Norm Van Brocklin's Football Book: Passing, Punting, Quarterbacking

The Ronald Press Company, 1961. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Dustjacket . A short tear at lower spine; lower corners lightly bumped. Else in Very Good condition. A scarce and sought after football title in original edition. Norman Mack Van Brocklin (1926 – 1983), nicknamed the Dutchman, was an American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He spent his first nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and his final three with the Philadelphia Eagles. Following his playing career, he was the inaugural head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and the second head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1968 to 1974. Written for coaches, players, and fans, this book deals with two of the "P's" immortalized in the "Punt, Pass and Pray" system of Michigan's famed coach Fielding Yost, but passes lightly over the third. After a brief account of the forward pass from its "birth" at the turn of the century to its becoming the core of the professional game today, I take up the fundamentals of how to throw the ball, the grip, fading to pass, delivery of the ball. Since pass defense is so heavily emphasized in pro football, any discussion of the passing attack must begin with the defensive systems to be outwitted and outgunned. Consequently I discuss in detail the principal defensive alignments, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to beat them. And, of course, in order to beat the defense it is fundamental to provide adequate protection for the passer while he picks out his receivers. With this background, then, I take up in detail the heart of the passing game: the pass patterns and how they are executed. The individual pass routes in man-to-man situations, unit patterns, flare control, as well as the techniques of the receivers, are all carefully set forth. Defensive backs, the problem of interceptions, and the highly important matter of integrating the running and passing attacks round out the chapters on the passing game. A chapter on the changing kicking game is followed by my analysis of the art and skills of punting. I have used many diagrams, keeping them as simple and uncomplicated as the intricacies of modern football will permit. I have tried not to make the book read like a textbook, but hope that it will appeal not only to coaches and embryonic quarterbacks, but also to the older quarterbacks in the stands.