Analytics can feel intimidating. For many coaches, the word conjures up visions of endless spreadsheets, complex code, or entire departments of analysts. That’s why Sean Grady, running backs coach at Geneva High School (IL), encourages coaches to “just dip your toe in.”
“Even if you dip your toe in, start somewhere. Track a front, track a run concept, track a play, and see if you like it.”
His point is simple: coaches don’t have to do everything at once. Start small, focus on what matters, and build from there.
Rich Worsell, now the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, shows exactly what that first step can look like. And Jake Gilbert — longtime Westfield (IN) head coach and now head coach at Wabash College — demonstrates why those steps matter, because only a handful of stats truly decide football games.
Rich Worsell: The Power of 10 Data Points
Worsell’s bold statement cuts through the noise:
“You can describe an opponent pretty well without even logging formations or coverages.”
Instead of charting every coverage shell or formation shift, Worsell begins with 10 essential data points:
- Down & Distance
- Field Position
- Gain/Loss (yards)
- Penalties
- Quarter
- Series & Play Number
- Run or Pass
- Pass Result (C, I, IN, S, R)
- Series Begin (kickoff, turnover, etc.)
- Series End (TD, punt, downs, etc.)
With just these, he argues, a coach can clearly describe:
- How an opponent wins games.
- How they lose games
- When they’re at their best.
- Where they’re most vulnerable.
Example: While Worsell was an analyst at Akron preparing to face Illinois, he discovered the story wasn’t buried in schemes. It was in simple numbers:
- Above 232 rushing yards → Illinois went 4–2.
- Below 232 rushing yards → Illinois went 0–6.
- QB rushing yards over 60 almost always meant victory
That clarity shaped the game plan: Stop the run, contain the QB, and force Illinois into losing football.
Jake Gilbert: What Actually Wins Games
Jake Gilbert, a 1998 Wabash alumnus and newly named head coach of the Little Giants, built a powerhouse program at Westfield High School in Indiana before returning to his alma mater.
His record speaks volumes: 103 wins in 13 seasons, a 2016 state championship, and recognition as one of the Midwest’s most respected coaches.
His philosophy on analytics is rooted in clarity: only track what decides games. From nine years of data, Gilbert identified four pillars of winning football:
- Turnover Margin
- Westfield has won 82% of games when they win the turnover battle, but just 22% when they lose it
- Explosive Plays
- Drives with two or more explosive plays almost always end in scores
- Red Zone Efficiency
- When Westfield wins the red zone battle, they win 79% of the time
- First Down Efficiency
- Winning first downs correlates with a 65% win rate
Gilbert’s point:
“We compete in practice on turnovers and explosive plays, not completion percentage. That’s what actually wins games.”
Sean Grady: Proof on the Sideline
At Geneva, Sean Grady put this philosophy into practice during a playoff run by adopting Modern Football Technology mid-season.
Before Modern Football, the staff relied on pen and paper:
“One of our sophomore coaches was up there trying to catch the call, write it down… At halftime, he’d walk down with sheets of paper, and we’d try to match it with drives. It was not a very efficient process.”
With Modern Football:
“Night and day compared to what we were doing. Now we can confirm things in the first quarter that used to take us until halftime.”
They started small, just as Grady advised other coaches to do:
“We started pretty easily — every play tracked, the efficiency, the gain and loss. Then we added one or two things each week, like fronts or pressures, and built from there.”
The result? Faster adjustments, calmer sideline, and better communication with the head coach.
“It calmed our sideline down… now we can get corrections right away and let kids relax instead of scrambling.”
The Bridge: From Philosophy to Real-Time Practice
For years, coaches like Worsell and Gilbert uncovered these insights with spreadsheets, film study, and staff manpower. That works for resource-rich programs, but most coaches don’t have that luxury.
This is where Modern Football Technology (MFT) changes the game.
- Live Tracking: Automates Worsell’s 10 data points and Gilbert’s “four pillars” in real time.
- Instant Reports: Efficiency, explosives, red zone, and turnover margin update automatically between series.
- Sideline Clarity: Coaches no longer wait until Sunday to know whether they’re winning the battles that matter most.
The Unified Message for Coaches
- Sean Grady: Don’t be afraid — dip your toe in. Start with something small.
- Rich Worsell: Ten data points are enough to describe an opponent and guide decisions.
- Jake Gilbert: Only a few stats truly decide games — turnovers, explosives, red zone, and efficiency.
- Modern Football Technology: Makes all of this live, simple, and actionable in real time.
Final Thought
Analytics isn’t about replacing instinct — it’s about reinforcing it with clarity.
As Worsell puts it:
“Analytics should tell a clear story about your opponent — and how to beat them.”socal getting started with anal…
Grady reminds coaches they can start small. Worsell shows them exactly where to begin. Gilbert proves which stats truly matter. And Modern Football Technology ensures those insights are available in real time, where they impact decisions and outcomes.
Elevate your game with Modern Football Technology!
Modern Football Technology helps identify patterns and unlock hidden insights with real-time self scout and opponent tendencies while eliminating strenuous hours of manual data entry.