Why was McDermott calling timeouts at the end of the first half?

[Robert Paulson]

It seems like he used our timeouts instead of making NE use theirs. We weren't going to 3 N Out them and get the ball back with a minute left. he would have knelt down if we did anyways. 

 

We helped them get into field goal position to kick the tying points. 

 

is their a rational I am missing?

Edited 1 hour ago by Robert Paulson

[BillsFan130]

He wanted to get the ball back, but ya it was very poor usage of time outs IMO.

 

Pats didn't seem like they were in any hurry to score, and all the timeouts did was give them more opportunities 

[DrDawkinstein]

Vrabel had him in a coaching blender and McD was so spun he couldnt realize he was helping New England.

 

Like even if his defense could get a 3rd down stop (which they cant), then what? We're gonna get the ball back so our guys can line up illegally again? Just get off the field to half time.

[Simon]

7 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

It seems like he used our timeouts instead of making NE use theirs. We weren't going to 3 N Out them and get the ball back with a minute left. he would have knelt down if we did anyways. 

 

NE wasn't going to use any timeouts; they had 3 to work with and absolutely wanted that clock running.

If the Bills do get a stop and get the ball back with :50 left (which was entirely possible; NE only had 3 points in the half, and those were off the Coleman fumble, and I don't think we'd lost Milano yet) there is a 0% chance that the Bills take a knee.

8 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Like even if his defense could get a 3rd down stop (which they cant), then what?

 

At that point in the game NE had produced zero points that we hadn't given them and I think were o'fer on 3rd down conversions.

I think your frustration is getting on top of you a little bit.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

5 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

NE wasn't going to use any timeouts; they had 3 to work with and absolutely wanted that clock running.

If the Bills do get a stop and get the ball back with :50 left (which was entirely possible; NE only had 3 points in the half, and those were off the Coleman fumble, and I don't think we'd lost Milano yet) there is a 0% chance that the Bills take a knee.

 

At that point in the game NE had produced zero points that we hadn't given them and I think were o'fer on 3rd down conversions.

I think your frustration is getting on top of you a little bit.

 

The defense in the first half played very well.  I think NE made one half time adjustment.  Put Diggs on whichever side White was on!

[djp14150]

15 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

It seems like he used our timeouts instead of making NE use theirs. We weren't going to 3 N Out them and get the ball back with a minute left. he would have knelt down if we did anyways. 

 

We helped them get into field goal position to kick the tying points. 

 

is their a rational I am missing?

Taking time outs did not help them. 
 

they had just gotten a 1st just inside the red zone. The plan was if they could do a 3 and out they would have time left to answer.  New England had the time and time outs to manage the clock and get a score without Buffalo help.

 

 

[djp14150]

You can’t make mistakes. It came down to….

 

1. first quarter fumble, thry couldn’t do something in recovery.

2. FG gift fumble

3. Allen red zone INT

4 missed KO fumble recovery

 

defense blew a few plays on 3rd down and that 1st and 25 series

 

[DrDawkinstein]

16 minutes ago, Simon said:

At that point in the game NE had produced zero points that we hadn't given them and I think were o'fer on 3rd down conversions.

I think your frustration is getting on top of you a little bit.

 

Oh cool, good to know our 3rd down issues that have plagued us through 4.5 games are over.

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

McDermott is the worst tactical coach in the history of the NFL.

 

He always calls timeouts at the worst possible moment 

[Simon]

2 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Oh cool, good to know our 3rd down issues that have plagued us through 4.5 games are over.

 

Considering that I said nothing remotely resembling that, my second point stands.

[Doc Brown]

1 minute ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

McDermott is the worst tactical coach in the history of the NFL.

 

He always calls timeouts at the worst possible moment 

A little hyperbolic there?  You call time outs to hope you can get a stop on third down and give your offense a chance to score before the half so they can "double dip" like they did in the Ravens game.  Blame the defense.

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Simon said:

 

Considering that I said nothing remotely resembling that, my second point stands.

 

And in my original post I was referring to the Defense across the entire season. Glad they got a few stops for once. Still dont have the confidence that warrants burning time outs as if we're going to get a stop (we didnt).

 

Just now, Doc Brown said:

A little hyperbolic there?  You call time outs to hope you can get a stop on third down and give your offense a chance to score before the half so they can "double dip" like they did in the Ravens game.  Blame the defense.

 

Defending McDermott and then capping it with that last sentence is hilarious.

[Mat68]

Get the stop leave time for Allen to steal points.  Teams with good Qbs want the ball teams without will want to get to halftime.  Basic stuff here.  

[Simon]

13 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

And in my original post I was referring to the Defense across the entire season. Glad they got a few stops for once. Still dont have the confidence that warrants burning time outs as if we're going to get a stop (we didnt).

 

Over the course of the season there has only been one week where an opponent was better than .500 on 3rd down (Miami, who oddly enough is #2 in the NFL on 3rd down); overall, opposing offenses are 24/59 on 3rd down for a conversion rate of right around 40%, which places the Bills right in the middle of the pack across the league.

The defense hasn't been "good" on 3rd down, but it's nowhere near the tire fire that folks are making it out to be.

[Doc Brown]

16 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Defending McDermott and then capping it with that last sentence is hilarious.

The poster said of the 536 head coaches in NFL history that McDermott is the worst tactical coach out of all of them.  I don't agree. 

[4th&long]

Because he's a *****en idiot! 

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

The poster said of the 536 head coaches in NFL history that McDermott is the worst tactical coach out of all of them.  I don't agree. 

 

Yes, that is ridiculous. But you also must see the irony in saying "that wasnt mcDermott's fault. Blame the Defense" regardless 

[Success]

The bigger question - why did only 3 seconds run off the clock on a 5 second play?

 

[ticketssince61]

It gave the Patriots  extra time which almost gave them the touchdown from the 1

 

He did same thing against dolphins and gave them time to score a TD instead of settling for a FG

 

I get that he wants to give us time if we get ball back, but it is a DEFINITE that you give the other team more time and only a POSSIBILITY that it will benefit us. 

 

At the end of a game maybe, but NOT in the first half

[Yobogoya!]

9 minutes ago, ticketssince61 said:

It gave the Patriots  extra time which almost gave them the touchdown from the 1

 

He did same thing against dolphins and gave them time to score a TD instead of settling for a FG

 

I get that he wants to give us time if we get ball back, but it is a DEFINITE that you give the other team more time and only a POSSIBILITY that it will benefit us. 

 

At the end of a game maybe, but NOT in the first half

 

I do appreciate the assertiveness of wanting the ball to score points again before the half, but you've got to wait until you've got a couple stops. I think if you've got them in a third and mid-to-long then it's a smart move to conserve time there. 

 

And even if there's only 30 seconds left on the clock, if you've got two timeouts left in your pocket cuz you burned only one and THEN got the third down stop? You're good at that point. Yeah that's the way a smart coach would play it.