The
QB: The Making of Modern Quarterbacks by Bruce Feldman
What is the major difference between those QB’s
who make it in the League and those who fall by the wayside? Is it skill or leadership, poise or
strength? Bruce Feldman, in his new book
The QB seeks to answer what makes a quarterback not only thrive in the NFL but
what makes him great. This book began as
Feldman heard the curious meanderings about quarterbacks by former NFL QB Trent
Dilfer. Trent is well-known for his deft
way of understanding the ins and out of quarterbacking in a league filled with
so-called experts (8).
Starting with the Elite 11, a program designed
to seek out the best high school quarterbacks, Feldman looks at how Dilfer and
others have helped players with more than just the right technique for a
perfect spiral (17). The problem with
some private enterprises designed to help aspiring quarterbacks is the lack of
real work that translates beyond high school, through college and into the Pros
(23). Feldman gets into the work that Johnny
Football went through at A&M by looking at his work with George Whitfield,
a Southern California quarterback based coach.
After spending some time with Johnny Whitfield, harping on him for his
throwing motion and where he held the ball, Johnny went back to try to win the
spot on A&M’s squad (50-51). More
interesting, Paul Manziel, Johnny’s Dad was constantly forecasting what he thought
his son was going to do, in tones much like prophecy.
Analyzing the way Dilfer looks at Elite 11,
Feldman brings out Dilfer’s DQ, Dude Qualities that is both amusing but very
telling of the intangibles of quarterback play.
These dude qualities are based upon things like competitiveness, moxie,
grit, and resilience. Further, quarterbacks
who set the climate for the locker room rather than reacting as a challenge
comes up are what Dilfer looks for as the next best recruits. Interestingly enough, Dilfer seems to shy
away from five-star recruits in hopes of landing some recruits who are more
gritty or possess leadership qualities that others haven’t developed.
I enjoyed this book but I really felt it was
more of a survey of private quarterback gurus or coaches who want to make a
name for themselves.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for the copy of this
book in exchange for an honest review.
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