From Minutes Played to on-Field Success: Atlanta United’s Young Defender Noah Cobb.

In recent years, Atlanta United and Major League Soccer (MLS) have been increasingly relying on data analytics to better understand specific statistics that are valuable to the club. As a part of this trend, a new weekly content series titled “Staying on Track” presented by MARTA will explore one metric provided by StatsBomb that may not immediately catch the eye but is crucial in evaluating the team’s performance.

In a recent 3-0 victory in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Atlanta United saw eight Homegrown players take the field. One such player was Noah Cobb, a Homegrown defender hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although not initially included in the starting XI for the Open Cup match, Cobb was called upon early in the game to replace Stian Gregersen, who was forced off due to injury in the 11th minute.

Unlike many situations where a coach may have to rely on lesser-experienced players for a replacement, Cobb is considered one of Atlanta United’s more experienced young players. With 532 minutes of MLS action already under his belt in 2024 according to StatsBomb, Cobb has made a total of nine appearances in MLS play, six of which were in the starting XI during the regular season for Atlanta United.

Impressively, Cobb ranks among the top young players globally for minutes played. Following a recent match against Minnesota United, he holds the 15th spot worldwide for minutes played by a center back under 19 years old according to StatsBomb’s extensive data from 76 leagues around the world. Within North and South America combined, he ranks third under similar criteria, demonstrating his significant contributions to the team despite his youth.

Cobb’s playing time not only indicates his potential for growth but also showcases his ability to consistently perform at a high level and earn his coaches’ trust to start key matches. For someone so young, minutes played serves as an important indicator of success and development – something that reflects both his potential and his ability to defend against quality opponents in MLS matches.

Overall, this new content series aims to shed light on some of these lesser-known statistics and how they can provide insights into Atlanta United’s performance on and off the pitch.