Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - Printable Version
+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data (/thread-7175.html)
+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data (/thread-7175.html)
Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - washingtonismoney - 05-19-2014
http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2014/5/19/5731182/college-football-kickoffs-kick-returns
Stanford did less well in 2013 than I expected -- but it's an efficiency measure, so Montgomery's TDs are discounted relatively. Still, I had assumed we'd be regressing to the mean; it's good to know there's room for improvement here.
Re: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - slide - 05-19-2014
#4 nationally on overall net average. not too bad. I like the home runs too.
Re: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - martyup - 05-19-2014
We were second in "Overall Average Return." That's excellent. What makes it exciting to watch Stanford kickoff returns is knowing that Ty can and will break one off for 6.
Re: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - CTcard - 05-19-2014
(05-19-2014, 10:01 AM)washingtonismoney link Wrote:http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2014/5/19/5731182/college-football-kickoffs-kick-returns
Stanford did less well in 2013 than I expected -- but it's an efficiency measure, so Montgomery's TDs are discounted relatively. Still, I had assumed we'd be regressing to the mean; it's good to know there's room for improvement here.
Interesting to think about what should be a proper measure of kickoff or kickoff return efficiency.
I think the kickoff discussion has at least approximately the right metric in comparing everything to a 40 yd net position gain - i.e. compared to a touchback. It might be better to flip the measure as "opponent's starting field position versus their own 25". The two would differ by how they handle a kickoff from anywhere other than the 35 - i.e. the impact of a penalty. Most likely the issue of whether one of those approaches is better than another was dwarfed in making this list by what information is available in box-scores.
It's sort of interesting that Stanford is tied for #2 in most net yards in unsuccessful kickoffs. I guess that sort of means that when we screwed up, we didn't screw up all that much.
It is slightly odd that kick returns are not treated on the same basis - i.e. they are using kick return yardage (and # of kicks returned) rather than any sort of net field position. The two approaches factor in the length of one's opponents kickoffs in very different ways. Again, I think the reason is that they are looking for stats that are available in a common box-score. Fair enough, there's no use coming up with a conceptually brilliant statistic if you cannot find the numbers.
A bigger issue is whether percent of successful kickoffs or kickoff returns is a better measure of efficiency than average values. It does serve to illustrate something different - but I am not sure that the difference is efficiency.
And, as others have noted Stanford comes in at #4 in average net yardage gained on kickoffs and #2 in average kickoff return yardage. That implies Stanford's special teams were very good - and there are some limits on room for improvement.
Re: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - martyup - 05-20-2014
Coming from a non-statistician viewpoint and someone who watched every bowl game from last season (thanks to my DVR), it seems like a lot of teams get killed on kickoff returns by illegal blocking penalties. I saw far too many great returns called back due to stupid penalties. Fortunately, Stanford does a very good job of avoiding such field position crushing mistakes. However, some teams with extremely high salaried coaches can't seem to stop their boys from making those ill advised blocks. The damage is nearly incalculable (at least by me) of having a kickoff or punt return that brings the ball to near midfield, only to have a penalty bring it back to inside your own 15.
Re: Really interesting kickoff/kickoff return data - oldalum - 05-20-2014
Of course, sometimes the return goes that far because of the illegal block.