The Broncos Will Try To Cut Down On In-Game Coaching Stupidity

[FL BRONCO]

http://deadspin.com/the-broncos-will-try-to-cut-down-on-in-game-coaching-st-172309

The Denver Broncos will try something new this year that, should it go well, will have fans in Denver spending a little less time shaking their damn heads at head coach Gary Kubiak. The team’s new Director of Analytics, Mitch Tanney, will have a say when it comes to in-game coaching decisions.

From the Broncos:


“If we’re moving the ball or we’re doing formatting, I’ve got Mitch with me because he’s going to be on the headset, so we’re trying to practice,” Kubiak said.


With Tanney nearby, Kubiak can receive a quick report on the statistical probabilities of almost any situation. Say that you have fourth-and-3 from the opponent’s 45-yard-line with four minutes to go. Do the large-sample-size percentages make the risk-reward ratio acceptable enough to go for it? Tanney’s analytics can provide insight to aid Kubiak’s decision-making.

The important thing here is Kubiak revealing his plans to give Tanney a headset during games this year. Hiring an analytics guy is one thing, but giving one the power to say things like, “Uh, coach, you definitely shouldn’t punt it from the opponent’s 38-yard line,” during the fourth quarter of a tie game is an encouraging gesture. Try to think of how many times you watched a game last year found yourself wishing that someone would just tell the coach to stop punting on fourth-and-short like an idiot. The Broncos appear to have that guy now.







Of course, how much of an impact Tanney’s presence has depends on Kubiak’s willingness to listen to him. It’s entirely possible that Kubiak will overrule Tanney’s advice and go on doing dumb things. Maybe he’ll listen, though, and maybe Broncos fans will spend a little less time feeling frustrated this season








First of all the title is a little misleading imo
Secondly I am not familiar with the website.

That said, if what is in the article is true, I find it very interesting that Kubes is going to give an analytics guy a headset during games and consult at times on plays. Have to digest on it a bit.

[chad72]

Sabermetrics (if that is what it is called), can only get you so far. There are times you have to go with your gut. Momentum plays a big part in your decisions. If your team was down by 14 points going into the 4th qtr. and your QB just put 2 drives together for 10 points and is in rhythm and you are down by 4 and it is 4th down and 3 at mid field with 3 minutes to go, will you punt and give it back to the other QB or go for it?

I'd go for it based on gut and momentum, not based on sabermetrics there. Just my two cents .

If you are in Foxboro, on the opposition's 40 and it is a long FG and it is early in the game and you want to set a tone on 4th and 1, do you go for it or punt? I'd go for it to set the tone.

[Rancid]

I like the idea of a logical voice during times of emotion. If nothing else, to give the coach a reminder of probabilities so he can at least hear a rational opinion to offset times of emotion. Captain Kubiak has his Spock.

[Hadez]

Interesting concept. We probably will not hear much about how it is working during the season but maybe at end of year we will hear how it went.

[FL BRONCO]

Overall I like the general idea. But it depends on how it is used. I like it used as a tool throughout diferent situations during the game. But I don't want it used all the time as the backbone. Just like Fox and his the Stats said do this in this situation. God I got tired of hearing that along with I'd do it again a 100x. IMO there needs to be a feel for it and when to use it. I would not want to use it in crucial situations in games especially playoff games. I don't think it would have called for a pass across the middle in our own end on 3rd and long in the 4th quarter of a play off game when we are nursing the lead in our oppenents building, yet that completion to Sharpe propelled us to the championship game. I like coaches who play and coach to win in the big situations and that is what we did during our SB runs. Even though Elway through the interception in the endzone after the GB turnover, we were going for the jugular in the big moments of big games and to me that is a big reason (along with TD) we have 2 Lombardi's. Coaches who coach based on stas or probabilities seem more the Marty/Fox type. I hope Kubes remembers that attitude and those moments now when we have big moments and doesn't rely on analytics. We shall see, throughout the regular season during games it may very well be a fresh point of view. I will try and reserve judgement, but after contemplating a little bit, I'm not really favoring. But then I haven't seen it in action either. We will see.

[Conner13]

I'm just glad Fox is gone. Kubiak, on his worst day, is still a better, more knowledgeable coach than John Fox. Fox can enjoy getting hammered by all three NFC north rivals while he stands on the sideline chewing his gum and wondering when the game will be over this year all he wants. More power to him. Just not here.

[Rastic]

The more I look into this the more I am seeing it becoming more and more common, though I have no idea how it is really used during game day.

Analytics are a powerful resource that can tell you about trends, which I can see being helpful but you have to have somebody like a coach who make sense of the information in the live situation that factors intangibles like game momentum, team mentality and such.

They aren't quite as useful as babeball analytics because football is much more of a team sport where each player can enhance or diminish a teammate's performance .

[FL BRONCO]

The more I look into this the more I am seeing it becoming more and more common, though I have no idea how it is really used during game day.

Analytics are a powerful resource that can tell you about trends, which I can see being helpful but you have to have somebody like a coach who make sense of the information in the live situation that factors intangibles like game momentum, team mentality and such.

They aren't quite as useful as babeball analytics because football is much more of a team sport where each player can enhance or diminish a teammate's performance .

What is this Babeball you speak of Captain. :dance:It sounds very interesting. I think I would like to try this out

[Rastic]

What is this Babeball you speak of Captain. :dance:It sounds very interesting. I think I would like to try this out

Oh, there's definitely a story there. Remind me when you're older

[dizzolve]

I dunno what to think about this but I WILL say, John Fox had me Scratching MY HEAD a LOT in his tenure here in Denver. And no matter what - he'd never 2nd guess himself. I didn't like that dishonesty -; hopefully it wasn't stupidity


... sure seemed like it at times though. Sorry Fox, - you did really well in some areas. But you didn't take many chances EVER - and despite you couldn't win it you'd use a challenge ...... and lose. Those were tough to watch and explain to rival fans........ we'd almost have to concede stupidity. That is one thing we wont have to do with Koobs around here. No one is perfect though but when Koobs does make a mistake, he'll own up and at least allow some common sense to permeate the conversation. Instead of blindly standing behind every chess move you make just to not open a can of worms. Can of worms stay closed but common sense meter points to ~0~

[chad72]

Kubiak would not have taken a knee with two timeouts after the gut punching play that Flacco and Jacoby Jones made in the 2012 Ravens playoff game, I can definitely tell you that.

[broncos SB2010]

Kubiak would not have taken a knee with two timeouts after the gut punching play that Flacco and Jacoby Jones made in the 2012 Ravens playoff game, I can definitely tell you that.

yep. That's a head scratcher. SB on the line, no tomorrow, Peyton Manning at QB......you have to go for it.