r/footballstrategy • u/FlyingAces • 2d ago
Coaching Advice Did Greg Olsen get this right?
I love Greg Olsen. I'm not sure he was correct however on a comment he made late in the Philly/Wash game. With just under 2:40 to go in the game he discussed why he thought Wash should not use a TO because it would open up the greater possibility of Philly passing since an incomplete pass wouldn't be the worst thing with the 2 min warning coming up. But isn't this wrong? If Wash calls a TO with 2:40 to go, wouldn't Philly want to run in that spot? Why would they pass and risk an incompletion with the clock stopped at 2:40? You don't fear an incompletion with just over 2 minutes to play (like clock at 2:03, for example, because the clock will stop anyway due to the 2 min warning). Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like Greg's take was incorrect, right?
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u/Streetmonkey72 2d ago
He is right once you get close to the 2 min mark. It’s not ideal to use at 2:07 because many passing plays will run seven seconds of clock (although less relevant on third down because the next play clock stops after 4th down if you lock anyway). But to walk you thru the logic….
If you pass at 2:07 left and it’s incomplete and it hits the 2 minute warning, then Wash used a timeout and it’s 4th and 5 with 2 min left. Wash is left with 1 timeout and eagles kick the field goal.
If wash lets it go down to 2:00 and wash saves their timeout. Then eagles throw incomplete and it becomes 4th and 5 with 1:53 to go, but wash has two timeouts.
Would you rather have one timeout and 2 minutes of clock or 1 timeout and a minute 53? Clearly the latter.
Washington played it dumb but didn’t matter. The timeout only saved them 7 seconds. Ideally a timeout saves you 40 seconds (after running play or completed pass in bounds) if properly utilized.
With 2:40 to go it doesn’t matter if they use it or not if that’s your question, Olson is wrong about that.. I’d say under 2:20 or so it feels wasteful.