Cocoa Analytics

by Ramon Kameka

Analytics has become a crucial tool in sports, and football is no exception. With the help of data-driven insights, teams can make informed decisions to improve their performance on the field. One such team that has leveraged analytics to its advantage is the Cocoa Tigers.

The Cocoa Tigers after falling short in the State Championship in 2021 used analytics to finish the job in 2022. Coaches are always looking for adjustments to make the team better and decided to use the analytical approach to improve upon previous seasons success and it paid off.

The Tigers have a reputation for being one of the most successful football teams in the state of Florida and the Nation. Their success can be attributed to their focus on data analytics, which has enabled them to make strategic decisions based on statistics, rather than just intuition.

One area where the Tigers have excelled is in player evaluation. The team uses advanced metrics to assess the performance of players and identify their strengths and weaknesses. This information is then used to make decisions about which players to have on Varsity, what position for them to play, and where on the depth chart to best help that player develop. By focusing on analytics, the Tigers have been able to identify players through competition and build a roster that consistently performs at a high level.

In addition to player evaluation, the Tigers also use analytics to inform their game strategy. The team analyzes data on their opponents’ tendencies and uses this information to devise game plans that exploit their weaknesses. By doing so, they are able to gain an advantage over their opponents and win more games.

The Tigers also use analytics to improve their in-game decision making. The team has a dedicated analytics staff that provides real-time information to coaches on the sidelines. This information includes data on the probability of converting on fourth down, the likelihood of success on different types of plays, and the optimal time to call a timeout. By using this information, the Tigers are able to make more informed decisions during games, which can often be the difference between a win and a loss.

Offensive staff of Ryan Schneider, Nate Hooks, Adam Franco, Takia Parham, Rae Kameka, Craig Spencer, Rod Washington, Bruce Judson, Andre McDonald, Bud Williams, and Bobby Koonce had the #1 passing offense in the state, #22 Passing offense in the nation. Six receivers with at least 300 yards and 5 TDs. Eleven different players had a reception, 9 different players had a receiving TD, 49 passing TDs, 65% season completion percentage, and 3 perfect games totaling 52/52 passing completions.

Defensive Staff Matt Diesel, James Folston, Dan Diesel, Charles Stockton, and Cornelius Brayboy broke down the numbers and tendencies to improve the defense from the previous seasons.

(SEASONAL PROGRESSION)Sacks: 2021 (39) —2022 (42)The 3rd most sacks in a season in CHS History. Highest sack total during a season was in 2013 (45 sacks)2010 ( 43 sacks)

TFL’s: 2021 (79) — 2022 (98.5 ) 2nd most TFL’s in Cocoa High History Our 2020 squad had 107 TFL’s Fumble Recoveries: 2021 (9) –2022 (14)Tied for the 2nd most Fumble recoveries during CHS History. 2016 #1 with (16)2009 Tied with 2022 (14)

Interceptions: 2021 (13) — 2022 (17) 2022 total was the 3rd most interceptions during CHS History. Highest INT total during a season was 2008 (26 INT)2nd most was 2019 (19 INT)

Knowing how to travel and play in tough environments was also part of the plan to prepare for the Playoffs. Playing St Thomas Aquinas, Seminole, Melbourne, and Palm Bay all on the road prepared Cocoa for the challenge ahead. Cocoa High Tigers Football squad traveled more miles during the high school state championship playoff series than all 2022 FHSAA State Champions 1,144.6 miles. The only team to travel more than Cocoa were the 3S State runner-up (Mainland Bucs) 1,531.2 miles.

The Tigers were also the LOWEST SEEDED team to win a FHSAA State Championship in 2022. (Seeded #6) 2S Division. The second lowest seeded team to win a FHSAA State Championship was Lake Wales (Seeded #3) 3S Division. #1 Seeds that won their FHSAA State Championship in 2022 (3) 1R-Hawthorne, 2M-Miami Central, & 4M-Miami Columbus. #2 Seeds that won their FHSAA State Championship in 2022 (3) 1S-First Baptist Academy, 3M-St Thomas Aquinas, & 4S-Lakeland.

Overall, the use of analytics has been a key factor in the Cocoa Tigers winning State Championships and having success. By leveraging data to inform their player evaluation, game strategy, and in-game decision making, the team has been able to consistently perform at a high level and remain one of the top teams in High School Football. When looking at the data of returning and rising underclassmen the Tigers are set to repeat in 2023 and beyond.

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