[KC Joyner]Blindsided : Why the Left Tackle is Overrated and Other Contrarian Football Thoughts (pdf){Zzzzz}

This book will change the way you think about professional football--in much the same way that Bill James revolutionized the analysis of Major League Baseball. The research is impeccable. The approach is irreverent. You will be 'blindsided' by what you think you know about the NFL, but don't. Warning to fantasy football lovers: You won't be able to put this book down.
—Sal Paolantonio, ESPN reporter and author of The Paolantonio Report: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players, Teams, Coaches, and Moments in NFL History

""KC Joyner's theories will completely revolutionize football, cure baldness, save the whales, and bring total peace and harmony to all nations. That's why you must read Blindsided!""
—Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN's Tuesday Morning Quarterback

""Too much of football literature is just tedious hagiography, but Blindsided is a book for those of us who enjoy the complex game on the field and football conversation that goes past 'my team rules.' ""
—Aaron Schatz, lead author and editor of Pro Football Prospectus

Pro football’s statistical iconoclast, K.C. Joyner, challenges conventional wisdom with fact-based and film-based responses in Blindsided: Why the Left Tackle is Overrated and Other Contrarian Football Thoughts. If you love sports statistics or find excitement in fantasy football, you will enjoy the detailed insights and carefully researched information in this book. Scrap the typical media hype and hoopla for the real, straight-from-the-fields-and-films scoop, including information on free agents, parity, NFL business practice, Hall of Fame standards, coaching practices, historical iconoclasm, and a thorough statistical review.

Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (August 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470124091
ISBN-13: 978-0470124093

Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Joyner, a columnist for ESPN the Magazine, uses statistics, game footage and his own formulas to settle pro-football arguments ranging from whether it takes an elite running back to win the Super Bowl to whether the storied 1985 Chicago Bears defense is the best ever. Zealous football fans will appreciate the theories and extensively researched, sometimes surprising, conclusions. Joyner peppers his analysis and opinions with football history and a sense of humor. The league-owned NFL Films, Joyner writes, is the propaganda arm of an effective socialist regime. Though he clearly loves the game, Joyner isn't awed by the macho, myth-making empire that is the NFL, taking the league to task over its blackout system and shabby customer treatment. In the end, this is a rich mix of statistical insight and thoughtful, clear-headed criticism. (Aug.)
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Review
* Statistical analysis has become a popular sports category. Joyner cites pioneering baseball statistical guru Bill James as the muse for his own gridiron research. Known as the ""Football Scientist"" for his self-published statistical annuals and his work on the subscriber-side of ESPN's web site, Joyner here makes a play for a broader audience. His iconoclastic essays address questions such as the true value of the left tackle position, whether coaches have a ten-year shelf life, and who the best Hall of Fame candidates are. The results are a vigorous and novel look at the game and its history. While his arguments here are supported by data, he offers fewer hard-core figures than in his annuals. Recommended for all libraries. (Library Journal, September 1, 2008)

Joyner, a columnist for ESPN the Magazine, uses statistics, game footage and his own formulas to settle pro-football arguments ranging from whether it takes an elite running back to win the Super Bowl to whether the storied 1985 Chicago Bears defense is the best ever. Zealous football fans will appreciate the theories and extensively researched, sometimes surprising, conclusions. Joyner peppers his analysis and opinions with football history and a sense of humor. The league-owned NFL Films, Joyner writes, is “the propaganda arm of an effective socialist regime.” Though he clearly loves the game, Joyner isn't awed by the macho, myth-making empire that is the NFL, taking the league to task over its blackout system and shabby customer treatment. In the end, this is a rich mix of statistical insight and thoughtful, clear-headed criticism. (Aug.) (Publishers Weekly, June 2008)