Michael Oher, "Blindside hurting my career."

[ravensdan]

I didn't mean it as an excuse for his play. Just that I thought he did well at RT at first, then was moved, then when moved back again was never the same.

Not you in particular. I just remember it being a common sentiment. I think the team had to give him every chance to succeed at LT. The fact that his rookie season was so promising had to be maddening for the team.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

The movie hurt your career???

 

Why because the guy who played you is probably a better left tackle than you are? Wahhhhh.... If it's so awful then send me all the royalty checks you're still getting, I'll gladly take them off your hands.

 

BTW your "mom" is still milking that cow all the way to farmers market. She been pimpin that movie out and your story out, so if ANYONE has been the issue it's her. shes the mind behind the movie. Call her out Big Mike.

[Tenacious Faulker]

No offense, but your post is a perfect example of what Oher was talking about:

 

“The movie showed me not doing something so well that got me here, something I’ve always understood,” Oher said. "Everything else is good, but them showing me not knowing how to play football, that’s what upsets me the most.”

 

Part of the reason why it touches a nerve with Oher is that in reality he’s a student of the game and an extremely hard worker. It’s a cliché that a hard-working player is the first one in the building and last to leave. But Birk, another weight-room junkie, said it’s true with Oher.

 

“Once in a while I’ll beat him into the office and I’ll be like, ‘Hey Mike, you’re slipping man. I got ya today,’” Birk said with a laugh. “It really bugs him. Mike busts his tail and that’s why he’s so successful. It’s easy to root for a guy like that.”

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/The-Real-Michael-Oher/f766f1ad-4104-479d-a379-c3eeb82d9e17

No offense taken and I beg to differ with your classification of my post.  I'm not taking anythingthing away from him - just diagnosing his situation.  Understand, I like Oher and defended him against fans that were down on his play from his sophomore season on.   What he did to even get to the NFL is nothing short of amazing.  However, as a former high livel athlete myself I can tell a lack of desire when I see it.  His natural ability allows him a to play in this league, his lack of desire makes him average.

  

After his rookie seasson, he felt he had nothing to prove anymore and his production and development curtailed.  So they moved him to the strong side.  He was adequate, but did not live up to the draft position.  He had a brief renaissance during the SB run and then proceeded to demonstrate very little value in 2013, a contract year; a period when most players redouble their efforts to get that big, veteran contract.  

 

Being great (which he had the potential for) and more money were not motivating factors for him and by all accounts still aren't.  What else is there in this league?  He's Jon Ogden was not great just because of this size and athleticism, he had the mentality to dominate the competition.  Bryant Mckinnie was a mean SOB, but lacked the dedication to stay fit.  Jared Gaither had the had the physicality, but was undisciplined.  Eugene Monroe has the least physicality of those players for the position and is oft injured, BUT he is dedicated to his craft, intelligent, reliable in play, and is a selfless team player.

 

After his rookie season something changed in his attitude toward his role in this sport.  I just don't think he's as passionate about it as he perhaps once was.  The book/movie is not the real reason, but because of it he was 1) comfortable before he even got the the league, and 2) possibly better in touch with himself than most players who look to the league as a way out of poverty as oppososed to competing at the highest level. 

 

One lasst point:  Ramon Harewood and John Urschel.  Harewood had the physical size and was intelligent - enough to major in Pre-Med and aspire to ne an Orthopedic surgeon after football.  That came sooner than later.  He didn't want to smash dudes in the mouth any longer than he had to.  After years and >3 seasons of training in the league he's out.  Urschel is prime example of the opposite.  He had a high level mathmatics degree and is already well enough accomplished to leave football for a gentler life and be comfortable in an intellicual career.  However, he likes to flatten people.  His desire is there and he said he needs football for that reasson.  He is not the prime speciman for the position, but he's doing everything he can to get on field.  

[Tenacious Faulker]

Again i never question this lol.

 

im asking why people keep saying oher gets alot of false start penalties while the stats and thus facts say other wise.

 

The stats i posted say oher is getting less of those penalties  to the point that in his last and although worst season he was even getting them less then Yanda.

 

Heck im wondering why nobody is talking about Yanda getting these penalties after he lead the team the past 2 seasons with them.

 

So far all im getting is that because Yanda is so good fans let it slide and have no problem about him getting those penalties no matter how they could affect the offense  and  because Oher was avg they gonna keep bringing up how many he had in his rookie season lol

 

TBH people should just let the false start stuff go cause its certainly 1 area where Oher actually worked to clean up his act and over the course of his career it paid off with us.

OK. maybe I jumped too far ahead with my response.  Oher had enough penalties along with subpar play to be effective.  The good folks at PFF ranked him almost dead last for starters in his position, BUT you don't have to be a stat geeks to see that he wasn't winning enough battles in games to overlook the penalties.  Yanda may have his share of false starts but he is consistently ranked among the best (if not the best) by PFF, coaches, his peers and even fans who know enough about poor OL play when the see it.  

 

I loved having Oher here.  I had high hopes.  But he lacked the necessary desire to compete consistently.  I'm gld he got a SB ring while here - it makes a nice topper to his life story in football.  However, I think we've seen his best.  When you start using outside excuses for your "failures" (in lack of a better word) you're not being a professional.  Professionals get the job done no matter the obstacles.  The movie may have trumped up his abilities in the public eye because that's what movies do, BUT his failure to be an effective tackle on either side was on him.  With or without a movie, Yanda would likely never have let it deter him from being as great as he is.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Live's tough for Oher with both, Hollywood and the NFL, throwing millions at him. Dat struggle.

 

that is a struggle.   Oher and his millions...i feel his pain.

Edited June 25, 2015 by Ravenseconbeast

[CTFan]

If I recall correctly, Oher played pretty well in his rookie year, then his play seemed to go downhill. I never understood that.