As I referenced in part one of my return column, there has been an over-arching on the field storyline occurring in college football…or perhaps more appropriately defined as “on the sideline” that I think bears more discussion.
For all the expertise in X’s & O’s, blocking/tackling, recruiting and program management, a number of the multi-millionaire coaches in the sport are prone to an Achilles heel of mismanagement that shows up in the most high profile times, on game day and often at the end of the contest when tensions are highest. That Achilles heel is one of clock and scoreboard management.
It was on full display in Week 1 of the Big 10 season last week when Penn State, ahead 21-20 after stopping Indiana on fourth down deep in Hoosier territory, could’ve won the game with one first down. Heck, with 1:42 left and Indiana nursing just one time out (with a 40 second play clock between plays if you’re unaware), Penn State could’ve run three straight QB sneaks or kneel downs and kicked a field goal to go up four – though their kicker was shaky all day – and still been better off than where they ended up.
Indiana wisely allowed Penn State to score on the first play – the Nittany Lions running back burst through the line and, instead of falling down after crossing the first down marker at the four – something he allegedly was warned about – he walked into end zone and then turned around to see Indiana’s defenders celebrating. Without the ball, even with one timeout, Indiana’s win expectancy was almost zero. Scoring that touchdown gave the Hoosiers the only realistic opportunity to come back and win. This is not the first time that James Franklin – who by all accounts (including my own rankings) is an outstanding recruiter, motivator and program manager – has had questionable decision-making at the end of a game. He’s also been prone to misusing timeouts in the past – this game from 2015 is a good example but there are others..
Franklin was not the only coach who struggled with clock issues. Lane Kiffin had Ole Miss on the march to try to tie up Auburn and, with two timeouts, lost about 12 seconds when a receiver was stopped short of a first down. It left them having just two plays to cover 30 yards to end zone instead of probably four plays. That mistake is one in the heat of the moment that’s a little understandable and coaches as great as Nick Saban have been known to hold onto a timeout too long. When you do that, it actually doesn’t save you time. If you get to ten seconds left, it doesn’t really matter if you have one or two timeouts – you only have time for two plays max.
Earlier in the year there was South Carolina kicking a field goal with under 3:30 minutes left down 7 to Tennessee to…go down 4 – where they’d still need a touchdown. In that case, it WAS a 4th and 12 that SC kicked the field goal on and they did have all three timeouts. Had there been even 5:00 or so left, it may have been more defensible – but NOT if the down and distance was manageable.
There have been other examples of mismanagement, here are two of the most common:
A. Coaches – usually of a defensive background but not always – not using timeouts when the opponent is behind but about to score a go ahead TD or field goal. It leaves them little to no time for a comeback if their defense can’t hold and…
B. Coaches needing to get the ball back and using a timeout right after an opponent picks up a first down. In the NFL it doesn’t matter but in college the clock stops after a first down for the chains to move but the play clock doesn’t. So in a clock burning situation – especially when you have less than three timeouts left you should never use it until after a play that results in a second down. After a first down is made the offensive team can probably burn 7-9 seconds less of game time. That could mean as many as two plays if you (the trailing team) get the ball back.
Here are FIVE general rules of the road that should be followed regarding clock management and timeouts:
1. Never use a timeout in the second half until late in the game when trailing or in a close matchup. The only exceptions could be timeout to avoid a penalty when you’re on offense inside the other team’s five yard line or to avoid getting a delay of game penalty that would turn an important 3rd or 4th and 1 into 4th & 6. BUT – so many coaches will burn timeouts because the defense is misaligned or because they have a substitution problem on offense and are getting close to delay of game. There’s nothing worse than using a timeout to “get organized on defense” in a shootout where you’ll need the ball at the end…or burning a timeout to avoid turning a 3rd & 11 into a 3rd & 16 in the middle of the 3rd quarter. In the first half, these rules should probably apply to some extent but can be a little looser.
2. If you have to use a timeout before an end of game scenario it better just be one. You can get by in final 3:00 with just two timeouts because an offensive team may throw on 3rd down anyway, giving you a shot at an incompletion. If you have less than two timeouts, your chances of getting the ball back late with enough time to do anything trailing drops precipitously.
3. Conversely, in the first half you can’t take timeouts with you into the second half. Don’t be afraid to use the second timeout a little earlier in a final first half drive as opposed to being left with two timeouts and 11 seconds.
4. When trailing by a touchdown in the last half of the 4th quarter, you need to be planning to go for it more often than not unless there are dramaticly extenuating circumstances (like ending up with a 4th & 18 with still 4:00 to go and having all your timeouts).
5. If it would help the other team for you to score…DON’T. Even when trailing, if you get into a position where a touchdown takes the lead and field goal ties it, it’s understandable you want to run your offense even if you’re a no huddle, hurry up team. Discretion is really needed – along with factoring in your defenses ability to hold a lead for 1:30 or so rather than :30 if you just used a little more play clock on each play. If you want a famous example of how a team beats itself, the 2017 National Championship game between Alabama and Clemson is a great object lesson. Jalen Hurts broke free for a go ahead 20+ yard run. Alabama was trailing at the time but if Hurts goes down at the one and Alabama takes even one more play to score a TD and go ahead, Clemson doesn’t have time for that last second TD, they’d have had to attempt a field goal for overtime. Alabama’s defense was gassed. I don’t fault Jalen Hurts or even Nick Saban in that instance – but if coaches teach their players to think strategically…and they themselves get out of the 1990’s it would make for far better ending scenarios.
There are many more ways to look at these issues, a lot of other examples. In future column I may share more on overall strategic blunders – both over-conservative approaches and foolish chance-taking. For now, I plan to enjoy the slate of games and keep watching for teachable moments for multi-millionaire coaches!