Does your team have an analytics staffer on a coaching headset during games?
Yes (13)
No (8)
This is a slightly lower ratio than last year (when the split was 15-6), which could be a result of changing regimes but more likely is because different teams responded this year compared to last.
As a follow-up, I asked: What difference does it make having an analytics staffer on headset to assist with game management, as opposed to someone else?
"You want to get as much of the game-management stuff [prepared] pregame as possible," said one survey taker. "But every game there's going to be situations that come up that we didn't have a pregame plan for. And just having someone that can mentally think analytically at that moment has a lot of value."
"That discourse between coaches and analytics staffer is more efficient if your analytics staffer [is the one] communicating information they know most intimately," another added.
A third felt it doesn't have to be an analytics staffer on headset, but at least someone deeply familiar with the quantitative side of game management.
"Having a coach who has a full understanding of the analytics is just as good, but at that point I think we're just messing around with titles," they said.
When your team makes a decision you disagree with, which area is that most likely to occur in?
Positional value (7)
Trade value (3)
Game strategy (e.g., playcalling, scheme) (3)
Pro player evaluation (3)
College player evaluation (1)
Game management (e.g. fourth down, 2-point) (0)
Four voters abstained.
One voter who selected positional value was not surprised to hear it was the most common response. But they couldn't quite put their finger on why, and said that was kind of the point. If they understood why they weren't able to align with decision-makers on positional value, it probably wouldn't be a subject of frequent disagreement.
Running backs are the most obvious example of a position-value disconnect.
"The whole idea of the first-round running back, the big contract to the running back. People see the production coming from the running backs and give it to the back when he might not deserve the credit," they said.
Though running backs' market values have dropped across the league, quantitative analysts still see the position as overvalued.
Asked for a position that was undervalued by traditionalists, the staffer said safety, pointing to the 2021 Bills defense that was dominant in large part because of
Jordan Poyer and
Micah Hyde.
One survey taker who selected game strategy said it was hard making inroads with the coaching staff.
"We'll get more buy-in from our personnel department and our front office as far as being open-minded to research that we can provide," they said.
Another staffer who chose pro personnel evaluation said players at the bottom of the roster were harder to evaluate.
"I might not agree [with the decision], but I have enough respect to realize I'm wrong a lot when it comes to pro players, especially down on the roster -- 45th through 53rd man I don't have any data on those players playing in the NFL."