. Main scout, Emery, felt Stanzi was the player the league would look back on in a few years and say "how did this guy fall in the draft?"

In other words, they are banking on finding the next Tom Brady.

[the Talking Can]

yeah, sounds like it


if cassel is starting next year, this franchise is a joke and pioli is a fraud