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Model predicting NFL QB success

gogiants : 3/19/2018 12:05 am
Here's a paper on predicting NFL QB success based on input variables and a machine learning algorithm. The most accurate prediction model that was derived is based on four inputs
1) collegiate win percentage,
2) college games started per season played,
3) body mass index (BMI), and
4) age at draft time.

The model derived turned out to be 88% accurate.

I tried data for Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Riley Ferguson, Kurt Benkert, Mike White, Luke Falk, Kyle Lauletta, Nic Shimonek and Logan Woodside. The only ones that came out as predicted success were Sam Darnold and Luke Falk.

The model used draft data from quarterbacks from 2000 to 2015 drafts. "One node of the decision tree found that quarterbacks with a win percentage less than 56.1% in his collegiate career had 96.6% chance of being a bust in the NFL."

The link has a computer graphic showing various quarterback's data. Something for the nerdy football fans.

http://duelingdata.blogspot.com/2017/04/predicting-qb-success-in-nfl.html - ( New Window )
Plug Brady and the Mannings in  
Mike in Prescott : 3/19/2018 12:16 am : link
Into your model and let us know the results.
The model had  
gogiants : 3/19/2018 12:39 am : link
Peyton and Eli as successes but listed Brady as a bust because he played less than 9.25 games a season.
Interesting, Thanks For Posting  
Trainmaster : 3/19/2018 12:57 am : link
Davis Webb is predicted to be a bust by this model.
That's pretty cool  
montanagiant : 3/19/2018 1:38 am : link
I hope someone who has the free time takes a look at the top 20 QB's with a min of 30 starts and see how good this is
Looks more like how well a college recruits  
George from PA : 3/19/2018 4:36 am : link
It can not be 88% accurate...... impossible
Model predicting NFL QB success...  
Milton : 3/19/2018 4:58 am : link
Milton  
twostepgiants : 3/19/2018 6:48 am : link
Brilliant. LOL
Interesting concept  
twostepgiants : 3/19/2018 7:10 am : link
The problem i see is lack of transparency on the data.

Whats a bust? Whats a success?

Where did he publish the players used so we can see his numbers check out?

There wasnt alot of info given
Just what does BMI  
section125 : 3/19/2018 7:21 am : link
have to do with anything?
RE: Just what does BMI  
M.S. : 3/19/2018 7:33 am : link
In comment 13873444 section125 said:
Quote:
have to do with anything?

I'm gonna guess that height may be the factor.
Machine learning  
ray in arlington : 3/19/2018 7:41 am : link
A few years ago, I had a conversation with the head of analytics for an MLB club in which I asked him what my son (a math major) should study if he wanted to get an internship with the MLB club. The answer was "machine learning". In the course of the conversation we discussed a few algorithms that would be applicable (I work for an organization that sponsors some machine-learning approach to solving military problems).

Regarding the paper cited in this thread, it is just some guy who submitted a paper (which was rejected). Basically any math grad student could do something like this. It can be done at different levels of sophistication.

In some applications we are just throwing every pieces of data we have at the machine and have the machine sort it out. In case we'd put in something like BMI just because we have it. (Note that 40 variables were put in and the machine selected 4, of which BMI was one of them).

In military problems I have seen substantial improvement in machine learning over a human attempting to figure out a model. If I were running an NFL franchise, I would definintely look into machine learning algorithms for player evaluation, although I'd want a serious professional to do it.


Wait a second  
twostepgiants : 3/19/2018 7:41 am : link
The paper here is saying it correctly predicted Marc Bulger would be a success?

And it lists Teddy Bridgewater as a success?
Correction  
ray in arlington : 3/19/2018 7:42 am : link
Instead of "in case", I meant to say "in the case of QB evaluation"
RE: RE: Just what does BMI  
section125 : 3/19/2018 7:43 am : link
In comment 13873451 M.S. said:
Quote:
In comment 13873444 section125 said:


Quote:


have to do with anything?


I'm gonna guess that height may be the factor.


Why not just use height? All these guys will have high BMIs. Unless you are extremely thin, your BMI is high. I did 6'4" 230 and that gets a BMI of 28.

Landon Collins at 6 ft 215 is 29.2.

6 ft 170 lbs is 23.1
RE: RE: RE: Just what does BMI  
ray in arlington : 3/19/2018 7:45 am : link
In comment 13873457 section125 said:
Quote:
In comment 13873451 M.S. said:


Quote:


In comment 13873444 section125 said:


Quote:


have to do with anything?


I'm gonna guess that height may be the factor.



Why not just use height? All these guys will have high BMIs. Unless you are extremely thin, your BMI is high. I did 6'4" 230 and that gets a BMI of 28.

Landon Collins at 6 ft 215 is 29.2.

6 ft 170 lbs is 23.1



This is a machine learning algorithm, so the approach would be to put everything in (height, weight, BMI etc.) and let the computer sort it out.
Id say a problem this has as well  
twostepgiants : 3/19/2018 7:46 am : link
Is that things do change

Alex Smith was considered a bust for a long time. Mark Sanchez was considered a success for the first few years. Jets fans called him the Sanchize before the wheels fell off

This paper is a year old and he seems to be claiming Goff a failure. That assessment might be outdated now.
We're now putting hundreds of variables into algorithms  
ray in arlington : 3/19/2018 7:47 am : link
so no big incentive to filter out variables.

The algorithms sometimes find relationships between variables that we were completely unaware of.
Brad Kaaya was a predicted success last year  
twostepgiants : 3/19/2018 7:49 am : link
He was waived 3 times already
Thanks Ray  
section125 : 3/19/2018 7:49 am : link
for the machine learning algorithm explanation.
RE: Brad Kaaya was a predicted success last year  
section125 : 3/19/2018 7:49 am : link
In comment 13873470 twostepgiants said:
Quote:
He was waived 3 times already
it is statistical  
ray in arlington : 3/19/2018 7:51 am : link
so there is noise, error and outliers. Human scouts have the same noise, error and outliers. The questions is how well an algorithm would do relative to a human scout, or (better) how it would be complementary to the human scout knowledge base.


So to find a franchise QB, draft a skinny Ohio State or Alabama QB  
Ivan15 : 3/19/2018 8:11 am : link
Just make sure he drops graduates or drops out before he reaches 22.5
RE: Interesting, Thanks For Posting  
mdc1 : 3/19/2018 12:06 pm : link
In comment 13873392 Trainmaster said:
Quote:
Davis Webb is predicted to be a bust by this model.


wasn't he a bust in college, bouncing around perhaps screwing up programs (Colorado). There is much to be said about a "track record" and consistency. Did not see it in college.
RE: So to find a franchise QB, draft a skinny Ohio State or Alabama QB  
mdc1 : 3/19/2018 12:07 pm : link
In comment 13873489 Ivan15 said:
Quote:
Just make sure he drops graduates or drops out before he reaches 22.5


No, but I'll bet that beyond the usual QB skills they will need enough mobility to do what Rodgers does to escape bodily harm.
Lamar Jackson  
gogiants : 3/21/2018 11:29 am : link
also shows as a success in this model. So it is Jackson, Darnold and Falk.
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