Question

1. In Chapter 1 of The Blind Side, what is the significance of former football player Lawrence Taylor both to the title itself and the overall narrative of the book? Describe what the “blind side” actually is in the game of football.

Answer 1

Answer:

Lawrence Taylor's act of successfully and painfully sacking Joe Theismann led to a new structure and pattern/ concept of hiring stronger, bulkier bigger linemen to see to the blindside of the quarterback.

The "blindside" in football is the 'unnoticed' side of a player's eyesight view, which is the left side for a right-handed quarterback and right for a left-handed quarterback. This area is to be protected by the linemen while the quarterback attempts to throw the ball.

Explanation:

Michael Lewis's book "The Blind Side," tells the true story of impoverished Michael Oher and his rise to becoming one of the most wanted linemen in league history. This book also became an Oscar award movie and led to a massive change in the way football players are recruited, especially the offensive linemen position.

Chapter 1 of the book focuses on the game of football between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. And in this game, Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor sacked Redskins' quarterback Joe Theismann, breaking his bones so much that his career in football was destroyed. And with numerous instances of Taylor's sacking of numerous other players, the need to rethink the role of the linemen who are on the blind side of the player began to emerge. Taylor, thus, led to the new perspective of coaches and teams hiring stronger and bulkier offensive linemen.

The "blind side" in the game of football is the left side of a right-handed quarterback's (or vice versa) which is not visible to them when he turns to throw the ball. It is here that the linemen have the important duty of making sure the quarterback is safe from any 'attack' or tackling.