4th and Miles to Go

In my last article I talked a bit about the NFL’s unwillingness to accept the statistical modernization of their game, particularly when compared to baseball and basketball. This point was made in haste, and only as far as it applied to a particularly inept clock manager. I’ve felt that the lack of objectivity in football has held the strategy of the sport back for some time, and I probably get to see some example of the phenomenon every week, even if it doesn’t always affect the outcome of the game. I was totally unprepared, however, when not one but 2 outstanding instances of statistical thinking at work fell into my lap the very same day I published my Andy Reid article.

You can email Chris with questions or comments at TheSportsKiosK@gmail.com

Is Andy Reid a Big Fat Idiot?

Anyone who watches enough professional football inevitably comes to the same conclusion. "These coaches are morons. I could clearly do a better job." Most of the time it's an easy enough assertion to refute. There are 53 players on an NFL team, all with unique skill sets and roles. An offensive and defensive play book the size of a phone book that has to be created, then taught to an army of assistants, followed by direct oversight of said assistants as they teach it to an army of players. 16-18 hour days, 7 days a week for months on end. Most of us are perfectly willing to admit that we're not only under-qualified for the job, but that it probably isn't all that much fun, either, given that 2 bad weeks in the NFL will have a lynch mob waiting outside your house.

Why, then, can't Andy Reid, someone who has had an undeniable amount of success in the NFL, make an incredibly simple decision correctly?

You can email Chris with questions or comments at TheSportsKiosK@gmail.com