Importance of leadership

That's a theory of mine, or maybe not mine, but one that I've come to believe to be true.  An example today happened in the NFL when the Colts beat the Lions on the last play of the game.

The point that I'm making about this game may be arguable, but even so, the coach definitely made a game losing decision last week against the Texans.  He may have done it again in this game.  How?  On the last offensive possession of the Lions, they were forced to punt.  Instead of snapping the ball and kicking it, they called timeout just before the play clock ran out.  Now, if they snap the ball, the ball will be in the air and the clock will still keep running--- perhaps as long as five seconds.  Counting the snap and the kick, the play may last up to 7 or eight seconds.

If the ball hits the ground, several more seconds could have been taken off.  Seconds are crucial at the end of the game.  Just one second left in a game means a play could be run and that play could be the deciding factor in the game.  There were only 4 seconds left in this game when the last play was run.

What I'm getting at is how much time is taken off the clock after the ball is snapped following a timeout and the ball is punted?  I'm thinking more time could be taken off the clock if they run the play without stopping the clock.  I could be wrong, but with the mistake he made last week against the Texans, I think that his decision to do it this way may have given the Colts time for one extra play.  It was that play that decided the game.

A great coach would have milked the clock for as much time as he could.  I don't think that the Lions' coach did that in this game.  He's responsible because he's in charge.  He's certainly responsible for blowing it last week.  I think he may have done it again.