"We are very resistant to changing for the sake of changing," says Brain McCarthy, NFL spokesperson. "Part of the appeal of the NFL is that it is man against man against elements and unscripted drama. When you add technology that could directly influence play on the field it has the potential of detracting from the overall product and enjoyability of the game." Bower and Frigo aren't the only ones pushing for a technological revolution in the NFL. KC Joyner, called "The Football Scientist," and a regular contributor to ESPN Insider, uses game film to track, tabulate, and analyze nearly every measurable statistic in an NFL game. These statistics, complied and explained in Scientific Football 2006 (pdf), use a performance-based metric system with the goal of "quantifying everything and putting it into perspective." Joyner believes that if an NFL team doesn't take advantage of the latest technology, it will be hurt in the long term. "Nontechnological teams can still get good players, and some things will work, but as they get further behind the curve, it is going to catch up to them at some point," he says. Whether or not the league accepts ZEUS and teams decide to use it remains to be seen. For now, it can be implemented only in practice situations. Bower and Frigo recently added customization--the ability to enter the characteristics of specific teams--and also developed a second application, ZEUS PPV ("Player Position Value"), which determines the value in incremental wins/losses per season of individual position players. "Once [NFL] teams begin to embrace technology, the entire league will advance and be more successful," says Joyner, "It is going to take one successful coach looking for an edge, willing to take a chance." |
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Analytics in Football
02/01/2008
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Comments
Phineas
08/31/2006
Posts:85
Coyle Can Bo...
08/31/2006
Posts:1
Maybe the NFL should just stop paying all of the players altogether. Then each NFL team would just have to pay a coach. The NFL streamed across televisions would be completely virtual. Coaches would button mash it out on an Xbox360 against other competing teams. Just kidding of course.
Seriously though, when you introduce a technology into a game that can change the outcome you are undermining the basic principals of how the game should be played in the first place. In football or any sport for that matter, the idea of placing someone in the position of a coach is that they get to make all of the team calls based on their knowledge of the game and expirence. Yes I’m sure someone could make a computer that can make the calls for them, but then why have a coach at all? Why don’t we just determine the best play for each team and let them execute. I would estimate to say that a coach and the decisions he makes for the team weigh about 20% overall, against the teams actual performance. When you have Coach Program v1.0 running on both sides of the team it’s only about the players.
What’s next? Players being bio-scanned during the game to weigh their actual performance so that Coach Program v1.0 can make better plays based on what kind of performance it’s players are capable of?
hunterrose12
08/31/2006
Posts:1
trythis
08/31/2006
Posts:1
Competitive sports is all about using technology to change the limits of performance ...
jrichardstev...
09/05/2006
Posts:1
This goes against every instinct you have that they will fake the punt and try for a first down. You have the dilemma of going with science or gut. What DO you do?
Phineas
08/31/2006
Posts:85
Winstons
09/02/2006
Posts:2
ZEUS in no way encroaches on the artistry of the coach. The game will always be human vs human on the field. Technology is an essential part of all competitive games whether on a board or a gridiron. Early adopters of proven technologies have a distinct advantage over the competition until the playing field levels. Such is the case in NFL.
For more information on ZEUS, interested readers may visit www.pigskinrevolution.com
Frank Frigo
President, End Game Technologies
frigo
09/02/2006
Posts:1
http://florence20.typepad.com/renaissance/2005/08/technology_inno_4.html
vmirchan
09/05/2006
Posts:2
in response to a few comments, i don't think that it will ever replace the football game though. it doesn't account for human error - a 400lb guy squashing a tiny 220 lb running back. someone landing wrong on his ankle. a team having a bad day. a death in the family of one of the players.
but since i'm highly into the bi/datamining side of things - i think this is an amazing tool that i definitely would use if i got my hands on it (mainly for the fact that i could sound like i know something when watching football with a bunch of friends).
i think that the NFL should allow it in the future. you look at baseball, and the players there are using video ipods and other video handhelds to preview different pitchers, batters, plays run by the opposing team. technology is taking away the innocence of human error - the big question is do we let it ... or do we slow it down.
roadieGirl
09/06/2006
Posts:2
if a coach wanted to see the risk or likelihood of making a first down or kicking the field goal the coach on the opposite side of the field could do exactly the same thing> would the coaches then not be back at square one? is this the same kind of technology used when weighing up to give someone health insurance??
domgould54
03/14/2007
Posts:1