Data for direction

The Dolphins’ 31-27 win adds another digit in the W column making the Week 5 benchmark at 2-3. As a coach, where do you from here? Data driven decisions are important, yet which data actually can lead to an improvement plan? Especially when coming off a win, it is important to escape the feeling of “it’s not broke, so why fix?” While numbers are everywhere, 2-3 or 31-27 hardly provides the direction we need for improvement.

To give you an idea of the range of data, below is a smidgen published by the Sun-Sentinel; these indicators provide the surface view. Just how much depth can you go? For the football coach each indicator is just the start of the conversation, hopefully leading to an action for improvement.

As a teacher looking at student work, completing the assignment might just give you the Win-Loss assessment, but where do you for depth? What data actually aids in changing instruction? Take a closer look.

Total first downs by rushing
Total first downs by passing
Total first downs by penalty
Third down efficiency
Fourth down efficiency
Total net yards
Total offensive plays
Average gain per offensive play
Net yards rushing
Total rushing plays
Average gain per rushing play
Net yards passing
Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass
Gross yards passing
Pass attempts-completions-had intercepted
Average gain per pass play (inc. # thrown passing)
Punts number and average
Net punting average
Total return yardage (not including kickoffs)
Yards punt returns
Yards kickoff returns
Yards interception returns
Penalties number and yards
Fumbles number and lost
Touchdowns rushing/passing
Extra points made-attempts
Field goals made-attempts
Safeties
Time of possession

New Team Leader

For just over a year the team turned to Chad Pennington as their quarterback and as the team leader. Now with an injury ending Pennington’s season and possibly his career, Chad Henne stepped in to the role of Dolphins’ new quarterback. The key to the team’s success over the Bills has two distinct parts: 1) the comfort that Henne showed behind center and 2) the performance of the rest of the team.

Before being asked to lead the team, he was provided a year to learn, to practice, to fail and to succeed. Even though Henne was forced to start his season ahead of schedule, his role of understudy behind Pennington showed his patience on the field and smart decisions at the line. As the new leader emerged his team stepped up their game and had his back. What we learned here is that developing talent is a process not an event.