Why are we so awful in the 1st half?

[Seafan]

Bev and Russ.

 

[Jville]

The purpose of the first 15 scripted plays has been explained every year. Coaches have also spoken of probing for opponent responses in the early part of a game to generate play selection for a strong finish and victory. That information and much more resides in Seahawk interview and press conference archives. It's all in there.

I've heard this for a long time and the rationale for its purpose, but do other successful offenses wait until later in the 2nd half to make such adjustments? Genuinely asking-don't other teams abandon a script early if it's obvious how to counter the defense? Is there not sufficient info from say the first 7 plays to give you a general idea what your opponent is doing? Whatever happened to trying to win each quarter?

Darrell Bevell addressed the subject, once again, of scripted plays in his last midweek press conference. As I recall, he mentioned that there were occasions, prior to Seattle, when he also had to begin the second half with scripted plays. But, it is best to hear directly from the source. Mike Holmgren is another who provide insight into scripted plays as a tool to probe opponents. There is really a lot of information on the subject from those with first hand experience.

 

[AgentDib]

Genuinely asking-don't other teams abandon a script early if it's obvious how to counter the defense?

if you're curious there's a ton of information about the details around this if you look up Walsh's early system, how it spread to the rest of the NFL via his assistants, and how those assistants implement it.

The short version is that it isn't just a list of 15 plays that you call one after the other. Rather, it's a list of plays that you thought would be well suited against the opponent after watching a lot of film and as such you spent extra practice time on the plays during the week as a result. You may pick different plays depending on down and distance, but on your next 1st and 10 it makes sense to call the next play on the list that you thought would work against the opponent and practiced with extra emphasis.

Adjustments can begin whenever you have new information about how the defense is operating. Failed plays themselves are not a reason for change because there could be many factors for the failure. The defense could have simply guessed right or executed unusually well, or your offense could have executed unusually poorly. Scripted plays help offensive coordinators avoid overreacting for these reasons.

 

[KiwiHawk]

It's like taking a Myers-Briggs personality test. You throw out broad range of questions that together establish a pattern that helps you to understand the subject better.

In this case, the subject is the opposing defense. Once you see what they will bite on and where and when they might overpursue, you use that information to show them what you want them to see while hitting them in their weak spot.

 

[12thbrah]

This team is like Jekyll and Hyde.

 

[iigakusei]

First half we play not to lose
Second half we play to win.

That is it right there isn't it. Pete's philosophy.

 

[Hawks46]

The purpose of the first 15 scripted plays has been explained every year. Coaches have also spoken of probing for opponent responses in the early part of a game to generate play selection for a strong finish and victory. That information and much more resides in Seahawk interview and press conference archives. It's all in there.

Good point. It's also easier to conservatively probe a team when you have a defense like ours.

We're a better 2nd half team, but that seems facile. We're a MUCH better 2nd half team. it's very significant and it's the biggest difference in the league. Adjustments are likely a big part of that.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Those plays got us into FG range.

If it's Bevell, how do you explain the second half?

No. It's obvious what's happening. In the first half, Wilson stands back there like a deer in the headlights looking for the big safe play and ignoring closer targets. In the second half, it's all predetermined throws, quick hits, slants, bubbles, and PROGRESS. It's clear that two different playbooks are being called, and given who decides the philosophy on this team, it's pretty clear who's really responsible for the conservative starts on offense.

Those plays also netted 3 points, a safety (poor starting field position to blame) and 9:00 TOP in the first half

You're really reaching hard to blame Bevell so that you can secure the idea of this team having only one main problem.

Ok, I answered the OP as to why we start slowly in the first half.

What's your answer?

I answered as well.

 

[SpokaneHawks]

First half we play not to lose
Second half we play to win.

This. It's Pete philosophy, you win the game in the fourth quarter. Been that way since day 1 with Pete. Keep it close with a strong defense and win the game at the end!

 

[JustTheTip]

First half we play not to lose
Second half we play to win.

This. It's Pete philosophy, you win the game in the fourth quarter. Been that way since day 1 with Pete. Keep it close with a strong defense and win the game at the end!

Problem is everything gets easier if you play the first half hard and put the other team in a position where their options are limited in the second half.

 

[semiahmoo]

Not even a troll thread. Why are we so bad?

We're not a very good team and the locker-room vibe sucks.

 

[Rocket]

We're like a defensive boxer, like Floyd Mayweather. We feel you out first then pull out a win in the end

That's good.

 

[Rocket]

Not even a troll thread. Why are we so bad?

We're not a very good team and the locker-room vibe sucks.

It doesn't, but it's goin' that way.
( Look elsewhere, Grasshopper, for all will be explained )