Coaching by the computer

Now this is something that comes as no surprise, given the rise of computer-based statistical analysis in baseball and football: a scientist at the University of Indiana and two business partners have developed a computer model designed to take the guesswork out of NFL coaching decisions:

ZEUS is designed to do what a coach needs to do during a game but can't -- calculate the consequences of a decision before he calls the next play. Accept the penalty or decline it? Challenge the official's call or not? Go for it on fourth down or punt? Go for one extra point or two after the touchdown?
(snip)

"The core model replicates, with amazing accuracy, the play-calling and statistical outputs of typical NFL teams," Bower said. ZEUS can also be customized for the offense and defense of a particular NFL team and its opponent. Then, with the capability of performing more than a million game simulations in a matter of seconds, it can assess critical play choices on their relative merits.

So what's a fan to do when the computer-coach's play call fails, despite being statistically the right move? Of course: Fire the computer!
(Link from Robot Wisdom)

Comments

[Carla]

Hmm... Considering what happened yesterday, perhaps a hockey-programmed ZEUS is part of Fergie's much vaunted "Plan"...