The Cowboys are going all in on analytics in 2023

[zekecowboy]

That isn’t all, though, as the Cowboys have made moves this month that have signaled a full-throated commitment to an expansive analytics department. The moves began when Tom Robinson, the Cowboys’ longtime Director of Football Research, left the team prior to the draft. His role was effectively filled by John Park, under the title of Director of Strategic Football Operations. A couple of weeks later, the Cowboys added Sarah Mallepalle from the Ravens as a Strategic Football Analyst. Not long after, they posted another job opening for an additional Strategic Football Analyst role.

That’s three brand new positions within the organization that are exclusively focused on football analytics, albeit with one position still needing to be filled. Both Park and Mallepalle are rising stars in the football analytics community, and each come from some of the most analytically inclined football organizations in the league.

This is in addition to the coaches on McCarthy’s staff who already have been serving in analytics-adjacent roles. These three coaches all saw shifts in responsibilities this offseason as well. Ryan Feder’s title is now listed as Game Management/Offensive Assistant, and McCarthy has noted that he’s had an expanded role in assisting with head coaching duties as McCarthy takes on the play-calling duties. Justin Rudd has now shifted to the offense, while still carrying the same title of Video/Analytics, while Eric Simonelli shifted to defense from special teams.


https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...023-mike-mccarthy-john-park-sarah-malle-palle

 

[cowboyed]

Analytics are useful but it takes an overall talented, disciplined and durable team with a high IQ coaching staff to be competitive in the playoffs.

 

[Kwyn]

That isn’t all, though, as the Cowboys have made moves this month that have signaled a full-throated commitment to an expansive analytics department. The moves began when Tom Robinson, the Cowboys’ longtime Director of Football Research, left the team prior to the draft. His role was effectively filled by John Park, under the title of Director of Strategic Football Operations. A couple of weeks later, the Cowboys added Sarah Mallepalle from the Ravens as a Strategic Football Analyst. Not long after, they posted another job opening for an additional Strategic Football Analyst role.

That’s three brand new positions within the organization that are exclusively focused on football analytics, albeit with one position still needing to be filled. Both Park and Mallepalle are rising stars in the football analytics community, and each come from some of the most analytically inclined football organizations in the league.

This is in addition to the coaches on McCarthy’s staff who already have been serving in analytics-adjacent roles. These three coaches all saw shifts in responsibilities this offseason as well. Ryan Feder’s title is now listed as Game Management/Offensive Assistant, and McCarthy has noted that he’s had an expanded role in assisting with head coaching duties as McCarthy takes on the play-calling duties. Justin Rudd has now shifted to the offense, while still carrying the same title of Video/Analytics, while Eric Simonelli shifted to defense from special teams.


https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/202...023-mike-mccarthy-john-park-sarah-malle-palle

I’m definitely down with any “full throated” article.

Well done!

Have a like.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

The problem is...you need someone using their "gut", to tell you when its time to use analytics.

 

[gtb1943]

The problem is...you need someone using their "gut", to tell you when its time to use analytics.

Or WHEN to ignore the stats and go with your gut. Frankly, I am unimpressed with all of the emphasis on the numbers. When dealing with human beings, stats tend to mislead you all too often.

 

[805BoysInBlue]

If it was up to McCarthy, A.I would be coaching this team since he likes to delegate everythjng

 

[pancakeman]

His strategy for showing he deserves to keep the head coach job might be to demote himself out of it

 

[Bobhaze]

There is often a fundamental misunderstanding of how analytics works in football and why it’s a great tool. Here are some basic facts about what it does:

• Analytics in any sport is fact based. It takes factual data about situational football and tells you what the best options are for success. On both sides of the ball. It does NOT replace coaches decisions- It just gives them more informed choices.
  • For example- if you are playing the egirls, analytics could show you if your defense is in a 3rd and 3 or less, which defensive alignments have had the most success against Filly in that situation.
  • Another example- analytics could pick up that your next week’s opponent is very vulnerable to a deep ball on 2nd down and long. It may go against typical thinking.
• Analytics takes factual data and lets your coaches make better decisions in situational football.
• Analytics does NOT take away a coaches “gut feeling”. It may just give them a better idea of what their gut is telling them though, lol.

 

[CouchCoach]

Booger thinks analytics is a new faster way to count butts in the stadium seats.

 

[fivetwos]

There is often a fundamental misunderstanding of how analytics works in football and why it’s a great tool. Here are some basic facts about what it does:

• Analytics in any sport is fact based. It takes factual data about situational football and tells you what the best options are for success. On both sides of the ball. It does NOT replace coaches decisions- It just gives them more informed choices.
  • For example- if you are playing the egirls, analytics could show you if your defense is in a 3rd and 3 or less, which defensive alignments have had the most success against Filly in that situation.
  • Another example- analytics could pick up that your next week’s opponent is very vulnerable to a deep ball on 2nd down and long. It may go against typical thinking.
• Analytics takes factual data and lets your coaches make better decisions in situational football.
• Analytics does NOT take away a coaches “gut feeling”. It may just give them a better idea of what their gut is telling them though, lol.

I don’t see how any of it fits into football.

As an example…let’s say you’re faced with 4th and 4 from your own 41, and teams convert that down and distance at a 68% rate.

It doesn’t mean you have a 68% chance to convert in the current situation, or make it a good idea…not early in the game or when ahead anyway.

There are dozens of factors that were not in play during the 68% calculation, not the least of which is who you are and who you’re playing.

I’m probably missing something but I just don’t see how it fits. It’s not baseball.

 

[ESisback]

Or WHEN to ignore the stats and go with your gut. Frankly, I am unimpressed with all of the emphasis on the numbers. When dealing with human beings, stats tend to mislead you all too often.

Except when you need them to “prove” incompetence.

 

[ESisback]

There is often a fundamental misunderstanding of how analytics works in football and why it’s a great tool. Here are some basic facts about what it does:

• Analytics in any sport is fact based. It takes factual data about situational football and tells you what the best options are for success. On both sides of the ball. It does NOT replace coaches decisions- It just gives them more informed choices.
  • For example- if you are playing the egirls, analytics could show you if your defense is in a 3rd and 3 or less, which defensive alignments have had the most success against Filly in that situation.
  • Another example- analytics could pick up that your next week’s opponent is very vulnerable to a deep ball on 2nd down and long. It may go against typical thinking.
• Analytics takes factual data and lets your coaches make better decisions in situational football.
• Analytics does NOT take away a coaches “gut feeling”. It may just give them a better idea of what their gut is telling them though, lol.

The trick, IMHO, is finding the right combination of analytics and gut within the confines of your current environment.

 

[Kwyn]

The problem is...you need someone using their "gut", to tell you when its time to use analytics.

I can see that, and I’m not a huge fan of the overwhelming trend where every head coach has the down and distance laminated “bible” they look at every play.

I am totally onboard with using analytics extensively when you are creating the game plan ahead of game day.

I want our guys to be able to predict, with some degree of certainty, what plays are being run by our opponents based on down, distance and formation in an effort to narrow things down.

The play clock is always on the move.

 

[dsturgeon]

There are now analytics on nfl teams using analytics

 

[TequilaCowboy]

If it was up to McCarthy, A.I would be coaching this team since he likes to delegate everythjng

Should MM bomb and gets fired, that may be who Jerry's next coach will be. Clone himself as an A.I. being.

 

[Coogiguy03]

There is often a fundamental misunderstanding of how analytics works in football and why it’s a great tool. Here are some basic facts about what it does:

• Analytics in any sport is fact based. It takes factual data about situational football and tells you what the best options are for success. On both sides of the ball. It does NOT replace coaches decisions- It just gives them more informed choices.
  • For example- if you are playing the egirls, analytics could show you if your defense is in a 3rd and 3 or less, which defensive alignments have had the most success against Filly in that situation.
  • Another example- analytics could pick up that your next week’s opponent is very vulnerable to a deep ball on 2nd down and long. It may go against typical thinking.
• Analytics takes factual data and lets your coaches make better decisions in situational football.
• Analytics does NOT take away a coaches “gut feeling”. It may just give them a better idea of what their gut is telling them though, lol.

I hear you and agree, but none of this can predict player abilities, 3rd and 3 we're against philly, great play drawn up for said defense, and the player drops the pass, o-line isn't blocking well, RB misses a key block, WR lines up offsides

 

[Coogiguy03]

I bet a guy like Jason Garret would hate this, he thinks everything he does will work lol, even if it was back in the day

 

[CouchCoach]

Analytics is the science of coaching but few take it to an artistic level.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Probably be going for 2 points all game. That's why we don't need a kicker. lol

 

[fredp22]

analytics has its pros/cons but I think 8 people may be going a little overboard (what happens whey u get 3 different opinions). I liked Landrys in game scheming better. He use to use 1st quarter to size up the players on both sides and scheme off that for rest of game. If its 3rd and 3 analytics may say short pass against that team right side. Landry knew analytics but may see DT looks injured and keeps missing tackles while MLB keeps dropping for pass on 3rd down and call draw up middle.
Cleveland uses analytics most-they were 7-10
Tennessee uses it the least- they were 7-10, Cincin 2nd least-they were 12-4.

use it but dont live off it