Is the NFL ready for its first defensive Most Valuable Player since Lawrence Taylor in 1986? Pro Football Focus is.

The web site, which provides individual player analytics, recently named Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt as its player of the year. Watt’s stiffest competition for the MVP award, Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay, finished second. However, PFF has named its honor the Dwight Stephenson award after the Miami Dolphins offensive lineman. The best players can play any position, PFF says, as opposed to MVPs mainly awarded to quarterbacks or running backs.

PFF watches game tape and grades each player on their ability to execute their roles on each individual play. The PFF staff blends statistics and performance-based scouting (results rather than technique) in their approach. In defining its grading process, PFF states that stats can lie, and there’s context of a statistic that they value.

“If the quarterback throws an accurate first down conversion that is dropped, the quarterback receives the same credit as he would have with a catch,” writes PFF.

Watt finished 2014 with 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, 59 solo tackles, a safety, two touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.

“Watt is so far out on his own in terms of play that he breaks every graph we create to try and illustrate it, extending axes and generally sitting off on a data point all to himself,” writes Sam Monson, a PFF analyst. “He is completely redefining what we thought a defensive player was capable of, and is only getting better.”

Following a tedious process which involves three different analysts viewing game broadcast and All-22 footage, PFF awards each player a grade between +2.0 and -2.0 in half increments with zero given for an average play. Zero is the most often awarded value with other values given to plays that are an exception – both good and bad. Watt racked up a +107.5 grade. The next highest 3-4 defensive end was Sheldon Richardson of the New York Jets with a +39.9 grade.

Here is an example:

The varying degrees of positive and negative grades add a little bit more context than a simple plus and minus systems. An offensive lineman might surrender a sack on a given play, but how quickly was he beaten? Allowing a defender to slip past and get into the quarterback’s face in 1.9 seconds is obviously much worse than allowing that same sack in 2.7 seconds, so while both plays are negatives, they certainly won’t carry the same exact grade.

Using that same example, if the pressure is surrendered in 1.9 seconds and the quarterback sidesteps the sack, it’s certainly not indicative of the offensive lineman’s pass-blocking acumen, so there’s no reason to change his grade because he “only” surrendered a pressure and not a sack. The goal of the grading is to isolate individual performance as much as possible, fully realizing that there is always a certain level of dependency on teammates in football.

While PFF supports Watt, history does not. The MVP has not hailed from a non-playoff team since 1973. The Texans didn’t make the playoffs, though they did finish 9-7.

The MVP will be awarded January 31.

(Image via Mike)

The crowd surrounding the SmartMat booth at CES was able to see first hand the connected yoga mat that has gained so much attention on Indiegogo by raising nearly 300% of the desired goal. Now in production, SmartMat had live demonstrations of just what the mat is capable of doing including recognizing 62 different poses, showing proper form, and providing audio and visual feedback from a digital instructor.

Ready to be shipped out in the second quarter of the year, the connected mat is available for pre-order right now for $297.00. With apps available in both iOS and Android, SmartMat has digital classes plus unlockable badges as your progress through various levels of difficulty. Before hitting the ground running you’ll need to calibrate the mat in order to accurately detect alignment and provide the best tips to improve your posture.

There are three modes in which SmartMat can critique your poses: In-home, In-class and Zen. In-home is aimed at the private user, giving real time feedback step-by-step and scores directly on your device. In-class is for session based or group classes as it recognizes poses, but you can tweak the setting for audio or video feedback only in order to not disturb others. The zen mode is designed for when you don’t have your phone or tablet with you. Zen mode saves your information locally in order to sync, review and analyze it later at the expense of no real time help.

SmartMat’s battery lasts up to six hours and connects via bluetooth. No need to be connected to wi-fi,thus allowing freedom to continue practicing yoga in the park, gym or while on a business trip. It measures 26″ x 71″ and is 6mm and can be rolled up just like a traditional yoga mat. For heat yoga enthusiasts the official rating on SmartMat is 110F, though the site also urges caution for your smartphone or tablet at that temperature.

By bringing the yoga class to your apartment or home, or even being able to travel with a virtual instructor, SmartMat is stretching the scope of yoga while it helps users stretch their bodies. Given the prices of classes — let alone private one-on-one sessions — it is clear to see why SmartMat has gained so much traction in the yoga community. The near $300 one-time cost for immediate feedback is a great price when compared to your local instructor’s rates. The video below is from SmartMat’s YouTube channel and is more of a preview trailer than demonstration, however given what was shown at CES, it is an accurate depiction of the finished product.

Though the golf swing is a highly-technical movement, it actually lends itself well to analysis with technology. The problem is, in order to analyze a swing comprehensively, an expensive and complicated radar-based system like Trackman is needed. Epson, with their release of the M-Tracer, is looking to bring a similar kind of analysis in a much smaller and more convenient system.

The M-Tracer is a small device weighing only 15 grams that attaches to the shaft of a golf club. The sensor tracks things like clubhead speed, face angle, swing path, and tempo. Renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter was involved in the design of the device, and was at Epson’s CES booth to discuss it with members of the media.

One of the biggest advantages of a system like M-Tracer is its flexibility. It can be used both on the course and at the driving range, or even in an indoor facility during the offseason. There are no special mats or cameras to be set up, just strap the device on the shaft of any club and start tracking your swings. The device can both stream live data to a Bluetooth-enabled device in real time, or can be stored locally for later uploading. Epson says M-Tracer can store 399 swings locally before needing to upload the data. Once uploaded, golfers can see the raw numbers as well as a 3D model of their swing to find what parts still need to be addressed.

One of the nicest things about the M-Tracer system is the ability to use it in conjunction with a golf instructor. Data can be sent from the student’s device to the coaches app so that the coach can keep tabs on how the student is progressing and if new issues have arisen. They can also easily communicate which facets of the game need work, so that the student know which data that the device captured is most important to their specific game improvement.

As someone who has relied on the indoor radar systems as part of his instruction, I can say that the idea of a portable swing analyzer is very intriguing. The ability to both work independently and with an instructor in a structured, data-driven way seems like the next logical step in tech-based game improvement. Nothing will completely replace the need for a good instructor, but the M-Tracer seems like a perfectly fine tool to use in the never-ending quest for the perfect golf swing.

The M-Tracer by Epson will be released in March 2015, and is expected to sell for $300.

The term “knowledge is power” is as important in today’s world of sports as it was when first written down in the Leviathan. Tracking devices are already widely used by professional teams, however never before has a GPS device been open to the public like GameTraka. With the new GameTraka GPS device and accompanying software, any person can arm themselves with a wide assortment of useful on-field analytics. The Australian-made device measures the basics such as distance ran and top speed, as well as giving an intensity rating and acceleration.

The device itself is very small, about the size of a box of matches and measures your position five times per second.

Specifically, the dimensions of the GPS unit is 62mm x 38mm x 8mm and comes in at 22 grams. Given the nature of many sports, collisions are inevitable and rather than have wear a device on the hip or wrist, GameTraka is held in place by a lightweight vest with the sensor placed in the back. The vest easily fits under any jersey or uniform and is specifically designed to fit the unit safely and comfortably.

The company’s mantra is “wearable, shareable and comparable” and as great as the vest and sensor system is, where GameTraka truly shines is the sharing and comparing department. After the game, the sensor sends the data to the software side of things for the full breakdown. Connecting via Bluetooth to an iOS device or computer, the GameTraka software is where the leg work is done. The previously mentioned intensity rating is an estimation of how hard the wearer worked. For example, on a soccer field, a striker may have ran only two-thirds the distance of a midfielder, but at a higher intensity.

By comparing players to each other as well as well from one game to the next, a coach can clearly see who is running the farthest, the fastest and the hardest. From a training perspective, the system removes any subjectivity and guesswork by allowing coaches to see just how well a player is progressing if coming back from an injury. Individual players can compare data by chronological order and take note of any trends that may present themselves.

The price of knowledge from the GameTraka is $299.99 per unit, though according to the official site there are group discounts available. From a basketball coach seeing who truly hustles on defense to a soccer manager attempting to find the fastest in-game striker or winger to a rec league player who just wants to quantify as much about themselves as possible, GameTraka is the ideal unit for gathering on-field information.

The wearable tech space is saturated with devices that track steps taken, heart rate, distance travelled, etc. But there’s one company that is focused on one very specific part of athletics; jumping.

VERT is the maker of a small device that clips to the waistband and measures many facets of jumping such as hang time, acceleration, and total reach. The statistics can be beamed onto a big screen, or synced with a Bluetooth-enabled device. Players can look at their individual stats, or coaches can collect team-wide information.

According to Rick Friedman from VERT — who I spoke to in their CES booth — the training tool is being used in over 750 universities, including Penn State, the 2014 women’s volleyball national champions. Friedman mentioned that volleyball teams were one of their biggest customer bases.

Beyond general training and game-improvement implications, the device can also be used to help with injury prevention. When using VERT, coaches and trainers can have an accurate look at just how much their players are jumping. This can be used to avoid overworking and soft tissue injuries, as well as closely monitor players working to rehab injuries.

With seemingly everybody is getting into the fitness tracking game, it can become easy to get lost in the crowd. Working in a specific market like VERT is is a good way to separate themselves in a very noisy market. And if it helps keep young athletes healthy, all the better.

Gaming industry giant Razer is demoing their new Forge TV product at CES this week and the first impression of the device are quite favorable. Forge TV is an Android powered gaming platform, but rather than a full size (not to mention cost) console, it is about 4” by 4” and is considered a micro console. Don’t be fooled by the small size, as it packs a Qualcomm 805 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. After accounting for the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system, about 14 GB of usable space remains.

Forge TV seems to fill a niche that I wasn’t sure was clearly defined, a place below multi-hundred dollar price tags yet above more casual mobile options. The micro-console itself goes for $99.99, though you’ll need to spend an extra $50 on the Serval controller bundle. Given that the Serval normally goes for $80 as a stand alone device for Android gaming, paying $150 for both the controller as well as the console is a great deal.

The hands-on experience with both Forge TV and the controller was pleasantly surprising. I was admittedly skeptical walking up to the little box, wondering what kind of punch it could really pack. With ports for an ethernet cable, HDMI, USB 4.1 plus a wi-fi connection, I didn’t have much faith regarding the true guts of the device. Once I was in-game, the graphics didn’t blow me away, but was certainly a clear step above mobile Android gaming. While multiplayer games were not set up, Forge TV does support up to four controllers.

The load times between the games were brief, though there was an instance where the game did give about a 15 second loading screen. That was the exception more than the rule as other levels loaded quickly. At one point my controller did disconnect from the micro-console. Our demo booth had a hard wired connection rather than wireless and it took a simple unplug, plug it back in to fix the issue.

In addition to the gaming potential, Forge TV also showed off its Google integration. From the home menu, familiar options such as Play Music, YouTube, Play Movies & Television shows etc. all appeared. Other apps already on board are Crackle, Hulu Plus and Red Bull TV. The little box also sports Google Cast, thus allowing you to stream web based content directly to your television.

One thing  I missed out on was a chance to see Razer Cortex in action. Cortex allows Forge TV to utilize existing PC games via a $34.99 software add-on. Granting the ability to play PC games on a console for barely half the price of a console game is an impressive move, however I personally don’t like Day 1 add-on costs. Perhaps something like a 7-day free demo will be released by Razer to entice potential buyers.

Minor quibbles aside, I came away very impressed with what Razer has done with Forge TV thus far. As someone who leans towards being a PC gamer, a cheap micro-console that I can play my computer games on has a ton of appeal.

Header photo courtesy of Razer

This offseason, Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari told those who approach basketball from a purely analytical standpoint and have never played the game to “beat it.” So it was mildly surprising when the program announced the hiring of Joel Justus as their Director of Analytics this past September.

In a recent profile of Justus by Ben Herald of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Justus said of getting hired, “[Calipari] wanted someone who would be able to talk ball with him. And I think that’s a little bit of the criticism when you talk to folks in the NBA: ‘All right, you’re giving me all of this stuff, but what does it mean?’”

Basketball analytics hirings aren’t new for the NBA, but the coming out party for analytics positions in the college ranks occurred just over a year ago when Drew Cannon emerged as a driving force behind Brad Stevens’ success at Butler. Cannon has since followed Stevens to the Boston Celtics. With the currently undefeated Wildcats hiring Justus, it’s a trend that is sure to continue.

Basketball analysts can provide all sorts of insight to improve team performance, like optimal lineups, tempo-free stats, and video analysis. But this wasn’t why Calipari hired Justus. Ever the salesman, Calipari hired Justus in order to market his players to NBA scouts. This is because Kentucky is so loaded this year that Calipari is playing two platoons of five players, switching them out like hockey lines.

Calipari revealed his motivations for hiring Justus at a pre-season luncheon. “If you’re playing 20 minutes, what will your NCAA stats look like? Terrible for NCAA stats, so we’re going to have big data stats, per-minute and efficiency stats that we can send to NBA teams.” Calipari later said that he’s never coach a team this way and his change in mindset was to make sure “every one of these kids eats.”

It’s unlikely that the platoon system will become a permanent fixture of the Kentucky program, and Justus certainly seems to understand this. As he told the Herald-Leader, “I’ve got to make sure that [Calipari] sees that I’m valuable. So I have to make sure that what I’m giving him is good.”

As the premier huckster in college basketball (NBA players he has coached have made a combined $820 million in salaries), Calipari has made another canny move for his program, ensuring his players will have a seat at the NBA table for years to come.

(Header image via Tennessee Journalist)

We’ve known for some time that Sony was releasing a sensor that attaches to tennis rackets, but we were able to learn more about the device at Sony’s CES booth.

The device is fairly straight forward and looks easy to attach. A clip mechanism is attached the butt end of the racket, and the sensor snaps into that clip. Sony representatives were able to confirm that users would be able to buy multiple clips to attach to multiple rackets. That way, a sensor could be easily switched from one racket to the other. The clips are compatible with select Wilson, Head, Prince, and Yonex rackets — all in all, over 100 rackets are compatible according to Sony.

The sensor tracks a myriad of things like swing type, swing speed and ball spin. It even senses vibrations to locate where on the racket the ball was struck. The data can be streamed directly to a Sony smartwatch or a tablet/smartphone using Bluetooth, or the sensor can store the data locally to be dumped later. According to Sony, when streaming data, the sensor can last about 90 minutes on a charge while it can go three hours while in memory mode.

Sony says the sensor is set to be released in the U.S. and Canada in the early part of this year for $200.

With the cable-cutting generation in mind, Dish Network has made the effort to meet the cable subscription-free crowd halfway. The satellite entertainment company announced their Sling TV service, granting the ability to stream live television — in particular news and sports — all without a terrestrial TV package.

Though Sling TV is still only in an invite-only beta release, numerous companies have already agreed to sign on. Among the big name entertainment channels is ESPN, TNT, TBS, CNN and Food Network. The service will cost $20 per month, but it is not tied to a contract or any specific time commitment, and thus can be canceled at anytime.

On top of the lack of any long-term commitment as well as the channel lineup already in place, the streaming audience should take note too. Despite still being in an early phase, Sling TV is already compatible with Roku, Fire TV, Nexus player and XBox.

Though the booth at CES did not display Chromecast compatibility, the representative I spoke with did say Sling TV can be used with the Google Cast system.

Sling TV is ready to go with Android and iOS devices as the beta version was already up and running on a number of iPads and Android tablets. While I was able to get a hands-on experience on the mobile devices, I didn’t get a chance to use the Xbox version. Sling TV has been steadily tweeting out updates and news regarding their service.

GoPro cameras certainly revolutionized the way we capture sports footage — offering a new, first-person perspective with their mountable waterproof cameras. But with mounted and handheld camera footage comes quite a bit of shakiness. Tiffen, a company that specializes in counterweighted camera mounts, has released a product specifically designed for GoPro cameras to offer smooth handheld footage.

The Steadicam uses hinges and weights to reduce the vibration and quick jolts in GoPro footage. It’s a technology that have been available to professional photographers for a while, and now anyone with a GoPro can make those silky smooth Hollywood-like roving shots to spice up their YouTube channels.

Steadicam Curve from The Tiffen Company on Vimeo.