Exactly. WTF was that. St. Louie fans can blame the refs all they want, but ultimately, they lost because they deserved to lose.
There was a ridiculous example of this (actually, somewhat on the opposite side) in the Jets-Bears game a week ago that hardly anyone made note of. The Jets had one timeout, and the Bears had a first-down play end at 2:43. The 40-second clock had started, so the Bears would've had to run their second-down play before the two-minute warning. The two-minute warning would have stopped it after second down, and then you can use your last timeout after the third at 1:55. Instead, Ryan used the timeout at 2:43, the time elapsed during the ensuing play went under 2:40, and the Jets ended up getting the ball back with 1:05 to go. It's the opposite of your scenario in that it was a rare situation in which they needed to wait until the opposite side of the warning... but it boggled my mind that the Jets wasted 45 seconds (of a two-minute drill) because they couldn't grasp common-sense math.
NFL teams should all just create an unpaid internship for an undergrad math major, have them stand next to the coach at the end of games, and put them in charge of all decisions regarding timeouts. It would be a dream come true for the kid and it would make the coach look a whole lot smarter.
So wait, they had 2nd down and would have had to snap the ball before the 2 minute warning thus ensureing the 3rd down snap occurs after the 2 min timeout?? 2nd down snap somewhere around 2:05, play ends at 2 minute warning(1:59 or whatever) 3rd down snap at 2 minute warning and after assumed failure and punt you get the ball back with a minute. Take TO after 2 min drill you don't run 3rd down play until after the drill because the 2nd down play starting at 2:43 takes you thru the 2 minute warning.(clock would wind with about 2:38 or so with the 40 second play clock at 40 secs) Not seeing how it helps here.
At least they get playoff experience out of it. The experience of getting your asses handed to you by the defending champs in your stadium.
Because if you save the TO for after the 2-min drill, the clock stops at 1:55 or so. If you use the TO prior, as NYJ did, the clock can run down to 1:15 ish. Scenario A (what they did): First down run, ends at 2:43, timeout Second down run, winds all way to 2 minute warning (due to five seconds elapsing during play) Third down run, winds until 1:15 due to lack of timeout Scenario B (what should have happened) First down run, ends at 2:43 Second down run, snap required BEFORE two-minute warning, clock stopped at 2:00 or close Third down run, clock stopped at 1:55 because you have your timeout Basically, in that scenario, it was obvious that with or without the timeout, you'd be at the same result - hitting the two-minute warning after second down. So save the timeout so you can stop the clock at 1:55 ish.
I didn't watch this game, so I don't know what the clock was at, but something else to consider is the pass play. If you call timeout at like 2:04, you're giving the offense the ability to pass without having to worry about the clock stopping. Waiting until after the 2 minute drill limits the offense, or at the very least punishes them if they do pass and fail to complete. I think it was when the Steelers played Buffalo that this happened and I thought it was a blunder by Buffalo as soon as the Bills called timeout. gamelog of the incident: 2nd and 7 at PIT 9 R.Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 14 for 5 yards - Timeout #1 by BUF at 2:03. 3rd and 2 at PIT 14 (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass short left to M.Moore to PIT 22 for 8 yards The only benefit of calling a timeout if there is a stop... is about 3-5 seconds? I suppose it could have been an attempt to get the defense situated for the stop, but timewise it serves little purpose.
You're right in that it's worth considering, sure. But unless you're playing the Texans, getting the ball back and having to go 60-70 yards for a TD in 1:00 with no timeouts is almost impossible. I think taking away that particular scenario is worth almost any risk.
That's a pretty good idea. Time management can be crucial in games and you see tons of coaches *cough cough* Reid *cough* *cough* mismanage it.
Oh I gotcha. The timeout was called after first down. Thing is though if the play stops around 2:50 then you call the TO then and get the 3rd down play before the 2 min warning. I have seen guys let the clock tick and then call the timeout where they only get one more play off before the 2 min warning instead of 2 which would happen if you call the TO immediately after the play.
NO, you call that TO to make them run another play(and lose the playclock ticking off the game clock) before the 2Min warning. Of course, if you don't stop them on 3rd down it's all moot. TO called at 2:03 then third down play takes you to 2 minute warning. Assuming they didn't get it, they would start 4th down on the other side of 2 minute warning. If you don't call TO, they run 3rd down play at 2:00 and don't start 4th down until 1:15 or so.
I just wanted to add to the timeout/clock management discussion. Another overlooked practice is when a team is trailing with about 5 minutes to go and have all their timeouts. So many coaches wait to get under 3 minutes to use up the time outs. I don't get the logic behind this thinking. You need the ball back regardless, so letting them burn 2 minutes is not going to help your cause. Instead, you should start taking the timeouts at 5 minute mark. This is where you need to make a stand and get a 3 and out. Yes, there is the risk of giving up a first down but that risk is there no matter what the clock says. You can blow the game by giving a first down with under 2 minutes and no timeouts left. However, by making your last stand early in the game around 5 minutes, you get the added benefit of still having a shot at another stop with 4:30 left and zero timeouts except the 2 minute warning. Let me draw up an example, say your team X with a set of full timeouts left and you're trailing by one score with about 5 minutes left and it's 1st and 10. Take a stand here stop them using all 3 timeouts. Even if you fail, the clock should have 4:30 left and with the 2 minute warning, you have one more shot at stopping them and maybe get the ball back with about 1:30 left. This should be the standard protocol on how to manage the clock when trailing a team with 5 minutes to go in the game. I don't understand why you wouldn't take 2 shots at stopping the offense instead of that do-or-die scenario closer to the 2 minute warning?
Bills had all 3 time outs. At worst the clock is 1:54 instead of 1:57 at the start of the 4th down?. At no point did I push to NOT call a timeout after the 3rd down play. So, for whole 3 extra seconds, you'll let the offense pass without a 'tax'? And I thought about it some more, a timeout to set your defense is inexcusable in this situation, because you'll have the tv timeout for that
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