What Are ALT Passing Yards?
ALT Passing Yards refer to Adjusted Lost Time Passing Yards, an advanced metric quantifying a quarterback's effectiveness by considering situational factors like game tempo, score differential, and down-and-distance. Unlike raw passing yards, it contextualizes production against expected outcomes.
Core Calculation Methodology
- Base Data: Starts with standard passing yards from game statistics.
- Situational Weighting: Applies adjustments for garbage time, two-minute drills, and third-down conversions.
- Opponent Strength: Incorporates defensive efficiency ratings to normalize performance against varying competition quality.
- Time Factor: Discounts yards gained during low-leverage moments (e.g., final drives in blowouts).
Why ALT Yards Matter
This metric isolates true quarterback impact by filtering noise from scheme or game flow. It reveals performance sustainability and identifies outliers masked by traditional stats. Teams use it for talent evaluation, while analysts leverage it to predict regression or improvement.
Key Practical Applications
- Evaluating QB efficiency in close games versus blowouts
- Assessing offensive scheme dependency
- Comparing productivity across varied offensive systems
- Predicting future performance stability
Critical Limitations to Consider
ALT Passing Yards don't capture real-time decision-making nuances or receiver separation. Data collection relies heavily on accurate context logging by third-party providers. Use alongside film study and conventional stats for balanced analysis.
