Bill Belichick Hates Analytics

Analytics has been a growing part of the NFL. We have Pro Football Focus making an impact on how teams make decisions. Just last week, the media got a hard on for the number of times John Harbaugh went 2 and tried for the 4th down conversion. All I know is the guy that actually wins all the time hates analytics.

How much does Bill Belichick lean on analytics to make decisions.

“Less than zero,” Belichick said.

“I’m not saying it’s a gut thing. It’s an individual analysis based on the things that are pertinent to that game and that situation,” he said. “I don’t really care what happened in 1973 and what those teams did or didn’t do. I don’t really think that matters in this game — or ’83 or ’90, pick out whatever you want.”

Belichick then smiled and said, “It’s not really my thing. And I like math, too, by the way.”

I love this answer. I’m growing more and more out on analytics. Maybe it has some value. Whatever value it has isn’t nearly ready to be used. Whatever algorithm PFF uses, it stinks.

If Patrick Mahomes is the 6th best quarterback so far this season and only one spot higher than Derek Carr, your algorithm stinks. Get a new formula. Figure it out.

I’m so out on PFF. Belichick probably laughs at it. For the record, If Baker Mayfield flops, I’m hammering them. Get ready for it. He was essentially their highest graded prospect ever. There’s no scenario where he’s going to be better than Carson Wentz or Deshaun Watson. Both guys who PFF had much lower grades on. Both Wentz and Watson I was super high on and both have been money. Analytics also played a part in the Browns drafting Cody Kessler. How did that one work out? Just get ready for it. PFF is getting hammered if Mayfield flops. Don’t worry, I’ll be patient too.