Bayesian hierarchical linear modeling of NFL quarterback rating

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2015-05

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Abstract

With endless amounts of statistics in American football, there are numerous ways to evaluate quarterback performance in the National Football League. Owners, general managers, and coaches are always looking for ways to improve quarterback play to increase overall team performance. In doing so, one may ask: Does the performance in the first quarter have any effect on the fourth quarter performance? This paper will investigate the linear dependence of the first quarter NFL QB rating on the fourth quarter NFL QB rating for 17 NFL starting quarterbacks from the 2014-2015 season. The aim is to use Bayesian hierarchical linear modeling to attain slope and intercept estimates for each quarterback in the study and attempt to determine what is causing the dependence, if any. Then, if a linear dependence is detected, investigating whether or not the statistic used is a viable measure of performance.

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