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.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by 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.

Great stuff!

[L.A. Chieffan]

More info in this thread than in two years of kc reporting

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by milkman

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

Not a lot of talk about Cassel. 90% of the time Cassel was mentioned it was in relation to his first year starting in New England. The other 10% was how Pioli immediately went after him and maybe a brief mention about the Ravens playoff game. No discussion about his progress or regression in KC.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Not a lot of talk about Cassel. 90% of the time Cassel was mentioned it was in relation to his first year starting in New England. The other 10% was how Pioli immediately went after him and maybe a brief mention about the Ravens playoff game. No discussion about his progress or regression in KC.

I get that.

I am just commenting on the Stanzi comment.

The only way that teams will ever look back and wonder how they let Stanzi slip is for Stanzi to get on the field.

That suggests that the backup plan in case they are wrong about Cassel is Stanzi.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by milkman

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

heh, i thought the same thing about that qoute.

Whats frustrating about Cassel is his play is "just good enough" to not ever be pulled or benched.

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

heh, i thought the same thing about that qoute.

Whats frustrating about Cassel is his play is "just good enough" to not ever be pulled or benched.

only for a team afraid of risk....if there was a bottom line that winning a title was the standard, then Cassel would not be coddled this way...


the whole world knows that Cassel is a mediocre piece of crap...

[OnTheWarpath15]

NJ covered most of the stuff I highlighted. Here's a few extra:

Thank the Eagles for Powe, KC was ready to take Chris Kelce with that pick. Thought he was the next Dan Koppen.

Haley used to push Fitz so hard in Arizona that Larry would playfully offer Haley a handful of hundred dollar bills before team meetings so Haley wouldn't show his mistakes in front of teammates.

Was in agreement with the move Dimitroff make to move up for Julio Jones. Dimitroff called BB and Pioli to talk about it. BB said he wouldn't do it, Pioli said he would. Called him after the pick and said, "I'm sitting here with Clark, and we both say that took some big ones. Congrats."

Dimitroff started thinking about moving up for Jones in October.

Julio Jones wanted to skip lunch on his visit to KC so he and Haley could go to Haley's house to play ping-pong so they could see who was better.

Chiefs really liked Mark Ingram.

After the playoff game, Pioli says, "We're just not good enough. At the end of the year, when we couldn't sneak up on teams and we played good teams, we felt it. What do we need? There aren't many positions we can look at and say we don't need the help there. We've got holes today, but we also have holes that are a year away. I've seen a great roster. We are so far away from a great roster. So far away."

Obvious tension between Haley and Weis, though few people are aware of the depths of it. Holley doesn't elaborate other than to say they see the offense differently.

The Patriots were planning on taking Steven Jackson in the 1st round of the 2004 draft, until Wilfork unexpectedly dropped to them.



That's pretty much it.

Overall, it seemed like of the three teams, the Chiefs gave less access, or maybe just weren't as forthcoming with Holley. Maybe Holley just didn't ask the right questions. But it seems Holley gets a lot more out of Dimitroff than he does Pioli, and honestly, I think a Falcons fan will get more from this book. There's some new Patriots info, but a lot of it is just regurgitated from his access during Patriot Reign.

[the Talking Can]

i'm surprised pioli was hypothetically willing to make the jones trade...

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

i'm surprised pioli was hypothetically willing to make the jones trade...

It's easy to play with someone else's money.

[FAX]

For the most part, I like all that was said.

Nice thread.

FAX

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

yeah, sounds like it


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

I'd change that to if Cassel is finishing 2012 then this is true. Even if we draft a QB #1 he may need to sit a few games before he starts. Now what I really hope happens is Cassel gets dinged and we start Stanzi for a few games and see what we have first. Cassel makes an excellent backup.

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

I'd change that to if Cassel is finishing 2012 then this is true. Even if we draft a QB #1 he may need to sit a few games before he starts. Now what I really hope happens is Cassel gets dinged and we start Stanzi for a few games and see what we have first. Cassel makes an excellent backup.

Hope all you want. Palko is the #2 QB. We couldn't have a more fitting #1 and #2.

[FAX]

Cassel is a mystery, to be sure.

Just sounds like a guy who kisses enough ass to convince coaches he can do the job.

As for Stanzi ... I hate to say it, but I'm beginning to think positively about that pick.

FAX

[the Talking Can]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

I'd change that to if Cassel is finishing 2012 then this is true. Even if we draft a QB #1 he may need to sit a few games before he starts. Now what I really hope happens is Cassel gets dinged and we start Stanzi for a few games and see what we have first. Cassel makes an excellent backup.

it's depressing, because I think injury is the only way Cassel isn't our QB next year...

i just can't figure out why they tolerate his play...anyone can look at the good QBs in this league and see that Cassel is a piece of shit...Haley coached Warner for **** sake, he knows....he knows

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Groupon

Skip forward to the part where you fall ass over tea kettle into one of the best QBs in history in the sixth round and then videotape practices of your opponents so that you know exactly what they're going to do at all times.

That story was retracted. Sorry.