Analysis: Don't waste timeout to avoid delay of game penalty in 2nd half

Don’t waste a time out to save a delay of game in the 2nd half! | All My Sports Teams Suck

Thought this was interesting and wanted to share.

Nice. I know I've had the same thought plenty of times and I'm sure I'm not alone--it's nice to see some hard evidence to back it up.

The one I really can't (under)stand is when a team has 4th down, is going to punt, and takes a timeout to avoid the delay of game in that situation. There you're not even trying to convert!

Now I can see taking the timeout there to avoid the 5 yards backing you up against your own endzone. But that's about it.

I'm especially infuriated when coaches do this around the 50, especially on the defense's side of the 50. Hell, taking the penalty will probably help you avoid kicking a touchback!

Great example of applying analytics to decisions in football.
Good analysis of conversion rates on under ten yards and over ten yards, comparing the cost of an additional five yards with the cost of lost time on the clock.

Really amazing how coaches ignore the data in so many situations. Going for a fourth down conversion is another example. They seem to have accepted 'the chart' on when to go for two points.

We hear so many times "Well, Belichick is just smarter than the other coaches."
OK.
So why don't teams develop smarter people as coaches? Why is that not an attribute teams look for?
You would think it is possible for a coach to learn how to motivate players. It is probably harder to become smarter.

That's always bugged me too, in the first half okay but definitely not second. We took a key timeout in the fourth and two game to avoid one. Could have used that to challenge the first down.

QuantumMechanic said:

The one I really can't (under)stand is when a team has 4th down, is going to punt, and takes a timeout to avoid the delay of game in that situation. There you're not even trying to convert!

Now I can see taking the timeout there to avoid the 5 yards backing you up against your own endzone. But that's about it.

I'm especially infuriated when coaches do this around the 50, especially on the defense's side of the 50. Hell, taking the penalty will probably help you avoid kicking a touchback!

Click to expand...

The absolute worst one is taking a timeout to determine if you want to challenge a play. RAC did that once. I mean what the **** it cost you a timeout if it fails and if not you save a timeout. Why in the world would you do that?

Love to know how much Ernie Adams is whispering in BB's ear inside of 2 minutes. Love to know what kind of simulation Patriot coaches use to prepare so THEY are game day ready.
It is incredible to watch so many coaches butcher crunch time while BB remains composed and prepared for all contingencies. Every time BB walks onto the field for a game, NE owns the coaching advantage. What a psychological edge.

Urgent said:

So why don't teams develop smarter people as coaches? Why is that not an attribute teams look for?
You would think it is possible for a coach to learn how to motivate players. It is probably harder to become smarter.

Click to expand...

That's more on the owners than anything else. Most of them know jack **** about football which is pretty odd considering you want to learn as much about the franchise you just purchased, especially if it sets you back in the region of $2 billion!

Also a lot of owners don't do the right thing and entrust their operations to football people. And they also want and demand immediate results which works in the business world, but never bodes well for the long term in the football world.

Thanks for posting this @PP2

This has long been a pet peeve of mine. Nice to see some analysis verifying what I often thought was very questionable decision making by highly compensated professionals.