Was Colts Coach Jim Caldwell's Timeout Late In The Fourth Quarter Against The Jaguars A Good Idea?
by Brad Wells on Oct 3, 2010 8:41 PM EDT
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PrintWe wrote about this a little bit over at SB Nation Indiana:
With 36 seconds left in regulation, the Jaguars were backed up to their own 23-yard line and looking to run out the clock and send their game against the Colts into overtime tied 28-28.
However, rather than let the clock run out and take his chances in overtime, Colts coach Jim Caldwell called a timeout. This allowed Jacksonville to regroup its offense, and three plays later Jaguars quarterback David Garrard hit receiver Tiquan Underwood for 22 yards to the Indianapolis 41-yard line.
That play was all the room Jags kicker Josh Scobee needed. The veteran known for making long, last-second, game-winning kicks against the Colts, nailed a 59-yarder with time expiring. Jaguars won the game 31-28.
Simple question: Was it a good idea? Did it help the Jaguars beat the Colts?
We imagine 'The Bill Polian Show' will provide us with all sort of excuses tomorrow evening. Between now and then, Jim Caldwell will likely have to explain himself over and over again for that rather puzzling timeout. But, as seemingly 'dumb' as Caldwell's timeout was, it was nothing compared to the overall 'dumb' play of the Colts defense.
31 points allowed to an offense that had only one passing TD coming into the game. I'm still seeing red.
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Guys,
you need to realize that calls like this are judged so unfairly. It;s human nature(and a touch of Machiavelli) to judge things depending on their results. I’m guilty of it too, so I’m not passing judgement. But look at it this way.
It’s 3rd and 2 after the incomplete pass. If we stop them there, Jags punt, the Colts get it somewhere around our 25-40 yard line, with 2 timeouts and Peyton Manning. Look how genius it was now. Again, since it turned out bad it’s natural to judge Caldwell, but take a minute to realize it is risks like these that separate good from great coaches.
Look at it this way. Hopefully this won’t piss everyone off. Do realize i love Indy just as much as the next guy, so this is for comparison purposes only. Back in the Superbowl, if Hank Baskett didn’t absolutely suck, and we recover that onside kick. We probably go on to take a bigger lead, have all the Momentum, and win the game.
The call was a good one, it was a lack of performance and execution by the players. All a coach can do is make calls and set the players up. After that it’s the players call to win or lose games.
~Karim!
by KarimTheDream on Oct 3, 2010 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
then why call a defensive play
that has your DB 10 yards away from the WR when they only need two yards?
or maybe we should be pissed at caldwell for thinking that our defense could finally make a stop when it coudn’t all game?
it was a stupid call all around.
by dbcb on Oct 3, 2010 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
Whatever strategy Caldwell had in mind was completely nullified by that coverage scheme. You know, the same one that plagued the Colts in that one game they like to pretend never happened.
by Collin McCollough on Oct 3, 2010 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Caldwell didn't call the timeout on 3rtd and 2.
He called it after a run on first down. There was 39 (i think) seconds left on the clock. The Jaguars only had one timeout left. Caldwell gave them a chance to win the game. It wasn’t genius at all.
Peyton Manning= Better.
by JesusNinja13 on Oct 3, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
You weren't watching the game...
It was 2nd and 2 with about 36-38 seconds left. Only an idiot would call timeout.
by SoCalHoosier on Oct 3, 2010 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
No, a coach who has taken a team to the Super Bowl did.
An idiot doing it would insinuate that half the people calling for Caldwell’s head are the head coach right no.
Dallas Clark: Some tight ends catch. Some block. Clark just owns.
No, you're wrong.
Manning took Caldwell there. Caldwell was along for the ride, and a big reason they lost the big one.
So, let me get this straight — he’s a harmless bystander when all of the good stuff happens, but he’s the one to blame when anything bad occurs?
I don't think he's to blame
for everything. Some of the bad things that happened were players simply making mistakes on the field. But, his time-out call as absurd. Had he not done that, the Colts may be celebrating a victory today. And, what he did at the end of last season was unforgivable. Taking away the teams’ chance at doing what no team has ever done? Are you kidding me? A few people on this blog may disagree and continue to support whatever Polian and his puppet coach do, but the NFL world out there, writers, fans of other teams, coaches, etc. all pretty much unanimously agree, the game 16 decision was gutless and shameful.
dumbest call ever
I understand where your coming from with your view, but it was def. the wrong call. I’m so suprised that the jags were even considering running the clock out with 2nd and 2 to go.
If the colts would of went to OT they could of had a chance to get the ball back then….. If they didnt they would be looking at the exact same picture (Jags on their own 20 with 10 yards to go for a first down, not 2).
Caldwell is saying the right things to the media about not second guessing his judgement, but I really hope and pray that he knows that was the dumbest call to make in that situation.
Only way I'd made that call is....
the only way I’d made that call for the T.O. is if I had the Steel Curtain defense. Did Caldwell know that we run a bend-but-dont-break defense with a bunch of softies that need 4 gangtacklers to bring down any runningback in the league???
Sheer stupidity from a Coaching stance!
no,your defense did stop us before in that situation in 2007,2008,2009. Del RIo made the call to run on that play because even against the jaguars (we now appear to be running an SEC offense lol) no one expects a final drive draw. Caldwell’s mistake was assuming a jag failure from 2and2 and not waiting till say a third and two
Waber-Jaguar
You can blame both
The defense stunk, so why would Caldwell assume they’d stop the Jags on 2nd and 2?
The T.O. came after an 8-yard run gave the Jags a 2nd-and-2 at their own 31 and with only one timeout of their own. Caldwell’s decision allowed Jacksonville to change its strategy (by stopping the clock on a running play). They then threw on the next four plays, and got close enough for Scobee to nail his kick. Dumb.
It was a dumb decision because the defense was stinking up the joint.
Combine two with the last line of three.
It's all moot...
because there should have been any one of three things on the last play from scrimmage.
1) An INT that cemented a totally underwhelming performance from Hayden.
2) A holding call as Freeney came off the line. Hooked around the neck once again. I thought this was a penalty in the NFL, but I guess I’m wrong.
3) A facemask as Freeney beat the Hold and headed for the QB. Just because a person is on offense does not mean facemasking is allowed. We saw it earlier this year with Foster getting away with one and we saw it again today.
Change of possession, 10 yards back or 15 yards back. Any one of the three things that should have happened make the last FG a non-issue. Bunch of crap.
sorry man it happens. usually though it happens to the jaguars. but yeah it should have been a laughable romp like 42-14 or so halfway into the fourth, but we have played cool close games, 5 of the last 6 between us have been within 7 points, and remember the jags have never swept the colts and are 5-14 against them alltime. three of the victories counting today came on 50-plus yards FGs. and dont worry about the pass D. we still are below #25, and your D is 15-20 range. and three are tied at 2-2. I will guarantee you a winnign season and at least the #6
Waber-Jaguar
A "defense" of the timeout call
Personally, after an eight yard gain on first down, I don’t think the timeout was appropriate. On the other hand, there was thirty-six seconds left and the Colts still had to timeouts. After Garrard threw incomplete on second down I was actually thinking the timeout might have been a good call. The Jags threw again on third down and, if the defense would have stepped up, the Colts would have had the ball back with, I’m guessing somewhat, around 25 seconds with two timeouts. With Manning, those are decent odds (probably from about the Indy 30-35 yard line).
Nonetheless, with the way the defense had been playing I think I would have taken my chances with the coin toss. Maybe Caldwell was just trying to give the defense a vote of confidence. If so, it sure backfired.
the problem is the defensive call
was pure prevent type shit. IF you want to get the ball back you can’t tell the CB to stay 10 yards off the guy on a 3 and 2.
If you are going fo the stop then you have to play for the stop. Instead, he called a time out and played prevent shit defense for two plays. Makes zero since
It was absolutely the correct call
I would have been mad had he not called the timeout. You are forcing the Jaguars hand at that point. They are not built for down the field passing, and the Colts defense is (supposed to be) built for stopping such pass plays.
The fact that the Jaguars, once again, ran the same plays they run every game against the Colts, and the Colts still cannot stop them, is the bigger problem. You also don’t take your chances on a coin flip when you have Peyton Manning on your team.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
In this game
With our defense playing the way it played for the first 59:24, I would absolutely take a coinflip.
I know you’re the stats man so you will likely have something great on the statistical logic behind this in the next few days, but simply put — this defense was not in position to stop a mediocre middle school offense at the end of the game. Instead, call ‘heads’ and pray.
It seems
ridiculously stupid to me. It was one of the key reasons the Colts lost. Why give them time to get their field goal kicker in range? Am I missing something here? I agree…..flip the stupid coin and at least you have a chance. Caldwell denied them that chance.
But they didn't move the ball
throwing 20 yards down the field, especially with the defense “expecting” it. They only had 6 pass plays longer than 10 yards all game.
Hindsight is always 20/20. Had the Colts stopped them, giving Manning a chance to win, people would be lauding him about what a great decision it was to take the timeout. It was the right call, and they had to hit a 59 yard FG to make it seem like a bad decision.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
Am I missing something here guys???
You guys act as if there was at least a minute left and they were pinned on their own 10 yard line.
by SoCalHoosier on Oct 3, 2010 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
our defense executed poorly...
But I think the man at fault here is Coyer. How could you allow Jacksonville to run the same play on 3rd and 2 that they just ran on 2nd and 2? And why does the playcall give the receivers cushion that we cannot afford? Why not support our pass rush with a blitzer, a call that almost paid dividends 22 yards later. Our playcalls were bad on defense… Garrard is good enough to complete passes when he isn’t under pressure, but is susceptible to errors against the blitz. But we played soft all game long despite how little pressure our line was managing to generate.
It’s the exact same mistake we made last week against Kyle Orton and the Broncos but fortunately it didn’t cost us that week. I like Caldwell but I think we have a serious problem at defensive coordinator. Coyer was famous for giving receivers cushions in Denver (Peyton loved playing against his Denver defenses), and he’s brought his soft coverage act to Indianapolis. I don’t believe in his system or his ability to adjust to the game as it is in progress.
I think the timeout was the right call and that our defense was given an opportunity to make a stop. We hadn’t gotten the pressure or the coverage thus far but given the situation I think it’s a good gamble.
by INDIANABANNER on Oct 4, 2010 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions
interesting perspective
I myself was puzzled, but I like your thought, mgrex03
How can you not love a team that does this?
Using your logic...
let’s say the Colts’ defense gets the stop after all. How much time would likely be left and where would the Colts be starting from?? Once you think about those numbers… it makes ZERO sense.
by SoCalHoosier on Oct 3, 2010 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
There were 36 seconds left
on 3rd and 2. If the Colts get the stop, we’ll say 5 seconds run off the clock. A punt takes 10 seconds, so we’re at 21 seconds, on the Colts 25 yard line. To get in Vinatieri’s range, I’d say you need a minimum of 40 yards from there, and they would have had at least 1 timeout, maybe 2.
Last year, against the 49ers at the end of the half, the Colts went 47 yards in 20 seconds. Three plays.
Again, he had to make a 59 yard FG to win the game, even with the Timeout. The percentage of him making that is way lower than the percentage that the Colts would have stopped the 3rd and 2.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
I have no problem w/ the TO.
Just trying to give Manning time to get Vinatieri into FG range if the Jags couldn’t convert. What I DO have a problem with was the coverage scheme they used after the Timeout. You HAVE to force the ball to be thrown short and to the MIDDLE of the Field in that situation.
"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning
by P0RKINS2 on Oct 3, 2010 9:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I was very upset about the game and have been doing alot of thinking....
We should hire a devensive master mind like….say… BILL COWHER. If he coached this team no way would our D get knocked around they way that they did today. He would let Peyton do his thing and we would be UN….STOP…ABLE!!! Briillant!!! Now we need to fork out the money to get Cowher
I will say that
the thought crossed my mind. I always felt like Caldwell would have been gone after one season on a Manning-less team. He’s unproven and that Superbowl season was all on Manning’s shoulders. The terrible calls made in coaching that game were all Caldwell’s. Anyway, this team has been declining in its weak areas for years: offensive line, running game, defensive scheme and execution. I think the Colts are primed for a new coach with a new staff. Manning will always run the offense the way he wants. It’s frustrating to watch management not work to shore up the weak portions of this team.
by tenyardfight on Oct 3, 2010 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I think they work to shore the weak areas up...
they just fail miserably season after season.
I couldn't agree with you more
All Caldwell and Polian have to do is bring in personell to protect Manning. Manning has proven he can work with anyone that can run a route and catch a ball. Then they need to put together a Defense which they have failed to do year after year. That is why Brady has 3 Super Bowls and Manning only has one. The Pats head office got Brady a defense the Colts head office has not gotten Manning a defense. I argue that we win multiple Super Bowls with a good defense and Manning at QB.
It was a bad idea in retrospect...
but you can’t blame him. Say we stop them and Manning gets us in field goal range. Then all the sudden it’s a great call. Although no one would have complain had he NOT called the timeout either…
by HappyLittleTreez on Oct 3, 2010 10:19 PM EDT reply actions
That's way too many things
that have to happen in a much too short period of time. All Caldwell’s idiotic decision did was give the Jags a chance to get in Scobee’s range….which they did.
Bad Idea
At that point in the game you have to play for overtime. Sure the Colts defense could easily get a strip sack or INT and maybe be able to play for the win, but if you had watched the game up to that point you should know it wasn’t going to happen anyway. The Jags had one timeout left and obviously would not use it after their first play on that drive. Bad decision by Caldwell. Honestly as bad as the defense played in this game the offense could have burned more clock and scored with 20 seconds left and we’d probably be talking about Scobee kicking a 60 yarder to win in overtime, but I still would have enjoyed the extra 10 minutes of hoping for a Colts win today.
Error in original article...
Jags had 4 passing TDs going into the game. 3 in opener.
So I guess that makes it slightly less embarrassing.
Stay perfect(ly mediocre) Colts.
It's hard to match the Jags record of timeless mediocrity....
But, I suppose we can try to emulate your success at it.
53% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Nevermind. You are a Pats fan.
In that case, just get a life.
53% of statistics are made up on the spot.
Bad Call!
I’m not a Coach never have been but if your playing a team and it’s a tied up with 30 some seconds left in the game and they have the ball working with one timeout, You Don’t Give Them One Of Our Timeouts!!! That plan and simple is inexperienced coaching! Go into OT!
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