Stats Crunchers: A Daily Force Inside One Buc
April 29th, 2014
Joe can only imagine the look on Lovie Smith’s face when he’s handed a spreadsheet that tries to interpret a college linebacker’s potential cover skills based on some sort of statistic.
After what Jason Licht said today about Lovie’s old school grading system, Joe suspects Lovie isn’t much of data cruncher.
But Licht and the Bucs are all about data, aka the secret underworld of NFL player — and potential player — evaluation. Tampa Bay quietly hired a noted analytics chief this offseason.
Joe asked Licht today about the role of analytics in his draft evaluation, and Licht explained that it’s a constant force for him and Lovie at One Buc Palace.
“Analytics, early on in my career, I was from the old school where it was you just watch the tape and that’s what it is and that is the bare bones,” Licht said. “You know, you gotta evaluate the player and what he does on tape, but we both feel that analytics help us, guide us and give us some – raise some questions that help us evaluate the player a little bit better. You might be looking at particular position and the analytics don’t support taking him at that position, and it makes you just – you want to make sure that you’re making the right decision. It’s a great guide, we use it all the time.”
For the record, much of the data crowd loves Johnny Football and his 70 percent completion rate from the pocket.
Joe’s got mixed feelings about all the spreadsheets, but it’s certainly valuable if you can somehow figure out how to effectively complement data and old school study. NFL teams are truly in the infancy stages of that.
April 29th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
How convenient, only when it comes to JM does it apply. smh I can’t get over how often you preach to us that stats are for chumps, except now of course.
Where here does Joe preach that stats are gospel? Must you make stuff up?–Joe
April 29th, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Joe & Joe….
April 29th, 2014 at 7:22 pm
@Joe… remember me when Analytics play a bigger role in the NFL.
April 29th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
“Latrell, Lamar?”
“Lamar Latrell.”
April 29th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
“Hair pie? Sank you! Hair pie? Sank you!”
April 29th, 2014 at 7:54 pm
“Now clap your hands everybody, and everybody clap your hands.
It’s Lambda Lambda Lambda and – Omega Moo…”
April 29th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
I prefer the pictures with the girls
April 29th, 2014 at 8:04 pm
I’m sure the Joes use analytic to study which subject matter generates the most number of clicks.
April 29th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
@BFFL – Joe uses the same standard he has since Day 1 back in 2008: Joe writes about what interests Joe in the world of the Buccaneers. And Joe tries to have fun while delivering fans all the Bucs-related news and opinion that Joe finds interesting.
There’s never been anything more to it than that. And there never will be.
Does Joe use analytics to study WHEN people are reading and what their visiting patterns are? Absolutlely. That helps Joe manage his days and nights.
April 29th, 2014 at 8:18 pm
These Revenge of the Nerds references are fantastic!!
what the f*ck is a frush?
April 29th, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Stats are for losers —Raheem Morris
April 29th, 2014 at 8:57 pm
BFFL – Precisely why we have to click on each story seperatly these last few months. But you can’t be upset with that. Analytics and stats help this site (that you probably visit daily) deliver content that appeals to the largest group of fans. Don’t mix athletic stats with business trends.
April 29th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Spot on Bruce!
April 29th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
It makes sense to do both. Look at the tape and the analytics. Then make the best decision you can based on your gut instincts of what you learned. If you know football and players you will make many more right choices than wrong. If you make more wrong choices you won’t be a GM or head coach gor long.
April 29th, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Lovie Smith after seeing MG8 last week, “Mike Glennon is an excellent Quarterback”.
April 29th, 2014 at 9:58 pm
Or, hire Greg Schiano as assistant GM/head talent evaluator.
Take that crazy azz hole and his player identifying skills back in that role yesterday.
It’s a shame he can’t coach at the pro level. Schiano knows talent.
April 29th, 2014 at 9:59 pm
Joe, doesn’t D. Carr have a 72% completion rate?
If we take any QB at 7, I hope Lovie checks to see if his teammates went to his birthday party. 😉
(Props to whever gets that)
April 29th, 2014 at 10:00 pm
…joe is going to need some male depends if we draft johhny football….just sayin….like every piece here is on that kid’s junk….
April 29th, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Stevek Says
“Or, hire Greg Schiano as assistant GM/head talent evaluator.
Take that crazy azz hole and his player identifying skills back in that role yesterday.”
If only that were possible. I’m a bit nervous since I learned the Lovie-led Bears missed on draft picks more than any other team.
If Jason succeeds in turning that around I will like him again.
April 29th, 2014 at 11:05 pm
@ Bonzai
Saw “Draft Day” tonight…..Bo’s teamates didn’t attend his 21st!!!
April 30th, 2014 at 3:31 am
“WE’VE GOT BUSH” Love the throwback pic Joe..
April 30th, 2014 at 3:51 am
“You just got your asses whipped by a bunch of gddamn nerds. NERDS!!!”
April 30th, 2014 at 9:09 am
For the record, much of the data crowd loved Tim Tebow’s 66.4 percent completion rate and his 145 touchdowns.
It seems like so many who read that line from Joe missed the key detail: “from the pocket.”–Joe
April 30th, 2014 at 11:03 am
Orlampa Turd in Nicaragua Says:
April 29th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
“Latrell, Lamar?”
“Lamar Latrell.”
======================
Now that dude had an arm… he threw that limp javelin way farther than the non-nerds.
April 30th, 2014 at 11:05 am
Jordan Says:
April 30th, 2014 at 9:09 am
For the record, much of the data crowd loved Tim Tebow’s 66.4 percent completion rate and his 145 touchdowns.
It seems like so many who read that line from Joe missed the key detail: “from the pocket.”–Joe
——————–
Most of Tebow’s throws from the pocket were bubble screens. Tony Pike’s, Graham Harrell’s, and Tajh Boyd’s completion % was way higher than it should’ve been because of the types of throws they usually made from the pocket. Manziel throws more than just bubble screens. I prefer Brett Smith in round 3, but Manziel is no chump.
April 30th, 2014 at 11:17 am
Tampabaybucfan Says
“@ Bonzai
Saw “Draft Day” tonight…..Bo’s teamates didn’t attend his 21st!!!”
PROPS TO YOU, SIR!!!!!!
April 30th, 2014 at 11:30 am
Joe, I was trying to shed light on the fact that excellent numbers in college mean very little if the manner in which the stats were achieved in college runs contrary to the playing style of the NFL. Surely, Tim Tebow’s inflated completion % in college was to due an abundance of short bubble screens. I believe Johnny will face a similar challenge. How much of Johnny’s college successes will continue in a league where he is not faster than the CBs, Safetys, and even some LBS.