End of Half & End of Game Clock Management

There is a reason why Sark intentionally went offside.

You are right the downside of not accepting is if you get stuffed you give Texas an extra 40 seconds.

2 plays for 1 yard to win the game. Downside is an extra 40 seconds.

3 plays for 10 yards to win the game. The extra play is both an upside and a downside (fumbles, penalties, etc).

I don’t think it’s particularly close. The two plays for 1 yard is easily the greater EV play hence why Sark went offside.

 

I appreciate your thought process. Agree Sark did it on purpose.
I disagree that with this coach the 2 plays for 1 yard is a done deal.
You say "3 plays to get 10 yards."
I say no- we don't need to get a 1st down, just run 3 plays WITHOUT THE CLOCK STOPPING!!! (not directed at you, my friend, but at our $7M coach.)

 

Agree Billy didn't handle the end of 1st half well. Agree the TO there was kinda dumb and served no purpose.
But while this wasn't his intention, running off 10+ seconds did hurt TX. It lowered their odds of scoring.

My summary comment was again, that I just don't think it mattered that much. The odds of us scoring there was close to zero.
But I agree he didn't handle it well.

 

Once again the luxury of after the fact pontificating. I have already stated the only goal before halftime that box was checked. Declaring the right or wrong approach when you will vilify either outcome is a luxury many have presently enjoy the advantage.

 

Most coaches have time management issues from time to time, but not all the time. I'm continually wondering what those 50-60 analysts he hired do, seems like at least one of them could be in charge of timeout usage. Guess not.

 

I don’t agree with your “already-stated only goal before halftime”. You got your enemy inside their own 5, they’re on their heels and we’ve already blocked a punt at their end for a safety. Golden opportunity to get more points before the half and send them to the locker room with a bigger deficit.

The logic I think I’m hearing from you is get out of the half without giving up any points. To me that rings weak when we’ve got our foot on their throat inside their 5 yard line and in a great position to extend our lead. The way things were going at that time, the likelihood of Manning pulling a Dan Marino out of his own end zone with less than a minute left in the half was very low. I don’t think Manning would have even risked an interception by throwing out of his own endzone with so little time left to work with even if he completed the pass. Very bad risk/reward there. Advantage Florida

Chances of us either blocking another punt, or getting one last possession inside their 40 was significantly higher - in my opinion.

 

I watched his post game presser. There's a point at about the 6:00 minute mark he talks about having a chance to put the game away but says first it's something the players can learn from. It bothers me because though then says "we have to evaluate things we can do as a staff to help them", that's a given, that's their job. You need to do more than evaluate because it's just post game lip service. It seems to always come across from him that the staff is not a problem. I just wish he would have the nuts to criticize himself once in a while.

 

It is his undoing

 

Texas to possession with 1:40 on their 12yd line at that moment the primary goal was no points no momentum. That played into taking the run off and eliminating 10 extra seconds. Calling time out between 3&4 down gift with purchase. Calling time out to set up 3rd down defense that resulted in a sack gets lost in the theoretical discussion of alternative ways to play subsequent downs without knowing the outcome in advance.
The real time events without after the fact grousing met the 2 most important objectives in play at the 1:40 mark of 2nd Q

 

Even if (and major if) the timeout was a contributing factor to the sack, it still could have been taken 12 seconds earlier forcing the punt and a possible attempt at a FG. A FG that would have potentially put the game away.

 

That is my point. The value of taking the TO at that point was greatly reduced versus taking it 10 seconds earlier. You can try to argue the TO was taken to set the defense, but that is trying to put lipstick on a pig. Texas hadn’t even lined up on the ball when the TO was taken. If you are going to take a TO to set your defense, you let the opposing team line up first to check their formation.

 

Since you are up to the task were there any personnel substitutions as a result of the time out. If so than the TO resulted in a 3rd down stop.
You posted earlier “I can’t think of a worse time to take your last TO of a half.” i can think of many situations the most obvious one is one play too late that resulted in a big play for the opponent.

If you are going to post more about the 1st half time out, try all caps, probably wont matter but at least the anger will be conveyed.

 

ok

 

The only “anger” I sense here is yours. It’s totally unnecessary. We’re just kicking this back and forth on a message board. It’s an interesting discussion. Nothing more to it than that

 

IF substitions were the reason for calling the first half timeout ( they werent), then you wait till the clock runs down further and gets to the line....so even if they do convert there is little time left. As i said above, the timing of the timeout gave uf the worst of both worlds.....not enough time to get the ball back but enough for Texas to run multiple plays if they convert.

 

This was an interesting strategic moment in the game. Thinking back on it, though, what if he declined the penalty then the Gators got a false start, facing 2nd and six? Doesn't 1st down essentially guarantee that you can at least run three plays?

 

More likely delay of game or 14 men on the field but false start should also be considered in that equation.

 

If Billy is going to insist on calling plays, at least get someone else to handle game management. Or better yet, pass that off to two other guys and walk around and clap and point and stuff.

 

Yes. But if you can get 1 yard you end up running FOUR plays, winning the game. If you can’t get 1 yard you end up running two plays.

2nd and 1 = 90% chance of winning on offense and 10% chance of stuffed giving Texas 40 extra seconds

Accepting = 10-15% chance of winning on offense with 80-90% chance of Texas getting the ball with some time

The helmet thing I chalk up to a fluke. But it is another reason to decline the penalty. By declining you have a more realistic chance of ending it in less plays, meaning less random stuff can hurt you.

 

With a capable coach who understands offense you decline it, tell your team "no stupid penalties" and take 2 shots to get a yard and ice the game. That coach would have to have some play which isnt just run into a 9 man box right up the middle for no gain twice. Billy would 100% run right up the middle no matter what and Texas would 100% know the exact play we were running and load it up right in the spot we were getting ready to run. I would look at the way Lane Kiffin ended LSU's game with an easy call to get a first down...not that we could properly execute it but...that play would be considered from a talented offensive mind....maybe not on down 2 but down three instructing the QB to go down if it looks covered.