Ryan Grigson Discusses Colts Evolving Utilization of 'Next Gen' Stats

Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson took his weekly questions on the ‘Colts Roundtable Live’ that airs on 1070 The Fan and is moderated by longtime radio play-by-play voice Bob Lamey.

One of the most interesting questions was from a caller, who asked about the role that advanced statistics play in the Colts front office–specifically referencing the role of John Park, who was recently hired by Grigson as the team’s new head of football research and analytics.

There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Park’s presence with the team and how the front office is planning on using some of these newfound advanced statistics and analytics going forward.

However, Grigson did his best to answer without disclosing too much detail:

Obviously, the Colts have come a long way in utilizing these ‘next generation stats’, as it wasn’t too long ago that ESPN listed the franchise as one of the “skeptics” of analytics.

While advanced stats shouldn’t be the ‘all-be’ for player evaluation, they are a useful tool that can be used in combination with film and other basic stats. Clearly, websites such as Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Outsiders have already gained national popularity among fans, teams, media, and NFL agents alike.

If nothing else, it’s another evaluation metric that the Colts have at their disposal to ‘streamline’ some of their scouting and roster maneuvering.