I usually ignore Robert Stacy McCain when he posts about football, but not this time. Kick the Damned Field Goal! (Or, How ‘Analytics’ Is Ruining Football)
Trivia question: Who leads the NFL in scoring?
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has more touchdowns (16 rushing, 2 receiving) than any other player in the league, for a total of 108 points, but he is not the NFL’s leading scorer. That distinction belongs to New England Patriots kicker Nick Folk, who has kicked 33 field goals and 29 extra points for a total of 128 points so far this season.
Should a football team "go for it" on 4th and short, or should they kick (or attempt) a field goal? It of course depends on their kicker and their field position. And some strategy.
Blame “analytics,” which is what they call it nowadays when geeks with calculators apply statistical formulae to football. Supposedly, “analytics” shows that the odds of converting on fourth-and-2 or whatever favor going for it, regardless of the overall game situation.
Now I haven't really watched football in decades. My father loved it, and we had one decent TV, so I learned to love it. And the the Chicago Bears were in the Superbowl - many, many years ago...
But one thing I remember is that a lot of teams always played it "safe." Punting, or kicking a field goal when they were down by more than 3 points with the clock running out. Basically doing the opposite of always going for it.
Anyway, click thru, it is an interesting rant on the current state of the NFL.
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