Clock Control

What impact will clock control have on the Super Bowl?

Let's not forget Coach Bill Belichick's experience with the New York Giants and head coach Bill Parcells when they faced the Buffalo Bills and Coach Marv Levy in the Big Game in Super Bowl XXV. Coach Levy fielded a team of playmakers led by team ace QB Kelly. Not so the Giants. Their personnel couldn't match up. So how do you protect your D against these good guys?

One way is with clock control. If you have the ball, they can't score. Bud thinks that's a perfect defense.

What happened? The Giants ran the clock for almost 40 minutes. Coach Levy and the Bills only 20 minutes.

Result? On the final drive the Bills trailing by one point moved the ball into easy field goal range. Make it and they win the Big Game!

Missed it.

What will Coach Belichick and Coach Fox do? The stat graphics below picture their clock control performances through the season:

Opp Clock Time Carolina Panthers 2003 through Week 17

The Carolina Panthers lost clock control to Jaxonville, Tennessee, Dallas, Atlanta and Arizona. And lost 3 of the 5 games.

Opp Clock Time New England Patriots 2003 through Week 17

The New England Patriots lost control of the clock in 8 games.

In Sunday's Super Bowl chances are the ground game for both Pats and Panthers will be burning up the clock.

Or the opposition offense will be kept off the field with emphasis with a short, ball control passing attack.

Will Coach Belichick or Coach Fox win the clock control contest?

We'll have to wait to see.

Bud Goode and Bill Sanders

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