Page 1 of 1

Was the '46' defense "born" SD@Chi 1981?

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 6:47 pm
by 74_75_78_79_
From Ron Jaworski's "Games that Changed the Game" book. Nice little excerpt below. I actually remember this upset. Mentioned it before on this site. After watching Dallas comeback against Miami the network took us to the end of this one. Just in time to see the winning FG. Is there an earlier example (Jets, Vikes, Bears) any of you can come up with of Buddy's '46'-to-be? Or was it even born in Chi-town in the first place? Could Atlanta's Gritz Blitz of '77 have, perhaps, served as inspiration?

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId= ... k%3D%22%7D

Seems like a good book to get. Jaws does indeed know his stuff IMO. Anyone in here ever read this? What other games are mentioned?

Re: Was the '46' defense "born" SD@Chi 1981?

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 8:02 pm
by coachtj
.....seven games are discussed in detail. was a very, VERY enjoyable read. he also has a short chapter called afterword where he explains that changes/adjustments are on the horizon.

Re: Was the '46' defense "born" SD@Chi 1981?

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:35 pm
by 74_75_78_79_
Thanks a mill, Coach! Coming from you, it's a SHOE-IN inspiration-wise to go and order it!

Re: Was the '46' defense "born" SD@Chi 1981?

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 11:02 am
by Veeshik_ya
I read it and concur with Troup's assessment. You can pick up a used copy on Amazon for $6.50.

Re: Was the '46' defense "born" SD@Chi 1981?

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:07 am
by Bryan
Tim Layden of SI wrote a similar book called Blood, Sweat & Chalk. There is some overlap with Jaworski's book, but Layden's book gives equal coverage to strategic changes in the college game (which is usually where the pro stuff got its genesis anyways). I think Jaworski's book is very thorough, whereas Layden's book is a bit more loose with the facts. Layden will write things such as Greg Cook being injured "thrown to the artificial turf of Riverfront Stadium by Bobby Bell" (Riverfront hadn't been built yet, Cook was injured by Jim Lynch on the grass at Nippert Stadium), or that Marcus Allen was Charles White's lead blocker in 1978 at USC (Lynn Cain still gets zero respect), but if you can ignore these minor errors Layden's book is an interesting read.

Layden does have a chapter devoted to the 46 defense, and he marks the origin of the 46 at a midseason Bears-Lions game in the 1979 regular season, FWIW.