CFZ The myth of “halftime adjustments”

[Bobhaze]

It’s a long held belief that when a team comes out for the second half of a game and plays significantly better, that the coaches made some great “halftime adjustments”. In actuality, most of the time, there are few major adjustments being made at the half. Several NFL players have pointed this out.

Last year, I was tuned in to a “Manning cast” broadcast on Monday Night Football, and both Peyton and Eli made it clear that halftime adjustments are mostly a myth based on their collective experiences in the NFL. I’ve also heard Troy Aikman say that many times. Former Ravens coach Brian Bilick was quoted in a 2018 article in the LA Times (sorry can’t link it because of paywall):

“In all my years in the NFL, I can’t think of a single ‘Let’s go win one for the Gipper’ halftime speech,” said Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick, among the more eloquent speakers in the game. “It’s certainly more about, ‘Here’s what happened. Here’s what we’re going to start out doing in the second half.’ It’s the same way with people saying these teams make these brilliant halftime adjustments. I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen people make adjustments during the course of the game. I’ve seen people adjust during the second half. But I’ve never heard of anybody at halftime getting this flash of divine inspiration: ‘Oh, let’s do this!’ ” ​

Here are some of the reasons why halftime adjustments are mostly a myth:

• First and foremost, adjustments are actually being made the whole game. The best HCs and coordinators are adjusting game plans, plays and noticing what the other team is doing throughout the game. Most coaches say if you wait until half to make adjustments, it’s too late.

• Many coordinators are up in the press box- by the time they get to the locker room and take a restroom break, there’s no time for big speeches or charts. Sometimes position coaches may circle up a few players, but big halftime speeches or adjustments usually aren’t happening.

• By the time players get to locker room and take restroom breaks, there is very little time for much else. I recent heard Dak say in an interview there’s not a lot said at the half. NFL halftimes only last 15 minutes. By the time players get off the field, there’s just not much time.

So the next time you hear the old saying, “They made some great halftime adjustments”, just know that’s mostly a myth.

 

[RonnieT24]

While I agree the grandiose speeches and earth-shattering blackboard sessions are rare, I don't think adjustments have to be all that to be effective. A team can simply decide that "damn it we are GOING to run the ball" during halftime. I don't care if it happens in the locker room or in the tunnel walking in or out of the locker room. The net effect is the same. I think a good 10-12 minutes to digest what happened on the field without worrying about what the next play is going to be is extremely valuable for good coordinators.

It also bears noting that the coaches don't necessarily need to speak directly to the players about what adjustments they are planning on making in the second half. Quinn can decide that he's going to use Micah more on the left side vs the right side without clearing if with Micah. Moore can decide to throw it to the backs more without clearing it with Dak.. and so on.. So the notion that if they can't all get into a room together and hash things out then nothing can happen is a flawed premise at best.

Finally.. we all know not all halftimes last 15 minutes. Thanksgiving is closer to 20 minutes and we know the Super Bowl is creepin up toward 30.

 

[Established1971]

I dont know, people spin things. It would be to a players advantage to say the improvement came just from players playing better. I wouldnt put too much credence in "players have pointed this out"
That said, its probably sometimes adjustments are made and sometimes not. And when they are sometimes they work and sometimes they dont.

 

[RonnieT24]

I dont know, people spin things. It would be to a players advantage to say the improvement came just from players playing better. I wouldnt put too much credence in "players have pointed this out"
That said, its probably sometimes adjustments are made and sometimes not. And when they are sometimes they work and sometimes they dont.

I also think that a lot of times a player can play over his head for a while but eventually the superior player will start to win. Nate Newton likes to talk about how back in the day they didn't mind leaning on the defensive front for 1,2 and 3 yard gains in the first half because in the second half those would slowly turn into 4,5 and 6 yard runs, and then 9,10 and 20+ yard runs. If you are better than the guy in front of you, that will bear out over time.

 

[Vtwin]

I always took "halftime adjustments" to mean the coaching staff taking the break to consider adjustments to play calling strategy and/or fine tuning the plan based on what they've seen in the first half.

I never even thought of rah rah speeches being an adjustment.

Sure you want your coaches to be adjusting on the fly but I'd be very surprised if they don't spend some time fine tuning things for the second half during the break.

 

[Risen Star]

Oh, Bob.

Landry invented the flex defense at halftime.

 

[john van brocklin]

It’s a long held belief that when a team comes out for the second half of a game and plays significantly better, that the coaches made some great “halftime adjustments”. In actuality, most of the time, there are few major adjustments being made at the half. Several NFL players have pointed this out.

Last year, I was tuned in to a “Manning cast” broadcast on Monday Night Football, and both Peyton and Eli made it clear that halftime adjustments are mostly a myth based on their collective experiences in the NFL. I’ve also heard Troy Aikman say that many times. Former Ravens coach Brian Bilick was quoted in a 2018 article in the LA Times (sorry can’t link it because of paywall):

“In all my years in the NFL, I can’t think of a single ‘Let’s go win one for the Gipper’ halftime speech,” said Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick, among the more eloquent speakers in the game. “It’s certainly more about, ‘Here’s what happened. Here’s what we’re going to start out doing in the second half.’ It’s the same way with people saying these teams make these brilliant halftime adjustments. I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen people make adjustments during the course of the game. I’ve seen people adjust during the second half. But I’ve never heard of anybody at halftime getting this flash of divine inspiration: ‘Oh, let’s do this!’ ” ​

Here are some of the reasons why halftime adjustments are mostly a myth:

• First and foremost, adjustments are actually being made the whole game. The best HCs and coordinators are adjusting game plans, plays and noticing what the other team is doing throughout the game. Most coaches say if you wait until half to make adjustments, it’s too late.

• Many coordinators are up in the press box- by the time they get to the locker room and take a restroom break, there’s no time for big speeches or charts. Sometimes position coaches may circle up a few players, but big halftime speeches or adjustments usually aren’t happening.

• By the time players get to locker room and take restroom breaks, there is very little time for much else. I recent heard Dak say in an interview there’s not a lot said at the half. NFL halftimes only last 15 minutes. By the time players get off the field, there’s just not much time.

So the next time you hear the old saying, “They made some great halftime adjustments”, just know that’s mostly a myth.

Interesting info and take.
We seem to playing better the second half for some reason.

 

[Risen Star]

Interesting info and take.
We seem to playing better the second half for some reason.

Trying to keep pace with our talent is exhausting.

 

[Bobhaze]

I always took "halftime adjustments" to mean the coaching staff taking the break to consider adjustments to play calling strategy and/or fine tuning the plan based on what they've seen in the first half.

I never even thought of rah rah speeches being an adjustment.

Sure you want your coaches to be adjusting on the fly but I'd be very surprised if they don't spend some time fine tuning things for the second half during the break.

Former Ravens coach Brian Bilick said (quoted in the OP) “…the same way with people saying these teams make these brilliant halftime adjustments. I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen people make adjustments during the course of the game. I’ve seen people adjust during the second half. But I’ve never heard of anybody at halftime getting this flash of divine inspiration: ‘Oh, let’s do this!’ ”

Famous college coach Mike Leach used to say when he was at Texas Tech that halftime was too late for adjustments and that usually when things aren’t working, it’s because of poor play execution. Leach called adjustments, “players playing better”.

 

[Doomsday101]

It’s a long held belief that when a team comes out for the second half of a game and plays significantly better, that the coaches made some great “halftime adjustments”. In actuality, most of the time, there are few major adjustments being made at the half. Several NFL players have pointed this out.

Last year, I was tuned in to a “Manning cast” broadcast on Monday Night Football, and both Peyton and Eli made it clear that halftime adjustments are mostly a myth based on their collective experiences in the NFL. I’ve also heard Troy Aikman say that many times. Former Ravens coach Brian Bilick was quoted in a 2018 article in the LA Times (sorry can’t link it because of paywall):

“In all my years in the NFL, I can’t think of a single ‘Let’s go win one for the Gipper’ halftime speech,” said Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick, among the more eloquent speakers in the game. “It’s certainly more about, ‘Here’s what happened. Here’s what we’re going to start out doing in the second half.’ It’s the same way with people saying these teams make these brilliant halftime adjustments. I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen people make adjustments during the course of the game. I’ve seen people adjust during the second half. But I’ve never heard of anybody at halftime getting this flash of divine inspiration: ‘Oh, let’s do this!’ ” ​

Here are some of the reasons why halftime adjustments are mostly a myth:

• First and foremost, adjustments are actually being made the whole game. The best HCs and coordinators are adjusting game plans, plays and noticing what the other team is doing throughout the game. Most coaches say if you wait until half to make adjustments, it’s too late.

• Many coordinators are up in the press box- by the time they get to the locker room and take a restroom break, there’s no time for big speeches or charts. Sometimes position coaches may circle up a few players, but big halftime speeches or adjustments usually aren’t happening.

• By the time players get to locker room and take restroom breaks, there is very little time for much else. I recent heard Dak say in an interview there’s not a lot said at the half. NFL halftimes only last 15 minutes. By the time players get off the field, there’s just not much time.

So the next time you hear the old saying, “They made some great halftime adjustments”, just know that’s mostly a myth.

I agree, I think adjustments are taking place throughout the game, You see players with the surface pros going over things with position coaches during the game more so than the few min they get in the locker room

 

[Bobhaze]

I agree, I think adjustments are taking place throughout the game, You see players with the surface pros going over things with position coaches during the game more so than the few min they get in the locker room

Exactly. If you watch and listen to players that are mic-Ed up on the sidelines, they are constantly looking at photos, videos and getting input from coaches in the booth. Lots of adjustments are happening the whole game.

 

[Doomsday101]

Exactly. If you watch and listen to players that are mic-Ed up on the sidelines, they are constantly looking at photos, videos and getting input from coaches in the booth. Lots of adjustments are happening the whole game.

Yeah by the time the teams get to the locker room for a 15 min halftime you got little time to address much. I'm sure HC has some things he wants to say to players but overall breaking down on what the opponent is doing is going on throughout game and how coaches plan on changing things up

 

[JayFord]

Adjustments should be made the whole game from the first play onwards

its only one coach i can think of that didnt make any adjustments and just says "out execute your man"

 

[erod]

Halftime is enough time to go wee-wee. That's about it. I've heard Babe Laufenberg say as much.

 

[erod]

Yeah by the time the teams get to the locker room for a 15 min halftime you got little time to address much. I'm sure HC has some things he wants to say to players but overall breaking down on what the opponent is doing is going on throughout game and how coaches plan on changing things up

It's actually 12 minutes. Takes 3-4 minutes to get everybody to the locker room, and 3-4 minutes to come back out to play.

 

[Vtwin]

Former Ravens coach Brian Bilick said (quoted in the OP) “…the same way with people saying these teams make these brilliant halftime adjustments. I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen people make adjustments during the course of the game. I’ve seen people adjust during the second half. But I’ve never heard of anybody at halftime getting this flash of divine inspiration: ‘Oh, let’s do this!’ ”

Famous college coach Mike Leach used to say when he was at Texas Tech that halftime was too late for adjustments and that usually when things aren’t working, it’s because of poor play execution. Leach called adjustments, “players playing better”.

When I first read the OP I thought of the Patriots because my experience watching them every weekend in this market has lead me to know them as a great "second half team".

Here is an article on how they do it.

https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/2...-seamless-halftime-adjustments-in-13-minutes/

"“Yes, it’s a short period,” McDaniels said. “But the guys have very specific roles in that regard in terms of the things that they’re responsible to keep track of and communicate, and usually we try to get a little bit of a jump start on that. If the defense is out there in the last couple minutes then we would be talking about some of the things we want to discuss at halftime with the players, some adjustments we would make, anything that’s given us issues. You want to discuss those things and make sure that we have those things taken care of. If you’re on offense at the end, like we were the other night, certainly if you discussed anything prior to that, then that list has already begun."

Probably varies from team to team and may be overstated at times but I can't buy it as being a complete myth. It would be crazy not to put some thought into it. imo.

 

[noshame]

These guys are adjusting all game long.

 

[Vtwin]

Another article on a teams strategy for halftime.

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bill...cle_d181ab9e-1e1a-11ec-99db-0fad936bc83d.html

 

[Runwildboys]

I always took "halftime adjustments" to mean the coaching staff taking the break to consider adjustments to play calling strategy and/or fine tuning the plan based on what they've seen in the first half.

I never even thought of rah rah speeches being an adjustment.

Sure you want your coaches to be adjusting on the fly but I'd be very surprised if they don't spend some time fine tuning things for the second half during the break.

Or even if that's MM's chance to say, "Alright guys, you're doing a great job out there, but Kellen, let's throw some more running plays in, okay?"

 

[Vtwin]

Or even if that's MM's chance to say, "Alright guys, you're doing a great job out there, but Kellen, let's throw some more running plays in, okay?"

Exactly.

It might be only 13 minutes but it's the only 13 minutes of the game that the coaches' attention doesn't have to be on the field.