Aaron Schatz

Every Friday at this time we -- school errant shots from football outsiders dot com. -- joins us on the line good afternoon guys.

You know I don't well but Eric I didn't realize. You're such humble guy. So humble even mentioned last week that you were quoted by Michael Lewis and you were doing work for Michael Lewis tell us about that.

Oh yeah that was the the military article in.

I -- Michael might again.

Just then I'll let you -- it's great that that he knows about it and I was actually other radio show it and and earlier in the year so we got to know each other little. That piece about Terry clutch -- But others aren't numbers aren't they active props to a -- about it Jim Armstrong who lived in Natick and it's real optics -- so much this time. Can only write part well not for the site during the year but he -- numbers were actually hit.

Michael Lewis called your website football outsiders the best. Website out there when it comes to getting into the the nuts and bolts of football -- that's quite a compliment.

I cannot say that I am not extremely appreciative of all people who have. Become big support -- last few -- protect me he read these statements.

Like Michael Lewis -- what other you know go ahead name --

until seven. And I was at Philadelphia actually speaking -- editor who's -- and right there.

You let that fancy writers conference in New Jersey right.

It was actually like a literary -- it was me and that didn't turn probably McDonald off they receive. 60 equals don't sort of like -- with Bob Ryan and Doug Flutie I didn't quite it and.

Let's let's go back to last weekend's patriots colts game. Patriots and colts were one and two win year DV away numbers going in there one into coming out is the gap closer or further apart --

Further apart but not by alot basically it's really stake a basically became you know not every specific play -- only -- to get ratings and it up. Exactly is the ratings were before I mean. Patriots were like 70 before they're 70 afterwards they were 70 for the game the paid the colts were selected. To eat before it -- now they're ready for the game route 40s so. Typically set looked as the gap between 18 and that was the gap between speaking.

And the thing that jumped out at me was you said the biggest disparity between these two teams was special teams. And boy did we see that.

Yeah and it didn't come out kick returns like I expected to keep Melbourne park returned but it also deftly kidnapped in practiced with the active Gradkowski just got more power than. That -- to this point. And that skill position people ignore that but you know start our particular course the end zone that's by taking a course was

air into the game. Play out the way you expected it to last week.

On I expect a lot more scored I definitely expected or scoring and I expected it to beat the patriots with the early lead at all coming back the other way around and you know obviously. They're therapeutic have to listen we must be a championship game last year. You don't which it away from that thinking I don't know Eric Alexander guys but decent speed doesn't belong on the field -- Well I think that people would come away Netscape six. About -- more it. I mean you know it was -- injuries are part of the game. COLT can't can't say you know well only Marvin Harrison I mean you know -- that would support the AFC championship game but the fact is that that was injured but there was a huge drop off. More that you could tell would keep things like to eat out you know being in the right position on patterns. I think that that was actually a big --

I'm a little mystified at times by some of your numbers and want to on the jumps out of me this week he has a week ago the Minnesota Vikings were 16 in your ratings. This week -- eighth despite fact that their three and five is all of that because of Adrian Peterson.

What because of that one -- first -- because underneath the top four teams are much more packed together. So look small jump in the ratings will be -- larger jump in the rankings really because some of the teams go right ahead of Minnesota lost Philadelphia dead. In the exited -- in Seattle. So that's part that actually checkbook which most the -- credible it's also this game strangely enough it doesn't seem like it. But actually had the highest rating Minnesota's victory over San Diego at highest reading any game this year passed a couple of the big patriots -- The score was actually close to -- should've been because back Marty. Oh return the the fact of the court -- returned it is really bad play you know how he played for the other 50 -- and it's kicked back.

Is there -- way to for you to figure out statistically I mean beyond the obvious that we all see that Adrian Peterson really good he runs for a lot of yards. But to figure out just how effective he's -- and to compare him to other backs in the league.

Well -- didn't hit number one in our ratings so far this year. So for for total value he's if it value per play but a lot of guys were blow it you know at the sample size they buried -- His stat list but I out I'm guessing -- barber cut 160 runs at a hundred that he would not be. More computers play he'd be by that but Peterson the number one tightly by -- one reason why he's not head and shoulders above what else. Is that the fact is that he does a good number of runs for no yards. -- he combines with a really -- our stats tend to. Award reward the consistency that -- change a regular basis -- you know just the and buried barber and so Peterson's not quite as far ahead. But the got -- consider it he's great.

Like you're right Aaron he's getting a lot of love from people around the league and fans.

I don't says it's sort of this sort of discussions that all of the teams that passed on which they had I think it's little more because. Nobody wanted to quarterback and Calvin Johnson was most difficult. Randy moss and Joe Thomas is having great year left tackle -- so you can't really say that the I should.

Well I was going to ask you all of the lobby to get. In the in the league this year it's tends to go toward. He's the best back in in the NFL do you believe he's the best back in the NFL or that he's having the best season it's a big difference.

Well we've -- the best season but he could be the best back because the fact is that running backs you know I -- listened bait they peak earlier and they decline earlier than any other position and so if you. You know started have a conversation about problems in the Peterson and we got to say well allison's 28 mixture OB 29 -- Peterson Pete is doctor or your way it. There's a die but the -- You know you wonder little that is it is you know -- to -- attic which opens up things for him in the Brian Westbrook can't. Quite stay healthy but I think it -- Peterson at Tomlinson you know about the discussion right. -- public. And it --

In the big Sunday night game Indianapolis at San Diego both Michael and I love Indianapolis in this game and I'm looking pitcher catcher rankings you've got San Diego's defense I think 16 in the league sounds like you sort of agree with a --

Oh yeah I think people don't quite understand I think the patriots have such a -- the people don't understand just how good the colts and cowboys and Steelers are this year to -- an R rating. Those are four of the top 15 teams of last year's by. It's I mean the Steelers it's a little weird at two awesome they've played so well other case that there are up there in any other. Are we talking about how we were on our -- yet another great cowboy steeler Super -- but the culture that a scheme to pick. Topic people realize how far -- those 14 are. Rest -- which means that. When you look at games like Indianapolis San Diego city blow rated compared Indy against like Dallas giants the giants that'll --

Our air before we let you go you know massport. Given what I'm looking for -- to be some fantasy tips.

Well at the beginning it looks like it's going to -- just about chewed up this week going to be New Orleans verses what you want out but to keep. Note he -- like to pass the ball that is but I would bet that a lot of people lead after -- altered like. Up so I would recommend instead J. P. -- and Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish because also secondary is horrible this year and -- pass rush really Donald. And all -- that's pretty terrible just trying to keep Artest be -- good day against you know he largely haven't. He lost -- to some get at triple a huge day but he can't throw everything happens. In Paris as the -- you know to -- its last 40 --

And I got dispirited because I think Marshall Islands about for 250 yards now.

He's got to play the way the double to plate because that could happen and haven't had perished at laws on.

Aaron we appreciate time is always will talk to next week. Take care an errant errant shots from football outsiders dot com