Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little project of tracking NFL quarterback stats. It wasn’t some fancy, high-tech operation, more like a “let’s see if I can do this” kind of thing.
I started out, like most things, with a simple question: Could I pull together quarterback stats in a way that made sense to me? I’m no data scientist, just a guy who likes football and tinkering with spreadsheets.
Gathering the Data
First thing I did was find some data. You know, hit up the usual sports websites. I wasn’t looking for anything super secret, just the basic stuff publicly available.
The Manual Grind
- I initially copied and pasted stats into a spreadsheet. Yeah, I know, super old-school. But it gave me a feel for the data, what was available, and how it was formatted.
- I did that for a few players, and it quickly, it became very very clear. That wasn’t going to work long-term. It was slow, tedious, and I’m pretty sure I made a few typos along the way.
Finding a Better Way (Slightly Better)
So, manual entry was a bust. Then I remembered some basic scripting I’d messed with years ago. Nothing fancy, just enough to automate some simple tasks.
I ended up writing a few basic scripts. These weren’t pretty, and they probably broke every coding rule in the book, but they got the job done, which is to grab the data and put them somewhere more manageable.
Organizing the Chaos
Once I had the data, I threw it into a spreadsheet program. This is where the fun began (for a nerd like me, anyway).
- Columns and Rows: I set up columns for things like Player Name, Team, Passing Yards, Touchdowns, Interceptions – you know, the usual suspects.
- Basic Calculations: I added some simple formulas to calculate things like completion percentage and yards per attempt. Nothing groundbreaking, just enough to get a better picture.
- Sorting and Filtering: This is where it got interesting. I could sort by any stat, filter by team, and start to see some patterns.
What I Learned (So Far)
This whole thing is still a work in progress. But here’s what I’ve realized so far:
- Data is Everywhere: There’s a ton of NFL data out there, if you go looking for it.
- Automation is Key: Doing things manually is a recipe for disaster (and boredom).
- Spreadsheets are Powerful: Even a basic spreadsheet can do some pretty cool stuff if you know how to use it.
- I Still Have a Lot to Learn: This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure there are way better ways to do all of this, and that is the plan to try.
So, that’s my journey into the world of NFL quarterback stats. It’s not perfect, it’s not fancy, but it’s mine. And I’m learning something new every step of the way. Maybe I’ll turn this into something bigger someday, who knows? But for now, it’s just a fun little side project.