Football Analytics For Everyone
At SIS we’re open to ideas from all our employees, so when Andrew Oja, one of our football Video Scout Associates, pitched the idea of a podcast breaking down Expected Points Added and other analytics for the less-analytically inclined NFL fan, our podcast crew said, sure.
The results of that idea came out on Thursday, with Oja joining two members of our R&D team, Alex Vigderman and Bryce Rossler, to ask questions about the things he was most curious about.
“ EPA values aren’t intuitive,” Rossler said, “But all EPA is really doing is contextualizing yards for down and distance, and where you are on the field.”
He noted earlier in the episode, “ People will make this complicated. And I think that a lot of broadcasters do not do service to the listeners when they explain things like this, because they talk as if it's this really complicated thing that you have to be a, a rocket surgeon to understand, but it's really not.”
Much of the discussion centered around the usefulness of the data. Vigderman, one of our vice-presidents of analytics, explained how he sees it.
“Because the offense does what they do and the defense, to some extent they do what they do, but they also react to what the offense does,” he said. “So any data you have on the defense is some percentage their scheme and some percentage whatever the offense is doing. That means the direct line between analytics and performance is easier to do on the offensive side, meaning we can scheme against offenses more usefully. So I think there is more of an opportunity to like understand what offenses are doing and work with their tendencies and opponent scout and all that kind of stuff in a way that is more beneficial than scouting against defense.”
That’s a lot to intake, but as Oja said, “That makes sense.”
For more sensible insights, listen to the full episode.
The 2026 NFL Draft Website has scouting reports for more than 400 of the top players. With that, we’ve got ratings and rankings. It’s basically everything a GM would want to know about the NFL’s top rookies heading into the 2026 season (we’ll be getting to the 2027 Draft at a later date).
Our statistical information package includes Total Points, our proprietary metric that values everything that happens on the field, as well as position-specific performance data in the form of raw totals, averages, and percentile rankings. And we explain our stats in our glossary.
Also From SIS
The statistical stars have aligned. Read about how the top six teams in Defensive Runs Saved are six of the seven best teams in baseball by winning percentage.
Mark Simon with a look at how the Cubs would still lead the majors in Defensive Runs Saved even if Pete Crow-Armstrong wasn’t on the roster.
What We’re Reading/Watching
Clayton Eckert of Steelers Depot on how often Mike McCarthy has used 11, 12, 21, and 13 personnel back to 2018.
Friend-of-SIS Ben Solak on the best vibes, players in the best shape of their lives, the busiest injury tent, and more preseason NFL news.
The SIS Website Has A New Look
Check out the newly-redesigned SIS website! We’ve made it easier for you to find our articles, our data, and information about the tools and resources we offer. Give it a try on your desktop, laptop, phone, or mobile device.
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More from the SIS Community
On Off the Charts, members of the R&D team, and special guests dig into statistical insights, tactical analysis, and personal opinions, aimed at providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the week's key matchups and the intricacies of the sport. On The SIS Baseball Podcast, we interview current players and coaches about defensive excellence and review the latest baseball news.
The Fielding Bible Website
The FieldingBible.com website is a great resource for your defensive stat needs. It features player and team stats, Defensive Runs Saved leaderboards, and more.
