FOXBOROUGH – Some coaches are big on analytics. They rely on the data heavily.
Others, not so much. Or, they’ll use analytics as a partial guide.
Where does Mike Vrabel fall on the spectrum? Is he with the use-it-a-ton crowd, or with the group that uses it occasionally?
By the sound of it, the Patriots coach does use it as a guide, but it’s not his be-all-end-all in decision-making.
“We want to use technology to the best of our ability and what we can do to help us be more efficient, to help us make better decisions, informed decisions,” Vrabel said Monday during his media availability. “I don’t think you can rely and base every decision off the numbers, but I also think that those are important to ask questions and then be able to follow up and come to a sound decision on everything that we do. Personnel, coaching decisions, player health and safety, strength and conditioning, every aspect of our program.”
Vrabel indicated he’s always looking to improve and analytics has a role in that goal. But in the big picture, it’s more of a consulting tool.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some analytical background and data that we can rely on that they can ask questions,” he said. “When you look at coaching, self-scout and opponent breakdown, how we become more efficient with that system.”
