Fun With Statistics & Spreadsheets

[551staaa]

First of all, I'm an admitted nerd. Numbers and data have always fascinated me. When I was in middle school, my second-favorite pass time was reading world almanacs. I would pour over all of the statistical data and come up with a working theory of how the entire planet operated. It was all contained within the numbers.

So, I was looking at NFL statistics through week 7 yesterday, and it occurred to me that you could get a good idea of the health of each team based on their position in several key categories. Those categories are: Total Offense, Rushing Offense, Passing Offense, Scoring Offense, Total Defense, Rushing Defense, Passing Defense, Scoring Defense, Kicking (Total Yards), Field Goals, Kick Return Yards, Punting (Net Avg.), Winning Percentage, and Turnover Ratio. I compiled each team's rank in each of these categories, giving each category a weight of 1, and totaled up each team's results and ranked them. I also compiled offense, defense, and special team numbers and ranked them individually.

After all of this, I can report that the current state of the Los Angeles Rams is quite good! Their Total Offense Rank is 5, Total Defense Rank is 15 (should improve going forward), Special Teams Rank is 1 (and it's not even close!), Winning Percentage Rank is 2, and Turnover Ratio Rank is 19 (a bit disturbing).

Now, the Week Seven Statistical Overall Power Rankings

32. New York Giants - 345 pts.
31. Cleveland Browns - 314 pts.
30. Indianapolis Colts - 308 pts.
29. Arizona Cardinals - 298 pts.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 297 pts.
27. San Francisco 49ers - 284 pts.
26. New York Jets - 280 pts.
24. Miami Dolphins - 276 pts.
24. Chicago Bears - 276 pts.
23. Cincinnati Bengals - 272 pts.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - 252 pts.
21. Green bay Packers - 250 pts.
20. Oakland Raiders - 249 pts.
19. Detroit Lions - 246 pts.
18. Baltimore Ravens - 243 pts.
17. Washington Redskins - 232 pts.
16. Buffalo Bills - 225 pts.
15. Denver Broncos - 219 pts.
14. Dallas Cowboys - 215 pts.
12. New England Patriots - 208 pts.
12. Atlanta Falcons - 208 pts.
10. Tennessee Titans - 189 pts.
10. Houston Texans - 189 pts.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers - 186 pts.
8. Seattle Seahawks - 185 pts.
7. Carolina Panthers - 184 pts.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars - 170 pts.
5. New Orleans Saints - 167 pts.
4. Kansas City Chiefs - 153 pts.
3. Philadelphia Eagles - 137 pts.
2. Minnesota Vikings - 124 pts.
1. LOS ANGELES RAMS - 115 pts.

Yee hi!

 

[DaveFan'51]

First of all, I'm an admitted nerd. Numbers and data have always fascinated me. When I was in middle school, my second-favorite pass time was reading world almanacs. I would pour over all of the statistical data and come up with a working theory of how the entire planet operated. It was all contained within the numbers.

So, I was looking at NFL statistics through week 7 yesterday, and it occurred to me that you could get a good idea of the health of each team based on their position in several key categories. Those categories are: Total Offense, Rushing Offense, Passing Offense, Scoring Offense, Total Defense, Rushing Defense, Passing Defense, Scoring Defense, Kicking (Total Yards), Field Goals, Kick Return Yards, Punting (Net Avg.), Winning Percentage, and Turnover Ratio. I compiled each team's rank in each of these categories, giving each category a weight of 1, and totaled up each team's results and ranked them. I also compiled offense, defense, and special team numbers and ranked them individually.

After all of this, I can report that the current state of the Los Angeles Rams is quite good! Their Total Offense Rank is 5, Total Defense Rank is 15 (should improve going forward), Special Teams Rank is 1 (and it's not even close!), Winning Percentage Rank is 2, and Turnover Ratio Rank is 19 (a bit disturbing).

Now, the Week Seven Statistical Overall Power Rankings

32. New York Giants - 345 pts.
31. Cleveland Browns - 314 pts.
30. Indianapolis Colts - 308 pts.
29. Arizona Cardinals - 298 pts.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 297 pts.
27. San Francisco 49ers - 284 pts.
26. New York Jets - 280 pts.
24. Miami Dolphins - 276 pts.
24. Chicago Bears - 276 pts.
23. Cincinnati Bengals - 272 pts.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - 252 pts.
21. Green bay Packers - 250 pts.
20. Oakland Raiders - 249 pts.
19. Detroit Lions - 246 pts.
18. Baltimore Ravens - 243 pts.
17. Washington Redskins - 232 pts.
16. Buffalo Bills - 225 pts.
15. Denver Broncos - 219 pts.
14. Dallas Cowboys - 215 pts.
12. New England Patriots - 208 pts.
12. Atlanta Falcons - 208 pts.
10. Tennessee Titans - 189 pts.
10. Houston Texans - 189 pts.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers - 186 pts.
8. Seattle Seahawks - 185 pts.
7. Carolina Panthers - 184 pts.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars - 170 pts.
5. New Orleans Saints - 167 pts.
4. Kansas City Chiefs - 153 pts.
3. Philadelphia Eagles - 137 pts.
2. Minnesota Vikings - 124 pts.
1. LOS ANGELES RAMS - 115 pts.

Yee hi!

If this holds up come week #9 the Rams will Burry the Giants!

 

[LesBaker]

That's some interesting work.

We should track it so see how accurate it is over the course of a season.

I wonder if it could be something like Hank Stram's formula to pick a winner. He only missed one SB selection in his life, and that was Norwood's "wide right" otherwise he would have been perfect.

 

[Karate61]

Awesome numbers! Great job and thanks for sharing.

You're one of those guys with black glasses and a shirt pocket pencil holder, right?

 

[551staaa]

Awesome numbers! Great job and thanks for sharing.

You're one of those guys with black glasses and a shirt pocket pencil holder, right?

The frames are black, but they're wire, and no pocket protector (not even a pocket today).

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

551staaa,
Very interesting. Thanks for all or your detailed work.
BTW I would love to know what was your first most-favorite pass time?

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[bubbaramfan]

You can throw out all those stats, even if you are 1st in all of them if you turn the ball over on a consistent basis.

Turnover ratio is the biggest and most telling stat of all.

 

[551staaa]

You can throw out all those stats, even if you are 1st in all of them if you turn the ball over on a consistent basis.

Turnover ratio is the biggest and most telling stat of all.

True, but I think the Seattle game skewed that one out of proportion for the rest of the season. Plus, as the defense continues to hit its stride, I look for the ratio to become more Rams friendly.

 

[Merlin]

Interesting read man, thanks for posting it. That said...

It's all about two things for us IMO, from this point forward:

1. Goff's development.
2. Health.

The defense is going to keep getting better, given #2 above. Pieces are all there, OL is improving week to week. So the Rams' ceiling is directly in line with what Goff can show in growth. Right now that means somewhere between a quick playoff departure to the big game most likely, although granted the playoffs are no given. But I think they're gonna get in, real high percentage IMO.