03 Sep How STATSports are helping Washington Commanders kickstart an exciting new season
The Washington Commanders have kicked off a promising new era of football with new ownership, new coaching and a new quarterback all in the last 12 months.
Under new head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders are one of the teams to watch in the 2024 NFL season.
Behind the scenes, the Washington coaching team have used STATSports to maximise the output of their athletes, and helped build momentum ahead of the 2024 season.
The Best Ability Is Availability
In a league as physically demanding as the NFL, staying on the field can be the biggest challenge. So when the inevitable does happen, having a bulletproof rehabilitation process is essential for the Commanders. A major part of this for Director of Player Performance, Brett Nenaber, is STATSports’ Sonra Watch.
‘It helps us be really calculated as to what we’re getting for a player within a session. So in a rehab session, we’ll come out to the field and I’ll have daily goals for what I want that athlete to hit. With the watch I can filter through and select the metric that I want to look at specifically.’
The Sonra Watch allows coaches to make confident decisions in load management, right there on the field with live data.
‘The ability to hook up to multiple players on my watch saves me a ton of time from having to go back and forth to the iPad. I can see all that athlete’s data in real time right here with me wherever I go.’
The Sonra Watch is not only great for rehabilitation sessions, it can be applied in conditioning sessions, or with smaller groups. The Commanders are an excellent example of how to maximise its abilities.
Communication Is Key
An essential part of how the Commanders operate is communication. STATSports’ technology allows Nenaber to report on and communicate simply with the rest of the coaching team, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
‘I can generate PDF reports immediately off the live data as soon as we get off the field. Uploading it into the system allows us to dive a little bit deeper into the data.’
The Commanders have a coaching staff of around 30 professionals, who all benefit from the ease of reporting that STATSports provides. This includes the ability to share instant post-session PDF reports that are customisable and practical for coaches to read and then apply to their planning.
The speed and availability of this data is key for organisations such as the Commanders, who can rely on STATSports to inform decisions on the remainder of the day’s training schedule without the guess work.
Not Every Player Is The Same
In a 53 man NFL roster not every player will be the same. From Wide Receivers at 5’9 177lbs, to Offensive Tackles at 6’8 327lbs, the Commanders are no different.
Led by Senior Director of Player Health & Performance, Tim McGrath, Commanders coaches need to be able to design each athlete’s training to maximise their performance and keep them healthy throughout the year.
‘The goal at the end of the day is to individualise what we do with players, and try and build them so that they’re able to perform at their best. And also be as resilient as they can be from an injury perspective.’
Being able to rely on accurate data is a major part of this, as it increases the coaches’ ability to help players improve on a day-to-day basis.
‘The more someone has had a checkered injury history the smaller our margin of error is. So being able to be accurate and really logical about how we build that in is super helpful.’
In the NFL where the margins are so small, the Commanders benefit from the most accurate data possible. Allowing for logical, accurate decision-making around such a wide variety of players and body types is essential in such a competitive landscape, where having the best 53 available is often the difference between winning and losing.
The Washington Commanders are tipped to be a team to watch this season under an experienced coaching staff that includes new Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury alongside an exciting rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels, all aided by a top class Performance Department.
The Commanders are without doubt a team to keep your eye on in 2024.
