The Impact of Analytics in NFL Decision-Making
Analytics has become a huge part of competitive sport over the last couple of decades. With teams and athletes now able to use technology to their advantage and secure data that can be available in historical and real-time form, there are numerous advantages that can be obtained when used appropriately and correctly.
If you are an observer of the NFL, you will have noticed that technology has played a huge role in advancing and developing the sport. Coaches have headsets that allow them to coordinate plays with their key players, while recent years has since the introduction of tablets on the sidelines. These devices provide users with instant analysis of the previous play, thus allowing them to be able to try and work out what went well and what didn’t. They use that analysis to improve and build on the next play.
It is not just on a matchday and on the sidelines when they use it. Coaches and teams around the NFL will use data analytics on the practice field, too. They will also use them in specific sessions at their player bases, thus fully maximizing the potential that technology can offer.
What ways is data analytics influencing decisions across the NFL?
As already highlighted, the major way in which data analytics has influenced decision-making across the NFL is in regard to a matchday and the scenarios and situations that are often presented.
Almost anything can happen in a game and while teams do their best to prepare in the time ahead, there are moments that may happen that can not always be planned for. Data analytics can help users to identify such things in real-time, thus allowing them to adapt to the situation and ensure they deal with it effectively.
Fourth-down decisions have significantly improved as a result of the tech, as teams are able to see what others prefer to do when required, thus allowing them to make an informed decision about what play to make. Time management has also been improved, with teams able to understand when it is best to use a timeout or when they need to manage the clock.
Teams who have been able to use data analytics to their best ability are also able to adopt the best game strategies. The Kansas City Chiefs stand out as a top-tier NFL team, largely owing to their adept utilization of data analytics. They are once again the favorites to win Super Bowl (LVIII), according to NFL odds available right now, as they are able to adopt and execute almost-near-faultless gameplans on a consistent basis. They identify weaknesses that their opponents have, and then exploit them as much as possible.
Data analytics can be so much more than getting the win on gameday, though. It has been used effectively in the front office on multiple occasions, with general managers being able to use it as a tool to find player targets. The data allows them to match up the traits and behaviors of that individual and whether it suits the organization across multiple aspects, such as whether they can be integrated effectively or if they fit the need that the team has on the field.
It can also be used to try and predict what might happen to certain players on the team, too. Data analytics can take a large sample of historical data – such as a player’s college and professional career – and look at certain things that might help give an organization more of an understanding of an individual quickly and efficiently. This could include injury data, performance history, or any potential cultural issues. This can also be applied to existing personnel, thus helping them to know who to cut and who to keep.
Verdict
Decision-making across the NFL is a huge skill that the best around the league possess and those that are working their way up the ladder are continually required to improve. There are always decisions that need to be made, with the right one not always the most obvious.
However, the use of technology and the information that can be collected through the data analytics process can help to make it an easier process. Therefore, it is no surprise they have had a huge influence across the entirety of the sport and not just on the sidelines when teams are desperate to go for a touchdown or convert on a third or fourth down.
