(01-15-2024, 10:10 PM)Ladypanther Wrote: https://theathletic.com/5200955/2024/01/15/tua-tagovailoa-dolphins-contract-kirk-cousins/

The table below shows the teams and coaches since 2017 that have used the highest percentage of their timeouts with at least 5:00 remaining in the second half, counting playoffs. Sixteen of the 21 coaches are offensive play callers, some of them very good ones. These coaches love calling plays so much that they sacrifice timeouts when play clocks run low, figuring the time will help them dial up the perfect plays. Some of the timeouts surely were justified, but timeouts like the one McVay called Sunday carry outsized value in end-of-game scenarios.

'17-23 % Timeouts Called Above 5:00 4Q
RANK
TEAM (SEASON)
COACH
TO USE %

1
Saints (2018)
Sean Payton
27%

2
Packers (2021)
Matt LaFleur
25%

3
Saints (2019)
Sean Payton
24%
4
Packers (2017)
Mike McCarthy
20%


5
Saints (2020)
Sean Payton
20%


6
Bills (2023)
Sean McDermott
19%


7
Cardinals (2022)
Kliff Kingsbury
19%


8
Rams (2018)
Sean McVay
19%


9
Packers (2019)
Matt LaFleur
18%


10
Bears (2018)
Matt Nagy
18%


11
Bengals (2021)
Zac Taylor
18%


12
Raiders (2018)
Jon Gruden
18%


13
Steelers (2023)
Mike Tomlin
18%


14
Rams (2022)
Sean McVay
18%


15
Ravens (2019)
John Harbaugh
17%


16
49ers (2017)
Kyle Shanahan
17%


17
Seahawks (2018)
Pete Carroll
17%


18
Cardinals (2021)
Kliff Kingsbury
17%


19
Bengals (2022)
Zac Taylor
16%


20
Seahawks (2019)
Pete Carroll
16%


20
Rams (2023)
Sean McVay

(Don't know how to get these tables in here)


This Rams team has accomplished so much by embracing young players, putting out maximum effort each week and scheming with great skill. This team never would have even reached the playoffs if McVay weren’t an elite coach. Some tightening up on the game-management front, specifically regarding timeout usage, could make the difference with a season on the line.

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