Sean Payton on Analytics: Broncos 'Far Ahead' of Saints

Sean Payton tipped his cap to the Denver Broncos analytics department.

The Denver Broncos are attempting to improve in every possible way under new head coach Sean Payton. This quest has seen Payton take a firm grip on almost every aspect of how the football operation is run and managed.

Thankfully for Payton, he's not dealing with an organization that's completely devoid of infrastructure that he can use to his advantage. Indeed, in terms of the Broncos' analytics department, Payton feels they even have an edge over his former team the New Orleans Saints.

“The analytics department is something that is on a different level here,” Payton said during his pre-draft presser on Thursday. “I’m like that driver of a new car that still hasn’t figured out how to get the seat warmers on. It’s pretty impressive, and it’s new for me in a good way. I’m talking about the efficiency of the process. We weren’t as far ahead [in New Orleans] when we were looking at some of these players as to being able to pick up and access the information as quickly.”

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With the NFL draft only a matter of days away, having all the crucial analytics could prove pivotal for the Broncos. Armed with only five draft picks, and none in rounds one or two, Payton knows the Broncos have to be super detailed in order to make the most informed picks humanly possible.

Of course, hitting on late-round gems is no exact science, but that being said, Payton found both New Orleans stars Zach Strief and Marques Colston with a pair of seventh-round picks back in the 2006 draft.

Logic tells us that unearthing such rare star quality in the draft equivalent of the bargain bin would be an unlikely event to happen in Payton's first swing at the plate in Denver. 

For Payton, the real key to hitting on draft picks is deeply rooted in doing the hard work ahead of schedule. Consequently, the curveballs which invariably arrive over home plate can be anticipated and navigated accordingly, instead of succumbing to twists of fate. 

“The reason these meetings go for three weeks, four weeks and into the late nights — it’s no different than game planning in football,” Payton said. “On Sunday, you’re making a call on fourth-and-four, but that was decided on Wednesday night. I think the same thing takes place relative to the draft. With each of these three days, oftentimes there are certain decisions and reactions that have been kind of covered well before it ever took place. I think that’s the best way to handle it.”

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