New scouting technology could give teams an edge in NFL draft

[Seneschal2]

New scouting technology could give teams an edge in NFL draft | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com

Excerpt:

NFL teams looking for the latest edge are turning to sophisticated computer technology to help compile, organize and access scouting information. The latest is STATS’ ICE platform, which stands for Interactive Collaboration and Evaluation.

The system fully computerizes a team’s draft and pro scouting boards, and allows almost instant access to everything from a player’s scouting report to his physical testing to his medical report to game videotape.

If the system proves successful and popular, the scouting war room in its current form — magnetized name cards literally comprising a draft board on the wall — could become obsolete in several years. In its place, rankings will show up on large computer monitors in the war room, as well as personal computers, laptops and even cellphones. Every draft prospect’s name is listed with his grade, and with just a touch of a screen or click of a mouse, scouts and coaches can access all his information, with statistics often linked to their specific plays.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Fans have been using databases to track and proejct draft prospects for well over a decade. I'd imagine the NFL has been doing it a fair bit longer. This isn't new or groundbreaking.

 

[Zardnok]

Fans have been using databases to track and proejct draft prospects for well over a decade. I'd imagine the NFL has been doing it a fair bit longer. This isn't new or groundbreaking.

Tracking draft prospects with a data-base or spread sheet is not ground breaking, but the way they are doing it and the amount of information readily available at your fingertips is. I know for the past few years, I have kept my own excel spreadsheet with about 400 players on it using a weighted average system of multiple "big boards". I can sort by position (QB, DE, OLB) or scheme (3-4, 4-3, Cover 2) and have an injury and character risk block as well that I can filter out.

That is nothing compared to the ICE system. The Saints were integral in development of the system and have been using it now for two years. ICE gives instant access to video and statistics of how a player performs in a given situation. Want to know how Muhammed Wilkerson performs in the last two minutes of a half, a simple tap of the finger and you have multiple game films with only the final two minutes. Want to see how Gabbert responds to the blitz, a simple finger tap on the screen and you have multiple game films to chose from where Gabbert was blitzed. How does Castonzo do picking up stunting line-man, tap, there is the film! Think of it like an instant you-tube highlight video only you get to chose what is in the high-lights or low-lights.

ICE does everything the traditional spread sheets were designed to do, only it does it with panache!! The Saints scouts that have used it have raved about the plethora of information available and the Saints seem to be doing pretty well lately.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Tracking draft prospects with a data-base or spread sheet is not ground breaking, but the way they are doing it and the amount of information readily available at your fingertips is. I know for the past few years, I have kept my own excel spreadsheet with about 400 players on it using a weighted average system of multiple "big boards". I can sort by position (QB, DE, OLB) or scheme (3-4, 4-3, Cover 2) and have an injury and character risk block as well that I can filter out.

That is nothing compared to the ICE system. The Saints were integral in development of the system and have been using it now for two years. ICE gives instant access to video and statistics of how a player performs in a given situation. Want to know how Muhammed Wilkerson performs in the last two minutes of a half, a simple tap of the finger and you have multiple game films with only the final two minutes. Want to see how Gabbert responds to the blitz, a simple finger tap on the screen and you have multiple game films to chose from where Gabbert was blitzed. How does Castonzo do picking up stunting line-man, tap, there is the film! Think of it like an instant you-tube highlight video only you get to chose what is in the high-lights or low-lights.

ICE does everything the traditional spread sheets were designed to do, only it does it with panache!! The Saints scouts that have used it have raved about the plethora of information available and the Saints seem to be doing pretty well lately.

A database doesn't have to be just a spreadsheet. Databases can contain all types of files and media. It seems like a kewl application, don't get me wrong, but I don't think this fits into the category of groundbreaking. I'd be amazed if most teams doing their own scouting don't have something similar.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Seems like NE was featured in a news story a few years back where they were investigating something similar? Quality Control Assistants sure do have their work cut out for them, good way to find out who has the full glutton for punishment gene needed to coach in the NFL.