New technology is next wave of scouting and analysis in NFL

[Idgit]

...If the league allows it.

Using optical recognition technology, the cameras tracked each player as he flew around the field, collecting information and quantifying what has long been a cliché thrown around the league.

The tracking cameras had figured out game speed. It was capable of placing a number to the tiny marginal differences in speed barely picked up by eye. It could put a time span on a running back’s burst from the snap to the line of scrimmage, or a linebacker’s recognition of a run play to the moment he swarmed to the play.

If nothing else, it'd be a great teaching tool for practices.

 

[Hoofbite]

or a linebacker’s recognition of a run play to the moment he swarmed to the play.

Don't know about that.

 

[jobberone]

Don't know about that.

Absolutely no reason you can't put a number on that. Of course any numbers you put on it will need to be correlated with the human eye. This gives me an idea.

 

[Hoofbite]

Absolutely no reason you can't put a number on that. Of course any numbers you put on it will need to be correlated with the human eye. This gives me an idea.

How do you know when he recognizes run? This technology put a lightbulb over the guys head the moment he recognizes run so the timer can be started?

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Still don't think you can ever replace an eye for a fluid athlete and there really is something to that.

 

[Future]

How do you know when he recognizes run? This technology put a lightbulb over the guys head the moment he recognizes run so the timer can be started?

Agreed.

I think the only thing you could measure is from when he took off towards the runner to when he got there.

 

[Idgit]

Agreed.

I think the only thing you could measure is from when he took off towards the runner to when he got there.

You can measure the interval between the start of play and when the player first reacts. That might not all be recognition time, but, then, how much does it really matter how that time is spent?

What I like is that you can take a 360 degree view of each frame of each play. What a tool for breaking down technique or for analyzing technique prior to the draft.

You can bet that content has an impact on gaming down the line, too. It's pretty cool stuff.

 

[Wood]

I love it. Taking metrics to whole new level.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

How do you know when he recognizes run? This technology put a lightbulb over the guys head the moment he recognizes run so the timer can be started?

You absolutely can. Watch linebackers play. They start at the snap by standing mostly still or moving at half speed left, right, or backwards then when they recognize the run they go full speed and dart to where they think the ball is going to be.

It would be rather trivial for a computer to recognize the player going from half speed to full speed. We all talk about Sean Lee's explosive burst to the ball, it's highly apparent even to the naked eye when a linebacker decides where he's going and darts to the ball.

 

[Future]

You absolutely can. Watch linebackers play. They start at the snap by standing mostly still or moving at half speed left, right, or backwards then when they recognize the run they go full speed and dart to where they think the ball is going to be.

That's not always the case. They might have gap responsibilities or something that cause them to have to hesitate or be on a run blitz that sends them to the hole faster. Too many factors to consider when it comes to measuring "reaction time" I think.

 

[NorthTexan95]

It wouldn't replace scouts but would be another data point to add to what the scouts see.

 

[burmafrd]

I love it. Taking metrics to whole new level.

NOT metrics

what it is is being able to see them as they move and react. That is merely increased visibility.

 

[jobberone]

How do you know when he recognizes run? This technology put a lightbulb over the guys head the moment he recognizes run so the timer can be started?

I certainly don't know the engineering but it can recognize very subtle movements. From there it's just a matter of using images or the video stream to extract the numbers. We use very sophisticated optical tracking for NASA and military purposes. I suspect they would use CMOS rather than expensive optical equipment.

 

[AbeBeta]

I love it. Taking metrics to whole new level.

Maybe - but it is one thing to get a measure and entirely another to get a measure that accurately and meaningfully measures what you are interested in. Me, I'd trust a scouts eye on this issue more than anything else. Complex evaluation can rarely be accomplished in an automated manner.

 

[jobberone]

Maybe - but it is one thing to get a measure and entirely another to get a measure that accurately and meaningfully measures what you are interested in. Me, I'd trust a scouts eye on this issue more than anything else. Complex evaluation can rarely be accomplished in an automated manner.

You can't take the human being out of the equation but you can add to your database.

They can follow eye movements to gross body movements. You are taking motion capture to another level. They don't even have to wear the sensors now. It'll take awhile to correlate the data to the real world but likely not too long. Wish I could get in on the ground floor but I suspect its already gone. The metrics don't tell the whole story though. This will be a great tool for technique and reaction times. I guess the days of 'I hope coach didn't see me on that play' are gone.

 

[TwoDeep3]

How do you know when he recognizes run? This technology put a lightbulb over the guys head the moment he recognizes run so the timer can be started?

Or what angle the RB is taking to the line of scrimmage. The slightest variance could mean differing results.

Plus, how does the optical device understand if the player was at full speed.

It was said that Tony Dorsett was going full speed by the third step. I have no idea how they determined that. But when he turned his shoulder pads toward the line of scrimmage, and he had an opening, I cannot recall a faster RB by my eyes.

 

[jobberone]

Waters said he was full speed at the second step. Not sure that is actually true but his burst and ability to stop then accelerate again were spectacular. If you watch him run it doesn't always look that unique. You have to watch the separation he gets from players. See how quickly he is not just on the second level guys but able to just run by them.