Mangini & Clock Management

by ploni on Jan 20, 2009 11:58 AM EST

From Seth Wickersham's excellent article about NFL coaches and their clock management skills entitled "3-2-1 ... Meltdown" on espn.com:

Not every coaching misstep is so obvious. New Browns boss Eric Mangini violated a key adage when his old team, the Jets, played the Bills on Dec. 14: If you're on D and need the ball back, never call time with between 2:10 and 2:00 left. Normally, an offense protecting a lead won't pass, lest an incompletion stop the clock. But if a defense calls time under 2:10, like New York did against Buffalo with 2:06 left, it invites the offense to throw the ball, since the two-minute warning will stop the clock no matter which play is run. Thanks to the TO, the Jets had to defend pass and run. Sure enough, the Bills spread the field and rolled quarterback J.P. Losman to the right. Luckily, blitzing safety Abram Elam forced a fumble, which defensive end Shaun Ellis returned for the winning score. Because of the win, no one criticized Mangini on his blunder—or his gamble, if you think he called time to bait the Bills—which only gives him more incentive to ignore the math. Nearly every coach works this way.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3837344

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It is possible as the writer mentions that Mangini was coaxing the Bills to throw particularly since their passing game is terrible

by Roger Dorn on Jan 20, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions

I’m sure that the Man-genius’ response would be, “that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”

Those of us who’ve seen the local media in NYC address Eric’s clock management skills (among other things) like Roger and I, are apt to be skeptical.

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Jan 20, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

That particular game Mangini was not at fault. The Bills had the lead they had no business throwing the ball, that is on the Bills. Horrendous by the Bills, I watched the game in disbelief.
Now Mangenuis did struggle in the Seattle loss, 4th and 14 from there own 17, 2 minutes and I believe 32 seconds, all 3 time outs left and Mangini goes for it, the Jets at the time were down 10-3, that was bad.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Jan 20, 2009 10:29 PM EST reply actions

I didn’t see the game, so just to play devil’s advocate I have to ask: Did the Jets maybe have too many players on the field? Depending on the down/yardage situation – and if there was an issue like too many players, or even the wrong players on the field – he may have needed the time out to prevent an even worse potentiality than having to guard both run and pass. I’m not saying that’s what happened, but without knowing if it did I can’t get behind the poor clock management accusation.

by JustBob on Jan 21, 2009 6:21 PM EST reply actions