The TrenchPowerRating (TPR), an advanced analytics system dedicated to quantifying the fundamental – yet often overlooked – performance of NFL line play, today announced its unique collaboration with the Department of Sport Analytics in Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport.
The TPR system, created by The Trenches Co, introduces a new approach to football analysis, exposing the previously untapped reality of what occurs at the line of scrimmage to fans, bettors, fantasy players, and the NFL. The partnership between The Trenches and Syracuse University, which started during this current season, reflects the University’s commitment to applied analytics, experiential learning, and industry engagement through supervised student research projects.
The Analytical Breakthrough: Scoring the Foundation of the Game
TPR is founded on the principle that line play in The Trenches has the biggest impact on whether games are won or lost. The core idea of TrenchPowerRating is to score the offensive line and defensive line as a unit (e.g., the whole offensive line), rather than focusing on stats or grades for individual guards, tackles, or centers.
The system creates a proprietary TrenchPowerRating (TPR), analogous to ESPN’s QBR or Major League Baseball’s OPS and WAR, by applying values for line performance to create a proprietary algorithm that scores “The Trenches”:
- Positive Scoring: The O-Line Trench Scoring model awards points for plays that sustain drives and win games, such as rushing and passing first downs, and drives with 10 or more plays.
- Negative Scoring: The O-Line is penalized for negative plays that stall drives and prevent scoring, deducting points for sacks, three and outs, and zero-yard plays.
- Defensive Metric: The D-Line Trench Scoring model similarly rewards successful unit execution with points for sacks, three and outs, limiting the opposing offense’s progress, and fourth-down stops.
Teaming up with Syracuse University Sport Analytics
Working with a team of undergraduate Syracuse University students under the leadership of Falk College Department of Sport Analytics Professor and Chair Rodney Paul, Trenches Co is able to analyze all games in real time.
“We’re excited to partner with TPR because of its novel approach to a league that is analyzed again and again and even saturated with analytics,” Paul says. “For us, this project is structured as a supervised, experiential learning initiative, providing students with hands-on experience in sports data analysis, modeling, and real-time performance evaluation.”
TPR generates the following outputs over the full season:
▪ Weekly ranking and performance of all 32 teams for O-Line and D-Line.
▪ Detailed breakdown of performance for the past weekend’s games.
▪ Weekly Trench Unit matchups for the coming week.
▪ Season-long ranking and scoring for all units.
▪ Strength of schedule for O-Lines based on TPR of D-Lines for the rest of the season.
Delivering The Edge for Fans and Fantasy Players
“I love the NFL and playing fantasy football but was struck by the fact that 50 percent of the game is left out of the fantasy discussion” said Trenches Co-Founder Eric Koivisto.
The TPR metric is designed to move beyond traditional statistics, providing a direct analytical measurement that is significantly more accurate than traditional fantasy football data for assessing the impact on real-world NFL game outcomes.
What started as a trench-focused analytics tool for fantasy football players and the sports betting audience has become compelling and relevant to a broader segment of fans who enjoy looking beyond the skill position players to better understand weekly matchups. “By Reddit standards and digital marketing metrics, TPR is both viral and ‘sticky,’ ’’ said Koivisto.
Building on a Foundation of Football Expertise
The TPR platform builds on a foundation of deep NFL support. The initial version, Trench 1.0, attracted an Ambassador Team of 12 NFL former/current players, Hall of Famers, and established names who gave their approval for the platform.
“The quarterbacks and star receivers and running backs claim most of the attention in every game at every level, but most games are won in the trenches,” says former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger, who works as an analyst for the NFL Network’s NFL Total Access show. “I like that TPR analyzes these positions as a team unit versus individuals because that’s how these bands of brothers play, as one and for the same goal.”
About TRENCH 2.0
TRENCH 2.0 is a proprietary analytical system dedicated to quantifying the collective performance and impact of NFL offensive and defensive line units, providing unique, weekly insights for fans, bettors, and fantasy players.
About David B. Falk College of Sport at Syracuse University
The David B. Falk College of Sport at Syracuse University launched July 1, 2025, as the first standalone college on a high-research activity campus (R1) to focus on sport through a holistic academic lens. With programs in esports, exercise science, nutrition, sport analytics, and sport management, the Falk College of Sport leads the way in research, education, and innovation to shape the future of the sport industry.