A Guide to ARAnalytics Offense Cards and how to use them
The best way to maximize the value these cards can bring!
Hello everyone, this post’s purpose is to explain my cards that are available by purchase on my Patreon position-by-position in order to make them easy to comprehend!
What is VAT?
VAT, which stands for Value Added to Team, is my own signature stat which aims to take all the data on a card and combine it into one stat that can be percentile-ranked and show the overall value a player brings to his team.
For all positions, the VAT calculation is different, and while I can’t explicitly reveal the calculation that goes into it, it’s historical accuracy is unmatched and typically is a great indicator of overall value.
How these cards should be used
These cards are meant to act as a supplement to college football analysis, not the end-all be-all. Most of these cards and their results are easily explained by film, if you can take the time to watch it.
Quarterbacks
Each card has 10 stats on them (not including VAT) and for QBs those stats are, Accuracy, Depth, Protection, Security, Scramble, Clutch, Drops, Batted, TD/INT, and NFL QBR.
Accuracy: Aimed Pass Percentage, so passes that are throwaways don’t count against the QB, since throwaways are typically a responsible choice and thus shouldn’t be held against them.
Depth: Average Depth of Target, essentially shows how deep a QB’s target tend to be, and is often a reflection of the scheme the QB is in but can also be a reflection of that QB’s arm strength and ability to spread the field.
Protection: A mix of time-to-throw and defensive pressure rate, Protection is a hindrance in the VAT formula, meaning that if a QB receives good protection it will negatively effect his VAT.
Security: Turnover Worthy Play Rate, how often does this QB make plays that are deemed risky and turnover worthy, this stat is great as opposed to interceptions and fumbles since it takes into account plays that aren’t the QBs fault like dropped balls that lead to interceptions, and takes into account lucky plays like dropped INTs by DBs.
Scramble: Pressure to Sack Rate, this stat doesn’t take into effect how many yards a QB gains in his scrambles, but moreso how many times he allows pressures to become sacks.
Clutch: Big Time Throw Rate in the final 5 Minutes of one-score, or tie-games, the specifics of the BTT stat are unknown since it is a PFF signature stat, but just as a pre-cursor to how accurate it is, Taylor Heinicke was in the 94th Percentile in 2014, and everyone knows he has that dog in him.
Drops: Relatively self explanatory, the drop rate of catchable balls thrown at this QBs receivers, is a hindrance to the VAT just like Protection.
Batted: How often a QBs throws get batted.
TD/INT: Touchdown to Interception Ratio.
QBR: NFL Passer Rating.
Running Backs
RBs stats are Breakaway, Elusiveness, After Contact, Security, Explosiveness, Protection, Drops, Route Run, TD/ATT, YPA.
Breakaway: An RBs ability to break a run loose in space.
Elusiveness: An RBs ability to miss tackles in open space.
After Contact: An RBs ability to get yards after contact.
Security: An RBs fumble rate.
Protection: Yards Before Contact, this is used as a measure to see how good the protection a RB gets is, and is a hindrance in the RB VAT formula.
Drops: An RB’s drop rate.
Route Run: An RB’s yards per route run, often shows how good an RB is at route running.
TD/ATT: An RB’s ratio of touchdowns to rushing attempts.
YPA: An RB’s yards per attempt.
Wide Receivers
WRs stats are Depth, Evasive, Catching, Constested, Drops, Man, Zone, QBR, YAC, and YPR.
Depth: Average Depth of Target, used to show if a wideout is typically a short passing threat, a deep threat, or one that spreads the field.
Evasive: Missed Tackle Rate, how often can a wideout break tackles in space.
Catching: A wideout’s catch rate on catchable balls thrown in his direction.
Contested: A wideout’s contested catch rate in 1-on-1 situations.
Drops: How often a wideout drops the ball.
Man: A wideout’s catch rate in Man Coverage Situations.
Zone: A wideout’s catch rate in Zone Coverage Situations.
QBR: A QB’s NFL QBR when a wideout is targeted.
YAC: Yards After Catch.
YPR: Yards Per Reception.
Tight Ends
TEs stats are Depth, Evasive, Catching, Contested, Drops, Man, Zone, rQBR, YAC, and Blocking.
Depth: Average Depth of Target, used to show if a tight end is typically a short passing threat, a deep threat, or one that spreads the field.
Evasive: Missed Tackle Rate, how often can a tight end break tackles in space.
Catching: A Tight end’s catch rate on catchable balls thrown in his direction.
Contested: A Tight End’s contested catch rate in 1-on-1 situations.
Drops: How often a Tight End drops the ball.
Man: A Tight End’s catch rate in Man Coverage Situations.
Zone: A Tight End’s catch rate in Zone Coverage Situations.
rQBR: A Tight End’s relative QBR (His QBR when he is targeted minus his team’s QBR).
YAC: Yards After Catch.
Blocking: An AR signature stat, that combines various variables to give an overall blocking score.
Offensive Linemen
OL Stats have two categories, team and individual. Each category has 5 stats, and they both contribute to the VAT.
Team
Line Yards: The line gets credit for rushing yardage between 0-3 yards (instead of 0-4) and 50% credit for yards 4-8 (instead of 5-10). Anything over 8 yards is quantified as a highlight opportunity, and credit goes to the runner. As with the pro definition, lost yardage still counts for 125%.
Run Efficiency: The percentage of carries (when four yards are available) that gain at least four yards, i.e. the percentage of carries in which the line does its job, so to speak.
Power: Percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown.
Stuffed: Percentage of carries by running backs that are stopped at or before the line of scrimmage.
Sacks: Unadjusted sack rate for all non-garbage time pass attempts.
Individual
Run Block: A combination of many variables, including Run Blocking grade that give an overall run-blocking score.
Hits: Ratio of QB Hits allowed to Pass Blocking Snaps.
Pressures: Ratio of QB Pressures allowed to Pass Blocking Snaps.
Penalties: Penalty Rate.
Pass Efficiency: Pass Blocking Efficiency.