Go For It! Saints Understand Value of Aggressive Play-Calling
source: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/02/go-for-it-saints-understand-value-of.html
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UPDATE: Congratulations to the Saints and the city of New Orleans! Although it was mostly about the talent on the field, this game could do a lot of good for smarter NFL strategery. Expect a lot more onside kicks next season!
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Let's take a quick look at the Saints' decision to go for the touchdown on fourth down and about a yard-and-a-half with 1:55 to go in the first half. Although Pierre Thomas got stuffed, it was probably the best play by a wide margin.
How come? Because even if you miss, the Colts are pinned inside their own 2 yard line. This makes a lot of difference: having the ball on your own 1 or 2 is worth about -1.5 points, according to David Romer's seminal paper (that is to say, the value of possession is outweighed in this instance by your incredibly poor field position). Conversely, having the ball on the 20 or thereabouts after a made field goal and a kick-off is worth +0.5 points -- your opponent has a positive scoring expectation. (There's also the case of a missed field goal, in which the Colts would have the ball at about their own 9; that's worth -0.5 points.)
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/02/go-for-it-saints-understand-value-of.html
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Let's take a quick look at the Saints' decision to go for the touchdown on fourth down and about a yard-and-a-half with 1:55 to go in the first half. Although Pierre Thomas got stuffed, it was probably the best play by a wide margin.
How come? Because even if you miss, the Colts are pinned inside their own 2 yard line. This makes a lot of difference: having the ball on your own 1 or 2 is worth about -1.5 points, according to David Romer's seminal paper (that is to say, the value of possession is outweighed in this instance by your incredibly poor field position). Conversely, having the ball on the 20 or thereabouts after a made field goal and a kick-off is worth +0.5 points -- your opponent has a positive scoring expectation. (There's also the case of a missed field goal, in which the Colts would have the ball at about their own 9; that's worth -0.5 points.)
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/02/go-for-it-saints-understand-value-of.html
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