The BES Report An Innovative Look at NFL Team Performance
What is the BES Report?
It’s a weekly report using the Bailey Efficiency Score (BES) which was created by, Desmond Bailey, in 2006 as a unique means of measuring the game-by-game performance of all 32 NFL teams.
Each team generates scores in seven individual categories: Ball Security, Pass Protection, Point Yield, Ball Control, Point Suppression, Pass Pressure and Takeaways. These scores are then computed and factored into a BES Overall by which all 32 teams are ranked.
Scores in each category are based entirely on statistical data published by the National Football League.
Why did you choose those categories and what do they mean?
Think about the last pre-game, halftime, or post-game interview you heard given by an NFL head coach. What did they say their team needed to do in order to win the game? Chances are you’ve repeatedly heard those coaches emphasize some combination of the following:
• Pressuring and/or protecting the quarterback
• Taking care of and/or taking away the football
• Scoring and/or not allowing the opponent to score
• Controlling the clock
Therefore, after twenty some-odd years of watching NFL football and listening to these coaches, we came to the conclusion that these are the fundamental keys to winning football games. That is why the BES Report is composed of the following seven criteria and utilizes them to measure overall team performance:
• Ball Security – ability to avoid costly turnovers
• Pass Protection – ability to protect the quarterback
• Point Yield – ability to score points
• Ball Control – ability to convert on third down and control the clock
• Point Suppression – ability to keep the opponent from scoring
• Pass Pressure – ability to pressure the opposing quarterback
• Takeaways – ability to force costly turnovers
See? There’s no rocket science being used here. We feel these are the seven pillars of winning American football games at any level, especially the NFL. More importantly, these are criteria that even the casual football fan can understand.
What do the scores mean in relation to how a team is performing?
Scores range anywhere from 0.00 to 5.00 with 5.00 being the highest level of performance. Teams are then ranked according to their overall score. Here is the scale that better explains how the numbers relate to performance:
4.00 – 5.00: Legendary – One of the greatest performances in league history
3.50 – 3.99: Excellent – Difficult to play any better than this
3.00 – 3.49: Good – Dominant, Championship-level performance
2.50 – 2.99: Above Average – Close to being dominant but not optimally consistent
2.00 – 2.49: Average – Competitive but very inconsistent
1.50 – 1.99: Below Average – Not a competitive effort
1.00 – 1.49: Poor – Hard to play any worse than this
0.00 – 0.99: Pathetic – Front office and coaching staff jobs are in jeopardy
How do you generate these scores?
At the conclusion of each “NFL Week” (Thursday PM – Monday PM) during the regular season, we crunch NFL statistical data in a series of algorithms created by Desmond Bailey. The data are instantly processed and produces scores for each of the seven criteria based on how the team performed in that area. That data is then computed to produce a BES Overall score for that team.
A team’s BES Overall score is not an average of its categorical scores. Why is that?
The categorical scores provide the foundation for the BES Overall score. However, the BES Overall score includes critical factors like home/road wins or losses, quality of opponent, margin of victory, come-from-behind wins, etc. These factors collectively act as adjusters which help produce the team’s BES Overall score.
Click here for more info on what goes into the BES Overall score.
Are scores based on the whole season or just the most recent games?
Both. The whole season factors into the scores. However, the scores are weighted toward the more recent games. This is how we can chart a team’s momentum and progress throughout the season.
This is also why our BES Offense and BES Defense rankings tend to disagree with NFL offense/defense rankings. The NFL accounts for the whole season and doesn’t use a weighted system. For example, if a team has been performing better defensively in recent games than they were earlier in the season, they are going to rank higher in BES Defense than they’re ranked by the NFL.
What separates the BES Report from the other football metrics out there?
There are several aspects that set the BES Report apart from the other ranking/metric systems available.
• We deliver the weekly BES rankings in a user-friendly format with a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind grading scale that clearly explains what the numbers mean.
• The BES is the only ranking system that isolates the seven aforementioned criteria in order to measure overall team performance.
• The BES Rankings are objective and strictly stat-driven. The reason is that we feel the stats tell the most concise, to-the-point story of how and why a team won or lost a game. However, other factors such as strength of schedule, margin of victory, wins/losses at home/on road, come-from-behind victories, etc contribute to the overall score as well. This gives us a more genuine idea of just how well or how poorly a team is playing.
How can I apply the BES Report?
There are a variety of ways the BES Report is applied and used. Here are just a few examples:
• Fantasy Football
The BES Report can assist an avid Fantasy Football player by helping them maximize their weekly matchups. For example, if you have two quarterbacks and QB ‘A’ is facing a defensive unit with a 3.52 in QB Pressure and the other is up against a unit with a 1.52 in QB Pressure then you might want to start QB “B”.
Another example would be if you’re trying to decide which defense to start. You’ll want to check the latest BES Report to determine which of your defenses has the highest score in Takeaways and QB Pressure. You will then want to cross-reference that with the opposing offense and its scores in QB Protection and Ball Security.
Simply put, the BES Report is another tool to help you prepare for your Fantasy Football matchups every week.
• Measuring Team Momentum
One of the coolest aspects of the BES Report is its ability to chart team momentum from week to week. The fluctuation in a team’s Overall score gives the reader an indication of how much more or less competitive a team is playing as they progress through the regular season. It can also display the impact of personnel changes such as injuries, depth chart moves, etc. Most importantly, it will enable readers to see which teams have the most momentum heading into their weekly matchup.
• Framing Free Agency and Draft Priorities
After the conclusion of the season, teams will re-evaluate their rosters and begin shaping their priorities for free agency and the draft. The BES Report helps fans get a basic idea of what those priorities might be.
For example, if a team finishes the season with poor scores in QB Protection and Ball Control, then that would indicate a need to address the offensive line and running back. Likewise, if a team scores poorly in Takeaways then that could hint at needed improvements to the linebacker and defensive secondary positions.
How often is the BES Report published and what does it include?
We publish the BES Report every Wednesday following the second week of the NFL regular season. Each issue contains the 32-team BES Overall rankings as well as BES Offense and BES Defense rankings. Throughout the week, we publish other BES Report-related analysis and commentary as well.
What other original content does this site offer besides The BES Report?
As of now, our weekly BES Rankings are our focus. However, as we continue to grow over time our spectrum of content will grow as well so stay tuned!