Spring 2016: A look at how the Browns might be using Analytics as it moves into the NFL

1. Cleveland Browns:
Analytics in Football
By: Kyle Schroeder

2. Browns Organizational
Structure
http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2016/1/4/10706930/illustrating-the-browns-new-organizational-structure

3. Browns Organizational
Structure
• Their structure differs from the norm in the NFL.
• Personnel (usually a GM) is above the Head Coach in
pecking order in NFL Franchises
• In the Browns case they don’t have a chain of command
but a group of differing minds working together and
sharing responsibility
• Exec. VP of Football Ops. Sashi Brown has final say over
the roster and personnel moves

4. Change of the Norm
• With the Browns massive struggles, they have gone
away from the traditional approach
• This is the reason for their change to analytics
• This is a monumental change for the NFL
organizations.

5. Analytics
• Defined as the field of data analysis, often involves
studying past historical data to research potential
trends, to analyze the effects of certain decisions or
events, or to evaluate the performance of a given tool
or scenario. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/
definition/analytics.html)

6. Analytics
• The use of analytics in sports involves using
historical data and statistics to build and run a team.
• Has become very prevalent as of late in sports
• Has been restricted to MLB & NBA, due to these sports
being very highly based off of percentages.

7. Analytics Case Study: Oakland
Athletics (MLB)
• GM Billy Beane (1998-present)
• “Moneyball” technique was based on using saber-metrics to
pick-up value players, Beane valued high On Base % players
• Valued players who have had past success and play
percentages but could come on small deals to fit into the A’s
small payroll.

8. Analytics Case Study: Houston
Rockets (NBA)
• GM Daryl Morey (2007-present)
• Believes in NBA you must have at least one superstar player.
• He believes Stockpiling assets (young players, draft picks,
expiring contracts for cap relief) allows you to land that Star.
• Preaches and hires to belief that 3-point shots and shots in the
paint are the most beneficial by % and provide the most value to
the team. Mid-range 2’s are not and are not highly taken by
Rockets.

9. Analytics Case Study:
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
• GM Sam Hinkie (2013-present) previously w/ Daryl Morey in
Houston so adapts his schemes.
• Difference is the 76ers have not been able to find their star
player.
• They are Drafting in hopes to continue to stockpile assets.
Tanking for the future and not trying to win now to play the
“long-game”

10. What will it Look like in
Football?
• It’s a hard judge, this group in Cleveland has not had
much to do yet.
• Due to Football being more of pure production as
opposed to percentages, it is hard to see what types
of players people of the Analytics mind set are
looking for.

11. Paul DePodesta
• He took over as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Browns this offseason.
• Was Assistant GM, of Billy Beane with the “Moneyball” Oakland
Athletics
• "I was standing right in front of them in line and I could hear them in
back of me and they were talking trash about me and the Cleveland
Browns,”-Paul DePodesta from the NFL Combine
• Considered “Baseball-guy” going to football to try his approach to
analytics in a new sport.

12. Browns Offseason So Far?
• Notable Departures: C Alex Mack (Free Agency), T
Mitchell Schwartz (Free Agency), FS Tashaun Gipson
(Free Agency), QB Johnny Manziel (released), WR
Travis Benjamin (Free Agency), ILB Karlos Dansby
(released)
• Notable Additions: QB Robert Griffin III, ILB Demario
Davis, S Rahim Moore, OL Alvin Bailey

13. Browns Additions
• Robert Griffin III-26 Years Old (2-years $15M, up to $22M
based on performance)
• Demario Davis-27 years old (2-years $8M)
• Rahim Moore-26 years old (1-year $1.85M)
• Alvin Bailey-24 years old (3-years $6M)

14. Observations
• It appears that the Browns are combining some of the elements used in
NBA and MLB analytics.
• As seen by their signings they are adding players who are in the
“prime” of their careers. They have had some past success in their
careers. (This seems to come from the “Moneyball" approach to
analytics.
• Also in letting their own players go they will be eligible to receive
compensatory draft picks, which for the first time next season are able
to be traded.
• This seems to be a stockpiling of assets, which falls close to the NBA
model of analytics, where you gather them in order to make big moves.

15. Conclusion
• In conclusion, Analytics is an upcoming way of
looking at sports
• More and more teams continue to adopt this ideology
in sports, the Cleveland Browns being the first to do
so.

16. Questions
• How does Analytics transfer to Football?
• Will this go well for the Cleveland Browns?
• Will this be a trend or a “one-and-done”?
• WHEN WILL THE CLEVELAND BROWNS WIN??? No Matter
the approach!