Todd Bowles And Time Management
January 17th, 2025
Clock management and timeouts.
Is Bucs coach Todd Bowles the perfect coach? No. His lack of aggressiveness with his offense at certain points leaves Joe’s mouth agape.
And his insistence on using pass rushers in pass coverage drives Joe mental — especially when his defense’s hallmark the past three years has been no edge rush in a passing league. And folks wonder why the pass defense is terrible.
Over at BSPN, follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN makes a case that Bowles is a “successful” coach. But Barnwell then jumps deep into the pool of what many Bucs fans scream about: clock management.
Joe is getting worn out by this charge. With all the math geeks and stat nerds who prattle and type endlessly about football minutiae, can one of these MIT professor wannabes come up with a time management plan that is foolproof?
If they have, Joe hasn’t seen it.
Joe doesn’t believe there is one, and that’s why Joe doesn’t bark a whole lot about this with Bowles.
Bill Belichick went on Pat McAfee’s show recently and gave his take on how and when to use timeouts. Seemed pretty insightful.
Then a week or so later, Tom Brady gave his take on the subject during a FOX NFL broadcast and his philosophy was polar opposite of Belichick’s.
The late George Allen often said his goal was to get to the two-minute warning with three timeouts. If he had to use a timeout before the two-minute warning, someone screwed up somewhere and the buck ultimately stopped on his desk.
Barnwell cited only one example of bad clock management from Bowles. Baker Mayfield was already behind center when a timeout was used. Barnwell knocked Bowles for waiting 10 seconds Sunday to call timeout, having wasted the time.
But did Bowles really waste the time? Barnwell provides no context.
Did Bowles think the play was doomed for a pick the way Washington’s defense began to line up? Did the Bucs have the wrong personnel on the field to matchup? Did Mayfield have the wrong formation?
Those would have been valid reasons for Bowles to call a timeout when he did, so Joe isn’t sure Barnwell was fair in this specific example.
If you need to stop the clock, it’s smart to use a timeout right before the two-minute warning. Then you have two clock stoppages close together.
And Joe also likes to have at least one timeout in the final 10 seconds in case you need to set up for a field goal or a desperation play.
If an offense is sharp and schooled correctly, it can control the clock without timeouts using the sidelines effectively and spiking snaps on first downs, and using no-huddles and hurry-up offenses.
Without a proven formula or a masterplan on the correct way to use timeouts, then all this constant barking about clock management (with just about every coach, not just Bowles) is starting to reach the level of hollering about an offensive line just to holler.
Does this mean Bowles manages the clock precisely? No. Joe just thinks there are bigger fish to fry with this team.
Horrid pass defense is Exhibit-A.
January 17th, 2025 at 4:08 am
Perfectly summarized Joe. Clock management without a doubt has been a problem in one loss. Last season. He bets on a defense that lets him down. Dropping guys like JTS and Nelson into pass coverage allows him to supposedly work his magic with the blitz and DL games but at a cost. Teams just throw the short pass at it and kill us with it.
We can’t get off the field on third downs! Third and longs were few and far between, and when we managed to get them…Soft zone and piss poor tackling?
Go Bucs!
January 17th, 2025 at 4:50 am
“Does this mean Bowles manages the clock precisely? No. Just that Joe thinks there are bigger fish to fry with this team. Horrid pass defense is Exhibit-A.”
Good point, Joe.
This got me to thinking, because I’ve been a critic of how we manage the clock.
If our defense was playing as well as the offense is, clock management wouldn’t be as much of a concern.
We’d have had a much more commanding lead in a lot of those close games and wouldn’t have to worry about time outs as much.
True, we’ve got much bigger fish to fry, but clock management is still an issue.
I’m still a bit of a neophyte when it comes to appropriate or best times to call a time out, but even I’ve been able to see over the past couple of seasons that we aren’t using them correctly.
January 17th, 2025 at 5:54 am
Todd Bowles has no flaws. He is the perfect coach. People who want more than an average team are just being ridiculous. After all, the Bucs used to be really bad and now they’re average. Happy Days.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:00 am
It’s time management and situation management.
For example, in the WAS playoff game after the Bucs fumble and WAS scored, the Bucs drove down the field and were faced with a 4th and 4. Bowles kicked the FG and bet on his defense. He didn’t trust his $50 mil QB and HoF WR to get 4 yards. Everyone knew the defense wouldn’t stop them.
There’s so many issues with his philosophy on many things that this team is going nowhere if he stays.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:03 am
Clock management is at the bottom of my list. Poor tackling and Charming pass coverage and dropping any of the front 4 into pass coverage. How many INTs did VV or Clancy or Yaya have? I kid here, but I want them rushing the darn QB. PLEASE!!! Use these guys to run your stunts and twists and get creative. But dropping them into coverage is just plain stupid
January 17th, 2025 at 6:10 am
When you use the timeouts is irrelevant if your D can’t get of the field…
January 17th, 2025 at 6:13 am
It’s about decisiveness. Either call a timeout fast or don’t at all – definitely don’t wait and use up the 10 seconds, it’s the worst of both worlds.
Also, clock management isn’t just all about timeouts. Not running to control the clock when you’re in the red zone and there’s less than two minutes – you can’t score right away and leave some of these GOAT qb’s time on the clock. Everyone knew you couldn’t give Brady, Maning or Brees time on the clock, and it’s now become the case with Mahomes and others. Especially when your defence can’t stop a nosebleed.
There’s no magic formula. It’s situational. It’s game theory (math), understanding nuance and logic.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:36 am
Clock management is just one of the several issues which Bowles has to do better on if he indeed is coming back. I think he should relinquish all time management duties to someone else, what is especially mind boggling is if he is trying to manage the clock and call plays on D at the same time…..
Senor Harry is right in that Bowles also needs to retool this D (and some of the coaching staff), I am sure he is probably telling the Glazers that if he has better talent on that side of the ball, they will be better and he is probably using that as a shield to keep his coaches from getting launched and also retaining his status as play caller on the defense.
The problem is that we fans have seen Bowles total body of work with an assortment of players, with and without injuries. Sure he has had some bright moments but besides beating KC in the Super Bowl (when he was just the DC), he has been mediocre and when he makes a gaffe, man it it a doozy: Cooper Cupp in the 2021 playoffs, clock management issues contributing to numerous losses, his defense letting 3rd string and journeymen qbs look like HOF material, giving up points in a matter of seconds at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters and an inability to win in prime time.
He is also quick to point fingers at the offense and special teams and occasionally calls out a defender but he himself, is has never taken the blame for this team coming up short so many times. Bowles has to do better in 2025 and I simply do not believe you can teach an old dog new tricks as stubbornness is a quality which Bowles certainly has in abundance….. Its a Bucs life.
January 17th, 2025 at 6:39 am
Does a poor pass defense in terms of yards determine playoff success??
3 teams have a worse pass defense than the Bucs.. 2 out of the 3 are still playing
January 17th, 2025 at 6:50 am
I’m with you FMDave. I’ve never heard of Bowles taking any kind of responsibility/accountability. It’s never his fault. Offense, special teams, communication, fundamentals, a play here and there etc. Never I. Andy Reid holds himself responsible, fair or not… Unless, Joe, you know of an instance at the very least of his time as HC in Tampa where he’s held himself responsible?
January 17th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Yes time management in NFL games is very important but, if he fix the defense the Bucs probably want have to clock manage time much
January 17th, 2025 at 7:04 am
Bucs rarely surrender HUGE passes, which seems to be his goal. That comes at the expense of giving up nearly every attempt of 10 yards or less
January 17th, 2025 at 7:40 am
Excellent analysis Joe. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen or heard a good breakdown of issues associated with clock management.
January 17th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Without needing to go back and look at every game Coach Bowles is the HC i can remember at least 4 games where the clock management was crucial to the result or could have been. Its not rocket science.
At Cleveland. Browns got a 1st down inside the 10yd line with 1 munute and 20 seconds. He didnt call a timeout so we can have time to score. Browns bleed the clock and we only had like 25 seconds left.
At Houston. We are inside the 15yd line with almost 50 seconds left, a penalty is called which had a 10 seconds run off. He calls a timeout to avoid that which is a mistake. When you are inside the redzone you dont need 50 seconds to score. You should take the 10 seconds penalty so your opponent does not have time. Houston got the ball with almost 40 seconds and won.
At Dallas. Same as Houston. !st half, inside the 10yd line with 55 seconds calls a timeout. You dont need 55 seconds for 10 yds. Let the clock run and call a timeout if you want with 25 seconds left. That proves that we dont learn from our mistakes. Same situation same mistake.
Washington. The lost seconds from the 1st half. Yes we scored a TD but that does not change the fact that it could have been costly. Those seconds could potentially cost one or two shots at the endzone.
That is just of the top of my head. If we search i m sure we can find more.
Now if we want to downplay it and try to find excuses that is fine.
The fact is he is making wrong decisions. Call it how you want it. But the facts are the facts.
Go Bucs
January 17th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Dubcity touched on where I was going to go. Your pass defense will almost always be worse than your run defense… if you have a good offense and are winning games. That’s not necessarily a defense of Bowles style but a lot of data starts to pile up. What did Joe say yesterday, 3rd in total sacks? End rush or not, they get to the QB. BUT BUT BUT it sure doesn’t feel like it.
I was surprised at Bowles burning a timeout after burning so many seconds but upon reflection, maybe the man was trying to make sure that the opponent had no time on the other side.
In the end, I put time management and dropping your ends into coverage in the same bucket: Management style. And yes, I want a Simeon Rice on the team.
January 17th, 2025 at 7:57 am
” Did Bowles think the play was doomed for a pick the way Washington’s defense began to line up?”
How would he know what that looks like?
January 17th, 2025 at 8:18 am
I’m no MIT professor but yes, here is the solution.
1) DON’T leave timeouts on the board. The are free.
2) DON’T wait 15 or more seconds to figure out if you want to call a time out. Time on the clock is NOT free. Easy, right?
January 17th, 2025 at 8:24 am
he sucks at this
January 17th, 2025 at 8:24 am
If it isn’t an issue then why are we constantly talking about it? Theres clearly a trend here, you never heard this constant kind of talk around Brady or Belichick regardless if they have the same stance or not.
The reason this is a huge problem is because time management shouldn’t be an issue at the NFL level, that’s something that should’ve been learned early in the coaching career.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:31 am
The only reason Bowles D looked so good against KC in the SB was KC was missing 4 out of 5 starting offensive lineman and Mahomes had a bad ankle. The next year he showed his true colors against the Rams by pissing down his leg at the end of regulation by single covering the league MVP Cooper Kupp and giving up the sidelines when the Rams had no timeouts. His defenses have been awful ever since.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Some questions first for our hosts the JJJoes.
I don’t think anybody disagrees with the value of an edge rush. But IMHO I do not care where the sacks come from as long as the QB is on the ground and the play is dead and of course a bonus is a strip sack or forced fumble.
And so when you go to the stats the Bucs #of sacks was in the top ten, they were tied for sixth with Chargers at 46. Only five teams exceeded them. IE they were SUCCESSFUL. Perhaps they came during non dramatic situations and we simply didn’t give TB’s D enough credit for getting to the QB. IE I think the pass rush is perhaps one of the LEAST of the Bucs issues heading into the draft.
Time Management/no risk taking. I address the latter first. Bowles showed he could evolve this year!!! He started taking the ball instead of always kicking off with a victorious coin toss. He saw that with Bucky’s emergence, ME13 and crew and Mayfield and Coen’s play calling he was finally FREE to RECEIVE the ball instead of kicking it. He was AGGRESSIVE.
But the gamble that blew my mind was going for it on 4th and LONG with ten minutes to play. It was for ALL the marbles in a virtual playoff game at the time, win or stay home, the Falcons hadn’t lost yet. That call required some MONSTER SIZE HUEVOS!!!
The ten seconds in the playoff can be disputed but why? It didn’t change the game.
So I just gave SPECIFIC examples. I would love for somebody who wants Bowles gone to do the same freaking thing for me.
SPECIFICALLY how many times did Bowles actually mess it up during his three years. I can think of a few but I honestly don’t remember them specfically because I move on from the negative. But it’s a fair criticism I’m just hoping to document HOW critical those muffs were and HOW many times it’s happened.
We can then weigh that negative along with the fact that Bowles plays a style of D many here do not like in terms of pass coverage. We can debate that in another post.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Amen!
January 17th, 2025 at 8:36 am
By mess it up I’m talking time managment.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:38 am
When your goal is to play for overtime, which I believe Bowles’ is, timeouts in the last 2 minutes are of the utmost importance.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Bowles has done a lot of things I don’t understand. I think he said something about not liking to use timeouts in the first half. If he actually said that, that’s not normal behavior of a successful HC.
I agree on the pass defense being more of an important issue. I’d really like to know the stats on when Bowles drops his pass rushers in coverage: How many times does the blitzer get a sack? How often does the big guy in coverage make a play? It doesn’t seem to be something that works, but we saw it plenty of times last year.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Context is so important to the discussion of time management. And fans rarely care for context. If you hate Bowles, they’ll be the arbitrary “he’s terrible with time management” comments, no real obvious example. I mean people are complaining about the first half of the playoff game, why didn’t he take a time out there sooner? Against Dallas? He left too much time on the clock. I’d also like to point out regarding that first half against Washington that the offense was in hurry up, do we know if Bowles, in that situation gives time mgmt over to the offense? Coen and Baker at that point are probably calling the timeouts because they’re controlling what’s happening next…I’m sure Bowles is asking himself in that moment, “what are they waiting for?”.
Everyone’s expert. I think time management issues happen all over the league. Was it against Washington where Raheem had a couple of massive blunders with time management? This happens. Because we follow this team every game, we see it all. Just keep in mind there is a lot going on in those headsets at any given time in-between plays, what his positional coaches are seeing on the field, personnel changes are happening. etc. It’s controlled chaos.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:51 am
Context is so important to the discussion of time management. And fans rarely care for context. If you hate Bowles, they’ll be the arbitrary “he’s terrible with time management” comments, no real obvious example. I mean people are complaining about the first half of the playoff game, why didn’t he take a time out there sooner? Against Dallas? He left too much time on the clock. I’d also like to point out regarding that first half against Washington that the offense was in hurry up, do we know if Bowles, in that situation gives time mgmt over to the offense? Coen and Baker at that point are probably calling the timeouts because they’re controlling what’s happening next…I’m sure Bowles is asking himself in that moment, “what are they waiting for?”.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:51 am
Everyone’s expert. I think time management issues happen all over the league. Was it against Washington where Raheem had a couple of massive blunders with time management? This happens. Because we follow this team every game, we see it all. Just keep in mind there is a lot going on in those headsets at any given time in-between plays, what his positional coaches are seeing on the field, personnel changes are happening. etc. It’s controlled chaos.
January 17th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Look out. Here comes the off-season of rationaliztion and….just hear me out, now…. and why you shouldn’t believe your own eyes and how Pravda wasn’t really all that bad. And how all those other media outlets are way off base. And remember it was that one play when the fumble occurred and not the full defensive collapse that followed. BTW..Did I tell you today that Bowles is not going to be fired. And remember he did win the division!
Good grief.
Insert Joe’s snark below.
January 17th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Lots of great comments here. I’m most concerned with the end of game defense, which reflects the Bucs overall poor pass defense.
It’s my impression that in today’s NFL, if you have a top 10 quarterback, the offenses are generally successful in an end-of-game scenario. NFL offenses just seem to have the edge over defenses, period. If i’m an NFL coach, I’m really pushing to maintain an 8pt lead or greater if I’m facing a good QB.
The Bucs need a better pass defense: scheme, 4-man rush, DB’s who can cover in man, etc.
January 17th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Will do:
Guess you are one of the (many?) who preferred to be lied to?
Once again, if Joe had reliable information that Bowles was going to be launched, he’d write it.
If anyone thinks Joe believes Bowles is the next Bill Walsh, they clearly don’t read this site. Go ahead and access the free archives and type in “edge rush” or “pass defense” and watch what pops up.
January 17th, 2025 at 9:44 am
4 of the top 10 pass defenses made the playoffs
6 of the bottom 10 defense made the plays
3 of the top 10 still playing
3 of the bottom 10 still playing
The 3 at the bottom have better combined records
Obviously there’s more to the equation than just pass defense. Aim to improve in areas of weakness, of course.. but turnovers in crucial moments, like the fumble in ATL game and the Washington game were game changers.
A few draft pieces on defense, a little more health, and they’ll be dominant next year.. blaming everything on a coach while giving him zero credit for the successes is asinine
January 17th, 2025 at 9:46 am
What’s not to like about Todd?
Not aggressive
Poor click management
Horrible defensive scheme
Wins about half his games
We are truly blessed
January 17th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Excellent clock management analysis Joe. I kept thinking though that the title ‘Todd Bowles and TIME Management’ is probably broader than just how a HC uses time-outs and the like. Many commenters focused on the time-outs aspect, but several others looked at it from a broader perspective. Things like going for it on 4th down to (hopefully) keep possession (and put more points on the board), or the use of hurry-up (or slow-down) to MANAGE the time of possession (TOP).
When Todd Bowles calls time-outs (or when he doesn’t) is probably a valid critique, but I don’t think it’s as important as TOP MANAGEMENT. And along those lines, I’ll give our HC (and our OC) mega-kudos for improving our TOP over the past 3 years.
In 2020 under BA, Bucs had a TOP of 29:06 to rank #21. In 2021 (still under BA) that improved by a whole minute to 30:11 to rank #18. And of course we were a passing team.
Bowles took over in 2022 and our TOP plummeted to 28:54 to rank #28. Interestingly that was our worst year since 2019 in both offense (ranked #25 in scoring) and in defense (ranked #13). Of course we had a lot of personnel changes as well as a number of key injuries to starters. But we were still a passing team.
But then something interesting happened in 2023. Tom Brady retired & Baker Mayfield took over (with a new OC). Quite a few personnel changes due to salary CAP issues. Less emphasis on passing & more emphasis on running the ball. Our offense improved to #20 and our defense to #7. Coincidentally our TOP improved to 29:35 to rank #17. That emphasis on running the ball continued in 2024, as our offense ranked #4, but our defense fell to #16. Our TOP however improved dramatically to 31:41 (over 2 minute improvement) and we ranked #3 last year in TOP. That’s the highest TOP we’ve had since 2003 when Chucky hit 31:42. I’d say that Todd Bowles emphasis on running the ball more is paying some dividends.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:23 am
But the clock management worked at the end of the first. The Bucs scored a TD and left only 10s on the clock. If they called the timeout, there’s 10 more secs and, with the way the D played, Wash would have had enough time for a field goal.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:32 am
DR, good to see you back.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:42 am
The obvious solution is to have and keep a two or more score advantage at the end of the half and especially at the end of regulation. Then he can keep ALL of his time-outs to himself!
January 17th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Granted, this is hard to do when the officiating is constantly working against you.
January 17th, 2025 at 10:44 am
His non usage at times doesn’t make sense to me. I get that you don’t want to help the opposing offense at the end of a half by giving them more time but if Bowles trusts his D which he does, why doesn’t he use the timeouts to give them a rest. We all know Vea can use rests out there. Also, maybe that means we get the ball with 20 seconds left …
In which case I hate his turnover risk aversion, 20 seconds left, take a shot down the field to Mike or Palmer or Culp down the seam. A PI might have you in FG range before end of half. Don’t we want 3 points?
Also in that Wash game pre 2 min warning… wasn’t it 2nd and 9 with about 2:35 on the clock? Take the timeout. Don’t waste all those seconds pre 2 min warning especially if they are in a passing down and distance. I might be wrong on the scenario there but I recall numerous instances such as that.
I just don’t get these coaches sometimes, not just Bowles, KOC on the weekend and I think there was another… down 3 scores end of 3rd quarter start of 4th and teams are using run plays for 2 yards, taking 30-40 seconds off the clock before next play… someone explain the strategy here? How are teams not in hurry up and passing just about every down, down 3 scores with 15 mins left? Where’s the urgency?
January 17th, 2025 at 11:16 am
Bowles record speaks for itself 53-65 in regular season as HC and 1-3 in the playoffs. What good is a Defensive HC if you’re D is constantly at bottom end of league in rankings. Biggest 3rd down of season against Commanders and we dropped 2DEs in Coverage 🤦♂️unbelievable.
January 17th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Oh, come on Joe. This is about the easiest blatant issue to see with Bowles that there is… he simply doesn’t know how to manage the clock.
January 17th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
“Joe thinks there are bigger fish to fry with this team. Horrid pass defense is Exhibit-A.”
That can be justified/ explained away by injuries. The secondary WAS decimated by injuries.
Sack total was very acceptable, showed Bowles adaptability.
Dropping VV or Diaby into coverage is head scratching stuff. JTS or even Anthony in coverage makes more sense.
Using a TO right before the 2 min warning is often good strategy.
What is severely lacking in a game of inches is Bowles’ situational awareness; especially when it costs you a few games
January 17th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
D.R.
As always excellent analysis! I also agree with Permanently Moderated..”Welcome Back”.
I stayed away for couple of months after the voracious software kept eating my posts. Came back and tried again and it’s been OK since then.
Gotta confess at “our ages” I feared something healthwise had happened glad to see you again.
I LOVE JBF. As a former sports journalist I have the utmost respect for the JJoes and the way they operate their blog. They are the hardest working dudes around and clearly love their jobs and I love joy in my life and these guys are happy warriors.
Having said all of that I have to equate them a bit to Todd Bowles. They and others here want to fix the D and believe Todd needs to hire a DC.
I think the JJoes fabulous work is undermined by a Tech guy every bit as bad as Bowles pass defense. I do not blame JJoes for all the posts that get consumed but just like with Bowles you gotta ask WHO is in charge of the technology.
The JJoes are incredibly busy covering the Bucs for us. I’m sure they’re also busy successful businessmen with this blog. I could make similar “styled” arguments for Bowles leadership but when it comes down to the W’s and L’ the JJoes have to confess their technology has sucked for several seasons now.
I do not have the answer other than perhaps spend some more bucks or due diligence to find a decent tech guy who can live up to the rest of the high standards here at JBF.
January 17th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
St Pete … Actually you were right about the ‘healthwise’ (took several months to diagnose but in 10 days I’m about to become really good friends with a renouned cardiac surgeon). If I remember right St Pete, you’ve already ‘been there & done that’.
I agree 100% with you in that ‘I have the utmost respect for the JJoes and the way they operate their blog’ (nice touch on the JJoes BTW). I’ve never really had a problem with their software. and personally think that most of the issues that do arise will be ‘corrected’ by AI in the future (real-time feedback, ie, ‘No you can’t say that’ is in our future).
January 17th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Where the sacks come from is very important. With a dominant EDGE and two strong DT’s, a QB like Jayden Daniels has a hard time escaping a pass rush. The middle is shut down and the other side can be covered by a committee headed by YaYa Diaby.
Increasing QB pressure automatically makes Bucs pathetic secondary look better. Bucs shouldn’t waste anymore time trying to draft EDGE. Use 1 and 2 picks to buy one.
January 17th, 2025 at 8:32 pm
@Defense Rules – good luck in surgery!