Bears-Lions game time management snafu

[trents]

Man, the Bear's mismanagement of time at the end of the game on Thanksgiving was about the worst I have ever seen. When the clock expired, not only were the Bears looking at each other like "what happened?" but the Lions were doing the same. Everyone was looking at the clock like, "is time really expired"? I'm not sure whether that one was on Williams or the coaching staff but the Bears blew the opportunity to tie the game with a field goal.

[4XPIPS]

Man, the Bear's mismanagement of time at the end of the game on Thanksgiving was about the worst I have ever seen. When the clock expired, not only were the Bears looking at each other like "what happened?" but the Lions were doing the same. Everyone was looking at the clock like, "is time really expired"? I'm not sure whether that one was on Williams or the coaching staff but the Bears blew the opportunity to tie the game with a field goal.

I think is just a case a rookie QB making a rookie mistake, and mis managing that two plays. On the prior play when the defensive ends way over pursued his rush, and the tackle didn't fly out to open the pocket up, Caleb should have stepped up into the pocket, but instead he kept back pedaling into that deep sack. They should have wasted their last TO, but instead they were trying to get lined up for a play and yes they burned out the clock.

This looked bad, but not nearly as bad as the Hawks vs 49ers when beastmode came in with Russ and Co near the goalline, and the offense just sat there and took a delay of game, and Pete Carroll looking all confused "like what happened" That was the epic poor clock management

[River Dog]

Man, the Bear's mismanagement of time at the end of the game on Thanksgiving was about the worst I have ever seen. When the clock expired, not only were the Bears looking at each other like "what happened?" but the Lions were doing the same. Everyone was looking at the clock like, "is time really expired"? I'm not sure whether that one was on Williams or the coaching staff but the Bears blew the opportunity to tie the game with a field goal.

Yeah, no kidding! I wasn't even watching the game clock on that last play; I suppose because I was assuming that they would run a quick play that would assure themselves of a FG attempt. And by the reaction of the players, I must not have been the only person not watching the game clock.

IMO that has to be at least partially on the quarterback not being aware of the game situation. You can excuse it to some degree because Williams is a rookie, but you're right, that was one of the worst clock management decisions I've seen in a long time.

[NorthHawk]

The final nail in Eberflus's coaching coffin.

[River Dog]

I think is just a case a rookie QB making a rookie mistake, and mis managing that two plays. On the prior play when the defensive ends way over pursued his rush, and the tackle didn't fly out to open the pocket up, Caleb should have stepped up into the pocket, but instead he kept back pedaling into that deep sack. They should have wasted their last TO, but instead they were trying to get lined up for a play and yes they burned out the clock.

This looked bad, but not nearly as bad as the Hawks vs 49ers when beastmode came in with Russ and Co near the goalline, and the offense just sat there and took a delay of game, and Pete Carroll looking all confused "like what happened" That was the epic poor clock management

It wasn't that deep of a sack, -6 yards. But I agree, they wasted too much time getting organized after the sack. Knowing it was 3rd down and that they couldn't line up and spike it, they should have burned that last timeout then try to hit a quick 10–15-yard sideline pass before attempting a 61-62 yd FG. I'll bet their FG kicker was pissed.

That game could spell the end of Matt Eberfluss's NFL HC career. He's already on the hot seat.

[4XPIPS]

It wasn't that deep of a sack, -6 yards. But I agree, they wasted too much time getting organized after the sack. Knowing it was 3rd down and that they couldn't line up and spike it, they should have burned that last timeout then try to hit a quick 10–15-yard sideline pass before attempting a 61-62 yd FG. I'll bet their FG kicker was pissed.

That game could spell the end of Matt Eberfluss's NFL HC career. He's already on the hot seat.

I think a 6 yard sack is pretty driving killing, and I personally think that is pretty deep behind the LOS. If had better pocket awareness he should have stepped up into the pocket, but again it's fast paced and he is a rookie.

Bears coaching staff is in shambles already. Shane Waldron spent all off season working with Caleb Williams, and there was a lot of hype that Shane was going to let it fly with Rome and Caleb, but he was displaced. As we have seen all along once a young QB has changes at OCs, this really messes with their development.

[trents]

I don't even know if I would call it clock mismanagement. It was just, well, no clock management at all.

[River Dog]

It wasn't that deep of a sack, -6 yards. But I agree, they wasted too much time getting organized after the sack. Knowing it was 3rd down and that they couldn't line up and spike it, they should have burned that last timeout then try to hit a quick 10–15-yard sideline pass before attempting a 61-62 yd FG. I'll bet their FG kicker was pissed.

That game could spell the end of Matt Eberfluss's NFL HC career. He's already on the hot seat.

I think a 6 yard sack is pretty driving killing, and I personally think that is pretty deep behind the LOS. If had better pocket awareness he should have stepped up into the pocket, but again it's fast paced and he is a rookie.

Bears coaching staff is in shambles already. Shane Waldron spent all off season working with Caleb Williams, and there was a lot of hype that Shane was going to let it fly with Rome and Caleb, but he was displaced. As we have seen all along once a young QB has chances at OCs, this really messes with their development.

Any negative play or penalty at that point is pretty devasting. I was just saying that it wasn't that big of a sack as far as sacks go. And in looking at the replay, there wasn't much of a pocket for him to step into. #98 DJ Reader did a great job of plugging up the middle. At that point, Williams didn't have much of a choice as he definitely didn't want to retreat and risk losing even more yardage.

The problem was in what happened next. The coaching staff should have realized that in the event of a sack and with all the receivers running downfield, that it was going to take some time to get organized. With no opportunity to spike the ball, they should have called the timeout. IMO this is mostly on the coaching staff, maybe 80/20.

[4XPIPS]

Any negative play or penalty at that point is pretty devasting. I was just saying that it wasn't that big of a sack as far as sacks go. And in looking at the replay, there wasn't much of a pocket for him to step into. #98 DJ Reader did a great job of plugging up the middle. At that point, Williams didn't have much of a choice as he definitely didn't want to retreat and risk losing even more yardage.

The problem was in what happened next. The coaching staff should have realized that in the event of a sack and with all the receivers running downfield, that it was going to take some time to get organized. With no opportunity to spike the ball, they should have called the timeout. IMO this is mostly on the coaching staff, maybe 80/20.

I won't put this on Caleb, as he is a rookie. This clearly is 100% IMO on Eberflus, but instead of owning up to it in the post game he double downed and said that was the right decision. Maybe Eberflus wants to start his holidays early and get the boot sooner than later, because clearly he is on his way out if he clearly doesn't see that the clock management was an issue.

https://sports.yahoo.com/matt-eberflus- ... 57465.html

[c_hawkbob]

Most egregious mismanagement example by a coach, and a QB, that I have ever seen. That's the kind of stuff that'd get a HS coach fired! Has no business whatsoever happening in a pro game.

[River Dog]

I won't put this on Caleb, as he is a rookie. This clearly is 100% IMO on Eberflus, but instead of owning up to it in the post game he double downed and said that was the right decision. Maybe Eberflus wants to start his holidays early and get the boot sooner than later, because clearly he is on his way out if he clearly doesn't see that the clock management was an issue.

https://sports.yahoo.com/matt-eberflus- ... 57465.html

I'm not as forgiving of Williams simply because he's a rookie. If he didn't read a coverage right or opt into the right play call, then I could see attributing a mistake to inexperience. But at every level of football, even with non-quarterbacks, you're taught to keep the game situation in your head, an internal clock. It should come naturally to him, like riding a bike. He has to accept at least a part of the blame. He should have known how much time was on that game clock when the ball was snapped and how much time he had to get rid of it, but he double clutch and opted to throw a 40-yard rainbow pass downfield. At that point in the game, the only way you throw a ball like that is if he has a receiver wide open for an easy TD, which he didn't.

But I'm absolutely with the consensus that the lion's share of the blame goes to the coaching staff, specifically Eberflus. He didn't have play calling responsibility and wasn't responsible for getting the right personnel into the game, so he should have been watching that game clock and down marker, playing the game in his head before it happens, should have known that a QB sack requires several additional seconds for the receivers to hustle back to the LOS before they can hear the next play call and get into position, should have sensed the confusion with Williams trying to communicate with his receivers. He's the one that put the team in a position to fail.

It was kind of funny in our house as we watched the game. After the QB sack, I saw how much time was left on the clock, 30 seconds or so, and knew that the Bears had a timeout so it didn't even occur to me that the clock would be a problem. So, when time expired after that pass, I was as surprised as the players on the field that the game was over. Apparently, my SIL was saying "you don't have enough time!" as Williams uncorked that last pass, but I didn't hear him because I have this habit of screening out or ignoring voices, ie the announcers, when I watch a game, plus my hearing is compromised, so he was laughing while I was saying "WTF?"

[Stream Hawk]

And here it is https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/426 ... aight-loss

[Spohawk5092]

just saw where the Coach is toast!

[River Dog]

And here it is https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/426 ... aight-loss

As the article states, although this screw up was by far the worst, Eberflus wasn't fired just because of this one titanic screw up. They've had several controversial endings to games this season. It's also the first time the Bears have ever fired a coach in mid-season, a fact that ownership was proud of.

It will be interesting to see how the Bears navigate this mess. They've been in negotiations with the City of Chicago over a new stadium deal, and this latest debacle isn't going to help matters as they need public support. They really needed a playoff run to get back in the fan's good graces.

[c_hawkbob]

They always say it wasn't just this screw-up. But Chicago just isn't a team that fires coaches mid season. I firmly believe that this incident is what got Eberflus fired now. And rightly so IMO.

[River Dog]

Outside of Jon Gruden, I can't think of an NFL head coach who deserved to get fired, at least not recently. In retrospect, I felt that Jim Mora Jr. deserved to get fired, but I didn't feel that way on the day after the axe fell.

I have very little sympathy for Eberflus. He's not likely to get another NFL HC job. It was that bad of a screw up and in front of a national audience.

[trents]

They always say it wasn't just this screw-up. But Chicago just isn't a team that fires coaches mid season. I firmly believe that this incident is what got Eberflus fired now. And rightly so IMO.

It certainly does appear to be at least the straw that broke the camel's back. If the Bears had tied the game with a field goal and pulled it out in OT, Eberflus would still have his job today. It's one thing to make a screw up like that by a coach who has a long history of winning, ala Pete Carol, but it's another to be new head coach with no history of winning and pull a boner like that one.

[c_hawkbob]

They always say it wasn't just this screw-up. But Chicago just isn't a team that fires coaches mid season. I firmly believe that this incident is what got Eberflus fired now. And rightly so IMO.

It certainly does appear to be at least the straw that broke the camel's back. If the Bears had tied the game with a field goal and pulled it out in OT, Eberflus would still have his job today. It's one thing to make a screw up like that by a coach who has a long history of winning, ala Pete Carol, but it's another to be new head coach with no history of winning and pull a boner like that one.

I'd guess that even if they'd tied up the game and lost in overtime he'd still be employed today.