Using Time Outs
Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 11:23 am
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.
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.
