The Legend Of Halftime Adjustments
September 30th, 2014
Like former Bucs commander Greg Schiano, current Bucs coach Lovie Smith dismisses the concept of “halftime adjustments.”
Pardon Joe if he thinks too much about football, but he always though the term “halftime adjustments” had more to do with jock straps than football.
Football, Joe is convinced, is like baseball. Adjustments are made play-to-play, drive-to-drive, much like baseball adjusts pitch-to-pitch. If one waits until halftime to change things, then the game is likely over.
Joe fondly remembers how former Bucs commander Greg Schiano often referred to halftime adjustments as a time to drop a No. 2 and have a snack.
Bucs fans raked him over the coals for such a philosophy. So it is interesting to Joe that Lovie Smith has about the same mentality, so Lovie explained yesterday.
“A lot of times everybody thinks ‘OK, it’s halftime you go in and make some adjustments and then everything is fine.’ No, we stay with the plan. You have a 60-minute plan and part of the 60-minute plan isn’t for some things to happen at the end,” Lovie said.
“We ran some plays that we saved for the second half. But we felt like we were right where we needed to be going in at the half. I did like what we were able to do on the offensive side and that some of things that we tried to get accomplished, we felt like we could get some good matchups on the outside, and were able to get the ball to some of our players that we haven’t been able to in the past. … As I mentioned yesterday, Marcus [Arroyo] and the rest of the offensive staff did a good job of over the course of the game getting us in plays at the end that were successful.”
Joe is now waiting for the torch and pitchfork crowd to come after Lovie. Joe has a hunch that won’t happen, because the haters don’t hate Lovie the way they wanted to skin Schiano.
And let the record show: Joe also believes halftime adjustments are for bowel movements. Any team that waits until halftime to adjust, may as well start their mock drafts at halftime — or its coaches should update their resumes at Kinkos.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:10 am
And you expect Lovie to tell you how he does halftime adjustments? Obviously, we went to an end around in the second half that worked. You take what the other side gives you.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:28 am
Biggest adjustment was letting the Cannon sling the rock for 40-plus times.
And I think we all loved that. Let’s keep it going.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:43 am
Why is it one extreme or the other? How about adjusting during the game but getting a little deeper look at halftime while eating your ring dings? Wasting halftime is as silly as not adjusting during the game. Halftime adjustments dont mean you sit on your thumbs the rest of the game.
Besides, these are grown ass men. Grown men know how to get on a shitting schedule and get that done in the morning.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:46 am
the reason we didn’t like the fact of having no adjustments under Schiano is because we sucked in the second half
September 30th, 2014 at 7:51 am
Like I said when everyone ripped schiano apart for what he said about half time adjustments. You’re making adjustments all game and throughout the game. Halftime I’m sure they stick with the plan but tweak it abit. It is a good breather for these guys as well.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:56 am
Unrelated topic:
My favorite play of the game (aside from the winning TD catch) is watching Troy Polamalu and is stupid “time the snap count , always off sides, finally gets called for it play” fail!! He is such a bum, all game I wanted to see javorski lane just blow him up…….. ok, I am done!
September 30th, 2014 at 8:12 am
I think there used to be halftime adjustments when the interval was much longer, but 12 minutes is just time enough to say a few words to the players.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:26 am
That is painting with a very broad brush. Sometimes an opposing team’s game plan is so different than what was anticipated that it takes halftime to fully address it. If a team is not far from the mark then it does not take an intermission. Most of us have watched too much football to not believe that halftime adjustments are not real and play a huge part in a game’s outcome. We have watched as a team is completely outmatched in the 1st only to come out in 2nd half and destroy a team. That is a result of adjustments. Hasn’t Joe written many times about the Rah regime and their ability to adjust at the half only to now claim that they are only for voiding the bowels?
September 30th, 2014 at 8:32 am
Oops double negative.
Most of us have watched too much football to not believe that halftime adjustments are not real and play a huge part in a game’s outcome.
Meant
Most of us have watched too much football to believe that halftime adjustments are not real and play a huge part in a game’s outcome.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:39 am
Raiders fired their head coach. Wonder if they would trade Carr to us, since they’ve lost 4 games straight?
Ironic thing…Greg Olson might become the Raiders interim head coach!
September 30th, 2014 at 8:39 am
Brain breaks are effective. I play an instrument. Sometimes I take a “halftime” and come out swinging without changing anything strategic or technical.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:42 am
Half time adjustments and motivational speeches are the biggest joke in football and life.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:43 am
I think half time adjustments amongst the players is a myth. Coaches might have time to make them, certainly, but I doubt halftime is used for little more than a speech and refreshing.
Maybe to fire them up more.
Other than a little advice to individual players from time to time I think.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:44 am
Lovie seems like a chip off the old block Dungy, or is it the other way around. I don’t know which one is older. Listening to either one after a game it’s hard to tell if the team just won or lost the game. Talk about emotionless indifference. Halftime adjustments? Yeah, Glennon came out in the second half and lead our Bucs to the win.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:53 am
I agree about Polamalu’s ugly attempt at jumping the snap. Another near washed up Steeler has been on defense. That mop of hair needs to go sport, because it looks freaking ridiculous.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:05 am
“the torch and pitchfork crowd”
….and the head of the spear being the local media.
__________________________________________________
Do reporters actually have friends?
I just can’t imagine having lengthy conversations with a supposed reporter friend, whilst they try to read some message between the lines all the time. Hanging on every word, or facial emotion, as if I have some hidden agenda.
I mean c’mon, if I’m picking my seat does it really mean I have crap in my boxers? lol
September 30th, 2014 at 9:47 am
At halftime, I noted here that you can’t win with 11 attempts week and week out. Not in this day and age when offenses are taking advantage of the change in rules to benefit receivers. They made the adjustment (really out of necessity because they were down and doing nothing on the ground). Note they did NOT make the adjustment in the 1st 2 games because the games were close.
I don’t think Lovie has the killer instinct to be very aggressive on offense in the 1st half. That may be his downfall for the rest of the season. Hopefully not
September 30th, 2014 at 9:56 am
More like half of an adjustment all of the time
September 30th, 2014 at 11:15 am
He’s right. We just didn’t execute in the first half. People don’t realize that a dropped pass that kills a drive is huge…you could lose 50-60 yards of offense and 7 points off of that one play…the same can be said for dumb penalties. We just have to be more consistent at the easy things like catching footballs and snapping the damn ball before the play clock expires.
September 30th, 2014 at 11:48 am
Fire Lovie Smith. His is a has been.
Can evaluate talent.
Crappy play calling.
Surrounds himself with Yes men fall guys.
September 30th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
jo_mama Says
“Fire Lovie Smith. His is a has been.”
That lowers the value of your opinion in my eyes, not that it matters.
September 30th, 2014 at 12:10 pm
There’s a balance, it’s as simple as that.
September 30th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
“Likely something that came out of the south end of a northbound kangaroo.”
Matthew Quigley
September 30th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
I like your passion jo_mamma, but even I would say give Lovie until the end of the season to show us if he can be a good Bucs coach or not (yeah I know he had three or four good seasons out of 9 awhile back in Chicago, but it’s about what he’s done now which is put up a 0.250 winning pct,) I will give him credit for having the team far better prepared last Sunday than they had been in the prior 3 weeks.
September 30th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
19 – 9.
I liked the Hire at first.
Then he went to a career back up over Glennon.
I like the Hire at First.
Then he Dumped Miked Williams.
I like the Hire at First.
THen he dumped our Entire offensive Line.
I liked the Hire at First.
Then he Ignored Incognito.
I liked the Hire at first.
Even though he brought on Leslie Fraser.
If it was not for McCown Injury. We would still have McCown.
Lovie HAD nothing to do with this victory.
Don’t let anyone tell you different and because of that. FIRE Lovie.
September 30th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Hey Jo_mama! He brought Incognito in. Who is Incognito playing for this year? He could be playing now without a guaranteed contract and he is still at home on the couch. NOBODY wants him, not just Lovie.
September 30th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Boomer, the year over yet. Dont you have a pool to take care of?
September 30th, 2014 at 1:52 pm
I pay people to clean my pool Jo. You need a job?
September 30th, 2014 at 6:28 pm
Sorry wrong boomer
September 30th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Some people will only give Lovie blame for loses and no credit for a win. And have the nerve to question Lovies logic. Go figure!