Clock Management at end of 1st Half

[Mark Vader]

This was the only part of today's game that made me furious.

 

Yes, the 4th & inches passing play was incredibly dumb as well.

 

That being said, this is the second time this season that the Bills have done this right before halftime.

 

After creating a turnover in both the Jets & Commanders territory, and with all time outs for the Bills still available, they allowed the clock to run off a lot of time, and in the end the Bills end up settling for a field goal. BOTH TIMES!

 

Who is alright with this? Why are we not seeing urgency to move the ball and get us as close to the end zone as possible, instead of forcing Josh Allen to have to throw 20 yards plus to the end zone?

 

This is why we lost to the Jets, and I thought it was all a fluke, and we'd never see it again. Apparently, I was wrong.

 

Who is making these decisions? McDermott? Dorsey? This is unacceptable! The Bills need to play as if the game is tied. Instead, they looked like they didn't care.

 

The Bills cannot continue to do this. Does this make sense to anyone?

[FireChans]

Just now, Mark Vader said:

This was the only part of today's game that made me furious.

 

Yes, the 4th & inches passing play was incredibly dumb as well.

 

That being said, this is the second time this season that the Bills have done this right before halftime.

 

After creating a turnover in both the Jets & Commanders territory, and with all time outs for the Bills still available, they allowed the clock to run off a lot of time, and in the end the Bills end up settling for a field goal. BOTH TIMES!

 

Who is alright with this? Why are we not seeing urgency to move the ball and get us as close to the end zone as possible, instead of forcing Josh Allen to have to throw 20 yards plus to the end zone?

 

This is why we lost to the Jets, and I thought it was all a fluke, and we'd never see it again. Apparently, I was wrong.

 

Who is making these decisions? McDermott? Dorsey? This is unacceptable! The Bills need to play as if the game is tied. Instead, they looked like they didn't care.

 

The Bills cannot continue to do this. Does this make sense to anyone?

They don’t want to leave enough time on the clock for the other team.

[Mark Vader]

Just now, FireChans said:

They don’t want to leave enough time on the clock for the other team.

So, we're afraid of what Zach Wilson and Sam Howell will do to our defense?

[FireChans]

Just now, Mark Vader said:

So, we're afraid of what Zach Wilson and Sam Howell will do to our defense?

We want the last possession of the half.

[achrist33]

Just now, FireChans said:

We want the last possession of the half.

Exactly, This was the right move to run the clock since we were already in field goal range.  

[ColoradoBills]

It was set up perfect with the pass to Gabe, but he ran out of room by a foot.

[QLBillsFan]

1 minute ago, achrist33 said:

Exactly, This was the right move to run the clock since we were already in field goal range.  

Absolutely. It just happened to be we got a FG. Perfect use of the clock.. always want a TD but no time left for your opponent. 

[eSJayDee]

They had plenty of time.  They had 3 TOs left & only ~20 yards of field (& like 35 seconds IIRC).  3 TOs allow you to run 3 plays in-bounds.  How much more time to you need?  Leave as little time on the clock as possible.  I think they handled it very well.

[Richard Noggin]

I know today the Commanders were getting the ball first in the 2nd half; had the Jets also won the toss and deferred? That could help to explain the conservative clock management in both cases. Can't leave too much time in case your drive stalls, which then gives the opponent a chance to "double-up" their way back into the game.

 

I know the infamous Belichick "double-dip" thing was deferring the opening kickoff on the road, aggressively scoring on the final possession of the 1st half, then getting the ball to start the 2nd half when the stadium is quieter and they could operate more comfortably for a couple minutes as fans return from their final beer runs.

 

This Jets/Commanders clock management was intended to PREVENT getting "doubled-up" on while also extending the lead, however modestly. It's a good plan on the road, when you lose the coin toss. 

[Mark Vader]

50 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

It was set up perfect with the pass to Gabe, but he ran out of room by a foot.

Then why put yourself in that position? Wouldn't it be best to get as close as you can to the end zone, to set up many possibilities of scoring a touchdown?

[ColoradoBills]

1 minute ago, Mark Vader said:

Then why put yourself in that position? Wouldn't it be best to get as close as you can to the end zone, to set up many possibilities of scoring a touchdown?

 

I could have been handled different, I agree.  My point was, with that catch it would of made no difference.

[Mark Vader]

1 minute ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

I could have been handled different, I agree.  My point was, with that catch it would of made no difference.

Yes, it could have, and it was a great throw by Allen and Davis almost got the touchdown.

 

My point is that I do not want to rely on low percentage plays when it can be avoided, and it could have been.

[Joe Ferguson]

My biggest fear is McDermott still has not learn his lesson of how to manage and make smart coaching decisions. This was the reason he was beaten in the playoffs  by the Chiefs twice and Bengals last year. He cannot understand that a 6-5 cyborg he has as QB can just fall forward for a 1st down but instead elects to punt or kick field goals deep in opponent's territory on 4th and short.

No matter how aggressive he is every year, he will shrivel like a sniveling coward in the post season.

Edited September 25, 2023 by Joe Ferguson

[BullBuchanan]

3 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

This was the only part of today's game that made me furious.

 

Yes, the 4th & inches passing play was incredibly dumb as well.

 

That being said, this is the second time this season that the Bills have done this right before halftime.

 

After creating a turnover in both the Jets & Commanders territory, and with all time outs for the Bills still available, they allowed the clock to run off a lot of time, and in the end the Bills end up settling for a field goal. BOTH TIMES!

 

Who is alright with this? Why are we not seeing urgency to move the ball and get us as close to the end zone as possible, instead of forcing Josh Allen to have to throw 20 yards plus to the end zone?

 

This is why we lost to the Jets, and I thought it was all a fluke, and we'd never see it again. Apparently, I was wrong.

 

Who is making these decisions? McDermott? Dorsey? This is unacceptable! The Bills need to play as if the game is tied. Instead, they looked like they didn't care.

 

The Bills cannot continue to do this. Does this make sense to anyone?

It makes complete sense to me. It's clock management 101. You leave as little time as possible while still giving yourself every chance you can to score.

They kicked the field goal on 4th down. They didn't run out of time, they ran out of downs. How do you think using less clock would have been to the Bills' benefit?

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, FireChans said:

They don’t want to leave enough time on the clock for the other team.

 

And they are right to think that way. I didn't have much of a problem with it in the Jets game because I actually don't think the time cost them there.... if they had just executed the plays.... Josh missed Cook for a walk in touchdown. 

 

But yesterday was more perturbing. There was a minute left when Cook runs to the 22 for a first down. They had 3 time outs. I don't actually want them to call a time out there. I want them to let the clock run. But not to run right down to 36 seconds. Hustle up to the line, hand it off again, by that point the clock is at 45 or something and then you call timeout. Now you have two pass play attempts and if you get a first down you can call time out again. 

 

It was something they were really good at last year. It hasn't been great this year so far and is a mix of play calling, clock management and execution.

[Doc Brown]

I didn't have a huge problem with it.  They just didn't execute.  First and 10 from their 22 with 36 seconds left and all three timeouts doesn't really limit the playbook.  Seemed like a timing issue between Josh and Hardy on first down with a favorable matchup with the LB.  Then Davis fails to get his foot in on the 2nd down play in the end zone.  The most annoying part was having to waste a timeout after that incompletion for whatever reason.  Maybe they wanted a review from upstairs and they didn't get it.  Even on third down if Harty runs that route two yards farther it's a first and 10 from the 12 with 2 timeouts left and 22 seconds.  Playbook is still wide open.  Again.  Just poor execution.

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

I didn't have a huge problem with it.  They just didn't execute.  First and 10 from their 22 with 36 seconds left and all three timeouts doesn't really limit the playbook.  Seemed like a timing issue between Josh and Hardy on first down with a favorable matchup with the LB.  Then Davis fails to get his foot in on the 2nd down play in the end zone.  The most annoying part was having to waste a timeout after that incompletion for whatever reason.  Maybe they wanted a review from upstairs and they didn't get it.  Even on third down if Harty runs that route two yards farther it's a first and 10 from the 12 with 2 timeouts left and 22 seconds.  Playbook is still wide open.  Again.  Just poor execution.

 

At the moment Hardy is less effective in those gimmick play situations than Lil' Dirty.

[John from Riverside]

5 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

This was the only part of today's game that made me furious.

 

Yes, the 4th & inches passing play was incredibly dumb as well.

 

That being said, this is the second time this season that the Bills have done this right before halftime.

 

After creating a turnover in both the Jets & Commanders territory, and with all time outs for the Bills still available, they allowed the clock to run off a lot of time, and in the end the Bills end up settling for a field goal. BOTH TIMES!

 

Who is alright with this? Why are we not seeing urgency to move the ball and get us as close to the end zone as possible, instead of forcing Josh Allen to have to throw 20 yards plus to the end zone?

 

This is why we lost to the Jets, and I thought it was all a fluke, and we'd never see it again. Apparently, I was wrong.

 

Who is making these decisions? McDermott? Dorsey? This is unacceptable! The Bills need to play as if the game is tied. Instead, they looked like they didn't care.

 

The Bills cannot continue to do this. Does this make sense to anyone?

So I would have to go back and take a look at it again, but is it possible that the bills were running the clock out so that the opposing team wouldn’t have the ability to come back at them before the half?
 

Is it possible if they wanted to score points and they didn’t want to give time do the other team to go on offense

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

At the moment Hardy is less effective in those gimmick play situations than Lil' Dirty.

Been really disappointed in Harti so farm

 

[pocoboy]

6 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

It was set up perfect with the pass to Gabe, but he ran out of room by a foot.

 

DB was in perfect position, but that sideline catch is the difference between #1 WR money and #2 or #3.

 

Can't say his effort to defend the Fuller interception was that stellar either.

[TH3]

7 hours ago, Joe Ferguson said:

My biggest fear is McDermott still has not learn his lesson of how to manage and make smart coaching decisions. This was the reason he was beaten in the playoffs  by the Chiefs twice and Bengals last year. He cannot understand that a 6-5 cyborg he has as QB can just fall forward for a 1st down but instead elects to punt or kick field goals deep in opponent's territory on 4th and short.

No matter how aggressive he is every year, he will shrivel like a sniveling coward in the post season.

Wtf

3 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I didn't have a huge problem with it.  They just didn't execute.  First and 10 from their 22 with 36 seconds left and all three timeouts doesn't really limit the playbook.  Seemed like a timing issue between Josh and Hardy on first down with a favorable matchup with the LB.  Then Davis fails to get his foot in on the 2nd down play in the end zone.  The most annoying part was having to waste a timeout after that incompletion for whatever reason.  Maybe they wanted a review from upstairs and they didn't get it.  Even on third down if Harty runs that route two yards farther it's a first and 10 from the 12 with 2 timeouts left and 22 seconds.  Playbook is still wide open.  Again.  Just poor execution.

Why are you clouding this topic with actual analysis….We all know Mclappy stinks!