AI in the Coaches' Booth

[Randy Carson]

Given that the offense has a slight advantage over the defense (because the team with the ball knows where the ball is going in advance), I asked Chat GPT if it is possible for AI to analyze a vast number of offensive plays (like thousands or millions), to learn from the outcome, and to develop a playbook based upon the highest probability of successful outcome for each play the offensive team runs.

The response was that while there are a lot of factors to consider, it would be possible to increase the odds of success in this way. Further, it was stated that AI is already contributing along these lines to some extent.

Does anyone have any thoughts about or knowledge of the use of AI in developing playbooks for offensive or defensive schemes? Which teams are experimenting, etc?

 

[Dubz85123]

I can see AI being used from an analytics standpoint. Real-time is a different story. A good football coaching staff should have a good idea of what the opposing team is going to call in certain situations. There are only so many plays in a playbook that teams will be realistically able to call; the film never lies. It mainly comes down to execution, for the most part, on defense in real-time.

The idea of selling in-game AI decision-making to a coach would be very hard due to the current state of AI. For the most part, I am hearing about teams using AI for training purposes such as workout plans, time management, etc. Pre-game prep would be the best place for AI. Film analysis does take a lot of time, I know from first-hand experience. The scheming based on that is where AI could make a difference. I am also of the opinion that is where it should stay. There is a positive but also negative connotation towards analytics in the sport already when it comes to making the decision. The best way to describe it is the machine can help me learn but not take the test for me.

 

[g0lftime]

AI would probably say to run JH with the trap off right guard every play.

 

[awbuzz]

Given that the offense has a slight advantage over the defense (because the team with the ball knows where the ball is going in advance), I asked Chat GPT if it is possible for AI to analyze a vast number of offensive plays (like thousands or millions), to learn from the outcome, and to develop a playbook based upon the highest probability of successful outcome for each play the offensive team runs.

The response was that while there are a lot of factors to consider, it would be possible to increase the odds of success in this way. Further, it was stated that AI is already contributing along these lines to some extent.

Does anyone have any thoughts about or knowledge of the use of AI in developing playbooks for offensive or defensive schemes? Which teams are experimenting, etc?

Asking AI that question burned through enough electricity to run the entire population of the state of Georgia for 2.78 days!!!

 

[Randy Carson]

Asking AI that question burned through enough electricity to run the entire population of the state of Georgia for 2.78 days!!!

Was that the night the lights went out in Georgia?

 

[Enuratique]

Maybe it could help with not only
Figuring out what play a team might run given down, distance, field position, score differential, and time remaining in the game, etc but maybe it could also look at offensive formation pre-snap to help highlight tells the coaches could teach the kids in prep leading up to the game.

 

[alagold]

I can GUARANTEE you that there are s'ware programs analyzing the "other" team (and maybe the home team) all over the country right now .Then with better AI and with good DB data ,it will soon tell you the odds on every play working or not on both sides of the ball.

 

[gtrower02]

Lets just make the games AI competitions. Don't even bother with the kids on the field. I like GT's chances. GT\Stanford\Cal\Illinois final four year after year. uga no where to be seen.

/s

 

[TampaBuzz]

Lets just make the games AI competitions. Don't even bother with the kids on the field. I like GT's chances. GT\Stanford\Cal\Illinois final four year after year. uga no where to be seen.

/s

Do you think the Board of Governors would stand for that?