Sports & Fantasy Sports Blog

Author: Bill Jones Introduction In our previous blogs, I analyzed the distribution of passes thrown in the NFL and explored the relationship between passing efficiency and location on the field. In this blog, I’ll take a closer look at the risk involved in different types of passes and locations on the field. A pass that is intercepted often quickly turns the tide of a game, and while throwing deep or to the middle of the field can be an effective way to gain yardage (as seen in last blog), if it also comes with a higher degree of risk it may be why NFL quarterbacks shy away from throwing to that part of the field. So, join me as I get into the risks associated with throwing the ball in different places on the field. Let’s get started! Statistic Explanation We will be looking at interceptions in this blog but that’s not the only statistic we will be using… I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ed Feng, founder of the website ThePowerRank, at a networking event during the Sloan...

Author: Billy Jones Introduction Welcome back to my blog series on the passing game in the NFL. In my last post, I used some visuals to understand the distribution of passes thrown in the NFL. In this post, I'll delve deeper into the question of, “is throwing the ball deep a good thing for the offense?” We've all seen the highlight reels of quarterbacks throwing bombs down the field for touchdowns, but how effective is this strategy in actual gameplay? Do long passes result in more yards, or are shorter, more consistent passes the more efficient route? To answer these questions, I’ll look at the data on passing efficiency by location on the field. I’ll analyze metrics such as completion percentages and yards per attempt for passes thrown deep, intermediate, and short distances. By doing so, I hope to find out if throwing the ball deep is a more efficient way to move the ball down the field. So, let's see what the numbers say about the effectiveness of throwing the dee...

Author: Billy Jones Introduction If you're a football fan, you've probably been bombarded with tweets and comments about the NFL combine recently, the annual event is where top prospects showcase their skills in front of scouts, coaches, and analysts. One of the most talked-about segments from this year’s combine was the quarterback throwing drills, especially the deep ball section. Every year, the media and fans alike overreact to combine performances, but for me it had me wondering does throwing deep actually matter? Is it worth taking the risk of a long pass, or are shorter, more consistent throws the more efficient route? Is that assumption of short routes being more efficient even true? As a football analytics enthusiast, I was curious and wanted to investigate. In this first blog post, I'll do some visual investigation of the different types of passes thrown in the NFL. In later posts I’ll look at the efficiencies of passes by location. So, buckle up and get rea...