Coach's Lesson: Clock Managment

[Stryker]

There are certain aspects of a game where timeouts can be used at the end of halves or games, to gain your team extra possessions and chances to score. There was some incredible clock management at the end of the half that gave the Steelers 2 chances to score, and they did on both.

Game tied 14, just after the 2 min warning the Steelers settle for a FG giving the ball back to Cincy after the kickoff with 1:50 left.
1st down pass was incomplete.
2nd down Bernard with a short loss: 1st TO 1:42
3rd down Daulton runs when everyone is covered and slides in bounds forcing TO #2 1:35

Steelers now receive possession on the 23yd line with 1:28 left and one TO.

With that time, the steelers drive all the way to the 5 yard line with 19 seconds and a TO. It's unfortunate that they didn't get the TD, but they did successfully stack scores inside of 2 minutes.

This is clock management. If your team scores twice inside 2 minutes, your team used their timeouts correctly to manage the game and get 2 chances to score.

To say the coaching staff/team are terrible at clock management, only taking into account 1 timeout, isn't seeing the complete picture on how clock management works.

 

[Steeler Pride]

Tomlin's clock management has always been awful and will probably always be awful. Haley's play calling at the end of the half yesterday was awful, not a single talking head has agreed with the play calling in that time/location. You can spin it however it makes you feel better, but thinking that Tomlin and Co. have ever been any better than mediocre at clock management is "below the line"

 

[wig]

You know what? I'm as critical as anyone of Tomlin et. al. but if they did a good job yesterday of managing the clock, then don't be a dick and admit that they did a good job. Sure, they haven't always done a good job, but when they do - give credit where it's due.

Whiney Bastiges!

 

[Stryker]

Tomlin's clock management has always been awful and will probably always be awful. Haley's play calling at the end of the half yesterday was awful, not a single talking head has agreed with the play calling in that time/location. You can spin it however it makes you feel better, but thinking that Tomlin and Co. have ever been any better than mediocre at clock management is "below the line"

I don't need to spin it. I understand football strategy.

Oh, and on a message board, it is a good idea to try and support your ideas with examples. You're just spouting opinion.

 

[topseed]

There are certain aspects of a game where timeouts can be used at the end of halves or games, to gain your team extra possessions and chances to score. There was some incredible clock management at the end of the half that gave the Steelers 2 chances to score, and they did on both.

Game tied 14, just after the 2 min warning the Steelers settle for a FG giving the ball back to Cincy after the kickoff with 1:50 left.
1st down pass was incomplete.
2nd down Bernard with a short loss: 1st TO 1:42
3rd down Daulton runs when everyone is covered and slides in bounds forcing TO #2 1:35

Steelers now receive possession on the 23yd line with 1:28 left and one TO.

With that time, the steelers drive all the way to the 5 yard line with 19 seconds and a TO. It's unfortunate that they didn't get the TD, but they did successfully stack scores inside of 2 minutes.

This is clock management. If your team scores twice inside 2 minutes, your team used their timeouts correctly to manage the game and get 2 chances to score.

To say the coaching staff/team are terrible at clock management, only taking into account 1 timeout, isn't seeing the complete picture on how clock management works.

Really, Cope?

It was "incredible" clock management to call timeouts on 3rd-and-11 and 4th-and-10 with the Bengals near their own 25 yard line with over a minute-and-a-half left before halftime?

Sounds like Clock Management 101 to me.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Well those two scores helped at the end of the day, Incredible as that may be.......... I get your point on the clock management Cope, it's something CMVT isn't acknowledged for very much due to his lack there of. When he does this type of clock work on a more regular basis I'm sure many will be acknowledging that fact more readily. I'm glad it turned out as it did because two score is VERY good for any team or coach at the half due to just as you said,.......... CLOCK MANAGEMENT.

 

[Litos]

I'd call it Correct clock management. McDonald had to catch that pass in the end zone, the run to the left was bogus but if they had called the timeout just as the play ended they had one last shot to score the TD

 

[Stryker]

Really, Cope?

It was "incredible" clock management to call timeouts on 3rd-and-11 and 4th-and-10 with the Bengals near their own 25 yard line with over a minute-and-a-half left before halftime?

Sounds like Clock Management 101 to me.

Sure beats the false narrative around here that Tomlin is terrible at clock management. He's actually pretty good. Check the stats for chances to score at the end of halves and games. We're doing it more often than not, and last game, we just doubled up. Plus we had victory formation in FG range.

 

[Coach]

Tomlin's clock management has always been awful and will probably always be awful. Haley's play calling at the end of the half yesterday was awful, not a single talking head has agreed with the play calling in that time/location. You can spin it however it makes you feel better, but thinking that Tomlin and Co. have ever been any better than mediocre at clock management is "below the line"

Tomlin clock management sucks. NEVER run the ball with 12 seconds left in the half and one time outs near the goal line, throw it twice. DUH.

Maybe we should have a sticky thread called Tomlin's folly. Stuff like red flagging a ball that hit the ground, abandoning the run vs a bad run defense, and running the clock down to the point where it cost us a chance for a touch down should go there.

What do you think!

 

[nitsuj1225]

I agree aside from the TO debacle after the run that this game was properly clock managed. I thought this was a well coached game in general in all facets. However it doesn't absolve mistakes from the past. There's a reason this coaching staff has a negative stigma when it comes to clock management...they're 50/50 at best. This just happened to be the good 50% (with a mistake thrown in that may have cost points).

I know you were at the game so you didn't hear the commentary but Romo put it best...right after the long Bell run with the ridiculous stiff arm, Romo said Bell and the rest of the Steelers have the type of team that just have more talent than most and can overcome bad coaching. It took me by surprise when he even brought up the bad coaching but I thought it was the truest statement I've ever heard by an announcer.

 

[Coach]

I know you were at the game so you didn't hear the commentary but Romo put it best...right after the long Bell run with the ridiculous stiff arm, Romo said Bell and the rest of the Steelers have the type of team that just have more talent than most and can overcome bad coaching. It took me by surprise when he even brought up the bad coaching but I thought it was the truest statement I've ever heard by an announcer.

Romo has star potential as a football announcer. He's correct. The Steelers have a lot of talent. Coaching could be our biggest issue. I think Haley came around a little late on power football.

Can we please hire a RED ZONE / Time outs coach who knows what he's doing?

 

[antdrewjosh]

Romo has star potential as a football announcer. He's correct. The Steelers have a lot of talent. Coaching could be our biggest issue. I think Haley came around a little late on power football.

Can we please hire a RED ZONE / Time outs coach who knows what he's doing?

Send in your resume..im sure you will be hired on the spot

 

[Coach]

Send in your resume..im sure you will be hired on the spot

Would it absolutely shock you to learn I am connected to Rooney via linked in?

I'll pass. But the Steelers should hire a clock management guru as it is badly needed.

 

[Stryker]

I do agree, any team can be improved with a coach/manager who's job it is to strictly work on in game strategy. Help the coach with flags and when to throw it. Help with understanding down/distance/timing. NE does that.

I think the coaching that Romo was discussing (since I watched the game on replay) was offensive play calling. We are limited, and these talents are not being maximized. They are on D, but on O our playmakers aren't getting touches. That can be improved.

I still won't be with any of you blaming Tomlin for that final TO of the half. He was LIVID. He understood the situation. He called the TO and ran on the field 20 yards to do so, while Ben was a deer in headlights. Mind Boggling how that could even happen. A lot of you mention Ben should have been told to call a TO right away. Maybe you can be right about it. I expect a HOF QB to know better, maybe he isn't smart and needs to be constantly reminded on how to manage a clock? IDK...

 

[nitsuj1225]

Can't disagree...Ben has had his head scratching clock management moments over the years. He's hardly free from blame either.

 

[antdrewjosh]

So Tomlin did tell the refs he wanted a TO before the running play. Wasnt granted. Was made to chase the refs down again and get the TO in

 

[Stryker]

So Tomlin did tell the refs he wanted a TO before the running play. Wasnt granted. Was made to chase the refs down again and get the TO in

Because the refs can't call a TO without seeing it. They are watching the players. Helps if the players or Ben are informed of this as well.

I also did say Tomlin would not throw Ben under the bus on this issue, and he didn't. But he sure as **** gave him an earful about it on the sideline.

 

[Steelerfreak]

I don't need to spin it. I understand football strategy.

Oh, and on a message board, it is a good idea to try and support your ideas with examples. You're just spouting opinion.

I think it was pretty basic clock management strategy, I can't back this up with stats, but I am certain that most of us were calling for a timeout from our couches/bar stools etc.

The inability to get three shots at the endzone was inexplicable to me.

In summary, sure they did score twice at the end of the half, but I don't think it was any kind of Bellichekian strategy.



Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[ark steel]

Can we please hire a RED ZONE / Time outs coach who knows what he's doing?

last year we were 12th in RZ% and 2nd on G2G. tomlin told them this year to stop doing that well.

 

[Coach]

I do agree, any team can be improved with a coach/manager who's job it is to strictly work on in game strategy. Help the coach with flags and when to throw it. Help with understanding down/distance/timing. NE does that.

I think the coaching that Romo was discussing (since I watched the game on replay) was offensive play calling. We are limited, and these talents are not being maximized. They are on D, but on O our playmakers aren't getting touches. That can be improved.

I still won't be with any of you blaming Tomlin for that final TO of the half. He was LIVID. He understood the situation. He called the TO and ran on the field 20 yards to do so, while Ben was a deer in headlights. Mind Boggling how that could even happen. A lot of you mention Ben should have been told to call a TO right away. Maybe you can be right about it. I expect a HOF QB to know better, maybe he isn't smart and needs to be constantly reminded on how to manage a clock? IDK...

Mike has the headphones on and can OVER RULE a bad running call with limited time on the clock. He didn't so its on him.

The run call confused Ben. Ben is right, he said we had a good look for a pass, then the play call was changed. Why??? Are you endorsing running the football with 12 seconds left in the half?

Poor call and commination from the top.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Mike has the headphones on and can OVER RULE a bad running call with limited time on the clock. He didn't so its on him.

The run call confused Ben. Ben is right, he said we had a good look for a pass, then the play call was changed. Why??? Are you endorsing running the football with 12 seconds left in the half?

Poor call and commination from the top.

You do know the Bengals called TO right. That means they probably didnt run the same play meaning there is a chance we didnt get the same look. Did you take that into consideration

And for the record i run two fades to our resident crybaby in that situation. But im not going to be upset with giving the ball to our best player. TO should have been called and you still have a pass play (fade to crybaby)

 

[Stryker]

That and they came out in different personnel after the TO. They went nickel instead of goal line. Looks like calling a run was a good call against the formation. You know, that nickel formation we killed, all day long, against KC?

 

[topseed]

Sure beats the false narrative around here that Tomlin is terrible at clock management. He's actually pretty good. Check the stats for chances to score at the end of halves and games. We're doing it more often than not, and last game, we just doubled up. Plus we had victory formation in FG range.

Trying to prove that Tomlin is not terrible at clock management by providing an example which should be pretty much standard procedure from any NFL head coach doesn't really advance your argument.

 

[Stryker]

Trying to prove that Tomlin is not terrible at clock management by providing an example which should be pretty much standard procedure from any NFL head coach doesn't really advance your argument.

Not sure if you read the entire post. It's pretty clear Tomlin knew exactly what to do in this instance. Ben did not.

 

[Coach]

Sure beats the false narrative around here that Tomlin is terrible at clock management. He's actually pretty good. Check the stats for chances to score at the end of halves and games. We're doing it more often than not, and last game, we just doubled up. Plus we had victory formation in FG range. -Cope

Trying to prove that Tomlin is not terrible at clock management by providing an example which should be pretty much standard procedure from any NFL head coach doesn't really advance your argument.

This is Cope's topic, he owns it. Tomlin's poor clock management skills have been an issue for years. When we win, people forget about it.