Sparq Analytics Athleticism

[jradMIT]

This is a system that takes the combine measurables and compares them to current nfl players. It this calculates where a player ranks athletically to the rest of the league.

Note that the “NFL%” and “z-score” columns refer to the NFL positional averages and not to the draft positional averages. This means that a 0.0 z-score and 50.0 percentile would represent a player who rates as a league-average NFL athlete at the position. The average NFL player is pretty athletic, so this designation is not at all a poor result.

O-line

Basically 5 players demonstrated above average NFL athleticism for their position. Bolles, Lamp, and Siragusa led the way with scores of above 70+% of other NFL O-linemen

https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/ol/


Running Back

https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/rb/ 8 running backs at the combine were above average NFL athletes. Led by Kamara, Jones, Carson and McCaffrey who all demonstrated athleticism above 70% of NFL running backs.


Tight End- Crazy Athletic Class
https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/te/

Tight End - this is were it gets interesting 6 guys who were above average, and 5 guys who were essentially better than 80% of the league. These scores really demonstrate that this is a historic class.
Jonnu Smith 94.9
Bucky Hodges 94.5
Evan Engram 93.8
David Njoku 93.2
Gerald Everett 86.8
O.J. Howard 82.6
Adam Shaheen 72.0.

Wide Receiver

https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/wr/

18 guys are above average for the position led by rare athletes like Robert Davis 98.8, Zay Jones 94.1, Jehu Chesson and Chris Godwin 89.5.

 

[jradMIT]

On Defense

D-Line

Only two guys were above average athletes.

https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/dl/

Edge - Good number of crazy specimens

https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/edge/

13 guys were above average with a whopping 5 guys above the 90 percentile. Bowser, Willis, Watt, Reddick, and Thomas. (note Garrett didn't take part in some of the drills)

LB

https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/lb/

Some solid numbers from some familiar names, 6 guys above average led the way by Blair Brown of Ohio. Raekwon McMillian did well and tested as essentially an average athlete for the NFL which is good for him, he's a guy to watch for.

CB - Sick Class of Athletes
https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/cb/
Even with several of the big names not doing all the drills (Lattimore, Jackson, Lewis, etc) there were 8 players who tested higher than the 86th percentile including Keving King who is in the 99th percentile of corners. Moreau scored 98.7 and Shaquill Griffin 94.9.


S
https://3sigmaathlete.com/rankings/ds/

 

[JB]

This is how the Cleveland Browns have been selecting players... j/s

 

[jradMIT]

This is how the Cleveland Browns have been selecting players... j/s

I doubt Cleveland is the only one, there are probably several that use this in some form or another. I know for a fact Philly is very into the sports analytics to name one.

It's not the end all be all of course, but its a tool to gauge the relative level of athleticism which in theory helps gauge a guy's ability translating up to the NFL. Especially if a guy is winning in the College based on his athleticism or on the other end he wins in spite of it. I think you want to be going with the numbers not working against them. Lots of teams have size/wt/speed thresholds for their players and this is essentially an extension of that. If Dalvin Cook doesn't improve on his numbers from the combine at his pro day, I seriously doubt he goes 1st round. No running back with his level of athleticism has ever been selected in the 1st round since 1999. On the other end, McCaffrey will go first round I think now because he tested off the charts. I think when you look at positions like corner, running back, edge etc, its a much more valuable tool because those positions require the most athleticism. The opposite end of that is QB which requires the least.

 

[Mollywhopper]

Here's our boy's sparq scores amongst some of the highest ever ...

... just fwiw.

 

[jradMIT]

The highest this year are

Robert Davis 141.5 98.8
Kevin King 142.8 99.3
Fabian Moreau 140.2 98.2

 

[xtruroyaltyx]

ST could use some sparq

 

[steelbtexan]

This is how the Cleveland Browns have been selecting players... j/s

Seahawks have been using SPARQ for yrs.

 

[steelbtexan]

ST could use some sparq

I would settle for not allowing a TD on a kickoff in the playoffs.

I know, many here say I set my expectations much too high.

 

[jradMIT]

It seems that ST would benefit most from using Sparq more as a factor. Grabbing guys up in the percentiles that are still floating around in the later rounds and the ones as undrafted FA.