End of half timeout usage

[Alan T]

I did a search for "time out" but didn't see anything come up on this, nor have I seen any comments on this before.

Something that has started to bug me alot lately but is really a minor thing is how the time out usage seems backwards at the end of the half. This is the type of thing I never noticed speed simming through seasons, but only when I sat down and have watched games out on Solevision has this started irritating me. (Especially the more I have seen it).

It seems teams are using timeouts backwards at the end of a half. When one team has the ball with only 15-45 seconds left and are trying to drive the ball down the field for one last score before the half, its always the defensive team that calls the time out. (even calling 2 or 3 of them in the last seconds of the half). They do it after first downs when they have no shot at getting the ball back.

Its rather a minor thing as only a couple of times have I seen this cause the offensive team to get a last second touchdown or field goal from it, but its rather an annoyance more than anything now for me. It feels like the end of half timeout code is backwards. I could see a team calling time outs if there is a shot of getting the ball back from a punt for their own last second score, but not this.

The other thing I've noticed which isn't really a bug probably as much as just something not coded in, but when players get injured but stay in the game, the clock seems to stop but the player doesn't have to leave for a play. (Witness a Quarterback getting injured but staying in, the clock stops but QB is there for the next play).

I guess it says something about the quality of the game if I've played this many seasons game by game and my biggest complaint is the time out usage in the last bit of a half. :) Enjoying the game so far. I've gotten to play it alot with my travelling lately. its a great game to play on the airplanes or in airports. I think I have already played fof2k7 more than I played fof2k4, and more than any other version other than fof2.

[gstelmack]

I've seen that as well in 2k4 (Defense using timeouts in a vain hope of getting the ball back, when all they are really doing is giving the offense a better shot at scoring). I've also seen a team call timeout after third down and then punt on fourth instead of just letting the clock run out.

I'd say this is more a quantity issue than a base problem. NFL coaches do this kind of stuff all the time: see Art Shell, Herm Edwards, et al.

[Alan T]

Yeah, don't get me wrong here, I finally decided to post about it after seeing a team lose the chance of making the SBowl due to primarily this. Like I said, if this is the only thing I can find to complain about, then its not a bad sign at all. Just something hopefully to look into why its backwards at some point down the road.

[cuervo72]

What I've wondered about in the past is when timeouts are used outside of the final minutes. It seemed to me (anectdotally) that teams always had their full compliment of timeouts at the end of halves, when in reality teams burn them for any number of silly reasons before then IRL. I've not studied this in FOF though to know if there is any real difference.

[Alan T]

What I've wondered about in the past is when timeouts are used outside of the final minutes. It seemed to me (anectdotally) that teams always had their full compliment of timeouts at the end of halves, when in reality teams burn them for any number of silly reasons before then IRL. I've not studied this in FOF though to know if there is any real difference.

I would agree with this. Without any facts or proof, I don't remember any out of the games I have watched where timeouts were used before the last 3 minutes of a half.

In a normal NFL game, time outs get used for things such as instant replay challenges or such which aren't in this game, but also you see them at times for things like too much crowd noise, miscommunication between QB and coach to what play to call, running too close to a delay of game, etc.

In fof2k7, teams will constantly eat delay of games rather than call a time out for instance. I think overall time out usage can greatly be improved by the AI.. but it by no means is game breaking, just an enjoyment factor for the rare few who choose to sim out games or watch games play by play. Fast simmers won't ever even notice these I doubt.

[Phototropic]

What I've wondered about in the past is when timeouts are used outside of the final minutes. It seemed to me (anectdotally) that teams always had their full compliment of timeouts at the end of halves, when in reality teams burn them for any number of silly reasons before then IRL. I've not studied this in FOF though to know if there is any real difference.
I was thinking about this recently as I call my plays and never have any reason to use timeouts prior to the end of the half. The CPU seems to be the same way although I'm not sure how that would be handled in a sim. I have used timeouts on 4th and short situatuions before and had the CPU decide to punt after lining up to go for it which is cool.

[Maple Leafs]

Yes, timeouts have been messed up for several versions. I seem to recall that in 2004 the team on offence would also use their timeout after third down (giving the other team more time with the ball after a punt). Not sure if that's still happening in the new version.