This is a data set of the results of all NFL regular season field goal attempts for the 2008 season. There are 1039 observations with 23 variables The variables are:
GameDate
AwayTeam
HomeTeam
qtr (quarter, 5=overtime)
min (minutes remaining)
sec (seconds remaining, added to minutes)
kickteam (team kicking field goal)
def (defending team)
down
togo (yards to go for 1st down)
kicker (ID #)
ydline (yardline of kicking team)
name (kicker’s name)
distance (yards)
homekick (1 if kicker at Home, 0 if Away)
kickdiff (kicking team lead +, or deficit -, prior to kick)
timerem (Time remaining in seconds, negative = overtime)
offscore (kicking team’s score prior to kick)
defscore (defense team’s score prior to kick)
season (2008)
GOOD (1 is Success, 0 is Miss)
Missed (Missed, not blocked = -1, 0 ow)
Blocked (1 if Blocked, 0 ow)
The variables Missed, Blocked, season, and GameDate are removed from the data set because they do not affect the success of a field goal.
The objective of this data is to identify what makes a field goal successful.
First, the following pairwise scatter plots are made to inspect the potential issues with predictor variables and colinearity.
## Warning: package 'psych' was built under R version 4.2.2
The variables that were removed due to colinearity or violating the normality assumption were: yardline, defscore, offscore, kickteam, quater, timerem, homekick and down.
Based on the above exploratory analysis, we first build the full model and the smallest model.
## Warning: glm.fit: algorithm did not converge
## Warning: glm.fit: fitted probabilities numerically 0 or 1 occurred
| Estimate | Std. Error | z value | Pr(>|z|) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Intercept) | 5.535457e+00 | 2.275154e+00 | 2.433004e+00 | 0.0149741 |
| AwayTeamATL | -1.556454e+00 | 2.387268e+00 | -6.519810e-01 | 0.5144134 |
| AwayTeamBAL | -3.971946e+00 | 5.036447e+00 | -7.886405e-01 | 0.4303222 |
| AwayTeamBUF | -7.125008e+00 | 7.561394e+00 | -9.422876e-01 | 0.3460454 |
| AwayTeamCAR | -9.890033e+00 | 9.549332e+00 | -1.035678e+00 | 0.3003524 |
| AwayTeamCHI | -8.926903e+00 | 1.159639e+01 | -7.698005e-01 | 0.4414182 |
| AwayTeamCIN | -1.363555e+01 | 1.334355e+01 | -1.021883e+00 | 0.3068361 |
| AwayTeamCLE | -1.485387e+01 | 1.520253e+01 | -9.770658e-01 | 0.3285366 |
| AwayTeamDAL | -1.731829e+01 | 1.710124e+01 | -1.012692e+00 | 0.3112073 |
| AwayTeamDEN | -1.986115e+01 | 1.898034e+01 | -1.046406e+00 | 0.2953735 |
| AwayTeamDET | -7.840539e+00 | 1.359663e+02 | -5.766530e-02 | 0.9540152 |
| AwayTeamGB | -2.242242e+01 | 2.275244e+01 | -9.854950e-01 | 0.3243810 |
| AwayTeamHOU | -2.341128e+01 | 2.467544e+01 | -9.487687e-01 | 0.3427383 |
| AwayTeamIND | -2.702596e+01 | 2.656083e+01 | -1.017512e+00 | 0.3089099 |
| AwayTeamJAC | -2.866608e+01 | 2.843761e+01 | -1.008034e+00 | 0.3134381 |
| AwayTeamKC | -3.231267e+01 | 3.031489e+01 | -1.065901e+00 | 0.2864684 |
| AwayTeamMIA | -3.318976e+01 | 3.412020e+01 | -9.727303e-01 | 0.3306873 |
| AwayTeamMIN | -3.459917e+01 | 3.597854e+01 | -9.616612e-01 | 0.3362198 |
| AwayTeamNE | -3.910455e+01 | 3.787649e+01 | -1.032423e+00 | 0.3018742 |
| AwayTeamNO | -4.409573e+01 | 4.170996e+01 | -1.057199e+00 | 0.2904208 |
| AwayTeamNYG | 1.700967e+13 | 3.445357e+14 | 4.936980e-02 | 0.9606246 |
| AwayTeamNYJ | -4.446868e+14 | 4.341656e+14 | -1.024233e+00 | 0.3057252 |
| AwayTeamOAK | -5.163533e+01 | 5.109699e+01 | -1.010536e+00 | 0.3122388 |
| AwayTeamPHI | -5.236801e+01 | 5.298997e+01 | -9.882627e-01 | 0.3230240 |
| AwayTeamPIT | -5.600648e+01 | 5.677777e+01 | -9.864158e-01 | 0.3239291 |
| AwayTeamSD | -5.858989e+01 | 5.867164e+01 | -9.986067e-01 | 0.3179853 |
| AwayTeamSEA | -6.021790e+01 | 6.056500e+01 | -9.942690e-01 | 0.3200919 |
| AwayTeamSF | -6.241997e+01 | 6.244749e+01 | -9.995592e-01 | 0.3175239 |
| AwayTeamSTL | -6.260563e+01 | 6.430006e+01 | -9.736481e-01 | 0.3302313 |
| AwayTeamTB | -6.611665e+01 | 6.623164e+01 | -9.982639e-01 | 0.3181514 |
| AwayTeamTEN | -6.772260e+01 | 6.814420e+01 | -9.938132e-01 | 0.3203138 |
| AwayTeamWAS | -5.607026e+01 | 5.485902e+01 | -1.022079e+00 | 0.3067434 |
| HomeTeamATL | -8.457193e-01 | 2.320184e+00 | -3.645052e-01 | 0.7154808 |
| HomeTeamBAL | -5.237059e+00 | 5.185105e+00 | -1.010020e+00 | 0.3124857 |
| HomeTeamBUF | -8.549868e+00 | 7.711028e+00 | -1.108784e+00 | 0.2675232 |
| HomeTeamCAR | -8.321023e+00 | 9.554322e+00 | -8.709172e-01 | 0.3837994 |
| HomeTeamCHI | -9.240068e+00 | 1.147406e+01 | -8.053008e-01 | 0.4206461 |
| HomeTeamCIN | -1.269760e+01 | 1.330980e+01 | -9.540041e-01 | 0.3400816 |
| HomeTeamCLE | -1.548193e+01 | 1.521054e+01 | -1.017842e+00 | 0.3087528 |
| HomeTeamDAL | -1.480517e+01 | 1.705416e+01 | -8.681268e-01 | 0.3853249 |
| HomeTeamDEN | -1.963814e+01 | 1.902365e+01 | -1.032301e+00 | 0.3019310 |
| HomeTeamDET | -3.856699e+00 | 1.359755e+02 | -2.836320e-02 | 0.9773725 |
| HomeTeamGB | -2.087110e+01 | 2.272722e+01 | -9.183307e-01 | 0.3584457 |
| HomeTeamHOU | -2.340382e+01 | 2.463167e+01 | -9.501519e-01 | 0.3420351 |
| HomeTeamIND | -2.374972e+01 | 2.656899e+01 | -8.938885e-01 | 0.3713815 |
| HomeTeamJAC | -2.801876e+01 | 2.846929e+01 | -9.841750e-01 | 0.3250295 |
| HomeTeamKC | -3.087148e+01 | 3.034373e+01 | -1.017393e+00 | 0.3089667 |
| HomeTeamMIA | -3.394577e+01 | 3.417018e+01 | -9.934324e-01 | 0.3204993 |
| HomeTeamMIN | -3.327315e+01 | 3.598718e+01 | -9.245835e-01 | 0.3551826 |
| HomeTeamNE | -3.760994e+01 | 3.791022e+01 | -9.920792e-01 | 0.3211589 |
| HomeTeamNO | -4.219991e+01 | 4.171806e+01 | -1.011550e+00 | 0.3117532 |
| HomeTeamNYG | 1.700967e+13 | 3.445357e+14 | 4.936980e-02 | 0.9606246 |
| HomeTeamNYJ | -4.446868e+14 | 4.341656e+14 | -1.024233e+00 | 0.3057252 |
| HomeTeamOAK | -5.023005e+01 | 5.114142e+01 | -9.821792e-01 | 0.3260115 |
| HomeTeamPHI | -5.038272e+01 | 5.293466e+01 | -9.517907e-01 | 0.3412031 |
| HomeTeamPIT | -5.586343e+01 | 5.679272e+01 | -9.836372e-01 | 0.3252939 |
| HomeTeamSD | -5.625791e+01 | 5.869768e+01 | -9.584351e-01 | 0.3378434 |
| HomeTeamSEA | -5.876997e+01 | 6.054782e+01 | -9.706372e-01 | 0.3317290 |
| HomeTeamSF | -6.102912e+01 | 6.241582e+01 | -9.777829e-01 | 0.3281817 |
| HomeTeamSTL | -6.291857e+01 | 6.411716e+01 | -9.813062e-01 | 0.3264418 |
| HomeTeamTB | -6.481341e+01 | 6.624534e+01 | -9.783844e-01 | 0.3278842 |
| HomeTeamTEN | -6.644168e+01 | 6.815422e+01 | -9.748726e-01 | 0.3296235 |
| HomeTeamWAS | -5.492697e+01 | 5.485732e+01 | -1.001270e+00 | 0.3166964 |
| min | 1.169800e-03 | 7.131400e-03 | 1.640312e-01 | 0.8697066 |
| sec | 8.748500e-03 | 6.537400e-03 | 1.338232e+00 | 0.1808210 |
| defATL | 2.845128e-01 | 2.403261e+00 | 1.183862e-01 | 0.9057617 |
| defBAL | 6.111634e+00 | 5.209426e+00 | 1.173188e+00 | 0.2407205 |
| defBUF | 8.766517e+00 | 7.794142e+00 | 1.124757e+00 | 0.2606920 |
| defCAR | 9.058731e+00 | 9.574430e+00 | 9.461379e-01 | 0.3440783 |
| defCHI | 8.444654e+00 | 1.151458e+01 | 7.333881e-01 | 0.4633217 |
| defCIN | 1.482772e+01 | 1.338027e+01 | 1.108179e+00 | 0.2677847 |
| defCLE | 1.481924e+01 | 1.524541e+01 | 9.720463e-01 | 0.3310275 |
| defDAL | 1.653002e+01 | 1.704775e+01 | 9.696308e-01 | 0.3322306 |
| defDEN | 2.101824e+01 | 1.903944e+01 | 1.103932e+00 | 0.2696227 |
| defDET | 6.827769e+00 | 1.359700e+02 | 5.021530e-02 | 0.9599509 |
| defGB | 2.128853e+01 | 2.278216e+01 | 9.344387e-01 | 0.3500776 |
| defHOU | 2.381394e+01 | 2.475499e+01 | 9.619858e-01 | 0.3360567 |
| defIND | 2.587322e+01 | 2.659784e+01 | 9.727562e-01 | 0.3306745 |
| defJAC | 2.916836e+01 | 2.849628e+01 | 1.023585e+00 | 0.3060314 |
| defKC | 3.288330e+01 | 3.036123e+01 | 1.083069e+00 | 0.2787780 |
| defMIA | 3.500721e+01 | 3.415395e+01 | 1.024983e+00 | 0.3053713 |
| defMIN | 3.379215e+01 | 3.600769e+01 | 9.384705e-01 | 0.3480027 |
| defNE | 3.728241e+01 | 3.791662e+01 | 9.832734e-01 | 0.3254729 |
| defNO | 4.361795e+01 | 4.172730e+01 | 1.045309e+00 | 0.2958800 |
| defNYG | -1.700967e+13 | 3.445357e+14 | -4.936980e-02 | 0.9606246 |
| defNYJ | 4.446868e+14 | 4.341656e+14 | 1.024233e+00 | 0.3057252 |
| defOAK | 5.142767e+01 | 5.116452e+01 | 1.005143e+00 | 0.3148279 |
| defPHI | 5.255102e+01 | 5.291160e+01 | 9.931853e-01 | 0.3206197 |
| defPIT | 5.624705e+01 | 5.681264e+01 | 9.900447e-01 | 0.3221523 |
| defSD | 5.856069e+01 | 5.873291e+01 | 9.970677e-01 | 0.3187317 |
| defSEA | 6.084801e+01 | 6.055589e+01 | 1.004824e+00 | 0.3149817 |
| defSF | 6.211009e+01 | 6.242307e+01 | 9.949861e-01 | 0.3197430 |
| defSTL | 6.542996e+01 | 6.423115e+01 | 1.018664e+00 | 0.3083625 |
| defTB | 6.673347e+01 | 6.628931e+01 | 1.006700e+00 | 0.3140788 |
| defTEN | 6.549158e+01 | 6.817038e+01 | 9.607044e-01 | 0.3367008 |
| defWAS | 5.572992e+01 | 5.485211e+01 | 1.016003e+00 | 0.3096279 |
| togo | -1.156760e-02 | 2.870510e-02 | -4.029808e-01 | 0.6869623 |
| kicker | 1.861579e+00 | 1.891689e+00 | 9.840831e-01 | 0.3250747 |
| nameC.Barth | -1.816808e+00 | 2.380101e+00 | -7.633322e-01 | 0.4452653 |
| nameD.Rayner | 2.060280e+01 | 4.359682e+05 | 4.730000e-05 | 0.9999623 |
| nameG.Hartley | 4.503600e+15 | 1.862078e+07 | 2.418588e+08 | 0.0000000 |
| nameJ.Carney | -1.700967e+13 | 3.445357e+14 | -4.936980e-02 | 0.9606246 |
| nameJ.Feely | 4.446868e+14 | 4.341656e+14 | 1.024233e+00 | 0.3057252 |
| nameL.Tynes | -1.700967e+13 | 3.445357e+14 | -4.936980e-02 | 0.9606246 |
| nameM.Gramatica | 3.637611e+00 | 2.628972e+00 | 1.383663e+00 | 0.1664617 |
| nameM.Nugent | 4.446868e+14 | 4.341656e+14 | 1.024233e+00 | 0.3057252 |
| nameM.Stover | 8.924217e-01 | 1.922320e+00 | 4.642421e-01 | 0.6424743 |
| distance | -1.445343e-01 | 1.593330e-02 | -9.071209e+00 | 0.0000000 |
| kickdiff | -6.291900e-03 | 1.409080e-02 | -4.465250e-01 | 0.6552181 |
| Estimate | Std. Error | z value | Pr(>|z|) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Intercept) | 6.4956640 | 0.5703859 | 11.388191 | 0.0000000 |
| distance | -0.1192415 | 0.0123408 | -9.662395 | 0.0000000 |
| sec | 0.0080947 | 0.0054667 | 1.480729 | 0.1386788 |
| Estimate | Std. Error | z value | Pr(>|z|) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Intercept) | 6.4956640 | 0.5703859 | 11.388191 | 0.0000000 |
| distance | -0.1192415 | 0.0123408 | -9.662395 | 0.0000000 |
| sec | 0.0080947 | 0.0054667 | 1.480729 | 0.1386788 |
| Deviance.residual | Null.Deviance.Residual | AIC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| full.model | 557.9044 | 809.6515 | 775.9044 |
| reduced.model | 684.7092 | 817.7227 | 690.7092 |
| final.model | 684.7092 | 817.7227 | 690.7092 |
In the exploratory analysis, only the variables distance and second are linearly correlated. After automatic variable selection, all the other variables were dropped out of the model besides distance and second.
| Estimate | Std. Error | z value | Pr(>|z|) | odds.ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Intercept) | 6.4956640 | 0.5703859 | 11.388191 | 0.0000000 | 662.2638362 |
| distance | -0.1192415 | 0.0123408 | -9.662395 | 0.0000000 | 0.8875935 |
| sec | 0.0080947 | 0.0054667 | 1.480729 | 0.1386788 | 1.0081276 |
Because the odds ratio for distance in less than 1, so as the distance increases, the odds of having a successful field goal decrease. Because the odds ratio for second is almost 1, it means that it doesn’t affect the success of a field goal.
The case study focused on the association analysis between a set of potential factors that might influence a field goal’s success. The initial data set has 18 numerical and 5 categorical variables.
After exploratory analysis, some highly correlated values were removed from the model.
After automatic variable selection, the final model was obtained with 2 factors: distance in yards and seconds. And as this distance increases, the success of a field goal decreases.