Two Minute Drill still a concern

[Warhead36]

The way we managed the clock during our two minute drill was atrocious. It all began with calling a running play that ended up gaining 3 yards and taking up something like 30 seconds. That and too many guys fighting for 1-2 extra yards instead of making the smart play and running out of bounds.

I know we still ended up with a FG on that drive, but there was a LOT of precious clock we let go away because of braindead plays and coaching decisions.

[SIXX99]

The way we managed the clock during our two minute drill was atrocious. It all began with calling a running play that ended up gaining 3 yards and taking up something like 30 seconds. That and too many guys fighting for 1-2 extra yards instead of making the smart play and running out of bounds.

I know we still ended up with a FG on that drive, but there was a LOT of precious clock we let go away because of braindead plays and coaching decisions.

The guys fighting for yards wont happen in the regular season. These guys are trying to fight for roster spots and every yard counts for them.

[Dan T.]

The way we managed the clock during our two minute drill was atrocious. It all began with calling a running play that ended up gaining 3 yards and taking up something like 30 seconds. That and too many guys fighting for 1-2 extra yards instead of making the smart play and running out of bounds.

I know we still ended up with a FG on that drive, but there was a LOT of precious clock we let go away because of braindead plays and coaching decisions.

Agree. CALL A TIMEOUT after the run for the first down. You have TWO timeouts at that point. Instead, you waste a minute of clock time AND you get a false start penalty. Jesus ****ing Christ Zorn it's not ****ing rocket science. Call the goddamn timeout.

Hire me as a two minute coach. Hell, hire anybody with half a brain who knows football watching on TV. Why is it so hard to manage a two minute drill from the sidelines? Crap.

[THUNDERDOME]

and what if Zorn wanted to see a FG. We have a battle goin on at that spot and havent seen many FG's at all in preseason.

[Dan T.]

Please. **** up the two minute drill just to kick a field goal? That's just stupid.

[bigyim]

A. They had to evaluate Aldridge before 1st cuts (he's been injured)

B. Colt can wing it with the best of them...but the coaching staff needs to evaluate his absorption of the offense, and running a 2 min. drill doesn't allow for that evaluation

C. No one wanted to see OT...if they weren't getting a 1st down running, the Pats were welcome to try a FG themselves.

D. It gives more opportunity to figure out the reserve DL rotation

It could have been any of these reasons, all of these combined, or some other reason for Zorn not running the 2 min. offense at the end of this game. I'd wait to reserve judgement about his clock management skills until the regular season starts.

[Voice_of_Reason]

I actually don't think they did that badly with the clock management. I'm assuming that you're talking at the end of the half. Here's what I would guess the priority was:

1. Don't give the ball back to Brady so he can kill you, because this is where he earns his money and supermodel wife for real.
2. Get something out of it if possible.

The false start was rather unfortunate, though. I'll give you that. Dock should know better.
3. If you can get a TD great.
4. Re-read #1.

I believe they had all three time outs coming out of the 2 minute warning, and I think that the idea was to get the clock under a minute by running it so that they could avoid giving the ball back to the Pats.

2 minutes with 3 timeouts is an eternity. They didn't have to rush. They didn't have to panic. I think that they actually handled the clock management side ok.

PS: If I go back and watch the game and have a complete different opinion, I'll admit I'm wrong. Just saw it live, so I didn't have replay and just my memory to go on.

[Warhead36]

The guys fighting for yards wont happen in the regular season. These guys are trying to fight for roster spots and every yard counts for them.

One of those guys was Devin Thomas on the screen. His roster spot is secure. Marcus Mason I understand though, but I think running out of bounds would impress the coaches a lot more in that situation, as it shows better clock and game awareness.

Agree. CALL A TIMEOUT after the run for the first down. You have TWO timeouts at that point. Instead, you waste a minute of clock time AND you get a false start penalty. Jesus ****ing Christ Zorn it's not ****ing rocket science. Call the goddamn timeout.

THAT series of events drove me insane. Not only did we waste ~20 seconds or whatever it it was, but we STILL end up having to burn a timeout. Zorn may be smart guy, but his heat-of-the-moment critical thinking seems to be lacking.

and what if Zorn wanted to see a FG. We have a battle goin on at that spot and havent seen many FG's at all in preseason.

Are you serious? The FG was a chip shot, all kickers are expected to make that 100%. Highly doubt Zorn would purposely sabotage a chance to end the half with a TD and a lead just to see if his K can hit a FG the length of an XP.

[Brandon Lloyd Christmas]

i was hoping he'd use the timeouts and force colt to march down the field with no time. although i understand not risking injuries, it would have been with all scrubs anyways. throw colt out there in the shotgun and see if he can rise to the challenge instead of sitting on the timeouts.

[NOLASKINSFAN]

Calm the hell down, I don't get the run on 1st, but I don't want a time out there. If the run broke through, he is a genius.

[redskins fan for life]

The two minute drill was handled perfectly. The run was to burn 30 sec off the clock, because you don't want to give the ball back to brady with 30 sec and three timeouts because they will get three points. The redskins ended up at around the ten yard line with about 10 sec to go and a timeout iirc

[Dan T.]

2nd-10, NE30 0:53 J. Campbell passed to D. Thomas to the right for 9 yard gain
3rd-1, NE21 0:47 M. Mason rushed to the right for 7 yard gain
1st-10, NE14 0:19 WAS committed 5 yard penalty
1st-15, NE19 0:17 J. Campbell passed to L. Betts down the middle for 12 yard gain
2nd-3, NE7 0:09 J. Campbell incomplete pass to the left
3rd-3, NE7 0:00 D. Rayner kicked a 25-yard field goal

There it is. From 47 seconds all the way down to 19 seconds, with a false start penalty on Dockery to boot. CALL THE TIMEOUT AFTER THE RUN. You have two left at that point, so you would still have one left. Instead, you run out of time and settle for a field goal.

[Dan T.]

The two minute drill was handled perfectly. The run was to burn 30 sec off the clock, because you don't want to give the ball back to brady with 30 sec and three timeouts because they will get three points. The redskins ended up at around the ten yard line with about 10 sec to go and a timeout iirc

Bull****. Absolute bull****. They settled for a field goal because they ran out of time. Idiotic post.

[TheLongshot]

I had no problem with the two minute drill. We got down with enough time to punch it in, it just didn't happen.

If anything, fault Betts for not getting out of bounds and Dock for false starting. They've been in the league long enough to know better.

[NoCalMike]

The time management did kind of suck, but truth be told, Jason Campbell did throw what should have been a TD pass to Kelly, but Kelly didn't turn his body around and instead tried to just turn his head and arms to make the catch.