Using Time Outs

[Rich-League Officer]

Did you watch the Jacksonville @ Philadelphia game?
The final few minutes was a perfect example of why IMO its better to use the timeouts from 2 minutes down.
I know some coaches like to hold them till 1 minute is left.

Philly gets the ball on their 22 with 3:04 left, down by 3
In the next minute, they only move 15 yards to the 37, 2nd-5 with 1:57 left.
They then use their timeouts while running 6 plays and get to the Jax 29 yard line.
Now there is 1:04 left. They moved 51 yards in that time.

The issue on this drive was a 3rd-3 run where they lost 6 yards, probably not a good idea to run under one minute if you started using your timeouts at 2 minutes.
This made it a 52yd FG instead of a 46yder.
But the important part was, they had the FG try for the tie.

I would say it's very doubtful for that FG try to happen if those timeouts began at the 1 min mark.
Because you can't predict their beginning, its possible the clock stops at 1:01.
Your use of a time out will be after the next play and that could be 0:49 seconds.
If you still need 30-40-50 yards, this is trouble.

if we assume all the same plays are run, yards gained, Philly went 51 yards in 1 minute, 7 seconds to get in position for a long FG try.
But if they waited on their timeouts, and that began at 0:59-0:49 seconds, this try never happens.

Yes, there are games where I have seen the timeouts begin perfectly at the 1 minute mark, team gains big chunks and then boom, 5 seconds left a FG or TD and it's wonderful. Yes, it's also possible you leave too much clock and then kick off to see a 50 yard return and they kick a winning FG.
But odds are, using timeouts beginning at 2 minutes is the safest, smartest point in the game. It ensures you actually use them to save needed time on offense or defense. There are just too many games I see where a team within one score use them too late, or worse not at all and walks off losing. I'd rather use them, score and play defense for 45 seconds if need be.

This is just my opinion, you may differ....what do you think?
And we can all agree that getting these timeouts to actually work properly is the biggest obstacle for everyone.

[Dean-Atlanta]

That is quite interesting, I suspect most of us could benefit from checking the time out settings in our profile. Another issue to keep in mind is using copy and paste in the profile editor, since the default setting keeping clock stetting checked can cause the elimination of time out settings.

[Rich-League Officer]

That is quite interesting, I suspect most of us could benefit from checking the time out settings in our profile. Another issue to keep in mind is using copy and paste in the profile editor, since the default setting keeping clock stetting checked can cause the elimination of time out settings.

100% true, the copy/paste thing seems to work when it wants to work. I just kept trying over and over again until eventually I get it right where I want it....and then never use any other profile than that one. I would edit the plays but I knew those time out settings were what I wanted so I never started over again. The best way to check your setting is to watch the ends of all these games, not just yours. Watch the last 5 minutes of all close games and see who did what right, what wrong and then edit yours. Over time you see all the situations pop up, fix the errors and then work off that profile forever.

[Rich-League Officer]

Jerry asked:
On 5/14/2021 2:56 PM, Jerry wrote:
> What are your thoughts on the running play. It is set from inside the opponent 35 only with a lower than normal %. The thought is you are in FG range already and the run can catch them off guard to get the 1st and it is a lower risk play to ensure the FG attempt at a worse case

***With 1 min or less, if you are outside of FG range and your timeouts were likely used from 2min down, then you cant run.
BUT, inside FG range, on 1st-2nd down you can throw a change up and run....but its dangerous the closer you get to 0:15 sec.
Problem is, what if you are down by 2, at the 20 and there is 16 seconds left. (1st-2nd-3rd down)
Your profile (my profile) is not yet set to kick it. With 0:15 seconds, I kick on 1st down.
But if you run with 0:16 left and gain anything, clock is likely to run out.

So I think if you are calling timeouts from 2min down, you can't run 0:15-1m
Above 1 min, yes....below, dangerous. It can work if you get lucky on the clock.
If there is 0:25 left, you run, then stop the clock, kick FG, great....but you could miss the chance which is brutal.
Imagine a playoff game where Chicago is up by 2, you drive to his 10 yard line, only 0:18 left and its 2nd down, time outs gone.
Ask yourself, would you call a run if you could and hope you have enough time to clock it?
Or would you feel better calling a pass and hoping its in the endzone or dropped?

[tmurph-Jets]

I've done it both ways and think I also lean toward starting at 2 minutes too.
I was actually going to edit it this week
It is an underrated part of the coaching we do.

[tmurph-Jets]

Theories on the defensive time out?

[Rich-League Officer]

I used to begin calling time outs on defense at the 2 min mark if I was down by one score.
If tied I would let it run to not give my opponent 6 time outs to beat me.
I may have had a time out in there 35-35 or their territory if the game was tied, especially on 3rd/4th down.
If I was down by 2 scores, I would begin 2-5 minutes.
With the idea that I need and want to call early because I need time for something crazy to happen like a fumble/INT.
If you wait too long, it's pointless.

But all of these scenarios remind me just how hard it was to get the game to do what you wanted perfectly.
Such a pain in the ass.

[Rich-League Officer]

In the Chicago/Oakland game...
The Raiders basically gave a free 3 points to Chicago right before the half.
3rd/long for Oakland, they get sacked, call a time out and then punt.
They stopped it at 1:46 left and Chicago kicked a FG with 0:07 left in the half.
Had they let the clock run, and then punt, no FG or Chicago has to call their first time out, instead of using all 3 on the drive.
Small thing? yes but these can make a difference in close games.