Clock Management 101 (1 Viewer)

[DepthCharts]

Scenario :

You trail by 4, there is 2:02 left on a runnning clock. It is 3rd and 8 for the opposing team who of course has run its last 2 plays to get the time where it is. You have 1 timeout left. The ball is at the opponents 45, you are on the road, it is a clear and calm day.

Be quick you have less than 2 seconds to make this decision.

I am more curious to your reasoning then your answer.

 

[bigmarc27]

No.

By calling the timeout, the opposing team can now throw on 3rd and 8 with no repercussions. They're more likely to run and keep the clock moving after the 2 minute warning on 3rd and 8.

 

[zed2283]

Since it's 3rd down, I let the clock go to 2 minutes and save my timeout. If they pass and don't get the first, then the clock stops on 4th down. If they run then I can always use it there or wait until we get the ball.

 

[TakiToki]

In most cases, I would let the clock run down to the two-minute warning, so that the opponent would be less inclined to pass on third down. However, if your offense is struggling, and the opposing QB isn't exactly noted for his accuracy and good decision-making, maybe it's a good idea to try to bait the opponent into a third-down pass.

 

[sinatravolta]

Scenario :You trail by 4, there is 2:02 left on a runnning clock. It is 3rd and 8 for the opposing team who of course has run its last 2 plays to get the time where it is. You have 1 timeout left. The ball is at the opponents 45, you are on the road, it is a clear and calm day. Be quick you have less than 2 seconds to make this decision.I am more curious to your reasoning then your answer.

From the pure clock scenario - you call the time out. They run a play, there is the 2-minute warning (let's assume at 1:56). Then they punt to you (assuming you stop them) - and you get the ball with maybe 1:48 left.Otherwise, if you let it go to the 2-minute warning, they then run their 3rd down play - it takes the same 6 seconds, you call time-out now - 1:54. They punt and you get the ball with 1:46 left. Therefore why not call before the 2-minute warning and get the extra 2 seconds. Interesting point by some though on the idea of not calling the time-out, so that if the opponent wants to force you to use your timeout - they'll need to run on 3rd down. Unless I'm very confident in my D (e.g. the score is 10-6 or I have a great pass rush or something) - this probably makes more sense. The extra 2 seconds isn't worth it. Regardless - I see much worse mistakes by NFL coaches than this. I hardly think someone doing one or the other here is a terrible mistake.

 

[zed2283]

I agree... this particular scenario is almost 6 of one, half-dozen of the other.

 

[FUBAR]

I trust my D to stop them here and want that timeout when my offense is on the field.

But I can certainly see the logic in calling it here too.

I figure they'll pass on 3rd and 8 and not make the 1st down. If they get the completion we'll call time out there.

 

[Zoomanji]

And you would think that a guy with 10 years as a HC would have figured out the answer by now.

 

[hephner]

Which coach are we talking about here, and what decision did they make?

I voted for NO. You absolutely save that timeout to force them to run on 3rd down. If they decide to throw anyway and go for the first down and the win, you're in the same situation you would have been in having used a timeout two seconds earlier, so worst case scenario is you have to rely on your defense to stop the pass on 3rd and long, and you get a timeout on your final drive. Best case is they run the ball to force you to use your timeout (which is what most opposing coaches would do, thinking that even if they don't get the first down, from that spot and the field, they have a good chance of pinning you deep in your own zone and forcing you to go 80 yards or more down the field in under two minutes and no timeouts).

The most important thing here is possession, so you make the decision based on what gives you the best chance of getting the ball back, not whether or not you'll have an extra two seconds if you do get possession. Saving the timeout for after 3rd down gives you the best chance of forcing a 3rd down rushing play, much easier to stop of course, so that should dictate the decision.

 

[Sarnoff]

I trust my D to stop them here and want that timeout when my offense is on the field. But I can certainly see the logic in calling it here too.I figure they'll pass on 3rd and 8 and not make the 1st down. If they get the completion we'll call time out there.

I don't think you want the timeout while on offense... if you do, they'll run after the 2 minute warning, then take the clock down to 1:30 or less before punting (best case)

 

[inca911]

Scenario 1:

I let the clock go to the 2min warning.

They run their play on 3rd and 8, and will not want the clock to stop on it's own.

I take timeout with 1:54 left and get the ball back on the punt to me.

Scenario 2:

I call timeout now.

They run their 3rd and 8 play, now they have more options as an incomplete pass isn't a negative to them anymore, since the clock stops anyway.

I get the ball back after the two minute warning with about 1:56 on the clock on the punt to me.

So I would NOT take the timeout, and thereby hope to potentially eliminate some play-calling options.

 

[FUBAR]

I trust my D to stop them here and want that timeout when my offense is on the field. But I can certainly see the logic in calling it here too.I figure they'll pass on 3rd and 8 and not make the 1st down. If they get the completion we'll call time out there.

I don't think you want the timeout while on offense... if you do, they'll run after the 2 minute warning, then take the clock down to 1:30 or less before punting (best case)

My assumption is they pass on 3/8. If they run, we call the TO.

 

[AB in DC]

I agree... this particular scenario is almost 6 of one, half-dozen of the other.

It really depends on how conservative the other head coach is. If you expect him to run the ball and force you to take the TO, you might as well do it now to save a few extra seconds. If you have any doubt, wait and call the TO after 3rd down.

 

[DepthCharts]

I honestly thought about adding the following scenario :

The QB you are playing against is Jamarcus Russel and the game you are in (as far as ebb and flow) was yesterday's eagles/raiders tilt.

As a matter of fact, Andy Reid called time out at 2:02, I was in shock. I actually had to explain the giddy raider fan in front of me that andy reid just gave his team a chance to cement the game with an 8 yard completion with no risk outside of a pick (i guarantee the "throw it away instruction" from the sideline was specific and probably had some good body language behind it (picture Tom Cable pumping his right fist as if to signify he was going to hit a man, lol)).

Now, if Andy's defense to calling the timeout would have been :

I believe in my D, or I dont believe in their QB/team to complete a pass for 8 yards.....

then that even more proves why would you not call the time out. if you believed in your D, you stop them on 3rd down, run or pass (odds are run, especially in the jamarcus scenario) and you either take your timeout if needed, or benefit from a stopped clock on the pass (incomplete or OB).

I think Andy just screwed up, simply.

p.s. It had No affect on the outcome of the game, but it could have...Jamarcus passed, it was incomplete, clock stopped, raiders punted, eagles failed to score.

 

[Pnishthm]

I honestly thought about adding the following scenario :The QB you are playing against is Jamarcus Russel and the game you are in (as far as ebb and flow) was yesterday's eagles/raiders tilt.As a matter of fact, Andy Reid called time out at 2:02, I was in shock. I actually had to explain the giddy raider fan in front of me that andy reid just gave his team a chance to cement the game with an 8 yard completion with no risk outside of a pick (i guarantee the "throw it away instruction" from the sideline was specific and probably had some good body language behind it (picture Tom Cable pumping his right fist as if to signify he was going to hit a man, lol)). Now, if Andy's defense to calling the timeout would have been :I believe in my D, or I dont believe in their QB/team to complete a pass for 8 yards.....then that even more proves why would you not call the time out. if you believed in your D, you stop them on 3rd down, run or pass (odds are run, especially in the jamarcus scenario) and you either take your timeout if needed, or benefit from a stopped clock on the pass (incomplete or OB). I think Andy just screwed up, simply. p.s. It had No affect on the outcome of the game, but it could have...Jamarcus passed, it was incomplete, clock stopped, raiders punted, eagles failed to score.

Actually I think it did. Didn't Russel pass to the FB for a first down thus allowing the Raiders to take a knee?