A discussion that must be had. Why is this a 2nd half team?

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

I'll state one factor: Moorhead runs so many guys deep on so many plays that defenses wear out in the 2nd half. I've questioned this based on percentages, but if a team can't rotate their defense to keep guys fresh, maybe it's an ingenious strategy. We have more good receivers than most teams have in good defensive backs.

 

[ftlpsu]

I was going to post something similar. "This slow start stiff needs to stop now". It's not that we are wearing out opponents secondary, it's the adjustments...people say adjustments and say it like a cliche. It's setting the D up for plays that look similar and then have a wrinkle to them. Look at that out and up or sluggo route we set them up for that..

 

[Limestone_Lion]

The team does not like to score points in the first half

 

[bison13]

the staff makes the right adjustments in the locker room. Having the best RB in the country allows for play action and teh coaches figure out which plays will work

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

the staff makes the right adjustments in the locker room. Having the best RB in the country allows for play action and teh coaches figure out which plays will work

Agreed. In is brief interview with DWill coming off the field at the half, CJF was kind of confident that they would make the right adjustments during half-time.

This is a staff that makes adjustments at the half like we did in our glory years. Apparently, these guys know their stuff.

Plus, the conditioning seems to be paying off. That goes along with what the OP is saying. We just seem to be stronger than the other team at the end....like a good thoroughbred race horse. When other guy tires, we just keep chugging along.

It helps that we have been able to play a lot of players this year.

 

[mrtailgate]

Confidence in the coaches and each other.

Kids get tight generally, but these kids realize they have seen what you got and then they dial it up.

 

[BlueBand]

I think:

1.) halftime adjustments

2.) depth at many positions due to playing so many guys early due to injuries allows us to rotate, keep guys fresh, and wear opponents down

3.) mentally tough, they don't fold if down on the scoreboard

4.) it actually crossed my mind today that it's an intentional game strategy to lull the opponent into a false sense of security, and then unleash the team in the second half with a different gameplan.

OK, so probably not #4.

 

[bison13]

Defensive line and DB rotation is also key. Every game 8-10 DL and 7-8 DB get reps. Once Bell and Cabinda came back that gave the LB depth too

 

[lionville]

Personally I think it's a combination of adjustments and not showing everything in the first half. By doing so the opponent doesn't have the opportunity to make halftime adjustments.

 

[klive]

our Defense also has a nice rotation going and they keep bringing the pressure relentlessly (as well as great halftime adjustments form the coaches). Not only does the O wake up at halftime, the D shuts teams down too. As long as we win...

 

[GregPSU]

I think:

1.) halftime adjustments

2.) depth at many positions due to playing so many guys early due to injuries allows us to rotate, keep guys fresh, and wear opponents down

3.) mentally tough, they don't find if down on the scoreboard

4.) it actually crossed my mind today that it's an intentional game strategy to lull the opponent into a false sense of security, and then unleash the team in the second half with a different gameplan.

OK, so probably not #4.

Maybe not #4, but it sure looks like its true doesn't it?

 

[tboyer]

Moorhead/Franklin do play it pretty close to the vest in the 1h. Seems like Moorhead doesn't want to throw downfield too much until they have figured out what the other team is doing. In retrospect the MSU secondary would have been vulnerable all game. They just don't have great speed and they get fooled. But Moorhead has his way of doing things and who can quibble. Maybe they need to make sure of the OL protection before they throw deep. The bombs seemed to start today when the MSU D was getting a little winded.

 

[tboyer]

Personally I think it's a combination of adjustments and not showing everything in the first half. By doing so the opponent doesn't have the opportunity to make halftime adjustments.

I had the same thought today. Try to get the other team to put their cards on the table in the 1st half, but you save a big chunk of game plan for 3rd Q. Plus there are plays that work a lot better when the opposing defense is just a little winded.

 

[Phil's Rug]

PSU outscored their opponents 280 to 105 in the second half of games this season

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

I had the same thought today. Try to get the other team to put their cards on the table in the 1st half, but you save a big chunk of game plan for 3rd Q. Plus there are plays that work a lot better when the opposing defense is just a little winded.

If you were trying to get the other team to play their cards in the 1st half, why take the ball? Why would you not defer on the coin toss to get the ball starting the second half? On average you would get more possessions in the second half, and they would be more successful due to all of the "surprises" that got thrown in at half-time. Can't buy into this theory.

So for those that think it's all about half time adjustments, please be more specific. I don't see any significant "game-plan" adjustments, certainly not that could explain the huge performance differences. Moorhead throws downfield quite often in the first half, but with less success. Though there is occasionally a different play that is successful (like the hitch-n-go we saw), it doesn't seem like there are significant differences overall.

What does seem different is the energy level. It's as if it takes a while to rotate all of the guys into the game to get them warmed up. As that's happening the other team gets worn down.

 

[BlueBand]

If you were trying to get the other team to play their cards in the 1st half, why take the ball? Why would you not defer on the coin toss to get the ball starting the second half? On average you would get more possessions in the second half, and they would be more successful due to all of the "surprises" that got thrown in at half-time. Can't buy into this theory.

So for those that think it's all about half time adjustments, please be more specific. I don't see any significant "game-plan" adjustments, certainly not that could explain the huge performance differences. Moorhead throws downfield quite often in the first half, but with less success. Though there is occasionally a different play that is successful (like the hitch-n-go we saw), it doesn't seem like there are significant differences overall.

What does seem different is the energy level. It's as if it takes a while to rotate all of the guys into the game to get them warmed up. As that's happening the other team gets worn down.

Watch how they make adjustments at times to how players line up. Sometimes the plays are the same but the alignments are adjusted to get players in better space. It's not always big changes, but subtle changes that can make a big difference.

 

[NedFromYork]

My perception is the blocking is more hat on a hat in the first half and second half is more of pulling lineman etc.

 

[PennState_one]

I lean towards the most common sense ideas. Along with the great 2nd half adjustments, I'd say they just grind the opponents down. I wish I knew, but I'll take whatever it is LOL