Chapter 103 102: Full Firepower
"Is anyone volunteering to go first?"
Jim scanned the crowd before him. He was doing it on purpose; this was all part of his routine.
The practice squad players' stamina wasn't endless. Enduring ten consecutive offensive drives was a severe test for them. What's more, a total of twelve quarterbacks were here for the tryout today. No player in the entire Alliance could complete one hundred and twenty consecutive plays, not even the pros.
They had prepared three groups of practice squad players to rotate.
However, Jim's speaking pace was quick, leaving the players little time or space to think. He wanted to create the illusion that going first was a disadvantage. Who would be willing to step forward then? The San Francisco 49ers were currently facing a difficult mess, and he needed a quarterback with more courage and boldness.
If—and this was just an if—a quarterback saw through Jim's trick, realized it was all just a ploy, and deliberately stepped forward to show his confidence? Well, Jim would welcome that with open arms. It would mean that quarterback was sharp enough, observant enough, and bold enough.
Among the twelve quarterbacks trying out today, Jim's real focus was on Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselbeck. These two veteran quarterbacks were skilled, experienced, and had decent passing abilities. In a pinch, they could start in the first week of the regular season. In the longer term, they could also provide more support for Colin Kaepernick.
If Carson and Matt were willing to step up, that would be for the best. But deep down, Jim was hoping for something else. And then, someone stepped forward.
"I will!"
Lu Ke stepped forward voluntarily. His heart was pounding violently, but his gaze grew increasingly firm. Not only was there no hint of fear or retreat, but he was also radiating an indomitable confidence.
A glimmer appeared in Jim's eyes.
In the common stereotype, players from Asia, especially East Asia, were accustomed to treating humility as a virtue, keeping a low profile, and avoiding the spotlight. But in competitive sports, there was no room for humility. They needed confidence, swagger, and an assertive presence.
Neither Carson nor Matt made a move. It was clear they were both seasoned veterans who had seen through Jim's intentions. But they were self-assured. After all, with their age and experience, they couldn't just step out naively like some greenhorn. Rather than rushing to show off, it was better to observe quietly and wait for the right opportunity.
Experienced, cunning, wise. This was what they had accumulated after so many years of grinding it out on the professional stage.
Jim quickly concealed his thoughts and nodded, acting as if he didn't care at all. "Alright, you're up first. Need to warm up?"
"No need. I've already fully warmed up," Lu Ke said calmly.
Jim nodded again without saying much. He waved his hand, signaling the players onto the field, but his eyes remained fixed on Lu Ke.
Back at the Rookie Training Camp, Lu Ke had been the first player to score a Touchdown in a scrimmage, which had left a deep impression on Jim. But today was different from Rookie Training Camp. The San Francisco 49ers' practice squad wasn't just for practice.
Among the practice squad, many players were skilled enough to make the main roster, or at least sit on the bench. But because the roster was limited to fifty-three men and they couldn't find transfers to other teams, they were temporarily placed on the practice squad.
You could say they were all crafty veterans with both skill and savvy. Even if the intensity of the game was a step down from a regular NFL season game, it wasn't by much. Even players from the first and second strings could slip up against them if they weren't careful.
'So, is this number eleven all talk and no action, stepping up out of ignorance? Or is he truly outstanding, making a proud entrance first?'
Jim said nothing, crossing his arms over his chest and watching quietly. He then saw number eleven skillfully organize his temporary teammates, communicating and consulting with them in an orderly fashion before arranging the play. Within a short two minutes, all preparations were complete, and they were lined up at the twenty-yard line.
This level of experience, just as Kip had said, truly didn't seem like a rookie's. But this was just the practice field. In a real game, the roar of the crowd was deafening. Even many veterans felt their hands tighten up, let alone a rookie.
Jim watched with intense focus. On the first down, number eleven quickly dropped back, surveying the entire field. Spotting an opening in a short route, he fired a bullet pass to a Wide Receiver nineteen yards away, delivering the football precisely and sharply into the receiver's arms amidst a circle of three defenders.
Although the Wide Receiver was immediately swarmed and couldn't advance further, this act of pulling chestnuts from the fire announced his formidable presence right from the start. More importantly was his release time—only about two seconds. It didn't leave the Defense Line much of a gap to rush, and even with mediocre protection from the Offense Line, he completed the pass quickly and steadily.
Second down. After the snap, number eleven ran all the way to the left while the Offense Line pushed to the right. It was a clear screen pass play. But just as Jim thought number eleven was about to pass to the right, he tucked the football and pushed forward with his own two feet.
Compared to his passing technique, number eleven's Ball-Carrying Run ability seemed slightly clumsy, but his footwork was very steady. He never panicked, constantly observing, observing. Just as three defensive players were about to close in on him, he got the ball out with a five-yard short pass, leaving it to the Wide Receiver to push forward.
The play ultimately gained another twelve yards—the defensive players' momentum had shifted, leaving a man open in their coverage zone and giving up a big gain.
Third down. Number eleven suddenly struck, launching a forty-yard Rainbow Pass to the team's Tight End. The Defense Team was out of position again. The Tight End caught the ball with almost no effort and continued to advance. With only a single cornerback ahead of him, he crossed into the End Zone without any trouble, scoring a Touchdown.
Even if this was just a scrimmage, even if the Defense Team hadn't found its footing yet, and even if the practice squad was a bit complacent, no excuse could hide the strategic command number eleven displayed in these three downs.
Two long passes and one short pass, with a release time controlled to around 2.3 seconds. Without a stopwatch, the calculation wasn't precise, but it was certain his release was very fast and his judgment was accurate. He relied on the routes run by the Wide Receiver and Tight End to stretch the field, tear open the defensive coverage, and achieve his goal.
In just under half a year, number eleven's skill had improved even more since Rookie Training Camp.
Back at the twenty-yard line again to start the fourth down. The practice squad's Defense Team finally got serious, increasing their defensive pressure and showing the style of the professional league.
First, on fourth down, they forced number eleven into a hurried throw, resulting in only a three-yard short pass before the Wide Receiver was tackled immediately. Then, on fifth down, they finally got to number eleven. Just before being sacked, he once again completed a short pass for another three-yard gain.
The Defense Team's relentless pressure was starting to overwhelm the Offense Line. Just when everyone thought number eleven was out of options, on sixth down, he unexpectedly chose a lofted pass, sending it over the heads of the Offense Line and Defense Line. He found a small pocket of space, completed a five-yard pass, and the Wide Receiver was immediately tackled, but the team continued to advance.
On the ensuing seventh down, number eleven felt unprecedented pressure. Two defensive players broke through the line and started chasing him. He used his feet to scramble out of the pocket and completed a massive fifty-yard Rainbow Pass, after which he was slammed to the ground by the two defenders.
The main point was, the pass was complete. Under coverage from the cornerback, the Wide Receiver smoothly caught the football, and the offense pushed straight past midfield.
That hit was truly vicious. Number eleven lay on the ground, struggling to catch his breath for a moment. Jim couldn't help but worry. If he got injured during the tryout, it would all be for nothing. But objectively speaking, hits of that intensity were common in the Alliance, and number eleven's physical constitution was their biggest concern.
Fortunately, number eleven only rested for about thirty seconds before getting back up. He signaled that he was fine, moved around a bit on the spot, and once again gathered his temporary teammates to continue the drive—they had now reached the opponent's twenty-one-yard line, with the End Zone just a stone's throw away.
This was the lethal strike capability of the long pass.
Then, on eighth down, number eleven was clearly affected by the hit. His pass strayed too far from its intended trajectory, and players from both the offense and defense could only watch it sail by with a sigh.
After using the forty-second play clock for a brief adjustment, on ninth down, number eleven opted for a short pass. An eight- or nine-yard pass successfully found the strong-side Wide Receiver. Under the cover of the Tight End, the receiver smoothly dashed into the End Zone for the second Touchdown.
'Two Touchdowns in nine downs? What kind of performance is this?' Not just Jim, but everyone present was wide-eyed.
What was even more terrifying was that on the tenth down, number eleven still had no intention of letting up. He unleashed a shocking, defense-shattering sixty-five-yard bomb. The Wide Receiver galloped to the spot and made an incredible catch, but unfortunately, the pass was slightly faster than expected. The receiver's forward momentum was too great, and after losing his balance, he fell directly to the ground, unable to score another Touchdown after the reception.
Nevertheless, by the end of the ten downs, the result was dumbfounding. Full firepower—this was true full firepower! The Defense Team had been turned into Swiss cheese!