There hasn’t been much Jim Caldwell has done that has impressed me since he became head coach of the Colts before last season. In some senses he’s a victim of the same tool that has led to his success — having Peyton Manning on your team helps you win as a coach, but Manning’s prowess as an on-field coach detracts from the praise the head coach receives. Caldwell’s quiet demeanor and shy mannerisms certainly don’t help his case with the media either. Though Caldwell seems to be unremarkable as a coach, he’s been taking an unfair beating this week.
The Colts coach has been criticized for calling timeout in the final minute of Indianapolis’ loss to the Jets Saturday. The Colts had taken the lead on an Adam Vinatieri field goal but they left a minute on the clock for the Jets who got an excellent return from Antonio Cromartie on the kickoff. All it took was two straight passes to get the Jets into field goal range at the 34. They then ran LaDainian Tomlinson for two yards to the 32, converting a first down. That’s when Jim Caldwell called a timeout to stop the clock — a call that has resulted in a bevy of criticism.
The Jets at that point were in distance for a 49-yard field goal attempt, and they still had another timeout left. They had three plays to move even closer in field goal range. After the timeout, Mark Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards for an 18-yard pass to the 14, setting up an easy 32-yard field goal to win it. To me, Caldwell is only receiving criticism because the Jets moved the ball successfully after the timeout, not because it was a bad decision.
In the Jets’ current situation after the LT run, there was a strong likelihood that they would be able to move the ball up even closer than the 32. They had enough time for two passes and a run before sending out the field goal unit. Caldwell had essentially concluded his team was toast and that the Jets would be able to kick to win it. He called a timeout to make sure the Jets ran another play hoping for one of two things that could have helped their fate. His idea was to make Mark Sanchez run another play, which given Sanchez’s 33 career interceptions was not a bad plan. Another possibility was that after regrouping because of the timeout, the Colts would select a play that could help them get a sack, taking the Jets out of field goal range.
By calling timeout, he allowed his defense time to come up with the best playcall for the situation, something that could have helped them win the game. As it was, they were already destined to lose based on the situation, so he was trying to give his team a shot to change things with a big play. Obviously Sanchez hit Braylon and that set up an easy field goal, but just because that play was successful doesn’t mean the timeout was a bad call. The defensive playcall was a bad call, the timeout was not a bad decision. If anything the defense should be criticized for the way it played on the final drive, and the kick coverage team for giving Cromartie a good return. That timeout was not a bad decision, and not what cost them.
