Since we violated my pet peeves Sunday and since Blitz began the timeout conversation a couple days ago, I will give you my three pet peeves about calling timeouts.

Peeve 1:  Do not call timeout with 2:02 remaining.

It is the trendy fad these days but it does not make sense.  All you gain is two seconds and you risk losing the game by bringing back the pass into the opponent's equation.  When the opponent is in clock-killing mode, they are going to run conservative running plays to keep the clock moving.  Thus, they will often be in second-and 7 or third-and 5 type situations.  If you let the clock go down to 2:00, they will run the ball again and you can use your timeout with 1:55 left.  When you stop the clock at 2:02, you open the door for them to pass.  Why not?  The clock will stop automatically even if incomplete due to the two-minute warning.  So those second and 7s, third-and 5s are now vulnerbale to a safe pass.  You watch, one of these days a team will feel the dagger of a complete pass-first down on a play with 2:02 left.  Two seconds isn't worth that vulnerablity.

Peeve 2:  Don't waste 8-10 seconds when you do call timeout

How many times have you screamed at the TV for a timeout, college, pro games, whatever, only to see 8-10 precious seconds run off before the clock finally stops.  Does this happen all the time or is it just me?  I am not a football technician and I learn alot about line play, zone blitzes, etc., from all you good people, but one thing that is crystal clear to me is when to call timeouts.  It is always clear during the previous play that I will need to use a timeout as soon as the play ends.  I am going to stand next to a striped shirt and scream for a timeout before the previous whistle blows.  I want no extra seconds going off the clock before I finally "get around" to stopping it.  Makes no sense.   The only exception might be on an unexpected sack, but I am still going to be quick.  That's my job.

Peeve 3:  Use you first-half timeouts

This is really extension of Blitz'a comments.  I can see saving your timeouts in the second half.  You might need them for survival at the end.  But the first half is different.  So many teams go into the lockerrom with all three of them in their back pocket.  They are no good there.  There are times during the first half, even during the first drive or whenever, that it makes sense to stop and re-group for a moment.  Call timout, please.  I would rather stop three times and talk than to save for a late first-half field goal, or at least use one or two and save maybe one.  How many times does the losing team end up not using first-half timeouts, when they might not have lost the game if they did.

These are minor points to be sure.  But we all know the fine line in the NFL.  One of the standard expectations is perfecting timeout management.  There's enough elements out of your control.  At least manage perfectly that which is in your control.