The NFL has slowly moved to a new decade, and it is time we look at how the game would change in the future. In 2020, NFL had a rocky start due to the unexpected pandemic. However, the NFL is optimistic that the season would begin on time this year.
Unlike in the previous year, NFL season will be back to normal after a year of looking and feeling different. Though a number of restrictions will still remain valid, there are several things to look forward to this year as well as in the upcoming years.
An important thing to note here is that much of the excitement surrounding football in recent years happened as a result of sports betting legalization. The recent legislation resulted in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey allowing fans to bet on all the exciting 2020 NFL games.
So, regardless of your preferences—point spread bets, moneyline bets, over/under bets, or something else—you can now join your fellow football fans in placing wagers and following NFL odds on the best NFL sportsbooks in the country through their portable devices.
Beyond the legalization, other changes worth keeping an eye out for in the sports arena include relocation of teams, rule changes, league expansion, and potentially the rise of a new team dynasty. And one noteworthy technology to keep an eye on in the arena is computerized player tracking and data collection.
Don’t know what it is?
Find out below.
The NFL is tapping into the power of data
The amount of data that is generated during a single NFL game is massive, making it hard to understand. And a technology that makes this easy is the on-field player-tracking provider. Zebra Technologies have partnered with the NFL to be its official on-field player-tracking provider.
Now what this technology does is that it captures data about a player’s real-time location, speed, and acceleration for every game, on every inch of the field. In fact, it has been doing so for the past seven regular football seasons. However, it was only recently that we got to witness how this technology is changing the NFL.
Now, before we dive into the next section, let’s take a look at how data is generated through this technology.
The RFID tags are installed on every player’s shoulder pads. Typically, there are two tags, one on each shoulder pad. Nevertheless, a third tag is installed between the shoulder blades in some cases. Even the field officials and things like yardsticks, pylons, and even the ball on the field are tagged. These tags then work in coordination with an array of receiver boxes to generate valuable data.
For instance, data about a player can be used to figure out where they are on the field. Then, leveraging the findings, the player’s proximity from their teammates and the opposing players can be calculated.
Deeper statistics, deeper strategy
All the data that is generated through the RFID tags has resulted in a totally new generation of statistics. And it is far beyond the usual stuff the world is used to, such as rushing yards, touchdowns, completed passes, and more. These days, Zebra’s sensor tech tracks all those factors plus other factors such as location, speed, time, etc. But that again is just the tip of the iceberg. You can further calculate a wide array of statistics using these data points, like Expected Completion Percentage, Average Intended Air Yards, and Completion Percentage Above Expectation. Simply put, it is everything a football nerd can ever ask for.
Furthermore, it will also allow the NFL to measure factors that were previously impossible to calculate. Before the arrival of sensor-driven data, you would have never been able to quantify a quarterback’s aggressiveness.
You don’t have to possess a whole lot of imagination to know how this data might impact several aspects of the game. For instance, it is easy to see how more profound and more extensive player performance statistics can alter what scouts look for in potential recruits or help a coach make a better decision on practice sessions.
A new dimension of play
The most significant impact of technology and the data derived from it is perhaps how data literacy (the ability to access, interpret, understand, and apply data-driven insights) is quickly growing to become an essential skill for players. Just like scoring a goal, leveraging the data on hand is a skill that can be mastered. The more adept a player is at using the available information, the more likely they are to succeed.
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