How to Use Timeouts?

[Tzar007]

Hello all,

I am a new guy who has just discovered FOF 2004. I downloaded the real roster file, changed the names of teams for each city to have a real NFL simulation and now I enjoy myself managing the Vikings :)

I am calling the plays myself, and I am wondering how should I use the timeouts in this game. I am a Madden player, so I am used in seeing real time go by in a game. But in FOF, it seems the clock stops anyway when it’s time to call a play. The scoreboard disappears, I get to the call play screen and I pick what I want. I don’t see any clock telling me I need to hurry up. Is the time I take deciding on a play calculated in some way? Or does that work?

I would appreciate any advice on this because the help files coming with the game are silent on timeouts usage?

[Cap Ologist]

Welcome to the board.

As far as I know, time moves "behind the scenes" while you are calling plays unless you call a timeout. I don't think that the amount of time you take to select a play has any bearing on the game clock. I haven't done much study in this area, but when I call plays I usually take awhile to go through different options, and I don't get called for too many delay of game penalties.

I'll look at some of my game logs later to get some proof one way or the other, but I'm late for a meeting right now. Be back later.

[Cap Ologist]

dola

1-10-CLE25 (01:49) CLE 31 Green ran inside the right tackle for 2 yards.
Tackled by CIN 42 Logan, assisted by CIN 90 Smith.
CIN called time out.

2-08-CLE27 (01:38) CLE 31 Green ran inside the right guard for 3 yards.
Tackled by CIN 94 Williams, assisted by CIN 51 Hardy.
CIN called time out.

3-05-CLE30 (01:31) CLE 30 White ran outside the right tackle for 1 yard.
Tackled by CIN 47 Scott.
CIN called time out.

-----------

1-10-CIN49 (07:01) CLE 31 Green ran inside the left tackle for 1 yard.
Tackled by CIN 51 Hardy, assisted by CIN 96 Farrior.

2-09-CIN48 (06:23) CLE 31 Green ran around the left tackle for 10 yards.
Tackled by CIN 94 Williams, assisted by CIN 47 Scott.
Key block delivered by CLE 79 Stokes.
--
1-10-CIN38 (05:37) CLE 2 Couch pass completed to 31 Green for 1 yard.
Tackled by CIN 70 Steele, assisted by CIN 47 Scott.

2-09-CIN37 (05:05) CLE 2 Couch pass completed to 85 Johnson for 20 yards.
Tackled by CIN 26 James.

ok, I had a little more time than I thought I did.

As you can see, when the computer calls a timeout (red times) there is about 7-10 seconds that runs off the clock for the play. When the computer doesn't call timeout (green times), about 35-40 seconds runs off the clock.

[Tzar007]

Thanks for the info!

So if I understand correctly, when you are not calling out a timeout and the ball is still in play, it will take on average about 35-40 seconds on the clock before the next play is started (whatever the time I am taking to call a play). If I have thrown an incomplete or went out of bounds, well then no time is taken off the clock of course.

However, if I do call a timeout, less than 10 seconds will be taken off the clock before the next play is started.

Am I right?

[DolphinFan1]

Thanks for the info!

So if I understand correctly, when you are not calling out a timeout and the ball is still in play, it will take on average about 35-40 seconds on the clock before the next play is started (whatever the time I am taking to call a play). If I have thrown an incomplete or went out of bounds, well then no time is taken off the clock of course.

However, if I do call a timeout, less than 10 seconds will be taken off the clock before the next play is started.

Am I right?

For the most part. Keep in mind that if you call your own plays you have an option to run the no huddle. This will save you some time between plays.

[Cap Ologist]

Thanks for the info!

So if I understand correctly, when you are not calling out a timeout and the ball is still in play, it will take on average about 35-40 seconds on the clock before the next play is started (whatever the time I am taking to call a play). If I have thrown an incomplete or went out of bounds, well then no time is taken off the clock of course.

However, if I do call a timeout, less than 10 seconds will be taken off the clock before the next play is started.

Am I right?

The ten seconds is about the time it takes for a play to occur.

[albionmoonlight]

FYI Tzar007

This forum is very underused on this board. You are probably better off posting questions in the general discussion forum.

Welcome aboard.