*

*
Paul Daugherty
Enquirer columnist files news and observations

Paul Daugherty
Paul Daugherty has been an Enquirer sports columnist since 1994 and has been chronicling Cincinnati sports since 1988. He has covered almost every major sporting event in America, as well as five Summer Olympics. Along the way, he has been named one of the country's top-5 sports columnists four times, and Ohio columnist of the year on seven different occasions. Last year, he was voted 2nd-best sports columnist in the country, by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

Powered by Blogger

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Football sabermetrics?

Interesting story on a stats guy whose approach has been rejected by every NFL team... hit the link to read about his take on the Bengals last year kicking a field goal v. the Steelers on 4th and inches from the Pgh 2, down 14-3 late in the 1st half, at PBS... remember that one?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/sports/football/20nfl.html?ref=sports


6 Comments:

at 7:55 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Using a computer to make your real time football calls would be stupid. Marvin may make some dumb calls from time to time, but it is impossible for them to program in all the variables, the coach on the field needs to have the say. And the coach on the field doesn't need to have a computer second guessing him. The first time the coach says "run" when the computer said "Pass" and the run play fails and someone says he needs to listen to the computer more ... well thats when the computer will be laying in a pile in the dumpster.

 
at 8:19 AM Blogger Another losing season said...

No program will ever be able to determine which players took a play off or which players heart just isn't in it.

There are way too many human variables that simply cannot be captured, measured and consequently quantified.

 
at 10:44 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with 7:55 & 8:19 (many variables the computer couldn't include, or even know).
But, most interesting was Marvin's quote which said essentially >> "I'm not going to make a call that Mike could second-guess on Monday morning".

So he really isn't trying to win, just trying not make a call that could make him look bad???

 
at 12:52 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's the link to the Bengal's comment not found in the NYT article:
http://pigskinrevolution.com/Marvin_Knows_Best2_2007.html

 
at 6:48 AM Blogger Larry Lester said...

Most NFL coaches are notoriously conservative on fourth and short situations. People say these computers can't predict the emotional letdown if a team goes for it on 4th and 1 and misses, but what about the emotional effects on a team when a coach sends out the punter, essentially telling his offense they aren't good enough to gain a yard. And the moment that Marvin didn't go for it in the game Doc mentioned was the moment I gave up on watching boring NFL football.

 
at 2:52 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the guy is right. I've long felt that most NFL coaches are way too conservative. Consider a simple scenario. If I go for it inside the 20, and convert and score even fifty percent of the time I will be better off than if I just kick field goals. (For example - 2 drives, stopped once scored one TD result is 7 points versus 2 drives and kick FGs for 6 points).

 
Post a Comment*

* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.

By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site. << Home


Blogs
Jim Borgman
Today at the Forum
Paul Daugherty
Politics Extra
N. Ky. Politics
Pop culture review
Cincytainment
Who's News
Television
Roller Derby Diva
Art
CinStages Buzz....
The Foodie Report
cincyMOMS
Classical music
John Fay's Reds Insider
Bengals
High school sports
NCAA
UC Sports
CiN Weekly staff
Soundcheck