AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


The Art of the Comeback – Rallying your team from a big deficit requires adjustments, inspiration and composure.

by: AFM Editorial Staff
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

Every coach faces situations where his team is trailing at halftime or late in games.
These times can be the ultimate challenge for coaches – overcoming a deficit by combining strategic adjustments on offense and or defense and motivational words that inspire players not to give up.

What are the adjustments needed, both offensively and defensively, to come back and win. What halftime philosophy and strategy should you use when your opponent is way ahead? Do you tweak your game plan or throw it out completely? What clock management strategy can help your offense? Does your run to pass play ratio change as you attempt a comeback?

No team made more comebacks last fall than Nebraska. The Cornhuskers won four conference games when trailing at halftime, including two on the road. In September, at home, they spotted Wisconsin a 20-3 lead in the first half and roared back for a 30-27 win. They also dug themselves out of a 20-6 hole against Penn State in Lincoln, but rallied to win, 32-23. In late October, Nebraska also trailed Northwestern, 14-10 at the half and later 28-16 in the fourth quarter but came back to win, 29-28. Two weeks later the Cornhuskers rallied from a 7-3 deficit in Iowa to prevail, 13-7. In perhaps their most dramatic comeback of the year, they trailed Michigan State 24-14 in the fourth quarter but scored two touchdowns, the winning one with six seconds left, to win 28-24.

Head Coach Bo Pelini attributed the team’s ability to overcome adversity to the Cornhuskers’ maturity.

“We had great senior leadership on our football team, and they had a mindset that those deficits didn’t bother them,” he told AFM. “I don’t know if we would have been able to do that the previous year, or the year before that. The ability to make those comebacks required mental toughness, it required a belief in each other, and belief in the team.”

Pelini pointed out that perhaps the most important factor in mounting a comeback is the ability to remain calm despite being in a difficult situation. “The Penn State game, I remember specifically,” he recalled. “We were down 14 points at the half, and there was not a sense of panic by anybody. Our guys were as calm as could be, almost to the point where I was taken aback with how calm they were. They just had the mindset of ‘OK, let’s go. We know what we have to do - let’s go do it’. They were just into the adjustments and talking about what we needed to do. It was a businesslike kind of approach which is, from my standpoint, what you like to see.”

AFM asked nine other coaches about games where they were trailing at halftime, in the third quarter, or deep into the fourth quarter, but mounted a comeback to win. While there was no single comeback strategy that applied in every situation, each coach used key adjustments to ultimately pull out a win.

Kevin Wright
Head Coach - Carmel High School (IN)

Situation: We have a unique rivalry with Warren Central. They were undefeated when we played them in the 2011 Indiana state playoffs. We lost to them during the regular season and made adjustments from that loss. We went into the game known as an option-based team with many of the principles used by the Air Force Academy. We were down 21-0 at halftime.

Adjustments: We decided to keep attacking on offense, throwing the ball more on first down and play the second half up-tempo and no-huddle. They had shut down our number one receiver so we asked our number two to step up and be ready. We tweaked our game plan but the reality was that we had to execute better. Defensively, we told our guys they could not give up a big play in the second half. They should play every play as if it was their last play. We needed our defense to help the offense and give them good field position.

Halftime Strategy: We told our players to continue to be aggressive, take it one play at a time and that after we crossed the 50-yard line, we were now in four down territory. We told them not to get caught up emotionally in the second half.

Outcome: Our number two WR had a great second half and made a terrific catch on a fourth and eight play on our last scoring drive. We scored to win the game, 34-30, with about fifty seconds left. 

Mike Van Diest
Head Coach, Carroll College (MT)

Situation: In 2010 we trailed Eastern Oregon 12-0 when we committed two early turnovers and they converted both into TDs. Even though we were moving the football, we were beating ourselves.

Adjustments: Nick Howlett, our offensive coordinator, decided to stay with our game plan and re-group. We told our players the game was still young and take it a play at a time. Our offensive goal was the same – run the football effectively. Defensively, we decided to be more aggressive and put more pressure on their quarterback. We needed to keep him in the pocket. We changed to a front four and five and used zone blitzes to stop their running game.

Halftime Strategy: I found that we weren’t communicating well defensively in the first half. We made sure that the communication among the players improved in the second half. That and pressuring the quarterback were my two main messages to the players.

Outcome: Our adjustments worked and both our offense and special teams played a great second half - we won, 49-12 shutting them out after their first two scores.

Brian Hales
Head Coach, Butler High School (NC)

Situation: In 2009 I was the offensive coordinator and we were playing at Richmond High School. They were North Carolina’s defending 4AA state champions. We had never beaten them and we trailed the entire game. With 11:51 left in the fourth quarter, we were losing 31-17.

Adjustments: We were playing it safe and too conservative. We decided to open it up with a five-step passing game and go to a no-huddle package. It helped our clock management as we tried to close the gap. We stayed with our original game plan – just made the 5-step game a major part of our offense and adjusted our run/pass selection to be primarily passing plays. We were attacking them defensively with two sets of rules and it wasn’t working. We changed to one set of rules against their triple option and we made sure every defensive player knew his assignment. 

Halftime Strategy: Our strategy was to open up our offense and make sure there was no doubt about defensive assignments. We wanted to attack them both offensively and defensively and try to get good field position. 

Outcome: We scored with about ten minutes left in the game to make it 31-24 and then stopped them on a three and out. We scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass to tie the game and then forced a turnover. We scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play and won, 38-31. It was a signature win for our program and we went on to win our first state championship.

Art Walker
Head Coach, North Allegheny High School

Situation: In 2011 we were down 14-0 at halftime to a non-conference opponent, Upper St. Clair High School. Both our offense and defense were stagnant.

Adjustments: We focused on what we had to do and calmed our players down. Offensively, we changed our game plan and spread it out more with play-action deep on first downs. We wanted to take a shot and keep our opponent off balance. We didn’t want to be predictable. Even though we’re a no-huddle team, we changed the game plan by getting personnel in and out as quickly as possible. We told both our defense and special teams that they needed to create turnovers. Doug Brinkley, our defensive coordinator, made a minor adjustment by using blitzing packages our opponent had not seen before.

Halftime Strategy: I spoke to our players about attitude and not to be worried about being down, 14-0. We wanted a positive attitude from everyone in the second half. I also told our defense they had to make a stop on the opponent’s first possession.

Outcome: We scored a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the second half and then went ahead in the fourth quarter. We made a final stop with just over a minute left and won, 28-21. The difference was our special teams play and our defense creating turnovers.
Kevin Kelley
Head Coach, Pulaski Academy (AR)

Situation: In 2009, we were losing to Camden Fairview, 30-6 at halftime. Even with 13 minutes to go, we were down, 30-13.

Adjustments: While primarily a passing team, we made the decision to run more often, use screens, and run crossing routes. Those three changes along with some quick traps made the difference. Defensively, our adjustments included bringing the safeties down and attacking their offense with more blitzes. They were a zone read team and we knew they were going to run the ball. We adjusted in the second half to having seven and sometimes eight in the box.

Halftime Strategy: If we’re losing at halftime, I’m like a Southern Baptist preacher, ranting and raving. We then made our adjustments and I gave them an emotional speech and told the players if we executed with these adjustments, we can win the game. Everyone was on the same page.

Outcome: The three changes we made offensively – running the trap, making use of the screen, and having our receivers run crossing routes – made the difference. We went on to win, 40-30.

Rhett Farmer
Head Coach, Piedmont Academy (GA)

Situation: We were down 21-0 at halftime to Flint River Academy in the Georgia Region 4 Championship game last fall. We weren’t playing well on either offense or defense.

Adjustments: Offensively, we made the adjustment to how they were covering our tight end. They were playing outside leverage because we were running a lot of banana and corner routes. Being a run-dominant team, we knew they were playing 8 in the box and man-to-man on our tight end. We adjusted by running a skinny post against their outside leverage. We also decided to use some Wildcat and Shotgun and mix things up. On defense, the only adjustment we made was stunting more to stop their jet sweep.

Halftime Strategy: When you’re down like we were, my philosophy is that you need a big offensive play to kick-start momentum on your side. Your defense must also play lights out. I challenged the defense to play much better in the second half and give our offense good field position.

Outcome: We ran the skinny post on the first play of the second half and scored (Diagram). We then held them to two three and outs, scored three more touchdowns with one being on a fumble and went ahead, 27-21. They scored to tie the game but we blocked the extra point and the game went into overtime. We then stripped the ball in OT sand won the game, 30-27, on a 37-yard field goal.

Joe Hadachek
Head Coach, Union Community
High School (IA)

Situation: We were playing Waukon High School who was undefeated at the time. We were losing the entire game and were trailing, 33-14, with six minutes to play. In the game, we committed a season high five turnovers.

Adjustments: They were containing our All-State wide receiver so we used him as a decoy in the second half. We ran him in motion and then ran counter plays with our other playmaker, our quarterback. We ran counter and edge plays which were plays the defense hadn’t seen. We also decided to use our no-huddle and two-minute offense in the second half to limit time off of the clock. Defensively we were not gap sound and had to be if we had any shot in the second half. 

Halftime Strategy: My strategy at halftime is - if you’re losing – is that you have to believe that your defense can make stops. We also needed to change our mentality and play our game for the next 24 minutes. 

Outcome: Our defense forced two turnovers, we caught fire, and won, 34-33. The counter and edge plays worked to perfection.

Dan Hinds
Head Coach, Desert Vista High School (AZ)

Situation: We were down to the state Division III Champions, Saguaro High School, 28-6 in a game in 2011. Their All-State wide receiver, DJ Foster, was killing us.

Adjustments: Defensively, we decided to go with a three-man front and nickel package in the second half, replacing our five-man front. Essentially, we spread the field more with additional speed and decided to swarm on Foster. We replaced two linemen with two more defensive backs. On offense, they were stopping our fly sweep at the point of attack. They had been rolling down a safety and shut down our two favorite plays – our power and flex.
    We decided to use the counter play to confuse them in the second half.

Halftime Strategy: After assessing the damage, I told our players there was plenty of time but they had to execute each and every play. Our goal was to put the clamps on their passing game, especially Foster. The shift in our defense was designed to do just that.

Outcome: We were able to shut down their passing game and our counter game on offense worked. We went on to win, 31-28.

Cory Bielema
Head Coach, Morrison High School (IL)

Situation: We were playing a conference team, Sterling Newman Central Catholic High School, in the state quarterfinals in 2011. They had won the regular season meeting and were up on us 12-0 in the playoff game.

Adjustments: We needed to take away the pass, which seems odd because Newman is a double- tight wishbone team. Our pre-game adjustment was to add more bodies and size to the box to combat their power running game. But they hurt us with their play-action passing game. So our halftime adjustment was to play more from our base which we felt took away their passing keys, inviting them to run the ball.

Halftime Strategy: While they were a quick and strong team, we had more of a power run game with our Wing-T offense. We needed to control the ball for as long as we could in the second half. We tweaked our game plan and didn’t shelve it.

Outcome: We scored in the fourth quarter and won the game, 15-12. Our team won the state title that year.  


Piedmont Academy - Pro Right 342 Y - Skinny

Notes - QB reverses out and fullback and tailback run play-action for lead/iso at middle LB; instead
of bootlegging, QB stays same side and reads free safety playing man on tight end.

X - Runs 7-yard out against man playing corner. Z runs 7-yard out against other corner playing man-to-man.

Y (Tight End) - Runs eight yards and plants right foot in the ground and breaks route to a skinny post
away from the free safety. Because they have eight in the box and they are man-to-man vs. our three
receivers, there is no -over-the-top help.






NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved