

SumerSports Show
SumerSports
Lindsay Rhodes, formerly on NFL Network, and Sam Bruchhaus, Data Scientist/former Tulane Linebacker, have weekly discussions around the biggest stories in the NFL and College. They are joined by some of the biggest names in the sport and other SumerSports colleagues including former NFL general managers, coaches, scouts and players. Tune in each week!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 10, 2023 • 47min
The History of NFL Data from a GM's Perspective
Eric Eager and Thomas Dimitroff discuss the evolution of data in football, and the National Football League specifically. They talk about traditional scouting and game planning methods, to event data, to tracking data - which has taken the analytics space by storm.3:02 - the evolution of data in the NFL9:20 - Thomas talks about using heart rate monitoring and tracking13:13 - a discussion of event data16:12 - the Vic Beasley story21:57 - a discussion of tracking data24:46 - the JC Jackson story27:59 - could you grade players entirely with tracking data?32:56 - scouting the scouts39:29 - where is tracking data going from here?This podcast is proudly brought to you by Circa Sports. Play the Circa Million Pro Football Contest with six million in total prizes, quarterly payouts and one hundred percent payback. Top prize is one million guaranteed. Visit circasports.com for more details.

Jul 7, 2023 • 33min
Decision Science in Football with Scott Nestler
Scott Nestler, Director of Research and Development at SumerSports, joins the podcast to discuss his recent research into the science behind decision-making in the NFL.2:26 intro to Scott Nestler5:36 a discussion of the book Mathletics12:14 an introduction of Scott's articles on decision theory16:02 decision trees and backward induction18:42 other applications of the expected value framework outside of football22:20 a discussion of Scott's second article: alternate strategies to problem solving26:30 maximin on the defensive side of the ball28:50 a preview of Scott's upcoming article in the seriesLink to Scott's book: https://www.amazon.com/Mathletics-Gamblers-Managers-Mathematics-Sports/dp/0691177627/ref=asc_df_0691177627?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920866473546&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520396341920&psc=1This podcast is proudly brought to you by Circa Sports. Play the Circa Million Pro Football Contest with six million in total prizes, quarterly payouts and one hundred percent payback. Top prize is one million guaranteed. Visit circasports.com for more details.

Jul 5, 2023 • 47min
A Deep Dive on The Kyle Shanahan Offense w/ @SyedSchemes
Shawn Syed (Director of Comms at SumerSports) joins the show to talk about a recent article of his breaking down the San Francisco 49ers.1:27 Intro to Shawn Syed and his article on sumersports.com (sumersports.com/shanahan-schemes)3:28 How does Shawn know so much about the Shanahan offense?4:45 McVay offenses versus Shanahan offenses7:30 Setting up play action13:40 deception in general17:37 A discussion of San Francisco's personnel22:56 How wide receivers in the backfield change the math26:24 The quarterback question for the 49ers33:36 How are Shanahan's ideas spreading across the league? 41:39 A discussion of how the Chargers and Saints slowed down San Francisco last yearThis podcast is proudly brought to you by Circa Sports. Play the Circa Million Pro Football Contest with six million in total prizes, quarterly payouts and one hundred percent payback. Top prize is one million guaranteed. Visit circasports.com for more details.

Jul 3, 2023 • 49min
REBROADCAST: How Do NFL Teams Run Their Analytics Departments?
Happy Independence Day from us at SumerSports.Here, we rebroadcast an episode by Parker Fleming and Adam Vonder Haar, titled "How Do NFL Teams Run Their Analytics Departments?". Vonder Haar, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, talks about his experience working for NFL teams and how analytics plays a part of the day to day workings of an NFL team.This podcast is proudly brought to you by Circa Sports. Play the Circa Million Pro Football Contest with six million in total prizes, quarterly payouts and one hundred percent payback. Top prize is one million guaranteed. Visit circasports.com for more details.This podcast is also brought to you by Manscaped. Used the promo code SUMER for 20% off at manscaped.com.

Jun 30, 2023 • 56min
SumerSports #NFL Week in Review 6/30/2023
Eric Eager discusses the league's latest gambling issues, previews the AFC South, and takes listener questions.Use the promo code SUMER for 20% off at MANSCAPED.com

Jun 28, 2023 • 49min
Cody Alexander (@The_Coach_A) on the Intersection of Coaching and Analytics
Prolific author, analyst, and coach Cody Alexander joins the SumerSports Show to discuss his recent work in the Big Data Bowl, talk about how coaches can use analytics on and off the field, and preview some of the 2023 NFL Season.2:40 - The guys introduce Cody and talk about his background5:49 - Cody's Big Data Bowl experience is discussed8:06 - How can a team marry player acquisition and scheme?12:40 - Talking about average depth of target's evolution in the NFL17:15 - How many concepts from the college game are trickling up to the NFL game?25:23 - How can an average person watch football and understand coverage labels?29:11 - How are teams using simulated pressures to try to stop the Bengals?37:10 - Sean Desai discussion40:38 - Under-the-radar defensesUse code "SUMER" for 20% orders at manscaped.com

Jun 26, 2023 • 57min
Eric and Thomas Talk Quarterback Analytics
Eric Eager and Thomas Dimitroff discuss the Dalvin Cook and DeAndre Hopkins situations. They move onto running back and quarterback metrics and how a general manager should use them.4:38 The guys talk about Dalvin Cook and DeAndre Hopkins situation30:36 The guys talk running back metrics41:50 The guys talk quarterback metricsGet 20% at MANSCAPED.com with the promo code SUMER.

Jun 23, 2023 • 57min
SumerSports Week in Review w/ Tej Seth
Eric Eager and Tej Seth discuss the week that was in the NFL, including a discussion about the Bills extensions, the NFL's gambling policy, more talk on running back value and contracts, and Trey Lance's situation in San Francisco.1:24 A review of the Bills situation post McDermott/Beane contract extension19:34 A discussion of Trey Lance's situation in San Francisco33:40 Should people buy the Broncos this year?39:05 A discussion of the recent gambling suspensions across the league47:05 More takes on running back contracts and how to get them paid moreUse the promo code SUMER for 20% off at MANSCAPED.com

Jun 20, 2023 • 48min
Cade Massey on Risk in the NFL Draft and Thinking About Uncertainty
Professor Cade Massey joins the show for a conversation about his research in the fields of sports analytics and uncertainty, and the intersection of the two.1:36 Cade's background and how he got into sports analytics, including the research that went into his paper with Nobel Prize-winner Richard Thaler on the NFL Draft: https://www.jstor.org/stable/234438655:06 Discussing Cade's papers on the NFL Draft. Are some teams better at picking players than others, adjusting for draft position?10:29 Draft curve creation discussion. How was working with Thaler?12:30 How does Cade's traditional research line up with sports analytics?16:23 Discussion of the Massey-Peabody rankings27:01 Loser's Curse/surplus value in the NFL Draft discussion32:14 Optimizing NFL rosters34:45 Algorithm aversion38:20 What can you draw from analytics in other sports?40:45 Listener questionsGo to MANSCAPED.com and use the promo code SUMER for 20% off.

Jun 19, 2023 • 60min
Thomas Returns. The Guys Talk about the Rest of the Offseason.
Eric Eager is joined by Thomas Dimitroff to talk about the current state of the NFL offseason. What does a GM do during the June and July months? How much is still left to figure out regarding each team's 53?0:54 Eric welcomes Thomas back to the show, they start discussing this time in the NFL offseason17:30 How much of the current team is decided at this time?34:39 What do teams do in crisis situations this time of year? What if a quarterback goes down? What kind of support does one have from ownership?49.16 A discussion of the future of SumerSports.Go to MANSCAPED.com and use the promo code SUMER for 20% off.


