Shamash’s job title is “situational football/game management coordinator,” but his responsibilities go beyond that. He helps to coach the tight ends, educates everyone on league rules and regulations and is a big part of the Jets’ movement toward utilizing analytics.
He sits next to LaFleur on Sundays, and is in Saleh’s ear all game, preparing him for every possible scenario — and what the math (or the analytics) says is the right thing to do in any given situation. Shamash uses a “four-down analytics model” that takes into account factors like weather and injuries. “You’re going off that to a certain degree,” he said, “and there’s also a feel.” The model is put together by the rest of the analytics staff, which includes Brian Shields, Zach Stuart and Jeremiah Whitmire.
Every Friday, Shamash leads a five-minute team meeting educating everyone on league trends, rules and other things to keep an eye on. He’s normally soft-spoken and a self-described introvert, but his energy changes when he’s standing in front of the team, his deep voice booming across the room. That comes from his passion for teaching.