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Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

blog.timescale.com

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Re: Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

#2

Post by CoolAssPuppy »

Today is opening day for most of the NFL’s training camps. I’m a huge fan of public datasets, and my coworkers and I happened upon this dataset from the NFL. We loaded it into our company’s product (TimescaleDB) and did some number crunching. We wanted to definitively answer some questions about whether or not there is a quantifiable difference in performance when playing at Mile High Stadium (there is) or if Tyreek Hill really is as fast as he seems (he is). If you’re a football fan, there’s some good data in there. At the very least, you may settle a few bar bets. Maybe you’ll even find something to help you win your fantasy league this year.

Re: Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

#4

Post by Cyclone_ »

CoolAssPuppy wrote: post #2

Today is opening day for most of the NFL’s training camps. I’m a huge fan of public datasets, and my coworkers and I happened upon this dataset from the NFL. We loaded it into our company’s product (TimescaleDB) and did some number crunching. We wanted to definitively answer some questions about whether or not there is a quantifiable difference in performance when playing at Mile High Stadium (there is) or if Tyreek…

What's the most interesting conclusion you were able to find using the advanced data that you wouldn't be able to see with the basic stats like QBR or yards per carry?

Re: Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

#5

Post by swasheck »

i've always wanted to test the hypothesis that the timing and type of penalties within a game have more of an impact than the overall number of penalties. is there a way to leverage a penalty for strategic advantage at any given point in the game?

i still suspect that would be hard to determine given the subjective nature of what constitutes a penalty and what (dis)advantage the penalized team was carrying at any given moment.

Re: Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

#6

Post by CoolAssPuppy »

Cyclone_ wrote: post #4
CoolAssPuppy wrote: post #2

Today is opening day for most of the NFL’s training camps. I’m a huge fan of public datasets, and my coworkers and I happened upon this dataset from the NFL. We loaded it into our company’s product (TimescaleDB) and did some number crunching. We wanted to definitively answer some questions about whether or not there is a quantifiable difference in performance when playing at Mile High Stadium (there is) or if Tyreek…

What's the most interesting conclusion you were able to find using the advanced data that you wouldn't be able to see with the basic stats like QBR or yards per carry?

I was suuuuper curious about the fastest player on the field (i.e., in full pads on game day), and the play-specific data includes acceleration as one of its data points. Miranda on our team (co-author of the post) dialed up a query to show the top 3, one of whom is Tyreek Hill. (The other two don’t play that much)

Re: Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

#7

Post by CoolAssPuppy »

Cyclone_ wrote: post #4
CoolAssPuppy wrote: post #2

Today is opening day for most of the NFL’s training camps. I’m a huge fan of public datasets, and my coworkers and I happened upon this dataset from the NFL. We loaded it into our company’s product (TimescaleDB) and did some number crunching. We wanted to definitively answer some questions about whether or not there is a quantifiable difference in performance when playing at Mile High Stadium (there is) or if Tyreek…

What's the most interesting conclusion you were able to find using the advanced data that you wouldn't be able to see with the basic stats like QBR or yards per carry?

Should add, I’m a big fan of all the football metrics providers and follow them all religiously during the season. The NFL dataset we found isn’t as comprehensive, but it’s still really fun!

Re: Hack NFL data using Postgres (and maybe win your fantasy draft)

#8

Post by CoolAssPuppy »

swasheck wrote: post #5

i've always wanted to test the hypothesis that the timing and type of penalties within a game have more of an impact than the overall number of penalties. is there a way to leverage a penalty for strategic advantage at any given point in the game? i still suspect that would be hard to determine given the subjective nature of what constitutes a penalty and what (dis)advantage the penalized team was carrying at any giv…

This reminds me of Belichick intentionally taking defensive penalties to run out the clock.
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