Aaron Schatz ON NFL Analytics, The Evolution of Football & Standing Out in Sports Media

In this episode of The Victory Degree, Nik sits down with the leading voice in NFL analytics - Aaron Schatz.

Aaron graduated from Brown University with a degree in Economics in 1992. From there, Aaron worked various jobs, including stints at a couple of radio stations, until ultimately starting FootballOutsiders.com in July 2003. He also found himself as an NFL Analyst at ESPN.com and is credited for inventing numerous football analytics such as DVOA and DYAR over the course of his 20+ years in the industry. 

TIMESTAMPS:

(0:10) Aaron's background, working in radio, and his relationship with sports

(4:09) The early days of football analytics

(5:03) Why was Football Outsiders started? Why get into analytics?

(6:07) What was Aaron's early competitive advantage?

(7:57) Aaron reflects on his journey and all the things that had to go right

(10:14) Best advice for people looking to get into NFL analytics

(10:53) What is the big data bowl?

(11:52) What is the role of analytics in sports?

(13:17) How are 4th down analytics computed?

(16:22) Going for it on 4th down and winning games, correlated?

(17:22) How are the Steelers good?

(18:48) How has analytics changed the game?

(20:42) What is DVOA?

(23:23) How do you balance analytics with the eye test?

(25:30) Has the game of football become less predictable?

(27:39) What Aaron bases his pre-season Super Bowl predictions off of

(29:30) What's wrong with the Patriots?

(33:01) Brady vs Belichick, who was more important for the Patriots dynasty?

(33:47) What is being on the MVP panel like? What do you consider when voting for MVP?

(37:20) Is Mahomes the most talented QB of all time?

(41:36) How do you get selected to be on the MVP panel?

(44:23) Special teams analytics talk

(46:03) Lucky vs. predictive plays

(46:39) Aaron's prediction for the future of analytics

(48:33) How would Aaron revive baseball?

(52:11) Aaron's hottest take on the NFL season thus far

(53:50) Aaron's Super Bowl prediction

(54:23) Frameworks that have helped fuel Aaron's success

(56:43) Aaron's advice for the next guest

Follow Aaron: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASchatzNFL

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aschatznfl/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aschatznfl

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-schatz-74b644/

FTN Fantasy: https://www.ftnfantasy.com/dvoa

Follow Nik:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikatanackovic/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nik_Atanackovic