1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. This he's Talking Cowboys 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: training live from the Dallas Cowboys World Hours at the 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: Star in Chris jot Picture and welcome to Talking Cowboys 5 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: and arm HECKM. Harrison. This is another edition of our 6 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: one on one series. And guys, I have someone today 7 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: that is very heavy duty, all right. Her resume reads 8 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: like a good book. She has an undergraduate degree in biology, 9 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: master's degrees at finance and analytics. She is a former 10 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: investment banker, a come on, I gotta get this right 11 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: investment are right, financial strategist for Disney, a former ESPN analysts, 12 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: currently predictive analytics expert at NFL Network. Co host of 13 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: Fantasy Live Fantasy Now. She is always the smartest person 14 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: in the room. And let me tell you, she is 15 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: a commissur, a Fantasy League owner, tears no one other 16 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:29,919 Speaker 1: than Miss Cynthia Freeland. Miss Cynthia, how are you you're hired? 17 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: I'll tell my age we're now hired. We're going to 18 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: switch it out because that was amazing intro. Thank you 19 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: very much. I always that's that's so kind. I really 20 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: appreciate that, Thank you. No whatever. Now I'm telling you, 21 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: I'm in doing this, getting preparing myself for this. I 22 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: do what I call extensive research. It's just going on 23 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: the interweb, right and look at at stuff and trying 24 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: to find everything that you possibly can. And oh, my god, Cynthia, 25 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: I mean, how in the heck? I mean, first of all, 26 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: how did you go from East Lansing to Boston College? 27 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: In that whole thing, I got questions for you on 28 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: Matt but then Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern that 29 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: is amazing. Talk about your academic journey I had. My 30 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: mom was a school teacher and my dad was an engineer. 31 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: So growing up in East Lansing, which is a home 32 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: of Michigan State, I was exposed to college and higher 33 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: education from a really young age. So I think that 34 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: really helped. I wanted to quote unquote live in a 35 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: big city. And I say quote unquote there because when 36 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: I go back to Boston now after having lived in 37 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: New York in Los Angeles, I'm like, in Chicago, I'm like, 38 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: this is kind of a small city. But I wanted 39 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: to be in a big city that still had some 40 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: of the things that felt like my favorite parts of 41 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: Michigan State. So sports, especially football and BC was that nice, 42 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: smaller school kind of city adjacent with sports that were 43 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: d one, big time sports, and it was just the 44 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: vibe was right. You know, it's kind of I can't 45 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 1: remember what seventeen year old Cynthia was thinking, but that's 46 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: you know, that's what that's what the vibe felt like 47 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: at the time. And then you know, I learned, through 48 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: experience and taking a lot of like you know, swings 49 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: and missus and all those different things you learned in 50 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: your early twenties that I needed to go back and 51 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 1: get some pedigree in terms of business and really refine 52 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: what I knew about, you know, how to think through things, 53 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: and in doing so that that's where I was lucky 54 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: enough to get my Kellog education. And then realize also 55 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: that adding the analytics to it could make me a 56 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: little bit more multiple and a little bit more able 57 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: to add value in ways beyond what I thought possible 58 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: when I was that girl who was seventeen and East Lansing. 59 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: Right now, let me tell you I have an East 60 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: Lansing story, right So, I was recruited by Michigan State 61 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: out of personal no listen you got before you. Let's 62 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: go my story living finish. So I get off of 63 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: the plane in East Leston. I want to go to 64 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: Michigan State because of Matcheck Johnson, big time matcheck Johnson fan. Right. 65 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: So I'm from Dallas, Texas, so I've never experienced any 66 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: kind of winter like in Michigan winters. Right. So I 67 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: get off the plane and East Lansing, and I kid 68 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,359 Speaker 1: you not, there is a power of snow next to 69 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: the baggage claim, an area that is the size of 70 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: the building, taller than the building. I decided right there 71 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: on the tarmact that I was not going to Michigan State. 72 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 1: That was it. I was like, it ain't happening. I 73 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: don't know anything about a winner like that. Wasn't prepared. 74 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: I had a like long Jones and the starter jacket. 75 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: It just didn't work out. Those Michigan winters are crazy. Yeah, 76 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: that's why I no longer lived there. I prefer the 77 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,239 Speaker 1: sunny or climate of California because the Michigan winter didn't 78 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: agree with me very well either. I mean, I did 79 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: live in other cold climates, but I prefer the heat. 80 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: I totally under stand. I will say Michigan State is 81 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: a special place, but it is especially special in the fall, 82 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: and about February, you're like, we out of here yet, 83 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: Let's let's get this school year over with. So for 84 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: sure the fall though, in the fall in Michigan, you 85 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: know you did miss out. Oh look, I did it. 86 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: I did I'm sure. And let me let me say 87 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: this to you before we go and go any further. 88 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: How are you doing during all of this pandemic? You know? 89 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: How you holding out? You know the funny part. I 90 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: read a really good Wall Street Journal article that was 91 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: about like how our minds work and the wiring of 92 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: our brain to experience negative and positive emotions, and I 93 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: feel more connected to other people after having read It's 94 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: a really good article and I recommend everyone reading it. 95 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 1: But ultimately, what I'm realizing is that these are all 96 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: even if you don't love the the experience of being home, 97 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: or you're feeling a little less connected than normal, these 98 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: are really good things. We're going to look back in 99 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: hopefully not that long of a time, when we're back 100 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: working with each other, and we're going to really not 101 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: take for granted any of the things. You know. I 102 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: live in Los Angeles. My commute stinks, but now I 103 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: feel like maybe I could make better use of my commute, 104 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: Maybe I could listen to a different book or meditator, 105 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: do you know, find something else to make the time feel, 106 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: you know, not feel wasted or disconnected because it's been 107 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: hard to be so, you know, I miss my family, 108 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: and I miss my friends, and I miss I missed 109 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: working all of those things. But but I'm really I'm 110 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: really starting to see how we have an opportunity to 111 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: make this experience very positive, even though there's a lot 112 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 1: of negative that's been baked in. Absolutely well, Synthia, let's 113 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: get right into it. And and I'm I'm one of 114 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: those people that for a number of years had my 115 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: doubts about analytics, and and I've I've seen, I see 116 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: the way that analytics is changing financial markets with quant 117 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: guys and everyone with analytics, you know, not only with 118 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: algorithms and artificial intelligence and all of that. And so 119 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: when it came down to football, the game that I 120 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: love changing and that conventional wisdom of football of run 121 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: on first downs, run on second downs, those things have changed. 122 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: You know. More teams are passing on first down, more 123 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: teams are passing on second downs, more teams are making 124 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: more risk, where most of that conventional wisdom would tell 125 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: you not to make those decisions because most coaches are 126 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: risk averse. Talk about how analytics has changed the game 127 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: of football totally. It's only as good as good inputs 128 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: mean good outputs. You have better inputs, you get better outputs. Right. 129 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: So the more information we've been gathering, so with the 130 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: advent of next gen stats and people's appreciation for if 131 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: I track things like what does this defense, what has 132 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: this defense seen on first down or on second and 133 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: seven or ever plus to go, and they see, oh, 134 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: well they've been anticipating run and we've seen that they've 135 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: seen seventy percent run, Maybe maybe we should pass. So 136 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: it gives you a framework to make decisions based on 137 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: a lot of information, but very quickly. Right, so you've 138 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: been tracking this thing, you can then use it and 139 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: you can interpret it. And then a coach who has 140 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: a lot of institutional knowledge about what their players can do, 141 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: what the playbook is like, they can then use that 142 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: kind of framework to help remind the decision. So it's 143 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: really not about being prescriptive. It's about narrowing down the 144 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 1: choices from a lot of good options or a lot 145 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: of options to maybe three good ones. The coach or 146 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: a play caller or whomever can make a decision based 147 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: on like, let's go with the three best ones. And 148 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: maybe we're wrong, but here are three the three we 149 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: think are the best. And let's let's create those three 150 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 1: choices when we're it's a neutral not the game feeling, 151 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: and you don't you know, your heart isn't beating and 152 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: there isn't a mannever they're trying to to attack you, right, like, 153 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: making it in a neutral situation, and here are three 154 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: best options. Let's leverage that information during the game and 155 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: be calm, cool, collected and be able to execute better. Now, 156 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: probability does not equal certainty at all. Right, So, and 157 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: so there's so many things that has to be factored 158 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: into it. And I'll take you back to last year, 159 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: Week eleven, coach Matt Patricia and I know you're a 160 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 1: Lions fan, but coach coach Matt Patricia makes the decision 161 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: five minutes left in the game to go for a 162 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: two point conversion down by fourteen, right, and so he goes, 163 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously the Cowboys one. But in the postgame interview, 164 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: come on, So in the postgame interview, everyone's asking him 165 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: like what is the model? Why did you do that? 166 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 1: And he talked about how analytics form his decision making, 167 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: like how is it that coaches are, like you said, 168 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: making these decisions on the fly based off of you know, 169 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: all of those things that you thought with your schemes 170 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: and studying tendencies and things like that. But guys like 171 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: you are in analytics are measuring the distance between you know, 172 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: offensive guards but to their ankle and stuff like that 173 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: to see if a play has got to be successful. 174 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: What does all of that mean and how does that 175 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: equate into football success. It's just like you know, like 176 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: I said, I'm gonna go back to better better input, 177 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: better output. If a coach is looking for an edge 178 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: the game, they can look at things like like you 179 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: can go for the point, like how many how many 180 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: more downs do you probably have a left given the score, 181 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: the time on the clock, and the team you're facing, right, 182 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: if it's a run heavy team versus a past have 183 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: you but at the end of the games up by fourteen, 184 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: so down distance situation right, And you can say what 185 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: Matt Patricia was saying was that they created a model 186 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: prior to the game, so not in the middle of 187 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: the game. But prior to the game that they said, well, 188 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: the Cowboys, they run the ball, especially if they're up 189 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: by fourteen, right, and if they're going to keep running 190 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: the ball, we have to take every opportunity that we 191 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 1: have to earn some points because we're not going to 192 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: get this many more possessions. Plus, if you go for it, 193 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: if you go for two on the first drive. So 194 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: Matt Patricia thought they had two drives left, right, so 195 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: this first drive they score a touchdown, might as well 196 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: might as well go for two on there, because if 197 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: you don't get it, then you can go for two 198 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: on the second one. You're not really losing anything. Whereas 199 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: if you go for two on the first one and 200 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: then you have the second one, then you could win 201 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: the game ultimately. You know, that was the I'm not 202 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: in his head and I didn't ask him specifically about, 203 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: but I guess that that's what he was that that's 204 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: where that's where his model was favoring. You know, the 205 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: Eagles have a different model the rates the Cowboys do. 206 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: Everyone has a different thing they are looking at. So 207 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: the smarter teams the thing that they're looking at. The 208 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: teams that works out either they're lucky and they pick 209 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: the right things to look at or whatever, or maybe 210 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: that probability goes on their side more often, right, Or 211 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: what I would think is the way that they study 212 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,679 Speaker 1: and the trends that they study are the ones they're hitting, 213 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: the higher probability ones as opposed to being more lucky. 214 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: That would be no guess, okay, now, and knowing that 215 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: you do a lot of well I say a lot, 216 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: but you do consulting work for NFL teams that are 217 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: looking to have more extensive analytics. And thinking about coach 218 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy, coach Mike McCarthy was one of those like 219 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: conservative coaches that at first denied the effect of analytics. Right, 220 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: And so that you know, club never talk about Bike Club. 221 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: They never talk about bike Club, one of my favorite movies. Also, anyway, 222 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: I want to tell you that, you know, Mike McCarthy, 223 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: he is out of football for here he has an 224 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: opportunity to study all of the nuances of analytics and 225 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: now he swears by it. Right, he's like a new 226 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: man and he's you know, all with the technology that 227 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: comes with analytics. When looking at a guy that's coming 228 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 1: into a new system, here a new new franchise here 229 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: with the Dallas Cowboys. How do you believe, in just 230 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: your experience of doing that consulting work that an analytics 231 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: is going to help Mike McCarthy here in Dallas. I 232 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: haven't spoken to Mike McCarthy specifically, but I do know 233 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 1: one of my very favorite, maybe the smartest individual analytics 234 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: mind in the NFL, is a Cowboy. So I will 235 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: say that y'all have a really good group out there 236 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: because and I can vouch for that. But the one 237 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: thing that I think the way to think about it 238 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: as a fan is probably that think about the different 239 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: just type of quarterback that Aaron Rodgers is versus Dak Prescott. 240 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: Think about the type of running back that is Zekiel 241 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: Elliott versus who which running back? You want to talk 242 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: about the Packers because like, yeah, right, like when McCarthy 243 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: was there, not Aaron Jones, I will Aaron Jones Jamal 244 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: Willins are great, But I'm saying, you know, with Aaron 245 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: Rodgers with Mike McCarthy, that they weren't known for like 246 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: the best run game. Right. You have to look at 247 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: the assets that you have and then you have to 248 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: you have to deploy those assets to get the biggest 249 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: return on investment. Right, So these are different assets. So 250 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: in order to make the best use of this old 251 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: line which is great, this quarterback which is great, this 252 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: running back, and then how many wide receivers you have 253 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: that are awesome I count, right, So ultimately making use 254 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: of those assets and making sure that as you're facing 255 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: you know, this is like the first year that the Giants, 256 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: that the Giants and Cowboys aren't playing each other week 257 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: one what but like n it was right, like so 258 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: you have to look to see, Okay, the corners corners 259 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: are a little young for the Cowboys, probably not a 260 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: problem against the Giants, so it would golden tape. You know, 261 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: you've got you got a little bit to worry about it. 262 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: That might have been a good first game for those corners. Likewise, 263 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: but the offense versus their versus the Giants evens, you 264 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: got to look for those mismatches. And it's not just 265 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: look for them from you know, the regular like Mike 266 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: McCarthy has watched a front of film. I mean I 267 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: don't I haven't watched with him, but I can imagine 268 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: it's thousands of hours, right, And in doing so, he 269 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: has a good feel for it. If you can model 270 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: out his brain so that the other people Kellen Moore, 271 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: like all of the all the offensive pieces of people 272 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: who people who are helping to call plays or coordinating 273 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: the passing game or all the different things, they can 274 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: all be on the same page more quickly. You're just 275 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: creating a better game plan. And that's how analytics can 276 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: be most useful is you get everyone on the same page, 277 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: so we're all rowan in the same direction, right, and 278 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: then you have the best opportunity to take your opponent 279 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: and find their weaknesses and exploit them so that your 280 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: assets return the biggest for you, meaning win as many 281 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: games as possible. Absolutely. Now you see those I guess 282 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: one off and I said this, you know, based off 283 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: of you know, looking at a team like the Ravens 284 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: and the forty nine ers, who have really really good 285 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: analytics departments. The Ravens were a shoeing on fourth downs 286 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: during the season eight and eight, so obviously we know 287 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: what the percentage is on that. Then they go into 288 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: a game versus the Titans and they go forward twice 289 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: and conventional wisdom and analytics tells them, because of this 290 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: previous success, that this may work versus a team like 291 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: the Titans. The Titans, on the other hand, first down, 292 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: run the ball, second down, run the ball, Third down, 293 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: run the ball. This is the conventional side of old 294 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: school football, the three yards in a cloud of dust 295 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: style that we had before. How does that? How do 296 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: you take that? And you say, look, analytics helps you 297 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: in this situation, but may not help you in a 298 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: winner takes all elimination game. I argue that that's where 299 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: you have to do. Like, think of the world as 300 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: a decision tree. Right, it shouldn't be binary, right, Like 301 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: binary means either yes or no. There's only two options, right, 302 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: The world isn't binary. So sure, maybe maybe your fifty 303 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: percent going forward on fourth down during the season, But 304 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: let's add some context. Were those zone or man defenses 305 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 1: you faced? Where were you on the field? What was 306 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: the time left on the clock? What was the score? 307 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: What are all of the different important inputs? Was their 308 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: number one defensive end hurt or not playing? You know who? 309 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: Who were these people you were playing against? Right? And 310 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:51,719 Speaker 1: what play did you call to achieve that? So you 311 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: have to also be able to adapt to what you see. 312 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: So it's this decision tree. Maybe they obviously they thought 313 00:17:58,480 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: it was going to work if they kept doing it, 314 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: but not for the sake of the pure volume. Right. 315 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 1: They probably had seven plays, eight plays that they had 316 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: ready for those specific situations, but honestly, the Titans defense 317 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: had them scout it, right, So that's what happens. But 318 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: that's the chess match we all want to watch, right, 319 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: our best versus my best. Let's lock horns at the post. 320 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: You know you don't, it's not It's not always fun 321 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 1: when it's like, you know, a super lop sided score. 322 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: I was at a Rams Ravens game that got real 323 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: boring after about you know, three drives, right, So I'll 324 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: tell you what I'm gonna have to use that life 325 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: is a decision tree for my thirteen year old. Okay, 326 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 1: I got steal that with So this, I've you know, 327 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: done my research, like I said, And you had some 328 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: really outstanding things to say about our number one draft 329 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: pick and Cede Lamb. And it's just based off of 330 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: your numbers that you saw for him. And now now 331 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: obviously as a Cowboys fan, we are all sighted about 332 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: Cede Lamb, but your number is kind of took him 333 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: to a whole another level. Just talk about what you 334 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: see from Cede Lamb from a numbers perspective, usually you 335 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: don't see so much talent that fits so well, do 336 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, Like, like, you've got the 337 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 1: space that Amri Cooper occupies, the space meaning the routes, 338 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: the routes that he runs, and the and the presence 339 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:29,959 Speaker 1: from a defense that he commands. Same and by the way, 340 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: he's like twelve, he's super young. Still like he's a 341 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: college very young too, so that's a that's a positive. 342 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: And then he got Michael Gallup also very young, and 343 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: the space that he occupies and the defense command that 344 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 1: he requires, right, and then you've got ce Lamb is like, hey, um, 345 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: Slot High, run away with you. So ultimately, the any 346 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: any rookie, it's hard to project their use because just 347 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: like any college graduate, you have kids in college, they 348 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: gotta go get a job. Their resume. It's just maybe 349 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: maybe they've had a few summer jobs, internship. Maybe they 350 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: we're a biology major, so they have a little more. 351 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: You have only the resume you have, and if you've 352 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: run those routes that compliment what the other guys are doing, 353 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: right as well as Ceedee Lamb compliments what Michael Gallup 354 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,880 Speaker 1: and Amari Cooper have been able to do. I mean, 355 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: that's a nicer fit because you don't have to then 356 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: your learning curve. It's really based on your resume and 357 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 1: less based on a whole new route tree, because you're 358 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 1: gonna have to learn the playbook. You're gonna have to 359 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: learn the speed. You're gonna have to get the touch 360 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 1: with Dak Prescott. By the way, I don't know how 361 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 1: much they've been working together because COVID's very tricky, right, 362 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: So you might as well put yourself in a situation 363 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: where at least your muscles know how to run that route, 364 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: you know. And by the way, Amari Cooper, Michael gall 365 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 1: go let me open, right guys. So so that's the 366 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: kind of that's the kind of thing where the more 367 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: you have fit and reps that are meaningful that already 368 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: match easier transition. Well that that I love when you 369 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: talk data to me, Cynthia, and I hope that it 370 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: works out exactly the way that your numbers have estivated 371 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 1: for our for our rookie receiver. Now, look, wanting to 372 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: pull this back a little bit and talk about something 373 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: that I think is very unique to your situation. And 374 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: that is the fact that you are the only female 375 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: analysts on a Sunday morning talk show only and Synthia 376 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: being a girl dad like I am, and warning the 377 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 1: best for my girls and every environment. Talk about what 378 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: it means to be so groundbreaking the way that you 379 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,719 Speaker 1: are and breaking into these industries the way that you have. 380 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 1: Feel very fortunate to have been given an opportunity to 381 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: talk to have an analyst role talking about numbers. These 382 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: are sometimes boring things. People don't always love math. And 383 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: being able to be supported by men and women in 384 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: front of and behind the camera that allow me to 385 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: to do that, that is that means everything to me, 386 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: and I'm very grateful for that. I'm super grateful to 387 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: see things like ESPN just announced that Mina Kimes is 388 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 1: now an analyst full time for NFL Live, which is 389 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: amazing and I love that. So I love seeing these 390 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: people whose voices I respect and I learned from being 391 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,719 Speaker 1: able to be like you know, you're not just like 392 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: a you know, you're not just like a weather girl 393 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: right like you know you want to be. You get 394 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: a chance to have an opinion, and you have to 395 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: earn your You earn your stripes every week you know, 396 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 1: every every time. So I feel very fortunate that I've 397 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: had the support of the men and the women in 398 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 1: front of and behind the camera in order to be 399 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: able to even be considered for it. So I it means, 400 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: it means everything to me that that is is completely awesome. 401 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: Now we're at the part of the show that I 402 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: really enjoy and these are the rapid fire questions that 403 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: I had it all right, So yeah yourself, just know 404 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 1: that this may you know, send your smoke detectives off 405 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,719 Speaker 1: because I'm gonna serve these like anti cornicoke, all right? 406 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: Get ready? All right, so Mexican food or Italian food. 407 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: I'm Italian Italian food. I eat more Mexican food. But 408 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: if I'm gonna say, like my grandma known as lasagna 409 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: every day, yes I would be three hundred pounds, but yes, 410 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: Italian food, all right. A beach or skis Okay, I'm 411 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: from Michigan, so I didn't know which one you bay, 412 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 1: I'm with you, all right, not for me. Now, I 413 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: know that you are a fitness nut, right, so I've 414 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 1: heard this. I'm right well different and I mean, is 415 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: it true that you've ran a marathon in every state? State? 416 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: So I'm trying to go to every state. I'm at 417 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 1: twenty three, I'm at my Jordan. I just did my Jordan. 418 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 1: But they're all this year, so I'm not gonna be 419 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 1: able to get They're not running any marathons this year, 420 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: so or the ones that I would be able to do, 421 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: So maybe next year I'll have to do a few. Well, 422 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: So choose between these two, the New York Marathon of 423 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: the Boston Marathon. I haven't done Boston yet, but I 424 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: went to BC so I had a lot of fun 425 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 1: watching it. New York Marathon holds a very special place 426 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 1: in my heart, though, so I'm going to go with 427 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: New York for now, but I'll probably like Boston once 428 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: I run it. Now, tell me, what are your thoughts 429 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: when I say this name Anthony? No though, Oh my 430 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: most important mentor super grateful, super grateful for everything he's 431 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: taught me. That is awesome. That's it. In the fire, 432 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: the alarms didn't go off, but you made it through 433 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 1: with Cynthia, I made it. I made it. Thank you, 434 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: good look, thank you so much for joining me on 435 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 1: Talking Cowboys. I really appreciated Cynthia. This was this was awesome. 436 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: Did she Cynthia Freeman. She has a ninety four percent 437 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: win streak and draft king stuff you wanna win. Yeah, 438 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 1: battle follow Cynthia Freeland. I put it out there, I'll 439 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: put it out there, but thank you so much. I 440 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: really appreciate it, and thank all of you guys for 441 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: joining us here on Talking Cowboys. We'll see you