Film-Based Scouting, the Analytics Wars, and the Value of Highlights: The Ricky Pearsall Conundrum
Image Credit: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire. Pictured: Ricky Pearsall.

Years ago it was fashionable to argue about whether NFL prospect scouting should rely on film-based evaluation, or on the analytics and “box score scouting.” If the “analytics wars” don’t seem as contentious now, it’s mainly because most people are tired of arguing. But it’s also because those who championed film-based scouting have in many ways come to see the value of the advanced analytical data. It’s possible that these concessions will encourage the analytics side to subsequently lend more weight to scouting opinions that clash with the numbers. (Or that best ball portfolio drafting will erase the divide as high-volume drafters who drive ADP look to have most of their bases covered.)

As advanced data has become finer and more precise, we’re able to translate what happens on the field into more accurate numbers. This has the effect of making the analytics indispensable for anyone tasked with scouting NFL prospects. But it also has the effect of making actual film study seemingly less important. If everything you see happening on the field can be captured by some data point, then there’s no need to see it happening on the field. Of course the other problem is that most people arguing for the analytics side would have no idea what they’re looking at even if they did watch film.

Film and Highlights

There’s a new non-football podcast that is probably the best thing currently on the internet. In Mind the Game, J.J. Redick and LeBron James sit at a table and drink wine while talking in extraordinary depth about the Xs and Os of (specifically NBA) basketball. At one point in the latest episode, James complains that most players in the NBA don’t watch basketball; they only watch highlights. For example, many players don’t know how to properly defend Klay Thompson coming off a certain type of screen for an open three-point attempt, even though the Warriors run this type of action all the time. Somehow most defenders are still surprised when Thompson runs out to the three-point line to drain an open shot and they are held up behind a pick. This is because they don’t actually watch film, according to James. They watch the highlights.

I don’t watch film either — I watch highlights. Like most analytics folks, I wouldn’t know what to look for on film even if I did watch it. But because I don’t have to play or coach against these NFL prospects or offer an informed film-based scouting report, I can get away with watching highlights. And moreover, I know what to look for when watching highlights: highlight plays. If you’re watching a receiver’s highlight reel, and most of the catches are routine, that could be a bad sign. If you’re watching a highlight reel, you want to see some actual highlights.

If you’re watching Ricky Pearsall’s highlight reel, you won’t be disappointed. Consider:

Pearsall’s Frustrating and Contradictory Analytical Profile

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Please subscribe For Full Access to all RotoViz content and tools!

 

What’s included in your subscription??

  • Exclusive Access to RotoViz Study Hall
    • A treasure trove of our most insightful articles that will teach you the metrics that matter, time-tested winning strategies, the approaches that will give you an edge, and teach you how to be an effective fantasy manager.
  • Revolutionary Tools
    • Including the NFL Stat Explorer, Weekly GLSP Projections, NCAA Prospect Box Score Scout, Combine Explorer, Range of Outcomes App, DFS Lineup Optimizer, Best Ball Suite,and many, many, more.
  • Groundbreaking Articles
    • RotoViz is home of the original Zero-RB article and continues to push fantasy gamers forward as the go-to destination for evidence-based analysis and strategic advantages.
  • Weekly Projections
    • Built using RotoViz’s unique GLSP approach.
  • Expert Rankings
  • And a whole lot more…

Blair Andrews

Managing Editor, Author of The Wrong Read, Occasional Fantasy Football League Winner. All opinions are someone else's.

Caleb Williams Tries to Rebound Against Arizona: The Wrong Read, Week 9 – Part 2

Welcome to The Wrong Read. This weekly article uses advanced team-level metrics to preview the week’s upcoming matchups. The goal is to try to understand how an upcoming matchup might play out in terms of each offense’s ability to execute their game plan. How successful will they be when trying to pass? How much will they be able to run the ball? It’s impossible to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Is This the Beginning of Kyle Pitts’ NFL Domination? The Wrong Read, Week 9 – Part 1

Welcome to The Wrong Read. This weekly article uses advanced team-level metrics to preview the week’s upcoming matchups. The goal is to try to understand how an upcoming matchup might play out in terms of each offense’s ability to execute their game plan. How successful will they be when trying to pass? How much will they be able to run the ball? It’s impossible to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Breece Hall Is Set to Dominate In an Otherwise Low-Scoring Environment: The Wrong Read, Week 9 – Thursday Night Preview

Welcome to The Wrong Read. This weekly article uses advanced team-level metrics to preview the week’s upcoming matchups. The goal is to try to understand how an upcoming matchup might play out in terms of each offense’s ability to execute their game plan. How successful will they be when trying to pass? How much will they be able to run the ball? It’s impossible to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Caleb Williams Tries to Rebound Against Arizona: The Wrong Read, Week 9 – Part 2

Welcome to The Wrong Read. This weekly article uses advanced team-level metrics to preview the week’s upcoming matchups. The goal is to try to understand how an upcoming matchup might play out in terms of each offense’s ability to execute their game plan. How successful will they be when trying to pass? How much will they be able to run the ball? It’s impossible to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Is This the Beginning of Kyle Pitts’ NFL Domination? The Wrong Read, Week 9 – Part 1

Welcome to The Wrong Read. This weekly article uses advanced team-level metrics to preview the week’s upcoming matchups. The goal is to try to understand how an upcoming matchup might play out in terms of each offense’s ability to execute their game plan. How successful will they be when trying to pass? How much will they be able to run the ball? It’s impossible to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Breece Hall Is Set to Dominate In an Otherwise Low-Scoring Environment: The Wrong Read, Week 9 – Thursday Night Preview

Welcome to The Wrong Read. This weekly article uses advanced team-level metrics to preview the week’s upcoming matchups. The goal is to try to understand how an upcoming matchup might play out in terms of each offense’s ability to execute their game plan. How successful will they be when trying to pass? How much will they be able to run the ball? It’s impossible to…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

The Blitz

Connect
Support

rotovizmain@gmail.com

Sign-up today for our free Premium Email subscription!

Data provided by

© 2021 RotoViz. All rights Reserved.

Welcome Back to RotoViz...

– IF YOU HAVE ISSUES LOGGING IN PLEASE CONTACT ROTOVIZMAIN@GMAIL.COM

– PLEASE NOTE THAT ROTOVIZ USES WORDPRESS FOR ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT. IF RESETTING YOUR PASSWORD YOU MAY BE FOWARDED TO A WORDPRESS PAGE.