Kelce Lateral, Perine Scores

Tecfai Editorial Team

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Post on Nov 30, 2024

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Decoding the Kelce Lateral and Perine Scores: A Deep Dive into NFL Analytics

The NFL is a game of inches, and increasingly, teams rely on advanced analytics to gain those crucial advantages. Two metrics gaining traction among football analysts are the Kelce Lateral and Perine Scores. While not yet mainstream, understanding these evolving metrics provides valuable insights into player performance and team strategy. This article will dissect both, explaining their calculation, interpretation, and significance in evaluating offensive efficiency.

Understanding the Kelce Lateral

The Kelce Lateral, named after Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, measures the effectiveness of lateral movements by receivers and tight ends after the catch. It's not a formally recognized statistic, but rather a concept gaining popularity among advanced analytics enthusiasts. The calculation typically considers several factors:

• Yards After Catch (YAC): This forms the foundation. More YAC generally signifies better lateral movement.
• Missed Tackles Forced: A key component. A player who consistently breaks tackles through lateral agility demonstrates superior skill.
• Average Lateral Movement: This metric analyzes the average distance a player moves laterally, away from the initial point of reception, before being tackled.
• Successful Lateral Evasions: This assesses the number of times a player successfully utilizes lateral movement to evade defenders.

Unlike simpler YAC statistics, the Kelce Lateral attempts to isolate the contribution of lateral agility to post-catch success. A player with high YAC might achieve it through speed alone, while a high Kelce Lateral score suggests an ability to evade tackles using lateral quickness and change of direction.

Deciphering the Perine Scores

The Perine Score, while also not an officially recognized statistic, focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of running backs, particularly in short-yardage situations. It takes its name from former NFL running back Samaje Perine, known for his power and ability to consistently gain tough yards. The score incorporates these factors:

• Short-Yardage Success Rate: This considers the percentage of successful rushing attempts in situations where less than three yards are needed for a first down or touchdown.
• Power Rushing Attempts: This emphasizes the number of times the running back directly attacks the line of scrimmage, showcasing power and determination.
• Broken Tackles: This measures the number of times the running back breaks tackles, demonstrating strength and elusiveness.
• Yards After Contact (YAC): Similar to the Kelce Lateral, this focuses on the running back's ability to gain extra yards after initial contact.

The Perine Score offers a more nuanced evaluation of running backs than traditional rushing yards. It emphasizes the quality of the rushing attempts rather than just the raw yardage gained. A high Perine score suggests a reliable back in short-yardage and goal-line situations, a crucial aspect of offensive efficiency.

Implications and Future Development

Both the Kelce Lateral and Perine Scores highlight the limitations of traditional NFL statistics. They offer a more granular understanding of player skill sets, potentially leading to more informed player evaluations, draft decisions, and game-day strategies. As the use of advanced analytics expands in the NFL, we can expect these metrics, or similar refinements, to gain broader acceptance and influence the way football is analyzed and understood.

Further research and development could enhance these metrics by incorporating more advanced statistical techniques and incorporating additional factors like player weight, opponent strength, and game context. The future of NFL analytics is likely to involve even more sophisticated metrics, providing an increasingly detailed picture of player performance and overall team success. These nascent metrics, however, represent a significant step in that direction.