Bucs’ geeky numbers are bad.
Joe is not anti-stats, but within reason.
Joe was taught to be suspicious of stats, whether it was the famous cry of noted Washington Post columnist Norman Chad (“Stats, damn stats and USA Today.”) or a teacher Joe had in high school who often said anyone can twist numbers to prove whatever point they want to make.
So when Joe sees stat nerds parrot something called “EPA” — and it has zero to do with the environment — Joe quickly dismisses the stat because it uses the word “expected.”
To which Joe always asks, “Whose expectations?”
(Another one is “adjusted.” Nah, nah, nah. “Adjusted” is playing games with numbers. Why are you adjusting numbers? What are you covering up? See Joe’s high school teacher reference above.)
But Joe knows so many stat guys push “EPA” as if it is Gospel. Well, consider Joe a sinner.
But this stat is used so much, maybe these guys are onto something? If so, this stat demonstrates just how terribly Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has wrecked the Bucs’ offense.
Only one team has had a bigger drop off in EPA than the Bucs. And, as Mike Sando of The Athletic points out, no team has a worse EPA than the Bucs.
So take that for what it’s worth. Joe is sure some of his readers will find this interesting. The main number Joe is worried about growing is 0-3. No one expected that.
Is it too late to trade for Josh Grizzard?