Winning The Second Half
February 7th, 2019
Game mentality.
Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, and even inept former Bucs coach Lovie Smith, always used to talk about fast starts.
Not only did they rarely happen, when they did, the games still seemed to turn into losses.
Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, while it may not be known if new Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians is a big believer in fast starts, what he is adamant about is fast endings.
In other words, per Laine, winning the second half is winning football in Arians’ mind.
His game management philosophy also contrasts with what the Bucs became accustomed to under former coach Dirk Koetter — blown leads and few in-game adjustments. In fact, the Bucs were 18-13 under Koetter when leading at any point in the first half of games (.581) — 25th in the league.
“You don’t win football games in the first half. You can lose them, but you don’t win them,” [former Arians backup quarterback Drew] Stanton said, relaying what he learned under Arians. “You have to be smart in the first half. You have to pick and choose your battles. That was a B.A. saying — ‘You play in the first half to see what you need to do in the second half.'”
This is very interesting to Joe. In short, it seems Arians approaches games like a boxer. Study an opponent early and then exploit his openings later. Sounds almost like Bill Walsh, who was a former boxer, although Walsh believed in fast starts as well.
Joe has to be fair. The number of losses the Bucs suffered despite having first-half leads can directly be traced to the horrific defenses the Bucs have had in recent years.
If the past two years of Mike Smith nightmares isn’t enough evidence, Joe offers up the Capitol Collapse when America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, looked more like Dan Marino than a rookie facing the Redskins in Washington, only to helplessly watch the defense vomit in laps as the Redskins rallied from a 24-0 first half deficit.
February 7th, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Just like a golf tourney. You won’t win on a particular hole but you sure can lose the whole thing with one bad one
February 7th, 2019 at 3:39 pm
Just win damnit !
February 7th, 2019 at 3:40 pm
i have buc football withdrawal
February 7th, 2019 at 3:49 pm
just do the opposite of what dirk and smitty did and we should be fine….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 7th, 2019 at 3:52 pm
@rick: and I promise Bucco Bruce knows a lot about those golf tournaments :))) lmaoooo
February 7th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
This is going to be a much better defense and adjustments are going to be made during the game. Koetter knew d!ck about defense, or putting the correct player in at any position on the field on offense and defense and what else can be said about Smith’s defense other than it was close to being the worst in history.
February 7th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
The Bucs problem is defense. That is where the vast majority of weaknesses are or were, coaching included.
If you can’t stop anyone in crunch time how can you ever expect to win?
February 7th, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Really kind of surprising considering how Jameis is notorious (even dating back to college) at getting off to a slow start. He sometimes (with so many first half turnovers) keeps our defense on the field too much in the first half. He usually rallies in the second half but by then our defense appears tired and gives up the goose at the end.
February 7th, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Even Raheem Morris made adjustments at halftime. Dirk Koetter philosophy was it’s workin if you just execute. Chess vs checkers
February 7th, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Lack of adjustment, both sides of the ball. We’ve had some bad coaching staffs here recently. At least we now have a staff that will adjust. Hope. We have hope. Finally
February 7th, 2019 at 4:52 pm
via auman:
new bucs kicker signed: phillip andersen
from german footbal league berlin rebels
February 7th, 2019 at 4:59 pm
this is the new “biggest story” joe….lol….kickers have whiffed big time in recent years for the bucs and now we sign one from across the pond….lol…
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 7th, 2019 at 5:12 pm
Just watched some phillip friis andersen 2017 pro camp film on YouTube. Strong leg but hard to say with accuracy.
February 7th, 2019 at 5:28 pm
Phillip Anderson: in 2015 he had terrible mechanics. Terrible. He may be one of those exempt foreign guys on the PS deals…
February 7th, 2019 at 5:29 pm
december practicing (but who posts bad video of themselves?)
https://twitter.com/phillipfriis12/status/1069629689596133376
February 7th, 2019 at 5:30 pm
been working with ex-bucs kicker michael husted
February 7th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Greg Auman
Verified account @gregauman
1h1 hour ago
New Bucs kicker Phillip Andersen is the second specialist signed by Tampa Bay since the end of the season that has trained with former Bucs kicker Michael Husted. Punter Hayden Hunt, challenging Bryan Anger for the 2019 job, also worked with Husted.
February 7th, 2019 at 6:26 pm
Its always been the defense THAT sucked due to coaching.
ITS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT NEEDS FIXING
February 7th, 2019 at 7:31 pm
That’s what Tony Romo talked about pre Super Bowl. He explained that Brady will just try to see what the Rams would be doing defensively in the first half so he would be prepared the second half.
February 7th, 2019 at 7:39 pm
Does this mean that all of us long-suffering Bucs fans now have to expect ADJUSTMENTS after half-time Joe? Please say it’s not so. We can deal with major turnover in the roster; we’re used to it. But ADJUSTMENTS after half-time? We’re gonna need you to do some fancy writing to get us to buy into change THAT dramatic here in Bucsville Joe.
February 7th, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Another brilliant move by Licht to sign a kicker that has never played in NFL. Keep the kicker get rid of Licht.
February 7th, 2019 at 8:47 pm
The 2nd Half…………………..Ahhhhhhhhh what a novel concept. Over some 2,000+ years ago a dude by the name of Sun Zsu wrote “The Art of War”. Know your enemies strength’s before you can know your weakness. You can mask all you want but, if it walks like a duck……………………………. I do believe Bucco Bruce has asked these questions to his minions. His coaches, his tell tale hearts. And now, we wait and see what the 2019 Draft unfolds. As a season ticket guy I think I shall re-opt for the next product.
February 7th, 2019 at 10:49 pm
When you’re down by 3 scores before the start of the second half it’s not as simple as making adjustments anymore. It becomes desperation.
February 8th, 2019 at 12:59 am
Jean Lafitte, we aren’t talking about those games we weren’t even prepared for the first half.
We are talking about leading the Saints at halftime, leading the Falcons at halftime or trailing the Skins by only three at halftime (all games at home!!) or trailing the Cowgirls by only 4 at Jerry’s world. Losing these games is turning hope into desperation.
February 8th, 2019 at 7:39 am
Sounds like a head coach that knows that JW3 will be his qb that will throw INT’s and will be playing catch up in the second half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 8th, 2019 at 9:05 am
No he simply sounds competent.
I would honestly have had WAY more respect for Koetter if we had seen anything major in terms of adjustments at halftime.
Some coaches in this league have a God Complex when they shouldn’t and are so hard headed they believe to the bloody end their game plan will work EVENTUALLY.
Making changes at halftime doesn’t make you dumb, it makes you intelligent.
Koetter was too ignorant to know the difference.
Should have had a clause in his contract that voids his pay if the BUCS can prove sabotage.
Not playing Rojo is akin to sabotage IMO.
EXAMPLE:
Dude knew he was gone and Tampa now knows nothing about our 2nd round pick RB.
Ever think Koetter already knew he was going to our rival Atlanta half way through the season?
February 8th, 2019 at 11:01 pm
For some who wanted us to sign a young up and coming Coach, note how that didn’t work in the Super Bowl. We got the best Head Coach of any of the teams with new coaches this year. BA knows all the different team groups and how to make adjustments after studying what the other side does in the first half. FINALLY. And it would not have happened if those of you who wanted Licht fired had gotten your way. BA knows judging talent too and he won’t let Licht stumble again. I bet he will be sitting right next to Licht in the draft room. We are going to love this coming season! Don’t throw away your season tickets. I expect there to be accelerated development of players and at last a defense that matches an even improved Offense.