2013: Russ Brandon bringing "Moneyball" to Bills

[Big Blitz]

For anyone that doesn't see how much this is Brandon's mess:

 

 

 

The Bills can not sell winning tradition, or good weather.

 

So they’re going to start looking for efficiencies in the market.

 

Bills president Russ Brandon said Tuesday he wanted to steal a page from baseball and implement a “Moneyball”-style analytics department.

 

“We are going to create and establish a very robust football analytics operation that we layer into our entire operation moving forward,” Brandon said, via Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. “That’s’ something that’s very important to me and the future of the franchise.”

 

The Bills aren’t the first to use advanced stats to assist their evaluations, as not every team feels compelled to announce they’re marching boldly into the 21st century.

 

But it is an important step, and one that could shift the future of the franchise....

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/02/russ-brandon-bringing-moneyball-to-bills/

 

 

 

Going well. 1 Coach quit. 1 Coach fired. Drafted 2 QBs. And I guarantee analytics is telling them "hey...if no Tyrod it really doesn't matter." Whatever. My point is I believe Russ fingerprints are all over this mess directly or indirectly (overseeing the stat geeks running this sham).

 

Organization needs a whole new set of eyes everywhere.

 

 

I don't know how if you're a season ticket owner you'd spend one red cent with this guy still employed.

 

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[MarkyMannn]

For anyone that doesn't see how much this is Brandon's mess:

 

and implement a “Moneyball”-style analytics department. “We are going to create and establish a very robust football analytics operation that we layer into our entire operation moving forward,” Brandon said,

Isn't this what the Browns are doing? How is that working out for them? Uh no thanks, or at least do it better/different

[Best Player Available]

For anyone that doesn't see how much this is Brandon's mess:

 

 

 

The Bills can not sell winning tradition, or good weather.

 

So they’re going to start looking for efficiencies in the market.

 

Bills president Russ Brandon said Tuesday he wanted to steal a page from baseball and implement a “Moneyball”-style analytics department.

 

“We are going to create and establish a very robust football analytics operation that we layer into our entire operation moving forward,” Brandon said, via Tim Graham of the Buffalo News. “That’s’ something that’s very important to me and the future of the franchise.”

 

The Bills aren’t the first to use advanced stats to assist their evaluations, as not every team feels compelled to announce they’re marching boldly into the 21st century.

 

But it is an important step, and one that could shift the future of the franchise....

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/02/russ-brandon-bringing-moneyball-to-bills/

 

Going well. 1 Coach quit. 1 Coach fired. Drafted 2 QBs. And I guarantee analytics is telling them "hey...if no Tyrod it really doesn't matter." Whatever. My point is I believe Russ fingerprints are all over this mess directly or indirectly (overseeing the stat geeks running this sham).

 

Organization needs a whole new set of eyes everywhere.

 

 

I don't know how if you're a season ticket owner you'd spend one red cent with this guy still employed.

 

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

Brandon's idea of a robust analytics dept. is more than likely. How much can we gouge Bills & Sabres fans on hotdogs. Someone quick get me a powerpoint presentaion together I can take it too Terry and Kim.

[Fadingpain]

Russ is the kind of guy who will try to convince you that white is black if he can benefit from it in any way.

 

He is fantastically full of ****.

 

Every organization has guys like this.

[mead107]

Yes I will keep my season tickets

 

2013 before the new owners.

[RussellDopeland]

Did the organization actually establish an "Analytics" department in 2013? Or was that nothing more than bluff and bluster? Or is there some "numbers" nerd, neatly attired in a Bills golf shirt and pleated khakis, sitting in some dark room (that once was a janitor's storage room), staring at an Acer laptop (Windows Vista O.S., of course), playing "Spider Solitaire" or, when he's bored, sending interesting "Pornhub" video links to Whaley?

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I think our analytics department is already one of the best. It is led by a scholar and a gentleman: Mr. Khaki Pants.

 

[Lofton80]

Belecheck dumps good players before their due for big money and gets a return. Analytics in action.

Buffalo lets player go at end of contract and has to draft to replace player see Gilmore.

[Fadingpain]

Did the organization actually establish an "Analytics" department in 2013? Or was that nothing more than bluff and bluster? Or is there some "numbers" nerd, neatly attired in a Bills golf shirt and pleated khakis, sitting in some dark room (that once was a janitor's storage room), staring at an Acer laptop (Windows Vista O.S., of course), playing "Spider Solitaire" or, when he's bored, sending interesting "Pornhub" video links to Whaley?

Your description of the analytics guy would describe like half of the users on this site I think!

 

This is just something to do while you pretend to work in your cubicle for many, no doubt.

[KDIGGZ]

It doesn't take an advanced degree in mathematics to know that the Bills are a mess. #analytics

[Big Blitz]

Did the organization actually establish an "Analytics" department in 2013? Or was that nothing more than bluff and bluster? Or is there some "numbers" nerd, neatly attired in a Bills golf shirt and pleated khakis, sitting in some dark room (that once was a janitor's storage room), staring at an Acer laptop (Windows Vista O.S., of course), playing "Spider Solitaire" or, when he's bored, sending interesting "Pornhub" video links to Whaley?

 

 

Yes

 

 

After long search, Bills find guy to grind the numbers

 

http://buffalonews.com/2013/10/31/after-long-search-bills-find-guy-to-grind-the-numbers/

 

 

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

 

 

[DC Tom]

Isn't this what the Browns are doing? How is that working out for them? Uh no thanks, or at least do it better/different

 

Yes...but they're doing it was baseball analytics.

[BillsVet]

Russ has nothing to do with football decisions.

 

He just observes decisions that are made while participating in meetings where other people make decisions.

[RCN]

Russ has nothing to do with football decisions.

 

He just observes decisions that are made while participating in meetings where other people make decisions.

 

This was in 2013 when he was the President. That was my immediate response as well.

[Jerry Jabber]

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2667799-most-advanced-analytics-teams-in-sports

 

Analytics does work in sports, but the Bills have seen very minimal results so far. When Brandon made the announcement, the Bills were averaging 6-10 during their playoff drought. Since then, the team has gone 6-10, 9-7, 8-8 and sit currently at 7-8.

[nucci]

 

This was in 2013 when he was the President. That was my immediate response as well.

He's still President and I think that post was sarcasm

[fridge]

Serious question... how come none of our snarky journalists have ever followed up on the "robust analytics department"? They ask a lot of probing, annoying, sometimes rude questions, but I genuinely think the analytics charade is worth commenting on.

 

In all of his infinite marketing shill-ness, Brandon tried to use a buzz word, "analytics" -- and shove it down our throats in a couple interviews, including an end-of-the-year press conference. They even sent out a nice press release when they hired a number cruncher from Xerox. My question is... in such a transparent "marketing only" move, how come he didn't get called out for it. What's his excuse? The Pegulas bought the team and we no longer moved forward with that? What, they didn't want a robust analytics department?

 

Many of the great Russ apologists will defend this as nothing important, or say it has nothing to do with football, but to me it absolutely does. It's not just the lying that bothers me, but it's the fact that actual analytics is something we've been behind the curve on for so many years. It's annoying to trot out a buzz word or a phrase because you think it will sell when that buzz word actually represents something the team dearly needs.

[Coach Tuesday]

Professional bullshchidt artist

[PromoTheRobot]

STHer since 2003. Already renewed for next year. Hoping for some of you to give up your tickets so can move down.

[jr1]

"give the marijuana addict DL big money"-analytics department

[PromoTheRobot]

Professional bullshchidt artist

You say it like it's a bad thing.

"give the marijuana addict DL big money"-analytics department

TBD after Dareus makes a good play on his new team:

 

"HOW CAN THE BILLS BE SO STUPID LETTING THEIR BEST PLAYERS WALK!"

Edited December 30, 2016 by PromoTheRobot

[#34fan]

I think moneyball works better for baseball's needs as a whole.... When you can spread stats over a period of 9 months and say160 games, you can edge out opponents in percentages...

 

In football you get 16 lousy stinkin' games to get it all done... Everything has to happen like YESTERDAY... It's a game that's scored and played like NO OTHER.

 

Talent is important but LEADERSHIP moreso... It's leadership that gives focus to talent in team sports... The bar that leadership sets in this environment keeps everyone on the same page, and moving in the same direction. -Forward.

 

Show me a team with leadership on both sides of the ball, and I'll show you a playoff team... Brandon, Whaley, Rex, and co. approached this thing all wrong from the start..

[Jerry Jabber]

"give the marijuana addict DL big money"-analytics department

And without any stipulations if he were to fail another drug test..,

[rant_and_go]

I think moneyball works better for baseball's needs as a whole.... When you can spread stats over a period of 9 months and say160 games, you can edge out opponents in percentages...

 

In football you get 16 lousy stinkin' games to get it all done... Everything has to happen like YESTERDAY... It's a game that's scored and played like NO OTHER.

 

Talent is important but LEADERSHIP moreso... It's leadership that gives focus to talent in team sports... The bar that leadership sets in this environment keeps everyone on the same page, and moving in the same direction. -Forward.

 

Show me a team with leadership on both sides of the ball, and I'll show you a playoff team... Brandon, Whaley, Rex, and co. approached this thing all wrong from the start..

Just about to write this.

 

Football has a lot of qualities that are not conducive to analytics. So much of it's emotional and open. Baseball after the pitch is very reactionary, and has under a second to make a decision. They made progress putting chips in pads, and judging velocities and impacts, but that's more for injury prevention.

 

Also the Bills problems are getting 11 players on the field, having CBs not bite on the play fake, having a QB that can throw over the middle, penalties still, and having a kicker who can make field goals. Not exactly hidden secrets.

[RCN]

He's still President and I think that post was sarcasm

He had full control over the franchise then, including football ops.

[iinii]

This job could be viewed as Browns-level toxic because owner Terry Pegula has shown he has no idea what hes doing in the NFL and NHL (Sabres). If Pegula were smart (new owners take a while to smarten up), he would clean house and hire a football czar to fix this mess. But that wont happensure, he axed Rex Ryan already, but they kept GM Doug Whaley.

Per Greg Bedard of SI