Tactical explainer: Kognia's defensive metrics
While traditional event data tells you what happened on the ball, this collection of defensive metrics from Kognia tells you how teams and players behave without the ball: providing further insight and information when it comes to organisation, being proactive or reactive, and how defences manage attacking threat.
In addition to data points such as tackles, blocks and interceptions, at Kognia we capture the collective movements and adjustments that hold a defensive structure together: tracking runs, applying pressure, marking inside the box and correcting the line, turning this information into coachable, tactical insight.
There are eight defensive metrics that we uncover here. Some describe the action of an individual player; others are more collective in nature, describing how the team behaves as a unit. In this blog we introduce each one, along with an explanation of why it matters.
Defending moving behind the defensive line
Definition: Movement of a defensive player matching the run of an offensive player executing a movement behind the defensive line.
Coach's words: “Who spots the run before and stays with their player without losing their position? That's the player who keeps us from getting exposed at the back.”
So what? Kognia captures the defender's exact location on the pitch, the distance covered and speed for every action, so you can compare the defender's response against the attacker's run in real terms. It's a strong indicator of a defender's reading of the game and pace in behind, useful both in recruitment and in opposition analysis.
Defending running into the box
Definition: Movement of a defensive player matching the run of an offensive player executing a run into the box.
Coach's words: “In the final yards, who doesn't switch off? That's the defender who stays goal-side all the way to the six-yard box.”
So what? As with tracking runs in behind, distance and speed are logged for the defender, giving a precise read on tracking ability in the most dangerous areas of the pitch, where one lapse in concentration is often the difference between a strong defensive action and a goal.
Hold after loss
Definition: After losing the ball, the defensive team holds/compacts its defensive shape.
Coach's words: “When we lose the ball in a tricky area, do we get compact and reset, or do we go and win it back straight away?”
So what? This is a team-level metric that helps profile a side's defensive model and approach. It identifies teams that value structure and control over a priority to immediately regain possession.
Press after loss
Definition: After the team in possession loses the ball, the defensive team immediately attempts to press.
Coach's words: “The moment we lose it, we are straight onto them.”
So what? This metric quantifies a team's counter-press, a defining trait of high-intensity playing styles that demand both physical output and collective coordination.
Pressure on the ball possessor
Definition: Pressure exerted on the ball possessor by defender. Calculates pressure exerted by each defender exerting pressure for every frame.
Coach's words: “Who takes time and space away from the opponent the moment they receive it?”
So what? Captured with XY positional data, this metric identifies individual pressing profiles, valuable for understanding out-of-possession profiles for recruitment, and equally useful when scouting how an upcoming opponent presses.
6. Marking opponents inside the box
Definition: Defensive player marking an opponent(s) in the penalty area, preventing them from receiving and finishing the play.
Coach's words: “When the cross comes in, who doesn't lose their man inside the box?”
So what? This metric factors in distance to the marked opponent, giving an objective read on marking discipline for centre-backs.
7. Neutralizing the opponent advantage of defensive line imbalances
Definition: The end of a defensive line imbalance that was generating advantage for the opposition due to the movement of one or more elements of the defensive line.
Coach's words: “Our defensive structure has lost its shape. Who is plugging the gap before it costs us?”
So what? This measures the defensive line's ability to react and coordinate to fix positional errors before they turn into a clear scoring chance, a valuable indicator of a back line's collective discipline.
8. Moving forward during organised pressure
Definition: Detects the defensive line pushing up (moving away from goal) while the ball is being played backwards by the opposition.
Coach's words: “When the opposition play backwards, do we step up as a line to compress the pitch?”
So what? A purely collective, positional metric that reflects how proactive a defensive block is about gaining ground without the ball. A good marker of a team's confidence in its defensive structure.
These eight Kognia defensive metrics allow coaches and analysts within professional football to answer questions that previously weren't possible.
1. How does the team behave in the exact moment it loses the ball?
2. Who reads the opponent's runs best, and who presses with the greatest intensity?
3. Can the defensive line correct itself before danger arrives?
Further reading: Tactical Explainer: Kognia’s support metrics
Want to learn more about how Kognia's tactical metrics can support your analysis workflows? Get in touch.
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