I think it is worth thinking about whether or not the interior line is indeed of utmost importance. Based on Yeoman's experience data for the BIG and Pac12 provided in the posts below, I've plotted experience vs YPC for tackles and the interior line separately. Sample size is still woefully small, and I probably won't go digging up O-line experience for the rest of CFB, but early returns suggest that interior line experience is indeed more meaningful than tackle experience when it comes to running the football well.
"Experience" is coded using 1 = FR, 1.5 = RS FR, 2 = SO, etc. In the graph above you can actually see a small decrease in YPC the older the tackles are (see what I mean about small sample size?). Anyway, there isn't any obvious evidence from this year's BIG or Pac12 suggesting tackle experience is strongly correlated with a good running game (r2 = 0.04 here).
When we look at the interior line, we that YPC tends to increase as the guards and center get more experienced. R2 = 0.17 here.
Again, the sample size is quite small here, only 24 teams. But this brief little analysis would suggest that interior line experience is a key factor in producing an effective run game.
This is all really good stuff, and it's one of the more interesting discussions I've seen on the blog in quite awhile (apart from 200+ threads calling for everyone to be fired, which were, of course, the best). I appreciate Gameboy taking the time to synthesize and visualize some of this data.
One of the biggest critiques so far seems to be "who cares about our awesome tackles, the NT is destroying our true freshman LG." Basically our interior line is why we suck. Statistically, would it make sense to try and determine whether interior line experience is more important than tackle experience in producing an effective offensive line? I mean, could you run a regression with interior line expereince against ypc and do the same with tackle experience against ypc to see whether one or the other is more important? And if there is no difference, would that imply that mean average isn't that bad of a measure?
Just curious, I find this all a pretty interesting. Good work, people.
Argh. This is annoying. Seems wonky since they have like 10 Gameplan games at noon and only a single one at 8pm. You'd think it'd be on there for those areas where ABC won't have it.
Re: New Mexico, I was living up in Taos and Santa Fe for awhile, but I'm just headed back for a visit this week. If you're around we'll probably try to watch the game at Fox and Hound in Albuquerque where the alumni association (usually about 15 people) gets together. I'll be the guy younger than 50.
Anyone know much about Gameplan? Is it like NFL Sunday Ticket or something? I'm planning on watching at a bar down in New Mexico. Assuming ABC will have Texas, but I'm also assuming (hoping) that the bar will be able to show the game through Gameplan. Any ideas?
Do you have 2 non-student seats together? I'd be interested at 150, especially if they're above row 40 or 50 or so. rstephan at stanford dot edu. I'll be on campus tonight. Thanks!
Recent Comments
apologies for the poorly formatted graphs
I think it is worth thinking about whether or not the interior line is indeed of utmost importance. Based on Yeoman's experience data for the BIG and Pac12 provided in the posts below, I've plotted experience vs YPC for tackles and the interior line separately. Sample size is still woefully small, and I probably won't go digging up O-line experience for the rest of CFB, but early returns suggest that interior line experience is indeed more meaningful than tackle experience when it comes to running the football well.
"Experience" is coded using 1 = FR, 1.5 = RS FR, 2 = SO, etc. In the graph above you can actually see a small decrease in YPC the older the tackles are (see what I mean about small sample size?). Anyway, there isn't any obvious evidence from this year's BIG or Pac12 suggesting tackle experience is strongly correlated with a good running game (r2 = 0.04 here).
When we look at the interior line, we that YPC tends to increase as the guards and center get more experienced. R2 = 0.17 here.
Again, the sample size is quite small here, only 24 teams. But this brief little analysis would suggest that interior line experience is a key factor in producing an effective run game.
This is all really good stuff, and it's one of the more interesting discussions I've seen on the blog in quite awhile (apart from 200+ threads calling for everyone to be fired, which were, of course, the best). I appreciate Gameboy taking the time to synthesize and visualize some of this data.
One of the biggest critiques so far seems to be "who cares about our awesome tackles, the NT is destroying our true freshman LG." Basically our interior line is why we suck. Statistically, would it make sense to try and determine whether interior line experience is more important than tackle experience in producing an effective offensive line? I mean, could you run a regression with interior line expereince against ypc and do the same with tackle experience against ypc to see whether one or the other is more important? And if there is no difference, would that imply that mean average isn't that bad of a measure?
Just curious, I find this all a pretty interesting. Good work, people.
Michigan 31
Minnesota 20
The Little Brown Jug stays in Ann Arbor!
Argh. This is annoying. Seems wonky since they have like 10 Gameplan games at noon and only a single one at 8pm. You'd think it'd be on there for those areas where ABC won't have it.
Where are you seeing the Gameplan schedule? ESPN's website says it will be available via gameplan http://espn.go.com/college-football/schedule.
If it is on Gameplan, I imagine most sports bars will have it; if it's not, it's looking like ESPN3 or bust.
Ahh, that sucks. I saw this on the other thread http://mattsarzsports.com/Schedule/Weekly?week=4&sportYear=football2013 and it looked like they should have it.
Re: New Mexico, I was living up in Taos and Santa Fe for awhile, but I'm just headed back for a visit this week. If you're around we'll probably try to watch the game at Fox and Hound in Albuquerque where the alumni association (usually about 15 people) gets together. I'll be the guy younger than 50.
Anyone know much about Gameplan? Is it like NFL Sunday Ticket or something? I'm planning on watching at a bar down in New Mexico. Assuming ABC will have Texas, but I'm also assuming (hoping) that the bar will be able to show the game through Gameplan. Any ideas?
Do you have 2
Hey sideline,
Do you have 2 non-student seats together? I'd be interested at 150, especially if they're above row 40 or 50 or so. rstephan at stanford dot edu. I'll be on campus tonight. Thanks!
Rob
Grow Blue! You conscious? #HALOL
Michigan 83
Indiana 79
Michigan - 76
Purdue - 65
Michigan 24
Northwestern 21
Michigan 34
Minnesota 17
Total Yards800
UM - 38
MSU - 17
Total rushing yards - 281
Michigan 28
Illinois 13
BOOM.
250