Statistics tell only one aspect of the story in sports, and especially in the NFL, where the data revolution remains in its early stages. Some players dial into the numbers. Others pay little mind to them.
In basketball, our NBA writers have bridged the gap between stats and the human element through a series of "Data Dialogues" with various players. The idea has potential in the NFL, so when I headed to Pro Bowl practices in Arizona earlier this offseason, I used the opportunity to get a better feel for what players knew about their own careers and how their perceptions lined up with the data.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was up first. What routes have some of his favorite targets run most effectively? Which defensive backs have collected a disproportionate number of his interceptions? Who has sacked him the most? These were some of the questions Ryan tried his best to answer.